The nights after that were more of the same. Harry became the only one Lana would let bring food to her, as she didn't want to see anyone else. He only brought food once a day, when he came for his talk with her. Lana got water from the bathroom upstairs now, not wanting to have to sneak down. She knew that she was probably not getting enough nutrition, missing all of those vitamins that "growing girls need to have". But she was getting more than she had before and that was okay for her. She still held her skeletal figure, but she no longer got as many pounding headaches anymore like she used to, now that she was getting food on a regular schedule instead of leaving her body to wonder when the next scrap of food would come along.

The sessions with Harry usually included the same as the first, though it varied on the time. Sometimes it was close to 2 hours again, and some were as short as 15 minutes. But Lana didn't mind too much. She liked listening to Harry's stories. Sometimes it would just be him telling her about her day, and then it would retrieve other memories that he would tell. Lana had learned everything she needed to know for survival in the wizard world. She knew what teachers, classes, people, to avoid. She knew about houses, and she had funny little anecdotes from Harry to go with it. She felt like she knew Hogwarts like she had been there for several years. Though she knew she had a very one-sided opinion. Harry was one person, with a somewhat predisposed opinion. She doubted everyone really disliked the Slytherins as much Harry did. But really, she knew all opinions were based on facts, and she trusted Harry's opinion.

Not Harry, just his opinion.


Harry didn't know what Lana was getting out of his sessions with her. She never said anything except a thank-you for his food. Harry wondered if she even listened to what he was saying. Though she must right? What was she doing if she wasn't listening? Though he hoped that if she was listening, it wasn't just because there was nothing to do. But he guessed that he couldn't ask for much.

He had now almost completely withdrawn from everyone except for Lana. She was the only one he talked to, really talked to. Others, it was just a few short sentences. Even Ron had noticed how much Harry had changed. He went from somewhat talkative, to silent. Ron, of course, had no notion that it was Lana whom Harry really talked too.

Harry had been called from his room again, this time to go down and speak to the Headmaster. He had not seen Dumbledore since he was assigned to help Lana. He headed into the library, wondering if he would tell Dumbledore.

Dumbledore was sitting in the exact chair, reading this days Daily Prophet, and smiled at Harry, gesturing to the same couch Harry had sat on before.

"So Harry. How's Lana doing?" Harry took a deep breath. He wouldn't lie to the man. He couldn't.

"I can't say she's really much better. I mean she's hardly eating, and she only eats the food I bring her. She doesn't seem to trust anyone-"

"Except you?" Harry didn't know what the Headmaster meant. Lana didn't trust him…

"No, she hardly talks to me."

"But she trusts you enough to give her food, when nobody else can even come into her room. 'Hardly talking' is better than 'completely silent', even if it's just the same thing like a goodbye as you leave."

"She just says thank-you, for the food."

"But it's something Harry." Harry realized the old man was right. He was the only one Lana had trusted, at least some. He had actually done something right!

Dumbledore could see the realization on the boy's face. He smiled knowingly and told Harry he could go.


Lana had been waiting all night for Harry to come up and talk to her. She realized that those sometimes-short moments in the day were all she ever looked forward too. She knew that she might just be a job to Harry, but it was still something right? Every person needed something to look forward to. Lana usually just eagerly waited until she was able to sleep at night, as it had been the only real escape before. Now her dreams were haunted by old memories of the Benivans. The first night she had them, the night she broke the glass, she had been shaken awake because she was thrashing about and screaming. Harry had been the one who woke her, the girls in the bunks above and across from her hadn't even woke up until Harry came in. Once Lana had woken up, she saw Harry look frantic and worried. He was terrified. He seemed to know enough not to ask questions about the dreams, just asking her if she was okay. She now only whimpered in her sleep, shaking and occasionally shouting a name or word like "Please..no!" She was grateful for Harry not being nosy and trying to force things out of her.

She was tracing patterns on the wall that the bunk beds were against when she heard the door open.

"Hi Lana." Harry said when she turned over in her bed to face him. Once again, she didn't say anything, just stared at him. (Though Harry swore he saw that her eyes brightened slightly when she saw him)

"I just got done talking with Dumbledore. He wanted to know how you were doing, and I wasn't sure. I don't really know if what I do helps you. It helps me but that's not really the point." He paused, then looked up.

"Anyway, half of his attention was taken up by the Daily Prophet. That paper, it's such full of crap." And with that he told of Rita Skeeter, and how Hermione had guessed how she was an Animagus. He told it making Hermione sounding like some genius.

"Do you like her?" Harry's head shot up. This was the first time Lana had ever spoken, at least like that. He was so shocked in fact, that Lana repeated her question.

"Do you like Hermione?"

"Well duh, she's my friend." Lana sighed.

"No not like that, as more than friends." Harry laughed.

"Of course not! She likes Ron!" He laughed but got serious again.

" Hey, that's the first time I've ever heard you say something except when being forced."

Lana gave him a weak smile.

"Do you not want to talk again?" He was being so timid, Lana almost laughed.

"I want to talk." And so she did. She started a story of when a girl in the class invited the entire class to a party…except for Lana, simply because, "She was just such a freak." Harry felt a burning anger towards these people. How could anyone be so mean? And vicious?

She didn't talk to long, but that didn't matter for Harry. He was just so happy to see her…open up. He had tried for almost a month. And now his work was beginning to pay off.