Harry didn't open his eyes, even as he heard the bustle of people around him. They had woken him up from a wonderful dream about Katie, and he would hex someone if they attempted to speak to him.
"Can you believe it?"
"And so soon!"
"Kelly and Hermione, right?"
"Yeah!"
Harry's eyes flickered open. Students from all houses were hurrying about, paying no attention at all the sleeping boy on the ground. They were all looking anxious, talking about the same thing.
Harry stood up and quickly walked toward Neville, Dean, and Seamus, who were clustered in a huddle by a nearby tree.
"What's going on, guys?" Harry asked sleepily.
"Where have you been? Hermione is looking for you like crazy. Ron's trying to calm her down right now," Dean said.
"We just got out of breakfast," Seamus said quickly, trying to answer Harry's question. "Dumbledore made an announcement."
"There's going to be a dance in one week," Neville continued where Seamus left off. "He's going to speak about Hermione and Kelly. It's weird… everyone's seen Hermione, but no one can seem to say that they've seen Kelly."
Harry choked up.
"Harry?" Dean asked. "Harry, what's up?"
Harry shut his eyes and just shook his head.
Someone grabbed Harry's shoulders from in front of him. Harry opened his eyes and was surprised to find it was Neville.
"Harry, what do you know?"
Harry opened his mouth and shut it several times.
"C'mon, Harry, you can trust us," Seamus encouraged.
It was going to come out soon enough. "There never was a Kelly. The girl pretending to be Kelly is dead."
No one spoke.
"Say what?" Seamus asked.
"There's never been a Kelly?" Neville asked.
"Kelly Damen was an alias," Harry whispered. "The person who pretended to be Kelly is dead."
There was a pause.
"Harry, I'm so sorry," Dean said. "I know it must've hurt bad when you found out--"
"Found out?" Harry asked, tears threatening again. "I watched her die."
There was another awkward pause, this one much longer.
"I don't want to talk about it," Harry said, turning away. He walked up to the doors leading into Hogwarts and walked inside, completely ignoring everyone else.
"Oh, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing up to him. "I've been so worried--!"
"I tried to tell her you were fine," Ron murmured.
"Dumbledore talked to us this morning, but I didn't see you, did you hear? Oh, it'll be so dreadful to hear it all over again, I don't really want to. Would you maybe like to stay in the common room instead of--?"
"Hermione, shut up," Ron said. "I love ya, but please spare us."
Hermione gave him a reproachful look and looked as though ready to retaliate when Harry walked away from the scene.
"Oh, now see what you've done, Hermione!" Ron said, hurrying over to Harry.
"I beg your pardon? Were you not the last one to speak?" Hermione asked, catching up.
"Oh, be quiet," Harry quietly ordered. "I'm not in the mood for it."
Hermione looked like she was ready to retaliate to him, too, but wisely decided against it.
"Where are we going, Harry?" Ron asked instead.
"I dunno," Harry said.
"How long will it take?" Hermione asked. "I have loads of homework to catch up on."
"I dunno," Harry repeated.
Ron and Hermione quickly started bickering again, though Harry paid no attention anymore. He was thoroughly used to it and couldn't summon up the energy to open his mouth and tell them to shut theirs. He passed the Hospital Wing and dared a peek in; the curtains around Katie were shut tight. There were a few people still in Madam Pomfrey's care, but all looked as though they were healing well.
"Twinkleshaft," Harry said blindly as he reached the Fat Lady, Ron and Hermione still bickering behind him.
"Incorrect," the Fat Lady said. "You may not proceed."
"What?" Harry asked. "But that was the password yesterday!"
"Oh, yes!" Hermione exclaimed, ignoring Ron for the moment. "They changed it this morning. Mapleberry."
The Fat Lady bowed them inside.
Harry walked straight up the stairs and into the boys dorm, ignoring Ron calls for him to return as he just realized Harry was leaving. Harry opened the door and walked directly toward his bed, preparing for a long slumber, except someone was already sitting in it.
"Dobby!"
The house-elf bowed until his huge collection of hats toppled off his head. Dobby hurriedly collected them, though almost tripped from his over-sized, green and pink socks. He wore a roughly tied, and very ugly, tie about his neck and a shirt that looked like Dobby made it himself. He wore purple shorts that clashed dangerously with the rest of his outfit. The newest accessory seemed to be the yellow and blue mittens Dobby had created for himself.
"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Harry asked, quickly helping Dobby collect the hats.
Dobby looked sad. "Dobby hears of Harry Potter's friend. Dobby comes on behalf of the kitchens."
Harry watched Dobby move back toward Harry's bed and pull from under Harry's pillow a huge quilt.
"We makes this for you," Dobby said, handing Harry the quilt. "We knows you miss her much."
Harry unfolded the quilt. An accurate picture of Kelly Damen was on it, smiling the smile Harry had come to love. Harry tried not to choke up again.
"Thanks, Dobby," Harry said scratchily.
"Dobby and the other house-elves was happy to make it for you," Dobby said. "We says we are sorry for you. Winky even says to say she is sorry."
"Winky?" Harry asked, trying to steer the conversation away. "She's doing all right, then?"
Dobby's ears drooped slightly. "She is still adjusting, Harry Potter, sir. She does not like leaving Mr. Crouch, no she does not. Dobby thinks with more time she might come to like Professor Dumbledore too and forget about Mr. Crouch."
"Hermione will be happy to hear that," Harry said.
"She was indeed," Dobby acknowledged.
"You spoke to her?"
"Dobby speaks with her this morning. She sees Dobby in the common room waiting to give this to you. She says to go wait in your dorm. We talks for a while until we hears someone. We talks about Winky a lot."
"Hmm," Harry said, not knowing what else to say.
There was a pause. "Dobby is glad Miss Hermione is safe."
"Yes," Harry agreed. He didn't know what he'd do if he lost Hermione, too.
A clock gently chimed eleven o'clock.
Dobby jumped. "Dobby must go, Harry Potter, sir! The other house-elves will be waiting for him in the kitchens for lunch!"
"Bye, Dobby," Harry said.
"Goodbye, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby disappeared behind the door.
"WHOA!"
Ron toppled into the boys dorm. Harry stifled a chuckle.
"Sorry, Mr. Wheazy, sir!" Dobby called from the common room.
Ron rolled his eyes and Harry burst out laughing.
Ron grinned and got up. "Good to see you smile again, mate."
"Good to find a reason to," Harry agreed.
"So whatcha up to?" Ron asked.
"Er…" Harry thought to before he'd encountered Dobby. "Sleep."
"Oh, good," Ron said, smiling. "Nothing important. I was wondering if you wanted to go play some Quidditch."
Several visions of amazing Quidditch matches dashed through Harry's mind. "When do we leave?"
"When will you be ready?" Ron asked.
"I'll go in this," Harry said.
"Well then now would be the answer." Ron hurried over to his trunk and grabbed his Cleansweep Eleven. Harry took the cue and opened his trunk, taking his Firebolt out.
The two swept down into the common room. Hermione waved goodbye and looked affronted when Ron did nothing in return. Ron only quickened his pace to get to the Fat Lady before Hermione could call out his name. Harry rolled his eyes and waved goodbye back to her as he climbed through the portrait hole.