by Jas
Harry's POV
Everyone's celebrating in the Common Room. Tons of food and butterbeer in here. Sadly, I have no appetite to eat. I leave for the Boys' Dormitory. I'm in no mood to celebrate.
I sit on my bed and bury my face in my hands. I'm trying to think. Ron comes up, he must have seen me.
"Hey Harry, what are you doing up here?"
"Nothing... I just... just wanted to be alone."
He looks at me straight in the eye. I have a feeling he knows I'm hiding something. "Alright, c'mon, you can tell me."
Damned.
I sigh. "OK. Promise you won't tell anyone?" He nods. I draw a deep breath. "I... feel bad about...you know, Malfoy." I anticipate the worst.
Instead, Ron gives me this weird look, and bursts out laughing. "What?!" I demand.
"Harry...you're such a joker!" He says in between guffaws.
"I'm not joking!"
"You're drunk, aren't you?! You pulled a bloody fantastic Wronski Feint on that git, and you caught the Snitch! What's there to--"
"Ron, I am most certainly not drunk. Look, this is not funny. Even though I will not be punished for what I did--"
He pushes me onto my bed. "Go to sleep, you. Seriously, you expect me to buy that?" He shakes his head, and leaves the Dormitory.
I sit up again, my head is throbbing. I wonder how he is now. I find my mirror under my pillow, "Draco Malfoy." Nothing. Well, I guess he doesn't have it with him now. He wouldn't need it for the match anyway. Maybe I should go to the Hospital Wing then... Are there visiting hours? ... Who cares!
I wear the Invisibility Cloak and use Marauder's Map. I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.
I manage to get out of the Common Room, unnoticed. It is only evening and it is already quite dark in here. But I can still make out the things in the Map, so that's good. No one's in my way at this point.
Someone grabs me from behind, and I am shoved against the wall. There could only be one... or two. Crabbe and Goyle.
"Where're you going?" Goyle is pinning me down by my collarbone, and it hurts.
"That's none of your businesses."
"You... You're going to curse Draco or something, aren't you?"
"I am not. Now let me--" I am slammed against the wall again.
Crabbe draws back his massive arms; fist tight. I turn my head before the punch could be delivered.
I can taste blood on my lips. Scumbag. My cheek feels swollen too.
Crabbe is at it again. This is like being Dudley's punching bag.
I can hear the sound of distant footsteps; coming up the stairs. Crabbe and Goyle must have heard it too. They let me go. I pull on the Cloak just as Madam Pomfrey appears.
"What are you boys doing here? Your friend needs rest. Go on, you don't need to get all worried. He'll be alright."
"I'm not falling for that 'He is ok' trick," I almost say aloud. I sneak away before those two big oafs realize I'm missing. Thank God for the Invisibility Cloak. I head to the wards.
Before I enter the room, I make sure Madam Pomfrey isn't around. I see the list of visiting hours posted on the door. 7pm is fine. She can't force me to leave.
I go inside, and there's no one else except Malfoy. Must be lonely. I walk towards him, feeling bloody nervous. He sits up, "What happened?"
What happened, what? I am lost. Oh! I guess I was too tense that I had forgotten about my busted lip. No, I won't tell him. No, I don't need his sympathy.
I apologize. This is probably the last thing he'll expect, so no surprise that he is somewhat stunned. And for once, I will not talk back. I'm just glad he's well enough to at least scoff at me.
I look away from his face, and I see that his feet are exposed. There is a long silence. I pull the soft cotton bedspread over them... What did I do? My brain can't keep up with my actions. I feel rather... I don't know, shy? What is he gonna think? I have to leave the room.
I wear the Cloak again as I step out. The 5 minutes in there seemed more like 30. Goyle is walking towards me. No, wait, he's going inside. So I let him pass. I don't see Crabbe. Perhaps he's still looking for me.