Summery:

On The Run

Chapter Twenty Two

Concern

Harry sighed as they left Transfiguration. He wasn't looking forward to the two and a half foot paper they had to do on animal transfiguration and configuration. Ron and Hermione fell in step with him as they walked down the winding hallways to their next class, Potions. "I can't believe how much work we're being given." Hermione said, bringing him out of his thoughts.

"It's not fair to give us this much work!" Ron cried. "Are they trying to kill us by over working us?"

"No Ron, their trying to teach us." Hermione corrected as she put a book away in her rucksack as they walked.

"Well shouldn't they do that in class?" Ron asked. "That's why we have classes."

Harry listened as they bickered about classes. He had rarely ever seen them get into a really heated argument. Finally turning the corner to the hallway leading to the Potions classroom they stopped by the door. Many students were already there waiting, as they usually were. Most students were too intimidated of Professor Snape to risk being late. Sighing Harry leaned against the wall and leaned his head back a little. He couldn't wait till the day ended and he could go back to his dorm room and crawl into bed. But unfortunately they still had lunch and three classes, Herbology, Charms and Defense Against the Dark Arts. All of which were classes he wouldn't be able to put his head down and sleep a little. Then he had a Potions lesson with Snape afterward.

"You okay, mate?" Ron's concerned voice brought Harry out of his thoughts.

"Yeah, Ron. I'm fine." Harry answered shortly. He appreciated that they cared about him enough to be concerned, but he hated being asked how he felt. "Just tired." He knew he had to tell them something, or they would continue to pester him.

"I know what you mean." Ron said sighing. "And we still have three classes and lots of homework, and we're still going to get..." He was cut off by the door to Potions class opening and Professor Snape coming into view. The students immediately began to enter the classroom and quietly sit down at their respective seats. No one wanted to anger the short tempered Potions Master. Sitting down next to Ron, Harry began to read off the board. They were making a burn salve today. Harry was happy to see that it was a potion he was familiar with.

"Class has begun. I expect your potion to be brewed fifty minutes through class, and then I want you to bottle some for me to test." Professor Snape barked as he walked down the middle isle to his front desk. "Get your ingredients and begin!"

Hastily the students began to gather their ingredients. Harry worked on his potion in silence like everyone else. Cutting, and mashing ingredients, then applying them and stirring. He was so deep in thought he didn't see the concerned eyes of his professor watching him closely.

Fifty minutes later Professor Snape directed them to bottle their potions and bring them to him. Harry did so in silence. The bell rang signaling the end of class, and Harry followed his two friends and classmates out of the class room and to lunch.

Lunch was a noisy and busy affair and Harry ate as he worked on his Transfiguration assignment. Hermione, he noticed, was also doing the same, while Ron was shoving food down his throat like he wouldn't be eating for days. He hoped to finish a few of his papers in between his classes so he didn't have to worry about them later, and he could hopefully go to bed sooner.
Harry enjoyed Herbology. He found the teacher pleasant, and he enjoyed talking with Neville about the different plants while they worked. Hermione and Ron would insert their own comments while they talked.
Entering the Charms classroom Harry sat down next to Hermione. The small excited Charms teacher began to tell them how to do the noise cracker charm. Harry wasn't too enthused about their class assignment mainly because he didn't see too much use of it. The only uses he could figure that it may be used for would be a distraction and an annoyance. Currently, he found it to be the latter. By the end of class he had a horrible head ache.
He usually looked forward to going to Defense Against the Dark Arts. It was one of his favorite subjects. He had always enjoyed the defense lessons Sirius had given him, even though he could only learn a limited amount. He couldn't wait till he saw Sirius. He wanted to tell him about his progress in Defense. Entering the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom Harry found his seat between Ron and Hermione.

"Good evening class." Professor Lupin began as he closed the door to his class room and moved to the front of the class. "Today we will be learning how to make a stronger defense shield..." Professor Lupin began to explain how to perform the spell properly and what times it was best to use. Harry tiredly yawned into his hand as his eyes followed the professor. Finally Professor Lupin began asking them up two at a time to perform the stronger shielding charm. One would cast a minor non-harming hex, while the other would attempt a strong shielding. Half way through the class Remus called Harry and Ron up.

Ron was the first to cast a shielding. He ended up having to try three times before finally casting it correctly. Harry waited for Ron to cast his minor non-harming hex before casting his shield. He managed to cast the shield, but not the strong shield. Trying a second time, Harry finally managed to cast the proper spell.

"Good job both of you. Mr. Potter, you need to practice a little more to make it stronger." Professor Lupin advised him. Harry nodded and followed Ron off the stage.

Professor Lupin continued to call the rest of the class up to cast the strong shield. Finally the bell rang and everyone gathered their belongings and began to leave the room.

"Mr. Potter, please stay behind." Professor Lupin called.

Once the students left the classroom Professor Lupin turned to face Harry.

"Are you doing okay, Harry?" Remus asked in concern.

Harry nodded. "Just a little tired."

Professor Lupin nodded. "If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me or one of the teachers, okay?"

Harry nodded again. "Sure."

"Okay, I'll see you at supper." Harry nodded and bid Professor Lupin bye and left the room.

Entering Gryffindor common room Harry saw Hermione and Ron sitting at a desk in the corner. There was an empty seat so Harry sat down next to them.

"What did Professor Lupin want?" Ron asked as he looked up from his homework.

"Just to talk." Harry answered vaguely.

Harry took out his own homework and quill and ink bottle and began his own homework hoping to make a large dent in his homework.

Two hours later it was time to head to the Dungeons to the Potions classroom.

Knocking on the door Harry waited for the 'Come in' Professor Snape always gave him. After getting his invite Harry entered and went to the table he saw Professor Snape at.

"Good evening, Mr. Potter." Professor Snape said as he faced Harry.

"Good evening Professor." Harry said pleasantly.

"I am making skele-grow here." Professor Snape said as he motioned to the cauldron he was working at. Motioning to a second cauldron he said, "I have already laid out the ingredients to a calming potion."

Harry nodded and began to cut and mash and mix the ingredients. Unknown to him Professor Snape was keeping a close eye on his movements. Closer then usual.

Finally, when Harry was almost finished, and Snape was bottling the skele-grow, Snape spoke.

"Are you alright, Mr. Potter?" Only a little concern laced his neutral voice.

"Yes, Professor Snape." Harry answered looking up from his work for a moment. "Just tired." Professor Snape stayed silent.

"You had better get to dinner." Professor Snape brought Harry out of his thoughts as he was bottling the calming drought.

"I'm not finished bottling this, sir." Harry said motioning to his potion.

"I'll do it." Professor Snape said simply.

"Thank you, sir." Harry said as he picked up his book bag. "Good night."

Snape simply nodded and watched as Harry silently left the room. He'd kept a close eye on Harry during class earlier and had noticed something seemed off with the boy. He was moving a little lethargically. He seemed tired, as he confirmed he was. He had also not been eating as much as normal. Sighing as he began to bottle the rest of the claming potion, Snape decided to speak with the rest of the staff during their meeting that night.

Harry was again working on his homework as he ate. He had finished his Transfiguration homework. He was beginning on his Charms homework. He still had Herbology and Defense Against the Dark arts homework to finish.

Hand covering his book and parchment stopped him from continuing. Looking up he saw Hermione staring at him.

"Eat." She said simply as she pulled his book away from him and took the quill out of his hand.

"I need to finish that." Harry said as he began to try and grab them back from her, but she was too quick.

"You also need to eat more." She said simply. "Now eat." She said as she dished more on his plate.

Harry scowled but began to eat.

Sighing, Harry crawled into his comfortable bed. It was around eleven thirty and he had just finished his homework and showered. He was exhausted and he knew it was beginning to show. Closing his eyes he quickly fell asleep.

"Has anyone else got anything else to discuss?" Headmaster Dumbledore asked as they had just finished their weekly meeting with the staff.

"Yes." Remus spoke up before anyone else could. "Harry seems ill or something."

"I've noticed that too." McGonagall spoke up. "He seemed especially tired today."

Professor Snape decided to voice another concern about Mr. Potter's health. "His eating seems to be declining as well."

"Has he mentioned anything being wrong to any of you?" Dumbledore asked.

"Just that he was tied." Professor Lupin spoke up.

"Do you think this trial is affecting him more than we had suspected?" Dumbledore inquired concerned.

"Probably." Remus spoke up again. "Sirius has been one constant in his life since he was a young child. It has to be difficult for him to be separated from him like this, and being thrown in a new school like he has and being behind in the work doesn't help him any."

"He's been working exceptionally hard on catching up with everyone." McGonagall commented.

Dumbledore nodded thoughtfully. He too had seen Harry's declining health. He hoped it didn't go any further.

"Keep an eye on him please. If this continues we will step in." Dumbledore advised.

End of Chapter Twenty Two

A/N: I hope you like the new chapter! Yeah I finally learned how to seperate parts of the story! Please review!

Next Chapter: A month later, Christmas. Gift exchange.