AUGUST 13th
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"I don't know Harry. Three people..." Sirius trailed off awkwardly. Harry sighed. "You bought a huge house and you won't let me have three friends over for a couple weeks?" Harry asked angrily. Sirius sighed. "Ron and Hermione I don't mind but Abby..." Sirius trailed off again. Harry stared at him. There was something Sirius wasn't telling him. Harry tried to look into Sirius's eyes, but Sirius wasn't going to allow it. "What? What's wrong with Abby?" Harry asked angrily. Sirius took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He continued chopping the potatoes that were in front of him. "What?" Harry demanded. Sirius dropped the knife with a clatter. Harry jumped back. Sirius was mad. He was staring at Harry. Harry's hands were shaking. This reminded him of Uncle Vernon. All those terrible memories were coming back to him. Sirius took a couple of steps towards Harry. His eyes were livid. Harry had backed into a corner. His whole body was beginning to shake. Sirius didn't notice. "I saw you with her behind the tree. You told me you weren't dating her. You lied to me." He said, anger mixed with hurt was in his voice. "I d-didn't l-lie!" Harry stuttered. Sirius slumped his shoulders and stared at Harry. How could he not notice how terrified he was? In his right mind, Harry knew that Sirius would never hurt him, but all those memories of the Dursley's just came back. Sirius bit his lip and nodded. "Alright. Whatever you say." He said quietly. He reached out a hand and rested it on Harry's shoulder. Harry's eyes darted from the hand, to Sirius, then back to the hand, then to Sirius. He began to shake furiously, his eyes wide with terror. Sirius pulled his hand away, seeing that something was wrong. "Harry..." He began quietly, confusion in his voice. Harry ducked under Sirius's arm and backed out of the kitchen. Sirius was dumbstruck. He watched as Harry ran up the stairs. What was wrong with him?
Harry didn't know why, but he was terrified. He tore into his room and shut the door. He knew this wouldn't keep Sirius out. Harry looked around. Where could he hide? Harry bolted to the closet and slipped inside. He crouched down and shut the door. Harry pressed his knees into his chest and rested his forehead on his knees. The only thing in Harry's mind was the pain he got the last time someone was mad at him. Harry heard footsteps, then a knock on the bedroom door. After a minute, he heard a creak which indicated the door had been opened. "Harry?" Sirius called. Harry didn't answer. He slowly began to rock back and forth. There were some more footsteps. "Harry?" Sirius repeated. The footsteps stopped outside the closet and Harry saw two shadows. One for each of Sirius's feet. The closet door opened and Sirius looked around. He was bewildered when he saw Harry on the floor. Sirius reached out an arm and touched Harry's shoulder. Harry pulled back. Sirius gasped. Harry was afraid of him!
Sirius hesitated, then crouched down. He reached out a hand and rested it on Harry's shoulder. Harry shivered. "Harry..." Sirius said softly. Harry didn't do anything. Sirius rested his hand on Harry's head. "Come on son..." He said quietly. Sirius had hit Harry's soft spot. Harry slowly lifted his head and stared at Sirius. Harry's bottom lip was trembling. "What's wrong?" Sirius asked kindly. Harry stared at him for a moment. "I d-didn't m-mean to make you m-mad. I'm s-so sorry." Harry stuttered. Sirius stared at him, disbelieving. Then, he figured it out. The last time someone had been mad at Harry, they had hit him. Harry was afraid that Sirius was going to hit him! "Oh my god..." Siruis gasped. Harry's lip trembled even more. "No Harry! I would never hurt you! Everyone gets mad sometimes. It's no one's fault." Sirius said quickly. Harry looked at him nervously. Their eyes locked. "I promise Harry." Sirius said quietly. Harry hesitated, then nodded. Sirius stood and backed up as Harry left the closet and straightened. Sirius noticed Harry's hands were shaking. "Come here..." Sirius said gently. He pulled Harry into a hug. Harry relaxed a little. When they separated, Harry couldn't look Sirius in the eye. "Sorry...I know you would never..." Harry trailed off. He looked at his feet. "I just...relapsed, that's all." He said quietly. Sirius rested a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I know, but you don't have to worry about that anymore. No one will ever hurt you like that, ever again." He said. Harry looked at Sirius. He was dead serious. Harry nodded weakly. Sirius pulled him into another hug. Harry was much better, but he was still a little jumpy. Sirius just left him to calm down in his room, while he went and finished making supper.
Harry decided that he would just have Ron and Hermione over and would meet up with Abby in Diagon Alley. That way, he would avoid another situation with Sirius ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **************************************** LAST WEEK OF AUGUST ****************************************
Ron and Harry were both asleep in the blue and silver bedroom. Sirius had conjured a bed identical to Harry, for Ron. The only difference was, the things that were blue on Harry's bed, were silver on Ron's...and the things that were silver on Harry's bed, were blue on Ron's. This way, they would be able to tell the beds apart. The hangings were drawn around both beds as the door to the bedroom opened. Hermione peeked inside. She could tell that both her friends were asleep. She was going to enjoy this so much... Hermione tip toes across the room. She pulled back the curtains on Harry's bed, an those on Ron's. Hermione's plan was forgotten as she saw what the boys were wearing. It was apparent that boys didn't care much for pajamas. Hermione stiffled a laugh. She was being such a school girl! Unfortunatly, her laugh was not stiffled enough. Harry's head lifted off the pillow. "Who's ere?" He asked groggily. Harry grabbed his glasses and slipped them on his nose. He yelled out in surprise when he saw Hermione. "I...I...I..." Hermione began. Harry's yell had woken Ron too. His eyes focused and he made a mad grab for the blankets he was laying on top of, trying to cover himself. Harry stared at Ron for a second, then realised that he too was only in his black boxers. Harry grabbed a blanket and covered himself. He pointed to the door. "Out!" He yelled at Hermione, who snorted with laughter and hurried from the room. Ron muttered angrily under his breath.
Harry appeared downstairs a little while later, fully dressed. Hermione blushed when she saw him. "You're terrible! It's like you fancy seeing me in my knickers!" He said, laughter in his voice. Hermione pursed her lips, then smiled. "Hope Ron's not mad..." She said in a sing song voice. Harry snorted with laughter. "He's livid. Says he won't talk to you ever again. Guess that'll be awkward when you two are alone in Diagon Alley." Harry laughed. Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Alone? What about you?" She asked curiously. Harry blushed. "Er...I'm gonna spend some time with Abby." He said awkwardly. Hermione scowled. "What?" Harry asked, exasperated. Hermione shrugged. "There's just something about her..." She said quietly. Harry rolled his eyes. "Hermione, you don't have to pick apart every girl I like!" He cried angrily. Harry quickly bit his lip. Hermione's mouth dropped open. "You like her?" She gasped. Harry sighed. "No. Well...I don't know. I haven't really decided." Harry said awkwardly. Hermione stared at him sadly. Harry was never going to love her as anything more than a friend.
DIAGON ALLEY ****************************************
Harry, Ron and Hermione emerged from Gringotts with their heads spinning. "I hate those carts!" Harry groaned. Sirius was having a drink with Lupin the the Leaky Cauldron. "Where to first?" Hermione asked, looking around. "I need new robes." Harry sighed. His were once again several inches too short. Ron and Hermione agreed and they all headed to the robe shop. After that, they got all their schoolbooks and refilled their potion ingrediants at the apocothary. They were all clutching several packages as they made their way up to the Leaky Cauldron. "When are you meeting Abby?" Ron asked with curiosity. Harry noticed Hermione purse her lips. "Um...we're going to have a butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron." He said quietly. Ron nodded. "That'll work out well...my parents are bringing Ginny today to get her things. They wanted to meet up with me. And...Ginny wants to see Hermione." He explained. Harry sighed. At least Hermione would be occupied. There was an awkward silence as they continued to walk. "Are you ever gonna ask her out?" Ron laughed finally. Harry glanced at him. "We both agreed not to go out. I don't see that changing." Harry said quietly. But, Harry had a feeling that wasn't true...
"I don't know Harry. Three people..." Sirius trailed off awkwardly. Harry sighed. "You bought a huge house and you won't let me have three friends over for a couple weeks?" Harry asked angrily. Sirius sighed. "Ron and Hermione I don't mind but Abby..." Sirius trailed off again. Harry stared at him. There was something Sirius wasn't telling him. Harry tried to look into Sirius's eyes, but Sirius wasn't going to allow it. "What? What's wrong with Abby?" Harry asked angrily. Sirius took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He continued chopping the potatoes that were in front of him. "What?" Harry demanded. Sirius dropped the knife with a clatter. Harry jumped back. Sirius was mad. He was staring at Harry. Harry's hands were shaking. This reminded him of Uncle Vernon. All those terrible memories were coming back to him. Sirius took a couple of steps towards Harry. His eyes were livid. Harry had backed into a corner. His whole body was beginning to shake. Sirius didn't notice. "I saw you with her behind the tree. You told me you weren't dating her. You lied to me." He said, anger mixed with hurt was in his voice. "I d-didn't l-lie!" Harry stuttered. Sirius slumped his shoulders and stared at Harry. How could he not notice how terrified he was? In his right mind, Harry knew that Sirius would never hurt him, but all those memories of the Dursley's just came back. Sirius bit his lip and nodded. "Alright. Whatever you say." He said quietly. He reached out a hand and rested it on Harry's shoulder. Harry's eyes darted from the hand, to Sirius, then back to the hand, then to Sirius. He began to shake furiously, his eyes wide with terror. Sirius pulled his hand away, seeing that something was wrong. "Harry..." He began quietly, confusion in his voice. Harry ducked under Sirius's arm and backed out of the kitchen. Sirius was dumbstruck. He watched as Harry ran up the stairs. What was wrong with him?
Harry didn't know why, but he was terrified. He tore into his room and shut the door. He knew this wouldn't keep Sirius out. Harry looked around. Where could he hide? Harry bolted to the closet and slipped inside. He crouched down and shut the door. Harry pressed his knees into his chest and rested his forehead on his knees. The only thing in Harry's mind was the pain he got the last time someone was mad at him. Harry heard footsteps, then a knock on the bedroom door. After a minute, he heard a creak which indicated the door had been opened. "Harry?" Sirius called. Harry didn't answer. He slowly began to rock back and forth. There were some more footsteps. "Harry?" Sirius repeated. The footsteps stopped outside the closet and Harry saw two shadows. One for each of Sirius's feet. The closet door opened and Sirius looked around. He was bewildered when he saw Harry on the floor. Sirius reached out an arm and touched Harry's shoulder. Harry pulled back. Sirius gasped. Harry was afraid of him!
Sirius hesitated, then crouched down. He reached out a hand and rested it on Harry's shoulder. Harry shivered. "Harry..." Sirius said softly. Harry didn't do anything. Sirius rested his hand on Harry's head. "Come on son..." He said quietly. Sirius had hit Harry's soft spot. Harry slowly lifted his head and stared at Sirius. Harry's bottom lip was trembling. "What's wrong?" Sirius asked kindly. Harry stared at him for a moment. "I d-didn't m-mean to make you m-mad. I'm s-so sorry." Harry stuttered. Sirius stared at him, disbelieving. Then, he figured it out. The last time someone had been mad at Harry, they had hit him. Harry was afraid that Sirius was going to hit him! "Oh my god..." Siruis gasped. Harry's lip trembled even more. "No Harry! I would never hurt you! Everyone gets mad sometimes. It's no one's fault." Sirius said quickly. Harry looked at him nervously. Their eyes locked. "I promise Harry." Sirius said quietly. Harry hesitated, then nodded. Sirius stood and backed up as Harry left the closet and straightened. Sirius noticed Harry's hands were shaking. "Come here..." Sirius said gently. He pulled Harry into a hug. Harry relaxed a little. When they separated, Harry couldn't look Sirius in the eye. "Sorry...I know you would never..." Harry trailed off. He looked at his feet. "I just...relapsed, that's all." He said quietly. Sirius rested a hand on Harry's shoulder. "I know, but you don't have to worry about that anymore. No one will ever hurt you like that, ever again." He said. Harry looked at Sirius. He was dead serious. Harry nodded weakly. Sirius pulled him into another hug. Harry was much better, but he was still a little jumpy. Sirius just left him to calm down in his room, while he went and finished making supper.
Harry decided that he would just have Ron and Hermione over and would meet up with Abby in Diagon Alley. That way, he would avoid another situation with Sirius ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ **************************************** LAST WEEK OF AUGUST ****************************************
Ron and Harry were both asleep in the blue and silver bedroom. Sirius had conjured a bed identical to Harry, for Ron. The only difference was, the things that were blue on Harry's bed, were silver on Ron's...and the things that were silver on Harry's bed, were blue on Ron's. This way, they would be able to tell the beds apart. The hangings were drawn around both beds as the door to the bedroom opened. Hermione peeked inside. She could tell that both her friends were asleep. She was going to enjoy this so much... Hermione tip toes across the room. She pulled back the curtains on Harry's bed, an those on Ron's. Hermione's plan was forgotten as she saw what the boys were wearing. It was apparent that boys didn't care much for pajamas. Hermione stiffled a laugh. She was being such a school girl! Unfortunatly, her laugh was not stiffled enough. Harry's head lifted off the pillow. "Who's ere?" He asked groggily. Harry grabbed his glasses and slipped them on his nose. He yelled out in surprise when he saw Hermione. "I...I...I..." Hermione began. Harry's yell had woken Ron too. His eyes focused and he made a mad grab for the blankets he was laying on top of, trying to cover himself. Harry stared at Ron for a second, then realised that he too was only in his black boxers. Harry grabbed a blanket and covered himself. He pointed to the door. "Out!" He yelled at Hermione, who snorted with laughter and hurried from the room. Ron muttered angrily under his breath.
Harry appeared downstairs a little while later, fully dressed. Hermione blushed when she saw him. "You're terrible! It's like you fancy seeing me in my knickers!" He said, laughter in his voice. Hermione pursed her lips, then smiled. "Hope Ron's not mad..." She said in a sing song voice. Harry snorted with laughter. "He's livid. Says he won't talk to you ever again. Guess that'll be awkward when you two are alone in Diagon Alley." Harry laughed. Hermione's eyes narrowed. "Alone? What about you?" She asked curiously. Harry blushed. "Er...I'm gonna spend some time with Abby." He said awkwardly. Hermione scowled. "What?" Harry asked, exasperated. Hermione shrugged. "There's just something about her..." She said quietly. Harry rolled his eyes. "Hermione, you don't have to pick apart every girl I like!" He cried angrily. Harry quickly bit his lip. Hermione's mouth dropped open. "You like her?" She gasped. Harry sighed. "No. Well...I don't know. I haven't really decided." Harry said awkwardly. Hermione stared at him sadly. Harry was never going to love her as anything more than a friend.
DIAGON ALLEY ****************************************
Harry, Ron and Hermione emerged from Gringotts with their heads spinning. "I hate those carts!" Harry groaned. Sirius was having a drink with Lupin the the Leaky Cauldron. "Where to first?" Hermione asked, looking around. "I need new robes." Harry sighed. His were once again several inches too short. Ron and Hermione agreed and they all headed to the robe shop. After that, they got all their schoolbooks and refilled their potion ingrediants at the apocothary. They were all clutching several packages as they made their way up to the Leaky Cauldron. "When are you meeting Abby?" Ron asked with curiosity. Harry noticed Hermione purse her lips. "Um...we're going to have a butterbeer at the Leaky Cauldron." He said quietly. Ron nodded. "That'll work out well...my parents are bringing Ginny today to get her things. They wanted to meet up with me. And...Ginny wants to see Hermione." He explained. Harry sighed. At least Hermione would be occupied. There was an awkward silence as they continued to walk. "Are you ever gonna ask her out?" Ron laughed finally. Harry glanced at him. "We both agreed not to go out. I don't see that changing." Harry said quietly. But, Harry had a feeling that wasn't true...