Chapter 4

Information Blackout

After their rather uninformative session with Dumbledore, that raised more questions than it solved, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny split up to make their next classes. Ron wasn't able to speak to Harry until after dinner when the sixth year guys were sitting around talking.

"…Harewood would completely level any chaser in a shootout."

"Of course he would but that doesn't mean that he could hold his own in the air, even if the broom somehow worked." Ron replied to Dean. Seriously football could never compare to Qudditch, it's like comparing a drawing to a sculpture, completely different level.

"Speaking of which, when are you holding tryouts this year Harry?"

"Me?"

"Yeah." Seamus answered. "I already asked Katie and she said that she wasn't captain. That only leaves you and Ron. So when's tryouts?"

"Oye, why wouldn't I be captain?"

"Because you would have bragged Ron." Ron had the decency to looked bashful, But then quickly turned to Harry.

"So Harry?"

"Oh… McGronagall didn't tell you. Your captain Ron."

"What! Me! Why?"

"Ron you breathe Qudditch, of course you'd make captain. Besides I'm still banned." Harry trailed off at the end, but Ron heard it.

"WHAT!"

"It was a life ban, there's nothing I can do."

"But… not… no… possible…" Ron was at a complete loss of words.

"You don't seem to worried." Neville noticed.

"No I've just had over a month to fume, besides I'm sure Ginny will do fine. Night guys."

"Yeah night." A chorus of glum Gryffindors called after Harry. Ron was still imitating a fish.

"I'm sorry Mr. Weasley." Professor McGronagall said. "Professor Dumbledore lifted Harry's Quiddich ban, he has chosen not play. There is nothing that I do."

"Yes Professor McGronagall." He answered, Harry was lying about why he wasn't playing Qudditch Ron had just discovered.

But he loves Qudditch, why would he stop playing?

He had only managed to wrangle this tidbit from McGronagall a week after Harry had dropped the proverbial bombfell on them, or was it bombshell, he didn't understand these muggle metaphors anyway. Harry had continued to distance himself from everyone else, spending the majority of his free time alone in his room, Much to Hermione's displeasure. The only noteworthy thing that had happened was that Harry had brought Snape a note from Pomfrey that had got him out of participating in Snape's little demonstrations. They had talked to Harry a few days ago and now Hermione wasn't talking to Harry at all.

Flashback

"Harry what happened to you at the Duresleys?" Hermione began the conversation by asking. Harry started off by flinching.

"Who told you something happened?" He demanded.

"No one did but you haven't told me what happened."

"Nothing happened!"

"Harry we're your friends. You can tell us." She pleaded.

"If you're my friends the you'll stop asking!" As Harry got more and more worked up Ron noticed his eyes were glistening with unshed tears.

"If you were our friend you'd tell us!" Hermione seemed to take his rebuff personally.

"NO! Just leave me alone!" Harry had stormed off after that and refused to speak to anyone.

End Flashback

September had slowly faded into October but Ron had gotten no closer to finding out what Harry didn't want to talk about. Actually their friendship had been strained for a while as Harry had tarred everyone with the same brush he'd used against Hermione, they still weren't speaking. But when Ron stopped attempting to talk to Harry in her presence things had gotten better. For the most part Ron had simply dropped whatever it was, if Harry wanted to talk he would. Consequentially they had become better friends with each other and Neville who never brought the issue up to began with. Ginny hadn't changed but Ron was happy that Harry seemed to be resisting her advances; as long as Ginny was pinning for Harry and he was unresponsive Ginny would be dateless. Now if she gave up he might have to help Harry along a little.

Halloween dawned crisp and chilly on a Saturday. After going to breakfast himself Ron decided to tackle Harry's sanctuary and get him to come outside. He hadn't been flying since school started, and McGronagall had even gotten Harry's broom back, he had no excuse. Of course reaching Harry's room was tougher than it sounded. He had changed the password to the lower common room and added a password to his door. The lower password he changed often to keep Hermione form attempting to corner and interrogate him. But the inner one, that was the trick. Harry had sat it to a parsel tongue password and there was no way for Ron to speak the password even if he knew it. Thankfully he had overheard Harry setting the password last night.

"Destiny." The bust moved aside and he entered the mini-common room. The place was as he'd expected it, empty. Ron head up and knocked on Harry's door.

"Harry. Can I come in?" First he heard nothing and then he made out a light hissing, Ron shivered hearing the snake tongue spoken. That ability of Harry's would always freak him out. The lock clicked open and Ron entered the room.

Harry was facing away from him, his focus was on a manikin like the ones used in clothing shops. Save Harry's was burnt in several places. Harry raised his wand and waved it at the manikin hissing. Ron didn't know what Harry had said but a whip of fire extended from his wand and wrapped itself around the doll. When he flicked his wrist the whip of fire cut the doll in two.

"Mate what are you doing?"

"Practicing."

"In that snake language?"

"I can't seem to get silent offensive spells right, so I say them in parseltounge. That way no one knew what I'm saying." Ron nodded in understanding.

"Harry why are you practicing on a Saturday, on Halloween of all days. Come outside with me, you haven't been on a broom since we got here."

"No thanks Ron. I'm still feeling under the weather."

"How? If you mean that stuff back with Snape that was a month ago, you couldn't possibly still be feeling bad. You've seen Pomfrey how many times?"

"Just a few but it doesn't matter, I just don't want to go out today."

"Harry you haven't wanted to go out since we got here, look at yourself. You're almost twice as pale as you were before. You need to get some air." Ron made to grab Harry and pull him out but Harry flinched and scrambled away from his touch.

"Harry what's wrong with you. You flinch away from all touch, like I would try to hurt…" Suddenly it all clicked. "What did they do to you?"

"What?"

"The Duresleys they did something to you." Harry if possible appeared even paler and started to hyperventilate.

"NO! I… I, just not now Ron. Please."

"Calm down Harry. If you don't want to talk about it I won't. Please tell me you talked to someone though." Harry remained silent; his stance reminded Ron more of a frightened animal than a person.

"Alright Harry. If you're sure you want to stay inside…" Ron trailed off and looked at Harry closely.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Harry gave his best lopsided smile but it looked like a grimace to Ron.

"Well qudittich calls. Have fun with your spells." Ron closed the door behind him, all the time wondering if he should have just forced Harry to come with him. Harry might be physically ok but whatever had happened to him was slowly killing him. Hermione seemed to think that forcing Harry to tell them and talk about it would make it all better but Ron knew better. That may be how girls handled it but blokes didn't do it that way and Harry was much more of a private person than most blokes. Shaking his head Ron grabbed his broom and headed downstairs.

Harry will want to talk eventually; I'll just wait for him.