A FRIEND TO TALK TO

CHPT 5: SAY GOODBYE

Disclaimer: I dont own the Harry Potter series.

Ron and Hermione sat downstairs surprised.

"Wonder what's his problem." Ron said.

"Probably has to do with Sirius and all the stress from the wizarding world." Hermione thought logically.

"Yes, that's probably it." Ron said.

They discussed the problems of their dear friend, hoping by knowing his problem maybe they could make it go away. But they didn't know. They had no idea.

Claire sat on her porch, waiting. It had been two days since Harry had left so suddenly in the night, and she had not seen him since. She was wearing khaki corduroy pants and a long sleeved off the shoulder loseblack shirt. Her hair was in a messy bun. She twirled a stick that Harry left behind. When her mother approached her, she stuck it in her sock. Claire had a sense of gloominess about her, and her mother noticed it. Mrs. Beaumont stood in back of hersad daughter.

"Claire, what's wrong? Where's your friend?" She asked. Claire sighed.

"I dunno."

"Well, have you checked his house? He might be grounded or something." Mrs. Beaumont said. Claire shrugged.

"I highly doubt that." Claire said.

"Well, you should go ask what happened to him." Mrs. Beaumont suggested.

"Okay." Claire said, and got up. She looked at the cloudy sky. It was beautiful.

She walked up to the Dursley's door and rang the doorbell. It took awhile for someone to answer it.

A fat man with no neck, a purple face, and mustache answered it.

"Yes?" He grunted.

"Um. Is Harry there?" She asked.

"Harry? HARRY! Er, NO! We don't know a Harry and Harry never lived here!" The fat man shouted.

"But-"

"No Harry, sorry, I think you have the wrong house, GOOD DAY!" He slammed the door in her face. Claire stood there, her mouth open. She knocked again, her arms crossed over her chest. The door opened again.

"Is Harry there?" She asked again, a bit more forceful. "I know he lives here."

"Sorry, no Harry!" The fat man said, then shut the door.

Surely this was Harry's house, and that was his uncle. He might have been lying, but why would he do that? Claire walked back to her house, disgruntled.

"Is Harry there?" Mrs. Beaumont asked.

"I guess not. The guy said that Harry never lived there." Claire said, confused.

"Oh. Well maybe you'll see him at school."

"I don't know if we're going to the same school!" Claire whimpered.

"Did you ask?"

"He just said it was a private school." Claire said.

"Well, you never know. Come on, we need to get your school supplies. Your school starts in less than a week." Mrs. Beaumont said. Claire nodded solemnly and took one more look at Harry's house, then walked inside to grab her cloak.

Harry lay alone in Ron's room. Whenever anyone tried to talk to him, he would push them away. They all thought it was because of Sirius and Cedric's death and the hassle of the ministry of magic. They were only partially correct.

Claire didn't know about his hard times, so Harry didn't know when he was with her either. Now that she was gone, the ghastly memories came flooding back to him. Also, he never got to say good-bye. Maybe if he went back for winter break, he could see her again, but the Dursleys' wouldn't want another wizard in their house, not until the beginning of next summer.

Harry rolled over. It would be months until he would see her again. But by that time she would find another boy to entertain her. Harry groaned. He rubbed his eyes. But then again, she kissed him. That had to mean something.

Harry smirked. He got up and walked down to the kitchen where the Weasley's and Hermione were sitting, eating dinner. They stared at him, ready to interrogate.

Before they did, Harry gave off a wicked glare, so they stayed silent.

After dinner was over, Mrs. Weasley made Fred and George clean up. They did it quickly, now having the power to do magic legally. Harry went up to Ron's room. Ron followed vigilantly.

"Harry?" Ron spoke. Harry turned around.

"What?"

"Harry, you're my best mate. I know something is wrong."

"Well obviously." Harry said.

"No, I don't mean like the whole you-know-who business…"

"Just say Voldemort! Its not like he can hear you."

"Er right. But really, usually you're happy to get out of there."

"Well it would be nice if someone would tell me what was going on for a change." Harry said harshly. Ron backed off.

"Jeez Harry, calm down. I'm just trying to help."

"Calm down? CALM DOWN! How can I calm down when my life is so…so hectic? " Harry raged on for the rest of the night while his best mate Ron tried to calm him down.

Before he knew it, he was on the Hogwart's Express. He stared through the window, looking at the scene, and remembering the girl he left behind.

An: Edited Version of Chapter Five. Tell me if i missed something, yes?