.:. Secrets Between Friends .:.
Chapter Four - Rude Awakening
It was early morning and the sudden bustle of some Gryffindors in the common room startled Harry. He nearly fell off the sofa trying to get up he was so disoriented and confused. He saw blurred shapes of his fellow students moving about. He felt his face for his glasses, but he wasn't wearing them.
Hastily he checked the sofa, incase they had fallen off during his sleep. Nothing. He searched the floor in front of the sofa, too. Without his glasses he felt so helpless, and feeling helpless was something he absolutely hated to feel.
"Has anyone seen my glasses?" Harry called out to the blurred motion around him. "I've lost my glasses." He croaked, still shaking off the effects of slumber.
A shadow knelt down beside him and touched his arm.
"What's wrong Harry?" The concern in her voice was unmistakable. He stared at her, squinting.
"Ginny?" He could barely make her features out.
"Yes. Harry, where have your glasses gone?"
"I don't know." His mind revisited the previous night. "I was up late trying to figure out an essay topic, then I was talking to Colin." His mind went blank. That when he must have fallen asleep. That didn't answer the question of the whereabouts of his glasses.
In his silence, Ginny studied Harry's face. His hair was a mess. His eyes were a little puffed from sleep, but without his glasses they were much greener than usual. He looked lost.
"I'll help you find them." Ginny offered.
"Thanks, Ginny." Harry said with a warm smile.
"Ok, so…" She realized her hand was still on his arm. She let go reluctantly. "Where did you leave them last?"
"Uhh, on my face."
"Oh ok, so that's no help."
"Thanks." He said flatly.
Ginny stifled a giggle. She scanned the areas around them avoiding the looks from the few students that were up at this time.
"When's your first class?"
"Well, I normally would have Potions class first thing today, but Snape has recently been unavailable to teach." He whispered that last part conspiratorially under his breath. He continued.
"Hermione and Malfoy had a raging argument that last week. She was so furious she attempted to get back at him." He seemed to forget his missing glasses for a moment. His naked eyes shone as he confided in her.
"She tried this spell she found. It worked perfectly. Only, it got misdirected at the last moment." His mouth spread into a wide grin.
"What was the spell?"
"I can't say now, Hermione would be furious with me! I really should find my glasses though."
"Yes."
They had searched most of the common room when Hermione and Ron entered from the girls' and boys' staircases respectfully.
"What are you two doing?" Ron asked groggily, breaking the silence of the common room.
"Harry, where are your glasses?" Hermione queried a moment later.
Harry, who had been checking the higher bookshelves along the wall, nearly dropped a large book onto Ginny. Meanwhile, Ginny who was checking the lower shelves, suddenly realized how close she was to Harry's lower extremities and blushed deeply. She shyly stood up and stepped away from him.
"To answer both questions, we're looking for my glasses." Harry turned to face the voices. "What time is it, by the way?" He asked no one in particular.
"It's still quite early." Hermione shot a glance at Ron. "So why are you up at this hour Ron?"
"Oh." Ron shuffled around. "Neville just happened to come across a left over treat from my brothers' escapades. He snored like a dragon with asthma all night! And it's getting worse." He rubbed the sleep from his eyes.
"I see." Hermione studied him for a moment before returning her attention Harry. "So what exactly happened to your glasses, Harry?"
"I dunno."
"Well, that's no help, now is it?" She surveyed the room at a glance, and then sighed. "I think I know a spell just for this type of situation."
"Hermione, I think we can manage without any of your spells right now. Thanks all the same."
"Fine!" She huffed. "I'm going down for breakfast early, since you don't need my help." She stomped off out of the room. Harry made a step towards her, bumping into Ginny instead.
"I'm sorry, I should go too. I'm just in the way." Ginny scurried off in the direction Hermione took.
Once Ginny was out in the main hall, she leaned against the wall for a moment, catching her breath. For a while she had forgotten about what was on her mind during the previous night. All in a rush, she had remembered. It was all she could do to remain calm and collected while standing so near to Harry.
Inside the common room Ron stared at Harry, puzzled.
"You know, scaring off two girls at once is quite the talent."
"Bugger off, Ron. I'm not having a good day so far." Harry wandered back to the sofa, and flopped down with a grunt.
"That much I could tell, and I'm not even awake yet." He sat down beside his friend and leaned back.
"Oh, if I could only get some sleep right now." Ron complained.
"At least we don't have Potions class today."
"That's right! I could get some sleep, just for an hour." Suddenly Ron's face turned to shock.
"Bloody hell, I have to pass in my late assignment for Divination!" Ron sank further down into the sofa. "I was supposed have it done for today's class!"
"Which is usually right after Potions." Harry noted. "I guess you're not helping me find my glasses then, are you."
"Nope, sorry Harry. If you find your glasses before class, feel free to help me out and make sure I'm still awake."
Ron grudgingly made his was back to room, all the while mumbling incoherently.
Harry remained seated on front of the fireplace. His thoughts drifted back to the previous night. He was quite certain that he hadn't taken off his glasses. If he had he would have put them in a pocket, or set them down somewhere near. Someone must have taken them.
He immediately suspected Malfoy, but it made no sense for his rival to play such a simple trick on him. No, the blonde Slytherin would have done something more malicious that this.
Harry's thoughts focus on another blonde boy. As he thought about it, he realized Colin Creevey never spoke to him regularly. When he did it was always about taking his picture or inquiring about his games, and such things. Last night the boy actually spoke to him as an equal without making Harry feel like he was being idolized. In all honesty, it was probably the first time in quite awhile, that the two of them spoke to each other without the company of others.
He remembered now, that he had fallen asleep quite quickly. Harry had felt suddenly tired and comfortable lying on the sofa. Besides, it had been quite late.
Something tugged at his mind, but Harry couldn't put his finger on it.
—
Colin lay back in his bed, staring up at the ceiling blankly.
He had been awake before any of his roommates, and was thankful for that. Upon waking, he was painfully aware of the two things – Harry's glasses that he held up to his chest, and the hard throbbing between his legs. He hadturned over to hide both, and now that everyone had left for breakfast he allowed himself to relax and breathe a bit. Then he waited for things to subside.
The boy realized that waiting wasn't helping. He knew that in this condition he couldn't go anywhere without a great deal of discomfort. Colin resigned himself to do the only thing that he knew would help. So, he proceeded to alleviate the stress his body was inflicting upon himself.
Colin's need was suddenly so immediate and intense, that he failed to notice the knock on his door. When his name was called from outside the door, it barely registered. The fact that it was Harry's voice calling his name, though, struck a chord deep inside him. For a moment, the world only consisted of Harry's voice calling his name again, the muffled sound of it saturating his mind.
When he realized what the reality of it meant, it was too late for him.
Harry had just opened the door.
—
Harry stumbled over some furniture on the way to Colin's room. He thought maybe the other boy had seen where he had put his glasses. Once Harry was at the door he listened for signs of any morning activity. Hearing nothing, he knocked softly just in case anyone in the room was still sleeping. He wasn't sure how many had left already for breakfast.
"Colin." Harry called out.
No answer.
Harry stood there for a moment quietly. He didn't want to be rude and just walk in, but he figured if there were no signs of life, it was ok. Just in case, he knocked again, a little louder. He called out, again a little louder.
No answer.
Opening the door, Harry poked his head in. He could barely make out the beds around the room, but one of them he could tell was occupied. He called out again.
"Colin?"
A muffled sound, not unlike a grunt, came from the room.
"Uhh… Harry?" came Colin's throaty reply.
"I don't mean to wake you, but I was wondering if you remember where I put my glasses last night. I can't see without them." He squinted in Colin's direction.
"Oh I have them here." The other boy blurted out.
"You do?"
For a moment, Harry was sure he heard the boy whimper.
"I uhh… I-I," Colin began to stutter. "Th-they fell off, and I-I p-pick-picked them up. I g-guess I-I f-for-forgot about them. S-sorry."
There was a moment of silence.
"Can I have them back?" Harry posed quietly.
"Yeah, sure." Colin's voice squeaked out.
Harry entered the room fully and walked over towards where Colin lay. He stepped slowly and carefully making sure he wouldn't trip on anything.
"I'm so glad I didn't lose them or break them." Harry told the blond boy as he approached. "I wasn't looking forward to going through any classes without them."
Colin made a nervous little laugh.
Standing over him, Harry waited. He suddenly sensed the younger boy's nervousness. He looked down at Colin, confused. Then he realized that Colin was holding up something to him.
"Here's your glasses, sorry for taking them."
Harry reached out to grab his glasses. He misjudged the distance and his fingers closed around Colin's hand. By the initial contact Harry could tell that the boy's slender hand was shaking. But for a moment, as Harry's fingers traveled, groping towards the pair of specs in Colin's warm hand, the trembling ceased. Colin's fingers uncurled slowly, releasing Harry's glasses to him.
Harry fumbled with his glasses, and realized that he was putting them on upside down.
"Oh bugger." Harry cursed.
He turned them around, almost poking his eye out, and put them on right. Once he was looking through his lenses he saw the room around him, and the boy in front of him clearly. Colin was snuggled tightly under his blankets with one arms still stretched out towards Harry's body. The boy's face was blank with astonishment. His mouth was slack. His eyes were wide and staring directly into Harry's.
When Harry saw those watery blue orbs, his breath left him and his throat clenched. It was a few silent seconds before he found his.
"Umm, Colin?" Harry began. "Are you… are you alright?"
Colin stared up at Harry, and suddenly realized that he had his glasses on, and could see him clearly. He looked away and closed his eyes, forcing the moisture to streak down his pale cheek. His lips were turned down, and his chin trembled. He brought his hand up to cover his face.
"You have your glasses now, you should go. I'm not feeling well."
"I can see that" He stepped to the edge of Colin's bed. "Is there anything I can do? I can sneak something back from breakfast if you're hungry." Harry offered sincerely.
"That would be nice…" The boy in bed mumbled from underneath his hand. Colin then turned back to Harry so suddenly that the older boy jumped.
"No! Don't do that! You don't have to!" Colin pleaded. "I'm not hungry, and …" The boy faltered. Harry suddenly noticed the blond hair around Colin's forehead and temples were darkened with sweat. The boy's skin definitely had a shine to it.
"Hold on, looks like you've got a fever."
"Wha—" Colin gaped at him.
Harry bent close and made to put a hand on his forehead. Colin gasped and tried to shy away from his touch. With the quick movement, the blankets covering the boy were pulled away to expose his shoulders and upper chest.
"C'mon Colin, I'm not going to hurt you. I know I'm no medical expert but I should be able to tell if you have a fever. You don't want me to get Madame Pomfrey, if you don't need her."
Colin settled down.
Having to reach further now, Harry placed a hand on the bed beside Colin's shoulder to steady himself as he placed his other hand on the boy's forehead. He brushed away the blond hair and pressed his palm against the Colin's skin. Harry felt the warmth emanating from his body, and not just from his moist brow, his neck and shoulders gleamed with sweat. The boy's face was flush. Also, the space around him seemed warm and musky.
Colin had closed his eyes and was biting his lip when Harry noticed another movement out of the corner of his eye. He looked down and stared for a moment, baffled. Colin's breathing was quick and rough. Harry looked back into the blue eyes that were now open again and intense.
"You really should go, Harry" Colin told him through clenched teeth. "Now."
The sudden realization hit him and he felt dizzy. Harry turned and bolted towards the door. The muffled sound he heard from Colin on the way out sent a chill up his spine.
By the time Harry got to the common room, his stomach had done a somersault, and his mind had flipped inside out, and he was utterly dumbfounded.
July-05-2005: first posted
July-12-2005: named chapter and added 3 pages
Read on and enjoy Chapter Five!