A FRIEND TO TALK TO

CHPT 6: TROUBLE

DISCLAIMER: I dont own the Harry Potter series.

It was two days before school started, and Claire had one thing she wanted to do before she left. She worked in her basement, which she turned into a photo-processing lab. The room was dim and was lit by a red light. She had pictures slowly forming in sheets. When one was done, she added a feature to make the pictures more interesting.

She hung the pictures up to dry and smiled at them. They was one of her, several of Harry, and a few of her and Harry. The last picture was drying and the image slowly came into view. She gawked at it.

"BRIAN!" Claire shrieked. She stared at the picture and beamed. It was still a lovely picture.

Harry sat alone in the Gryffindor common room. The fire roared and Harry soaked in the warmth. In the great hall, the sorting ceremony was probably taking place. Then Dumbledore would make his speech. Afterwards, there would be a great feast and everyone would come racing to his or her common room, full and content.

Harry loathed these people. They had normal lives and normal pasts and normal futures to come. Probably. We wished just for one day that he could switch with one of these people. Then they would see. His life wasn't glamorous. It was dreadful.

The word had spread on Voldemort's return. Everyone who ever doubted his felt bad, and the rest who did felt they had a connection with him. As soon as he stepped foot on the Hogwarts Express, people tried to talk to him. All Harry really sought after was to be left alone. He then locked himself in a compartment with Hermione, Ron, Ginny, and Luna. They were bitterly silent for the rest of the way.

Now Harry stared keenly at the fire. It moved erratically and glowed intensely. He was lost in his thoughts as he gazed into the flames.

Time elapsed quickly and Harry didn't even know it. Students began to flood the common room. As soon as they started to talk to them, he got up and headed to the boys dorm. He was mildly pissed of at everyone.

Serves them right for not believing me from the beginning.

He laid down in his bed and let the canopy secrete him. Just then Ron barged in the room.

"Harry, Harry! I got good news!" He said out of breath. Harry rolled over.

"Leave me alone." He muttered. He blocked out all the voices around him and drifted to sleep.

x

Harry woke up in the morning. He was still wearing his regular cloths from yesterday. He took out his uniform from his trunk took a shower. When he was done, he walked back to the boy's dormitories.

"Morning Harry." Ron said charily, fearful that Harry might blow up.

"Morning." He said. A wave of relief spread across Ron's freckled face.

Harry's schedule was lying on his bed. Double Potions on Mondays. Great. Ron changed into his old uniform and headed down to breakfast with Harry. Harry stopped.

"I forgot my wand. Go on without me, I'll catch up with you." Harry said, and ran back up the stairs. Ron nodded and walked off.

He looked through his trunk, but it wasn't there. He checked his robes and under his bed. Nothing. He checked his trunk again. Nothing. He could have left it on the train, but he didn't remember even having it there. His heart dropped. He could have left it at the Dursley's, or worse, at Claire's. But if he left it at Claire's house, he could ask her to send it to him…

Would she think it to be strange if she received a letter from an owl?

The thought of Claire made his stomach flip. Even if he did try to contact her, would she be mad at him?

Harry sat on his bed and thought. His stomach growled. He didn't eat dinner the night before. He decided to go eat breakfast.

Claire walked into her classroom. She was the youngest student in the class. She looked around for a familiar face and saw none. She took a seat next to a young man who was at least two or three years older than her.

"Hullo." The guy said.

"Hi." Claire said.

"I haven't seen you before, what school did you go to?"

"Bermuda Academy."

"Never heard of it."

"Its in the States."

"Oh, okay. I went to-" He started saying, but the professor cut him off. Claire smiled sheepishly.

"Mr. Wood, will you please settle down? This is a serious class and I will be needed over 100 percent of your attention!" The professor said.

"Sorry professor."

Harry walked ominously with Ron and Hermione. He was devastated that he left his wand behind. Hermione suggested that he go talk to Dumbledore about it. Harry didn't want to. He might think Harry was foolish for not having his wand with him, especially now that "the war" was on full blast. He decided to go to his first class and figure out what he was going to do after.

He had Transfigurations first. He walked strait to Ms. McGonagall.

"Professor McGonagall, I have a problem." Harry said.

"What is it Harry?" Prof. McGonagall whispered.

"I left my wand…"

"Then go get it."

"No, I left it at the Dursley's…I think." Harry said. The professor's eyes went wide.

"Harry Potter! You should know better! With all this about the war going on…What were you thinking! Go to Professor Dumbledore right now!" McGonagall said. Harry nodded and walked out of class. Hermione and Ron watched as he walked out. He walked all the way to Dumbledore's office. He stood in front of the statue and tried to think of something that would open it.

"Err. Lemon Drop." He said. Nothing happened.

"Sherbert Lemon." He guessed. Nothing happened.

"How about if you try…Frizing Wizbees. " Someone said behind him. The statue moved out of the way and revealed a spiral staircase. Harry turned around. It was Dumbledore.

"Professor, I-" He started saying. Dumbledore raised his hand for silence.

"Come in, we can talk in my office." Dumbledore said in that tediously calm manner.

Harry nodded and walked into the office. The familiar assortment of portraits and oddments came into view. Dumbledore gestured Harry to sit down. He did. Dumbledore sat behind his desk.

"So Harry, what brings you to my office today?" He asked Harry. His eyes sparkled.

"Er. I forgot my wand. At the Dursley's." Harry said sheepishly.

Dumbledore stared.

"Harry. Right now the most important thing for you is for you to stay and Hogwarts, and to have your wand with you at all times." Dumbledore said seriously.

"Yeah…" He mumbled.

"I will get your wand as soon as I can. But for now, don't try sneaking off."

"Okay." Harry said. Why would he try? "Do I have to go to class?"

"Yes, you can participate in most activities without a wand."

"Oh."

Harry walked out of the office. The portraits cackled at him as he did.

Harry walked out to the lake. He at under an old willow tree a few yards from the water. He leaned back against the tree and stared into the lake. The giant squid floated across the surface, then disappeared. A cold wind blew passed and sent shivers down his spine. He was ditching class and he knew it, but didn't care. Hermione wouldscold him later.

Harry strolled passed the hall. Class was over and he decided to go to his second class, which was Charms. As he walked by, he heard a few first years arguing.

"Hey mudblood, where's your mummy? Oh, that's right, there muggles, HAHA!" A Slytherin shouted. That didn't make any sense. Harry chuckled.

"Hey at least im not retarded you stupid retard! Why would my parents be here anyway, they're old, they don't need school anymore. Are your parents so retarded that they still go to school?" A little Ravenclaw boy said. He sounded familiar. Especially with that accent…

Harry looked over at the boy. His heart leaped.

"BRAIN!" Harry shouted, and ran over to the boy.

"Hiya Harry! I didn't know you were a wizard." Brain said. The Slytherin boys sniggered.

"Stupid mudblood. Doesn't know anything." One said.

"Well at least I'm not a retard!" Brain retorted. The Slytherin boys walked off.

A few other Ravenclaw boys stared in awe at Harry.

"You're Harry Potter."

"I read about you in the paper."

"My dad thinks you're a nutter." Harry smiled. Brian was here!

"So Brian, is your sister here?" Harry asked anxiously.

"Nope. She's going to a different school." Brian said.

"Oh." Brian was muggleborn. Harry guessed he was the only one in the family. "Well…have you seen my wand? I think I left it at your house." Harry said.

"Whoa! Harry Potter came to your house!" A first year gasped. Harry laughed. Brian grinned.

"Yeah, all the time." Brian grinned as the other boys cooed at him. "Oh. I saw Claire playing with it."

"Did she know what it was?" Harry asked.

"Of course she did!" Brian retorted.

"Do you have it?" Harry asked.

"Um. No, but I can get it for you. I'll send an owl! I got a new owl Harry! His name is Clippy and he's black and fluffy!" Brian said merrily.

"That's great." Harry said. The bell rang.

"Okay Harry, I'll send her an owl. Bye buddy!" Brian grinned, and walked away. Harry turned to walk to class, but then stopped and turned around to tell Brian something.

"Hey Brian!" Harry called. Brian turned around. "I'll just send it myself!"

Brian shrugged and ambled with his Ravenclaw friends.

Harry smiled and ran to the owlry to find Hedwig. He thought of things to write and happily made his way up the stairs.

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