Chapter 2
Hogwarts
The Hogwarts welcoming feast was the same as ever. Harry, Ron noticed, didn't eat so much as poke at his food, but Ron decided to ask about it latter. After all if he stopped and asked he'd lose three or four seconds where he could have been eating, just not efficient to talk while eating. After the meal Dumbledore rose to his feet and introduced the new potions professor, Slughorn. Ron thought about upchucking his meal when Dumbledore announced that Snape was the DADA professor.
So close, he'd finally gotten rid of potions and the snarky bastard switched to a class he was good in. Ron had gotten an O in DADA and care of magical creatures, E's in Charms and Transfiguration, an A in Potions and P's in Herboligy, Astronomy, Divination, and History of Magic. Seven owls wasn't spectacular but it was better than the twins combined. Hermione had of course had to rub in she got fifteen owls and was disappointed about the E in defense. Sometimes she was so infuriating, but in a sexy kind of way, other times like then she was just a bitch. Harry hadn't told them what he had gotten on his owls yet, but Ron assumed that it couldn't be worse than his own scores.
The meal ended and Ginny and Colin of all people got the honor, as new prefects, of escorting the first years to the tower. Last year that had been his and Hermione's job but this year they were allowed a leisurely walk with Harry.
"Can you believe that Dumbledore gave the git the job? I was finally free of him and he followed me."
"More likely was following me Ron, I didn't get an O in potions either."
"Oh really, what did you get Harry, Ron got an A." Hermione added in. Ron blanked out the rest of Hermione's OWL interrogation of Harry. Only thing that mattered was what classes they had together and they would find out that tomorrow. Entering the common room the trio made for the cluster of squishy armchairs by the fire that they had unofficially claimed. Ginny and Neville joined them shortly after.
"Harry how come your trunk and bed aren't in the dorm room?" Neville asked as he sat down. Harry suddenly looked uncomfortable.
"Dumbledore's got me helping Snape as an assistant Defense instructor for the lower years. He offered me one of the teacher's quarters but I didn't want to leave the tower. So I'm in one of the unused head rooms." Hermione started to get worked up into one of her why didn't you tell us sooner rants and Ginny got an odd look on her face, a mixture of a smile and a grin. Ron cut into Hermione's rant with the most important question.
"You knew about Snape teaching?"
"Unfortunately."
"How are you going to survive, it will be bad enough to have class with the greasy git but have to teach with him?"
"I don't know yet." Harry shrugged. "I still have class with you guys, I only work with the third years and bellow."
"Personally it sounds like Dumbledore has fallen off his rocker." Neville added. Everyone but Hermione laughed.
"I've never seen the Headrooms, care to give us a tour?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah why not?" Harry answered good-naturedly. The entrance was behind the bust of Godric Gryphindor in the corner and once Harry said the password, Victorious, the statue moved aside and revealed a smaller version of the common room. There was still a fireplace and several chairs but also a few bookshelves with a couple of titles already on it. A pair of staircases led up to the headboy and headgirls room. Harry led them up to his room and showed them around. His room was as large as the dorm that Neville, himself, Dean and Seamus now shared. Harry had a massive sleigh bed that dominated the room and an adjourning bathroom that rivaled the prefects bathroom in decadence, but on a smaller scale. After all of that he still had space for a desk and some open space on the ground. As the group marveled at the room Hermione focused on the desk.
"Harry. You've already unpacked."
"Yeah." Harry almost whispered that.
"When did you get here?"
"Only a little while before you. I just came to London to ride the train."
"How come you didn't come to headquaters?" Ginny asked. They had filled Neville in on the Order last year so it was ok to talk around him.
"Dumbledore didn't want me to."
"Why didn't you spend the whole summer with the Dursleys, that's what Dumbledore said you were doing?" Hermione asked. Harry flinched.
"I…I don't want to talk about it."
"But Harry we're your friends you can tell us."
"I said I don't want to talk about it! Look, sorry. I'm just really sleepy now. Goodnight guys." Ron looked at Harry, he looked like he was pleading for them to drop it. His eyes had a pain in them that hadn't been there when they'd talked last year. Ron turned to Neville, the sandy hair boy nodded and turned around.
"Alright. Night Harry." Ron said as he grabbed Ginny and a still protesting and questioning Hermione and ushered them out of the room. Neville took one last look at Harry and smiled before shutting the door on his way out.
"Ron what did you do that for?" Hermione screeched when they were back out in the regular common room.
"Harry is our friend, and he was hiding something. We have to find out what it is."
"I think we should let Harry have his space when he asked for it."
"But Ron, Harry could be in danger, we're his friends, we have to help him."
"We would be if we gave him space."
"We should go tell Dumbledore." Ron who had been turning away stopped and turned around.
"What!"
"Honestly Ron, he told us that we should keep an eye out on Harry and that his office is always open. Harry is hiding something from Dumbledore to, we could use his help in finding out what it is."
"This is a bad idea and I'm having no part in it." Neville told them and went off to the dorm room.
"Professor Dumbeldore didn't ask for your help anyway." Hermione sniffed at Neville's retreating back.
"Neville's right Mione." Ron said. "Spying on Harry won't help him."
"We're not spying on Harry, anyway it's for his own good. We'll go tomorrow." Ginny had not said anything yet but she nodded when Hermione finished.
"Alright, I'll go along." Ron finally responded. "Night Hermione, night Ginny."
"Your not seriously going along with this are you?" Neville asked when they were changing into their pajamas.
"I think it's a horrible idea, but someone has to be there to pull Hermione's foot out of her mouth when she chokes on it. Hopefully this won't end up like last year with Harry snapping at everything that moves."
"I can only hope, night Ron."
"Night Neville."
The next morning Ron awoke the same way he always did on the first day back, Dean kicked him.
"Oye. Can't a guy get a little sleep around here?" Ron grumbled as he grabbed his uniform and trudged to the shower.
"Sleep all you want, breakfast ends in half an hour." With the addition of time and food into the equations Ron did as he always did, run. Ten minutes later saw the red head downstairs putting on his tie.
"Ron have you seen Harry yet?"
"No, he may have left already."
"No I was down here before breakfast started." Ginny replied. "Maybe I should go cheek on him."
"No. I'll get him up, you go down to breakfast, we'll catch up." All right, Ginny pouted as she walked off.
Must she be so obvious; I really don't want to think about my best friend and my sister.
"Harry you up yet." Ron knocked on the door to Harry's room. He received no answer. "Harry, I'm going to count the three and then I'm coming in. You had better not be naked. One. Two. Three." Ron opened the door and stepped inside, the room was the same as it had been last night, save Harry wasn't in it and the bathroom door was closed. Ron walked up to that door and knocked again.
"Harry?"
"Ron? What are you doing here?"
"Came to get you, breakfast is almost over."
"Right, I'll be out in a minute. Harry called through the door. Ron made himself comfortable on Harry's chair, it was one of those models that could pivot from a spot below the seat. Leaning back Ron spun himself around, the chair came to a halt facing Harry's desk. Ron picked up and scanned through a copy of advanced transfiguration. Harry had the chapter on inter-species transfiguration marked.
I wonder if he's doing an extra credit project with McGronagall.
Ron put the book back and stood up as Harry came out of the bathroom. While he was fully dressed he was currently toweling off his hair. Harry tossed aside the towel and ran his hands through his hair, knocking the wet locks down. As he did this Ron noticed that Harry's hands looked different, they were longer and his skin seamed smother. Of course that wasn't what caught his attention.
"Harry, how did you get rid of the scar?" Harry looked up.
"What?"
"The 'I must not tell lies' scar, it's gone."
"Oh it is." Harry looked down at his hands and blanched. Ron tried to grab his hand and show him but Harry flinched and pulled back as they came into contact.
"Sorry, I just was asking how you managed to get rid of it. I thought that a magically caused scar couldn't be charmed away."
"Oh… well madam Pomfrey found something that did the trick." Ron, who had looked up when Harry had jumped back now looked back at his friends hands, they seemed normal now. Must have been a trick of the light.
"That's good I'll have to see her about that." Ron rolled up his sleeve displaying a complicated set of concentric circles that spiraled up his right bicep. "These scars from the brain look cool as hell but sting like a bitch, and me mum won't let me ink them in." Harry reached forward and traced the pattern with his finger. Harry looked up at Ron and pulled back like he'd been burned turning around and letting out a sob.
"Oh god Ron I'm so sorry, I almost got you all killed. I got Sirius killed, I'm so sorry. It's all my fault." Harry pulled his arms to himself and sobbed again.
So this is what he's been so upset about.
"Harry." Ron thought about shaking him, but remembered Harry's previous response to touch and instead just stepped closer.
"HARRY!" The raven-haired boy looked up, his eyes frosted over with guilt and tears.
"Harry, mate. I don't blame you and neither does Hermione and Ginny." Harry didn't seem to care at the moment.
"Harry. Remember it's me. I keep secrets only a little better than Hargid. If I blamed you, you would have known as soon as I could form a fist." He smiled a little at that.
"I'm certain Sirius doesn't blame you for his death either. If he'd been mad at you he'd wouldn't have rushed off to help you right?"
"…right." Harry sniffed.
"Good. Now that we've bared our souls and all that other crap lets go eat breakfast." Completely unexpected Harry embraced Ron.
"Thank you, I needed that." Ron awkwardly patted Harry on the back.
"Uh… your welcome. But if you cling on any longer I'm gona start to wonder." Ron smiled to himself as Harry jumped backwards so fast he almost tripped. Garbing his arm to steady him Ron pulled Harry towards the door.
"Right, breakfast. Oh and Harry, if all that mussy stuff makes me miss breakfast…" Ron let his good-natured threat trail off as the two walked downstairs to the common room.
The great hall was still open for breakfast, they only had ten minutes but that was plenty. Ron took his seat across from Hermione and helped himself to a serving of bacon, and kippers, and eggs, and potatoes, and porridge, and bacon. Wait he already had bacon, oh well two is better than one. Harry took a seat next to him and only poured himself some porridge.
"You two are late, Professor McGonagall already came around with schedules." Hermione handed two sheets of parchment to Harry who took his out and passed one to Ron, who accepted it with a grunt. Time spent talking is time wasted for eating.
"Harry what do you have first today?" Hermione asked.
"Didn't you look earlier?" Harry asked with a frown but put down his spoon and looked at his timetable, he hadn't really been eating his food anyway. "Uh, ugh. Defense first, Hermione you have defense first too though right?"
"Yes."
"Then you already knew what we had."
"Oh, sorry, habit I guess. Oh, also Professor McGonagall asked me to tell you that Professor Slughorn lowered the bar for Potions. He'll let anyone with an E or better in. You have to talk to her if you want to transfer in." Harry brightened up at that.
"Really that's great."