Learning to Cope
Summery: Harry comes back for his third year of Hogwarts. The Dursley's were worse during this summer holiday and it leaves lasting damage. How will his friends react? Sirius is alive.
Note: This will follow the books. Just my own version.
Chapter Four
Back to the Tower
A tap to his shoulder aroused Harry from his packing; looking up he saw Remus standing there. Remus started to sign slowly so Harry could follow what he said.
"Are you finished packing?"
"Yes." Harry signed back.
Harry was moving back to Gryffindor tower this evening. And he would be starting classes tomorrow. He didn't know how he really felt about it. On the one hand he was excited. It was something normal. But on the other hand he was nervous, anxious, apprehensive, and a little frightened. He felt the same as he normally felt every school year when he started a new year; be this time it was much different. All the other students had had time to settle in. He had settled into the routine set for him, but it was by no means normal. Would the other students treat him differently? Would anyone make fun of him being deaf? Would they treat him differently then they did before he lost his hearing?
A tap to his shoulder by Remus brought him out of his thoughts.
"This is still your room. Your welcome here any time, even if it's just to get away."
Remus signed to Harry, trying to reassure him. Through his enhanced senses Remus could smell Harry's nervousness above all of his other feelings, though he didn't really need to use his enhanced senses, Harry's body language told him just how nervous he was.
Harry smiled and nodded. "Thanks." Harry said as well as signed. "For everything."
"Anytime, Harry." Remus said and signed as well. Harry stood and picked up his book bag and grabbed the handle to his school trunk, setting the trunk on its wheels. Leaving the room Harry saw Hermione and Ron standing in the living room waiting for him. Both were excited about Harry coming back to Gryffindor Tower.
"Hey." Harry said as he came at a stop in front of his friends.
"Ready to go?" Hermione signed. Harry nodded and began to follow his two friends out of Remus' rooms.
Entering Gryffindor Tower Harry was relieved to see that there weren't too many students there. He had been worried there would be more kids, and worried that those kids would start asking questions, but it wasn't happening. They looked at him curiously, but didn't make any movie to question him.
Ron and Hermione led him up the circling stairway leading to the boys dormitories and to his bed, which was untouched by anyone. Setting his trunk down at the foot of the bed he dropped his book bad on top of the bed.
"McGonagall said you were starting classes tomorrow?" Hermione signed when he faced her.
Harry nodded, "Yeah. I start at the second class, which according to my schedule is Transfiguration."
"Well, see you at Transfiguration, then." Ron said, and Harry had to pick up his communicator to read it, after reading it Harry nodded. Harry would sometimes have to use both forms of communication.
Harry spent the time that he had till his first class getting settled in. Finally looking at his watch he realized it was almost time for Transfiguration. Picking up his bag he walked to the class room.
Entering Transfiguration he could see most of his classmates were already seated. Finding Ron and Hermione he sat down next to Ron. The door opening and Professor McGonagall walking briskly into the room stopped any further conversation and class began.
They learned how to transfigure a spoon into a small blanket. It took Harry six tries to finally get the transfiguration correctly, he was only beaten by Hermione who had gotten it in three tries, and Malfoy who got it in five tries. By the end of class Ron was in somewhat of a sour mood having not correctly transfigured the spoon into a blanket.
The next class was Charms, which allowed Harry some time to complete his transfiguration home work while Ron slept, and Hermione took notes of the lecture about the Goblin wars.
Devination was just as boring as it always was, Harry finally decided. And the fumes bothered him grately. It almost put him to sleep several times. He had to catch himself before his head feel to the table from nodding off. He figured this may be because his sense of smell was compensating for his hearing loss. Harry was lightly dosing by the time class ended, and Ron had to shake him awake.
Finally, the last class of the day was Potions, the one class Harry was the most concerned about. Professor Snape did everything he could to humiliate Harry before his hearing loss while in class. Would he now use his hearing loss as a form of humiliate too?
Entering the class room, Harry sat between Ron and Hermione who had saved a seat for him. Putting his things down he was slightly startled when he felt a touch to his back. Turning around he saw Malfoy. Oh no. What does he want? Harry thought. Picking up his communicator Harry began to read what Malfoy had to say.
"Look who finally decided to join us." Malfoy drawled, his customary sneer in place. "Think your too good to go to classes like the rest of us, Potter?"
Before he could get much further Ron stepped in the way. "Leave him alone Malfoy." Ron said, and Harry read from his communicator. But Malfoy ignored him and tried to continue, but the door to the Dungeons class room slammed shut and Professor Snape stalked down the middle isle.
Professor Snape flicked his wand and the chalk began to write on its one on the black board. "If you read the instructions correctly and do as it says you should be capable of making the before he could say anything the door to the dungeons class room slammed shut and Professor Snape stalked down the isle to the front of the class room.
"Today we will be brewing Veritaserum potion correctly. Now get to work!" He barked.
Harry squinted at the scrawl written on the black board trying to make out what it said. He began to get the ingredients out and began chopping and shredding.
A dark and ominous figure looming behind him caused him to pause as he was adding the maple bark to the cauldron. Looking around he saw Professor Snape looking down at him over his overly large hooked nose. "Mr. Potter." Professor Snape drawled. Harry picked up his communicator and began to read what the professor said. "Your potion is light blue. It should be a pale green. Can you explain the reason for this?"
"I've done what is written on the board." Harry said in what he hoped was an even voice. "Most everyone else has the same result."
"Mr. Potter." Professor Snape said. Harry couldn't hear the annoyance in his voice, but he could see it in his demeanor. "Does your loss of hearing affect your reading ability?" He asked rhetorically. "It also says that the potion should be a pale green." At this Harry could sense Ron's anger so he calmly placed a hand around his wrist to stop him from doing something rash. "I suggest you sit down and do some of your make up work since you are obviously unable to continue your potion." Professor Snape said before stalking off down the isle. Harry calmly sat down and pulled out some home work he had to do. He didn't want to make a big scene by arguing with Professor Snape right now. He could still sense Ron bristling but was relieved that he didn't act on it.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
When class was finally over Harry was extremely relieved. Potions had been the last class of the day. Now all he had was supper then he could go to bed. He was exhausted after his first day of classes and was glad the day was almost over.
Ron, Hermione and Harry went to the common room and began there homework. A few hours later it was dinner time.
Dinner was uneventful. Harry, Ron and Hermione talked about classes and Quidditch.
HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Harry sighed as he lay down in bed. It had been a very long day and he was happy it was finally over. He had hoped Potions would have gone better, but at least there hadn't been a bigger scene then there was. And he was also happy that he wasn't asked any questions about how he came to lose his hearing, or about why he'd been staying with Professor Lupin, but he assumed it was because Ron and Hermione had been with him all day.
Closing his eyes Harry slowly breathed in and out. He felt too tired to have any dreams, and hoped he didn't.
How wrong he was.
His head was throbbing. His uncle was standing over him, and he was terrified. His uncle was obviously drunk and enraged about something. Uncle Vernon grabbed his arm and lifted him off the floor again then slammed him back down. Uncle Vernon then knelt down and began to old him down. Harry struggled as best as he could but his uncle was too big and too strong…
"Harry!" Ron cried as he shook his friend awake. He knew Harry couldn't hear him, but it was more out of habit to call a persons name when you woke them from a nightmare.
Finally to Ron's relief Harry's eyes snapped open and he began to look around frantically. Ron cast Lumos to allow Harry to see his surroundings. "It's okay." He signed when he got Harry to look at him. Finally when he got Harry to calm down enough he began to sign again. "Are you okay?" He asked. When Harry nodded slowly he continued. "Do you want to talk about it?"
"No." Harry said, his voice showed that he was not okay, but Ron didn't want to push him. Harry sat up and slowly got out of bed and went over to his trunk. He knew he wouldn't be able to go back to sleep, so he figured he might as well get something productive done. He could read ahead in his work for tomorrow's classes, and maybe finish his homework early so he could go to bed early. Finding what he wanted in his trunk he stood up and saw that Ron was still watching him. Ron began to sign.
'Are you staying up?' He asked.
Harry nodded. "Yeah, I won't be able to go back to sleep for a while."
"Do you want me to stay up with you?" Ron asked, and Harry could clearly see his friends concern.
"No, that's okay." Harry said smiling a little. "Thanks anyway."
Ron nodded and reluctantly laid down again. Harry grabbed his copy of Quidditch Through the Ages and silently crept down the stairs and into the common room. Looking around he saw that it was empty, for which he was relieved. Sitting down on the over stuffed red couch he opened his book and began to flip through it. He had read it so many times now that he head it memorized. He tried to read it, but he found his mind wondering to his nightmare. It was the same nightmare he had been having in Remus' rooms. He hoped they would stop soon.
It wasn't long before he fell asleep from exhaustion on the couch.
End of Chapter Four
A/N: I hope you like the new chapter! Please REVIEW!
