A FRIEND TO TALK TO

CHPT 7: LONELY

DICLAIMER: I dont own the Harry Potter series.

Harry dashed to the owlry to write Claire a letter. Just as he approached the entrance, he realized that he needed a quil and some parchment to write a letter... so he ran to Gyrffindor tower and got his stuff, then ran back to the owlry.

He sat on the floor while the owls around his chirped happily. The smell was horrible, but he endured it.

He held the quil in his hand and thought of what to write. Several minutes passed but he could think of a way to start.

Dear Claire would be a nice start. A voice in his head told him.

Oh yeah!

Dear Claire,

Then his mind went blank. What should he tell her? Would she be mad at him for not saying good bye? Did she still want to talk to him?

After contemplating his thoughts... he just decided to write whatever he felt like. Claire was really nice, so she would understand...

Or perhaps not. She didn't know his real past. She thought that Harry was a guy who had really a crappy aunt and uncle. She even said it herself.

FLASHBACK

"Hey Harry." Claire said. They where sitting in her backyard, eating candy. Regular, muggle candy.

"Hmm?"

"Your family is really crappy." She took a bite out of her chocolate bar. "No offense to you but... i was trying to call you and when i said you name, your cousin hung up on me."

Harry laughed. "You tried to call me? Why didn't you just walk over?"

Claire shrugged it off. "I still think it was mean. But its weird, they are really evil, and your really nice." Claire smiled at Harry.

"Thanks. I try my best..." Harry said prestigeously.

"No." Claire said, acting serious. "Thank you, Harry." She patted him on the back.

There was a moment of silence then,

They burst out laughing.

END FLASHBACK

The memory made him smile.

It was decided. He would explain everything in the letter.

x

x

"So Mr. Potter, you think you can just skip my class and get away with it?" An ugly, greasy hair/faced Snape said.

"Er-"

Yes.

"-Well you cant! 20 points off Gyrffindor! Plus a weeks detention..." Snape continued. "Is there anything you want to say for yourself?"

I skipped a week of your class and you give me a week of detention. Fine with me.

"No, sir." Harry said blandly.

Snaped glared. "You know Potter, you should be taking your class lessons seriously, because one day the Dark Lord might-"

"Just say VOLDEMORT okay? Its not that hard, honestly." Harry said with a big scoop of attitude. "And besides, why are you warning me? I already know. Are you working for him?" Harry kept a dead serious face while hiding a smiling inside.

Harry heard Snape hiss. Or was it a growl? He couldn't be too sure.

Whatever it was, it was a signal to leave, so Harry left the dungeons before Snape could say another word.

He was feeling a little better after that little ordeal. But, he was still sad. It had been a week since Harry wrote the letter to Claire.

And for the whole last week, instead of going to class, (he went to Transfigurations and Charms though) he was spending his time in the owrly, waiting for Hedwig to return with Claire's response.

(a/n: AWW!)

Three Days Before -Claire

Claire was working in her room while rain lightly tapped on the window. She had the radio on while she wrote her term paper.

The rain tapped the window harder. Claire sighed and turned the radio on louder. She loved the rain, and she wanted to go outside and run around like an idiot.

But instead, she had to finish her paper before the end of the night ended, and she only had to write the conclusion.

The rain tapped the window in some sort of pattern...

"Damn it! Its calling me!" She muttered to herself. She glaced at the window.

It wasn't the rain at all. Infact... it was an owl.

Claire set her pen down and stood up. She walked over to the window and opened it.

The snowy white owl hopped into her from and ruffled it's feathers. It was sprinkling outside.

"Who are you, little one? You're not Clippy..." Claire said sweetly to the owl. It had a letter attatched to its leg. She took the letter and set it down. She owl stayed. "Aww! You must be tired... be right back."

She ran downstairs to get water and Clippy's bird food.

(a/n: Clippy is Brian's owl)

She returned and the owl was still there. She set the water and food down on a random shelf in her room.

She was going to read the letter but she needed to finish her term paper first.

"I'll read the letter in just a minute cutie, but i need to finish my term paper first." Claire told the owl.

The owl hooted and flew to the shelf. It helped itself to the food and water. Claire gasped at the owl.

"How cute! She understands!" Claire cooed.

x

Later

x

It was already the next day and Claire came home from school.

She was greeted by her parent when she walked into her house. She walked to her room and froze.

The owl was stil there.

"Oops! I forgot." She said sheepishly. The owl was sleeping on the shelf.

She took the letter from the other night and opened it.

Her heart jumped.

It was from Harry.

Dear Claire,

First of all, i want you to know that i am REALLY REALLY sorry for leaving without telling you. I have a good reason, i suppose. So i guess you want to know...? if not, i just wanted to say i'm really sorry and you can stop reading...

Claire smiled. That terd muffin. She was a little mad, but it didn't really get to her. She knew he would tell her if he could.

The next part of the letter explained his past. He was a wizard, his parents were killed... all that. But Claire already knew that, she found out just recently.

Thats my past. I'm sorry for not telling you before, i just didn't want you to be in danger. Plus i thought your family was all non-magical, and i thought you would freak out or laugh at me.

I have realized that whenever i get attatched to someone, they end up getting killed. I dont want that to happen to you. Especially you...

Claire cooed. "Aww!"

I have so much to say, but, i want to send this to you right away, so i guess i'll end it here. But one more thing. Do you think we can meet up sometime? Its okay if you dont want to, but i would be so happy if we did.

Love, Harry

P.S. Brian said you had my wand. Can you send it back? I really need it.

Claire smiled at the letter.

He said love! She giggled.

She read the p.s part.

"Oh shit!" She exclaimed. She forgot to send it with Brian.

"Watch your language missy!" Mr. Beaumont said in the hall.

"Sorry!"

Claire wrote a response to Harry's letter. It was still light outside, and it was cloudy.

The owl was still sleeping, so Claire decided to send the letter at night when the owl was awake.

Harry was in the common room with Ron, doing homework.

"So..." Ron said, getting Harry's attention.

Harry lifted his head up. "Yeah?"

Ron hesitated for a moment. "Er..."

Harry stared at Ron for a bit. The booking he was reading was upside-down, and his parchment was blank.

"You're not really doing your work, are you Ron?" Harry asked in a monotone voice.

"No, you're right. I'm not." He paused. "I wanted to -to talk to you."

Harry smirked. "I must say, all that time with Hermione has really been rubbing off on you."

Ron waved that comment. "Something is up with you. You've been skipping class and acting very odd. I know, i could be the you-know-wh- i mean, V-v-vol-d-demort ordeal but... it doesn't seem like it." Ron whispered. Harry laughed.

"Did Hermione tell you what to say?"

"No! Well, she did give me a few outlines..." Ron ruffled his hair and suddenly became interested in his feet.

Harry snorted.

"Look Harry." Ron stared at Harry, eye to eye. "You're my best mate. You can tell me anything. And if you try to hide it, i'll find out. Eventually."

Harry shrugged.

"Well?" Ron urged. He looked a bit fearful.

"Er, alright." Harry looked around. A wave of relief spread across Ron's face. "There's this girl..."

"I KNEW IT!" Ron roared. "Is it Cho?"

Harry blinked. Cho Chang? He had completely forgotten about her!

"No!"

"Oh. Cuz that what Hermione thought." Ron said quickly.

Harry raised an eyebrow.

"What? She did!" Ron defended.

"Alright, i believe you then." Harry said.

"Tell me about this girl." Ron hunched over to hear better.

Harry grinned. "Alright. She's from America-"

"Ooo! A wild one, eh?"

Harry laughed and blushed. "Sure. Well anyway, she's a bit younger than me, she lived two doors down from the Dursleys, she's really cool, plus she's gorgerous-"

Ron butted in. "SO THATS WHY you were so mad when rescued from the Dursley's!" He exclaimed.

"Yeah."

"So she's a muggle?" Ron asked.

Harry nodded solemnly. "But her brother goes here."

"Really now? Who's her brother?"

"Brian. Brian Beaumont." Harry told him.

"Yeah, i 've seen him around. He's 10 years old but he's a 3rd year."

"Really?"

"Yeah. He has a fan club of 1st year girls. They think he's a god or something. Plus he's on the Ravenclaw quidditch team. Bloody nutters-"

"Really!"

Ron nodded. "I guess you'd notice if you ever came to class!"

Harry shrugged. "I dont have my wand."

Ron chuckled. "Good excuse, i suppose."

Harry and Ron laughed, which was a big relieve for Ron, who was terrified what Harry would have done if this conversation didn't go as planned.

Meanwhile...

A devistated Hermione stood behind the staircase, listening to every word they were saying.

She wasn't expecting this. At all. She knew that Harry was over Cho, but she didn't even consider Harry fancing another girl.

It was supposed to go like this:

Ron bring up the topic of Voldemort.

Harry would blow up.

Then Harry would bring up Sirus.

Harry would get very upset.

Then Hermione would come in and cheer up Harry while Ron left!

Then Harry would be happy, and Hermione would be too, knowing that Harry could seek comfort in her...

But things didn't go as planned.

As Harry and Ron continued to talk about whatever, sad Hermione walked silently up the stairs and into the girls dormitorites.

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