Hello everyone! I am back again with a quick chapter.
I wanted to take the time to tell you all a quick outline for the story. So for the first 3 years of the story I am going to try and breeze through without changing too much. Besides we all know how it goes. GoF is where things will start to diverge.
Without further ado, lets get to it!
I do not own Harry Potter or anything related to it.
All rights are reserved for the proper owners. Please support the official release.
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Katherine Daisy Bell was a name she did not enjoy. She preferred to go by Katie for everyone but her family. The reason why was her's, and her's alone. If she could keep it that way, she would gladly do so.
So far this year, many people have inquired about the reason for using Katie over Katherine. Her first year was better. Probably because she was just a regular old first-year. Now, things were different. Becoming the youngest seeker in a century (for 20 minutes) and then challenging the great Harry Potter to determine the seeker position of the Gryffindor quidditch team generally caused eyes to linger and questions to be asked.
Katie had a reputation for being very open and friendly. Even she would admit to that. She had always tried to be warm and inviting. Even if this year seemed different, if only for a bespeckled boy sitting in the stands watching the quidditch team practice. She didn't want anyone to hate her. Not again.
Not ever again.
But when it came to her name, she simply refused to answer. And it would remain that way. So far, no one had pressed her why, and for that, she was thankful. Katie was her name, her only name. Of that, she was sure.
So why was Katie currently ignoring the practice drills Oliver had set up for today's practice and was instead deep in her thoughts wrestling over her name. The answer was simple, really.
Harry Potter.
Okay, that wasn't fair to the boy. He had done nothing wrong except being so damn innocent. It was Katie's own fault that caused the mess this morning in the Great Hall.
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4 hours ago.
It was an early morning for the quidditch team. Oliver had plans for a good lunchtime practice, and he wanted everyone awake early so they could eat, get stretched, and do whatever else needed to be done. Katie had no qualms with that. She was a naturally early riser.
She was sitting with Angelina and Alicia and listening to the two girls gossip about the latest Witch Weekly articles. She didn't pay much attention to that sort of stuff. She found a lot of it false and, more importantly, kind of shallow. She had read enough of the muggle variations. She didn't need to see the magical one to get the gist. Muggles and Wizards weren't all that different.
The two other girls would scoff and say things like, "What kind of 12-year-old girl doesn't like this stuff?" And Katie would only shrug and listen but didn't add anything to the topic.
That was when the issue, the problem, the tick in Katie's skin, walked in! Alright, that was cruel. Harry was none of those things, but Katie still felt a little put out by the younger boy. The way he walked, the way he talked, it was all so damn infuriating! He was so... so... not smug.
She didn't get it. Katie herself had read the Harry Potter book series as a kid. Her father would read them to her and her younger brother before bed. She loved them as a kid and looked back at them fondly now. But that wasn't the issue. The issue was that Harry was nothing like the books or how she imagined him.
Katie knew that Harry couldn't be the boy described in the books. He was a baby, a year younger than her when he defeated you-know-who. So the knight in shining armour they portrayed was never gonna be what Harry actually was. Katie knew that. It was the fact he wasn't what she expected him to be like in real life either!
She was expecting a boy stuck up, pompous, and a know-it-all who thought the world belonged to him. The Wizarding world was full of those types. So why wouldn't Harry Potter, the boy who every young Witch and Wizard knew the name of, not be the same?
No, instead, the boy was everything besides what she thought. He was quiet, shy, humble, and liked being alone. What was the deal with him? Not that she wanted him to be the way she imagined. The first year named Malfoy was more than enough.
The bigger question was, why did he not understand!? His father was her mother's nemesis! They should hate each other, right?
Katie sighed through her nose and lowered her head. She knew what the real issue with her was. Since he was so quiet and kind, she felt bad for how she treated him. Heck, her thoughts about him being a tick earlier were making her insides squirm in guilt. It would have been easier to dislike him if he was an arse. But now she was the bad guy and the bully. All things she swore she would never be!
She watched as Harry sat near the girl who called her out in the hospital wing, something Granger. If that random girl knew about the rivalry between their parents, then surely Harry must now know as well.
'There goes my crappy apology in the hospital wing. Now Harry will definitely not forgive me,' Katie thought with a frown and didn't notice her two teammates watching her with identical smirks.
In fact, she was so consumed with watching the boy she didn't notice when an enormous great horned owl landed on the table. She saw the letter in its talons when it pecked her in the arm, causing her to yelp. Katie quickly forgot all about the pain the owl caused and was instead solely focused on the note. It wasn't just any letter. It was a howler.
And her mother's name was on it.
It was like a beacon was dropped at the Gryffindor table. Every student and Professor in attendance turned in their seats towards the girl. Katie didn't get the chance to open it before it was tearing at its packaging with a ferocity that was like a cornered animal. Once free, it looked wildly before landing on the golden blonde, and the colour drained from her face.
"Katherine Daisy Bell, what is this I hear about you bullying a teammate on your team? A teammate who is younger than you?! A teammate who goes by the name Harry Potter!?" The howler hissed, its voice ringing off the walls of the Great Hall. "Did I not raise you better, Katherine?! You were bullied yourself, so you now decide to lower yourself to be one as well?! That is inexcusable in itself, but to bully a boy who had nothing to do with his father or me! I repeatedly told you it was not Potter's fault, and I never blamed him! His wife and I were, in fact, good friends, and you do me this disservice by bullying her son!? I have it in my right to drag you home or to request your head of house to release you from the quidditch team. What would you have me do, Katherine? Think about that."
Then the howler was gone in a flash of fire. Nothing remained but the ashes it left behind and the tears threatening to fall from Katie's eyes. The words from her mother echoed in her mind, causing Katie to miss the hushed whispering and snickers from others around the hall. She didn't hear Angelina or Alicia. She didn't hear the twins or Oliver. Katie didn't even hear Professor McGonagall.
She did hear his voice.
"K-Katie, are you okay?"
Was she okay? Was she okay?!
"No, I am not bloody okay! Why are you so bloody friendly, for Merlin's sake!" Katie shouted before standing and running from the Great Hall. Not once, looking back when people called for her.
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Katie groaned and wanted to vanish just thinking about this morning. She wanted it to be hundreds of years old so she could forget about it. Four hours wasn't long ago, and she just knew that what happened had probably gotten the rumour mill turning at full speed.
She had no one to blame but herself for it all.
Running definitely did not help. In fact, it probably helped cause more rumours than dispelled them. Right when people began to stop asking about her stupid bloody name as well.
Katie was so lost in her inner turmoil that she didn't notice Harry floating on his broom, a quaffle in his hand. He floated beside her and quirked a brow when she didn't move. He waved a hand in front of her but got no response.
"Katie?' Harry called, his brows furrowed in worry, "Katie...Katie!"
Katie jumped and gripped her broom tightly as she was struck from her stupor, her head looking wildly for the source of her thought's interruption. When her gaze landed on Harry, she quickly looked down.
"Oh, hey, Harry," She muttered.
Harry frowned and slowly shifted on his broom, "What are you doing?" He asked.
Katie squinted in thought before shrugging, "Practicing."
"Oh, that's fun. Kind of boring to be doing it alone, though, isn't it?"
"Alone? What are you talking about..." Katie began before realizing that no one besides her and Harry was on the pitch. None of the equipment from practice was out, and no one but them remained.
"Where did...?"
"Oliver called it quits early because you weren't paying attention. So he gave me clear instructions to ensure you don't fall off your broom!" Harry said proudly, in an almost child-like glee.
Katie couldn't help but snort, her lips turning slightly, "So your plan for that involves flying up and scaring me? Doesn't that seem kind of counterproductive?"
Harry shrugged, "Well, how else was I supposed to get your attention? I couldn't do anything else. Besides, you are so good on a broom I doubt you'd fall no matter what I did," He stated with his bright smile.
Katie quickly looked away to hide the heat rising to her face, "W-well, thanks, Harry," She murmured before collecting herself and noticing his broom and the quaffle he was carrying. Raising a single brow in question.
Harry rubbed the back of his neck slightly, "Well, you see, I was so bored watching you all practice that I..." Harry said before trailing off with an embarrassed shrug.
Katie only nodded in understanding before asking, "What's with the quaffle then?"
"I figured since you beat me for the seeker position, I was hoping you'd help me practise being a chaser?" Harry asked shyly, looking anywhere but at her.
Katie sighed softly and looked away, "I don't know if I will be playing quidditch, Harry," She whispered.
"You have to. You are our best player!" Harry exclaimed before blushing lightly.
"Harry, you heard what my howler said this morning. I know my mum; she will either request I get homeschooled this year or get removed from the team," Katie explained with a sad smile. Definitely ignoring the pride in her chest at his claims, "I deserve it, really. I treated you so terribly, Harry. I can't tell you enough how sorry I am."
Harry gaped at the girl before shaking his head, "I already forgave you, though! I forgave you that day when you visited me in the hospital wing! If anything, I should be the one apologizing."
"What for?" Katie asked in disbelief. Well, her heart sang happily that he forgave her. She was baffled. He had done absolutely nothing to her that warranted an apology!
Harry looked down at the quaffle in his hands as he said, "I was so quick to just accept the position on the team. I never once assumed that I was taking someone else's spot. I am really sorry, Katie. I didn't mean for that or to make you hate me."
She wasn't sure what Harry said, but something about how he said it broke Katie's heart.
"Oh Harry, don't be sorry," Katie whispered, leaned over, and gave the boy a one-armed hug. Ignoring the way he tensed at her touch, she continued. "You didn't know, and if I wasn't being petty, I should have talked to you and the team. And another thing, I don't hate you, Harry. I don't know you, admittedly, but I do not hate you."
Harry nodded at her words and shifted away from her touch, something Katie filed away for later. Harry finally looked up at her, and she cursed herself when she saw tears in the boy's eyes.
"I am glad you don't hate me. I...I don't have many friends. So having fewer people hate me is a good change in my eyes," He whispered, seemingly closing in on himself.
Katie wanted to reach out to him but restrained that urge and said, "If you would want to, we can maybe be friends. I know I was a bloody arsehole, and I have said some terrible things-"
"You'd really be my friend?"
Katie stopped, and Harry looked into her eyes.
Katie wasn't sure what it was she saw. Sadness, grief, pain, loneliness, maybe a combination of them all. She wasn't sure. But she started to think she understood now what the team meant.
"I'd love to be your friend Harry."
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The door to the DADA classroom slammed open, causing the first years within to jump in their seats. Harry, in particular, jumped in freight and slammed his knee into the bottom of his desk. His books and notes toppled and scattered around the desk to the floor, causing the boy to groan and quickly move to pick everything up.
Auror Whitehorse followed closely by Student Auror Tonks, entered swiftly, the door behind them closing with a slam.
Harry fumbled with his notes, trying his hardest to pick them up before getting caught. In the end, it was futile, and he noticed a pair of feet beside his defence book. Gazing up, he saw Whitehorse looking at him with a frown. No words were spoken by the man. A glint in his eye followed by a slight turn of his lips into a smile.
"Tonks, please assist, Mr. Potter," the man said before he sidestepped the boy and continued to the front of the class.
Harry couldn't help but look after the man as he passed. No points were lost, no rude remark, not even a sneer. Whitehorse might be a better teacher than many others at Hogwarts, namely a certain potions master.
"Wotcher Harry!" Tonks greeted as she knelt beside the boy, "The floor is not all that comfy. Trust me, you'd be better doing work on your desk," The young Auror said conversely, quickly picking up the notes Harry was having trouble with.
Harry snorted, gratefully accepted the notes from the girl sporting bright pink hair today, and nodded in thanks. She, in return, beamed at him and began to skip to the front but accidentally bumped into the corner of a different desk. Causing the notes to fall.
Harry couldn't help but chuckle, watching the girl profusely apologize to the first-year Hufflepuff.
Whitehorse either didn't care or didn't notice as he began to pull down various books from the far shelf of the class. He read over the titles before putting them under his arm. By the time he was done, he had carried them to the front of the class and tossed them to the floor one by one, each echoing off the walls with loud bangs.
"Hello, everyone," Auror Whitehorse greeted casually before pulling his wand, and with a flick, the books ignited into a blaze of fire before smouldering away to nothing but ash.
"I am Auror Whitehorse, and I will be teaching you all real Defense."
Hermione was quick to lift her hand high.
"Miss Granger, I assume?"
Hermione nodded quickly, "Yes, sir."
Whitehorse nodded slowly, almost as if mentally making a note. "You have a question?"
"Yes, sir. I was wondering why you burnt Professor Quirrel's books?" Hermione asked as she glanced down at the burnt marks on the ground where the books used to be.
Whitehorse nodded once before clasping his hands behind his back and began to pace the front of the class. Tonks watching from the sidelines with a smirk.
"I will not mince my words with you all," Whitehorse said with a steely look, "Professor Quirrell might be a good man and a decent Wizard. But he is not a good defence against the dark arts, Professor."
The class was shocked at the direct barb toward the absent Professor, and many students sat straighter.
"The books I burnt are useless. The course outline he had prepared for the entire year was disgustingly incompetent. I will teach you all real defence, and I will not be holding back because you are mere first years. Someone can run into the dark arts at any time in their life. In fact," Whitehorse turned towards the class, "You could very well be attacked by a dark Wizard tomorrow. A Dementor could find you out on the castle grounds. A vampire, werewolf, a dragon even! And can any of you safely say, with what you have learnt so far, you would survive an encounter with any of what I just mentioned?"
None of the class answered, not even Malfoy. Who was surprisingly quiet, Harry noted.
"Now, I am not saying I am gonna teach you all to be battle-ready Aurors. Only that one in the corner gets those lessons," Whitehorse said with a glance in Tonk's direction. Causing the girl to groan and the class to giggle. "What I am going to teach you all is how to survive and defend yourselves. Are there any questions?"
No one raised their hands. Not even Hermione.
"Excellent!" Whitehorse clapped his hands together, and a fire burned behind his eyes as he surveyed the class. "Today, I am going to teach you the fundamentals of defence. Does anyone here know the spell, Protego?"
A few hands raised slowly, and Whitehorse smiled a feral grin as he gladly asked anyone who answered to step to the front. Causing many, if not all, the students to gulp.
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Whitehorse was quick to make a hasty retreat after his last class of the day. Tonks was hot on his heels, but he didn't slow for the young woman. Teaching kids had been something the Auror had never considered before, and the splitting headache he was sporting was a reason why. All of his classes were the same. Years one to seven, all of them were lacking.
"How does one of the greatest schools in the Wizarding world, if not the greatest, produce such terrible defence results!" Whitehorse asked himself as he stalked the halls leading to the Great Hall.
"If it makes you feel better, I got decent DADA marks!" Tonks exclaimed from behind him, and he could hear the smile and pride in her voice.
"Yes, I am aware. Why do you think Alastor and I argued over the right to train you?" Whitehorse stated with a snort before grumbling something that sounded like, "You were the only good one out of the batch."
Tonks said nothing in return, as she was too busy stumbling over stairs, running into walls, and just generally being clumsy. Whitehorse was impressed she was able to get through the physical training of Auror selection with how much of a klutz she is.
But to say she was only clumsy would be a disservice to the young woman.
Tonks, well clumsy, was the best Auror candidate to come out of Hogwarts in the past 40 years. The easy-going, goofy persona the girl put on was a perfect mask that hid a calculating mind. She could pick up a spell easily and, in moments, knew the fundamentals to put it into practice. The clumsiness that showed every time she tried to go anywhere was the perfect disguise for the quick reflexes and toned body she hid away. For being as clumsy as she was, Tonks had set numerous records in the physical training sections at the academy.
It was no wonder Whitehorse and Moody both wanted to train her themselves.
Alastor had claimed for many years now that no single candidate deserved the time of his patience. That was the case until Tonks appeared. For the last decade or so, with the waning defence results coming out of Hogwarts, the Ministry had to devise various solutions. The first and foremost, was simple. If the batch was small, pick the best.
Quality over quantity.
Veteran Aurors would each get their pick of the top candidates from each year and personally see to advanced training. That ensured that the best from each group of candidates would be taught by the best. It was more demanding on the student, but the progress and growth were undeniable. What usually took three or four years was learned in two. Following that up was the practical experience of being in the field with full-fledged Aurors.
It was dangerous, and many student Aurors perished. But the reward was well worth the risk, according to the Ministry.
When Tonks eventually caught up to the veteran Auror, she muttered to herself about him not waiting for her to catch up, which Whitehorse ignored. The two walked in silence for a couple moments before Whitehorse asked.
"So, you met young Harry Potter today."
Tonks nodded absently.
"He is a shy boy, isn't he? He will be quite the gifted student in defence.
"Yeah, probably," She said quietly, her hair's regular length, shape, and brown colour adorning her features.
Whitehorse glanced at the girl and frowned as he noted her absent look. He noticed her acting more and more like this ever since he announced that he would be assisting at Hogwarts. It usually wouldn't bother him, but he saw a pattern. A pattern that only appeared when the boy-who-lived, was mentioned.
"You know, Nymphadora, generally, students talk about their problems to their superiors," Whitehorse mentioned casually. The response was immediate.
"There will be a problem if you don't stop calling me that!" Tonks growled and crossed her arms as she came to a stop in the middle of the hallway.
Trying not to smirk at how easy it was, he stopped and asked, "Then what's going on? And don't say nothing. I know it has something to do with Potter, so spill it."
Tonks looked around nervously before shaking her head, "I can't. Not here."
Her nervousness alerted Whitehorse, and he waved for her to follow. The duo quickly made their way to the owlery, climbing the steps as the sound of the owls grew nearer. Once at the top, Whitehorse cast an immense Disillusionment Charm that covered the entire owlery before pocketing his wand and facing his protege.
Tonks gaped slightly before shrugging off her awe at the advanced variation of the charm. "You are sure no one can hear us?" At Whitehorse's glare, she held up her hands, "Okay, sorry, just..." Tonks began to pace the length of the owlery, her hands clenching and unclenching as she fought for words.
Whitehorse said nothing as he watched his student pace.
"Okay, so you surely know that I am related to the Black family, yeah?" Tonks asked but kept going as she wasn't expecting an answer, "And I am sure enough you know that the only true surviving Black is currently rotting away in Azkaban. Besides my mum, of course, and my aunts, I guess... but that's not the point!"
"Tonks, spit it out. I am well aware of your family tree," The veteran Auror said with a snort, "Every Auror candidate gets a background check."
Tonks nodded again and wrung her hands, "Okay, so let me explain before you say anything, okay?" At Whitehorse's nod of confirmation, she sighed and said, "I don't believe Sirius Black is guilty."
For his part, Whitehorse said nothing, but his body went straighter, and he leaned against the wall of the owlery.
"I have very few memories of him, but I do remember him as a kind and loyal person. Someone who wouldn't ever join you-know-who! The Black family cast him out just as well as they did my mum!" Tonks exclaimed with a wave of her arms. "It doesn't add up! Why would a man, from what I have seen and heard, who was like a loyal dog to his friends, betray the man who was his best friend!? It doesn't make sense!"
Whitehorse shifted slightly as he said, "People can change. It isn't as uncommon as one would believe, especially in a time of war."
Tonks shook her head quickly, "No. No, he didn't change," she said with a glare, "I know this for a fact!"
"And how do you know this? What is this proof of yours?" Whitehorse asked with a huff as he pushed himself from the wall.
Tonks lost the glare she sported, and she froze in her pacing. The gears in her head were turning. The ways this conversation could go were endless, and Tonks didn't want to make an enemy of her teacher. She needed him if she wanted to prove Sirius innocent. She gulped, reaching into her pocket, "I can trust you, can't I, Whitehorse?"
The Auror froze, and he eyed the hand in the woman's pocket. His guard went up immediately, and his nerves screamed at him to summon his wand. He hesitated. He glanced into her eyes. Conviction. That is what he saw. The strongest belief in something he had seen in many moons.
"With your life."
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A week passed, and Harry could again participate in quidditch practices. Officially, of course.
The quidditch team, namely everyone except for the two rookies, watched the two like hawks. Oliver was prepared to step in if necessary. But it was like nothing had changed. Harry still went in and quickly changed before anyone else, followed by the girls, then finally the rest of the guys.
Harry zoomed out of the tent as soon as he saw the barest hint of skin from any of the girls, causing the two older girls to chuckle gleefully at the young boy's innocence. The quidditch changing rooms were generally loud affairs of jokes and leering at the boys (the boys learnt not to do the same).
Everyone was making jokes except for the last remaining rookie, who cut through the conversation.
"I think I understand what you all meant. About Harry."
The room grew silent save for the rustling of clothes. No one said a word. No one dared.
"When did it clue in?" Angelina asked once everyone was dressed and finishing doing up their boots and straps of their gear.
Katie frowned as she finished tightening her boots, "He flinches a lot. When you go to touch him he looks so... scared. It's like he wasn't ever hugged before," She explained quietly.
Ever since that day on the pitch, Katie had taken to spending a little bit of time with Harry. Nothing outrageous, just spending time in the common room and sitting near each other at dinner. Katie would have tried to maybe spend more time with him, but his two friends watched her with weary eyes. Especially the Granger girl.
In those short few moments they spent together, Katie noticed the little things the team talked about. It scared her. She knew Wizarding families were not familiar with abuse, especially to children. So that had to have meant Harry didn't grow up with magic at all.
Another thing she got wrong about the boy.
The twins glanced at one another before Fred broke in, "We saw something the other day, but no one was supposed to," He explained with a guilty look. George looked just as guilty, but he kept his eyes trained on the ground.
"Was it something bad?" Oliver asked as he was the only one with the nerve to ask after looking at the twin's downtrodden looks.
The twins quickly shook their heads before George sighed and said, "If we tell you, please don't tell Harry."
"Yeah, he doesn't know we saw," Fred cut in.
The team quickly consented to the terms, and George nodded for Fred to explain.
"So the other day, all the first years were writing home to their families when we noticed Harry sitting off in the corner."
"So we thought we'd drop over and say hello, as we do," George added.
"But as we approached, Harry quickly tossed his books over his letter and pretended he wasn't writing anything. Well, for sure, we couldn't let that go, no sir!" Fred exclaimed.
"So we did our usual twin magic! I pretended to trip, and I spilt Harry's books and the letter. And, me being me, I quickly went to assist the lad!" George added, then looked to Fred, but the twin didn't say anything.
The team watched as some silent tears dripped down Fred's cheeks. He didn't bother to wipe them, clearing his throat after a moment and saying, "He was writing a letter to himself. For when he is alone."
No one said a word. Only the gentle breeze outside could be heard in that locker room. Alicia was the first to speak.
"W-Why?"
Fred was too busy angrily wiping his eyes, so George took over. "Harry was telling his future self about his time at Hogwarts so far, so when he goes home to his... cupboard, he has something to read."
"Cupboard?" Oliver asked, his eyes narrowing.
Fred gripped his pants as he hissed, "After we saw that, we went back to Ron," He took a moment to compose himself again, "This time, we got some answers."
"It wasn't given freely," George was quick to interject, "We were about to maybe rough him up if he didn't talk."
"Apparently, his aunt and uncle treat him like... like..." Fred tried to say, but he didn't have the words. His chest burned with anger towards the muggles he hadn't even met.
"They force him to cook, clean, and," George choked a bit, "They force him to sleep in a cupboard under the stairs."
"They what?!"
"Where!?"
"Who could do that to him!?"
The team shouted out in protest, and Oliver began pacing as the twins explained what Ron told them in detail. Katie listened with rapt attention, and she looked away towards the door as more and more she heard the angrier she got. Alicia was seething and muttering curses. Angelina was close to kicking her locker and was like a caged lion. Oliver was deathly silent, but his eyes held a hatred none of the team had ever seen from the man.
Katie had to get out of there. She was growing sick to her stomach the more she heard. She stood abruptly and stormed to the exit, pushing through the door and stopping stone cold.
Harry sat there leaning against the door, his head on his knees.
Katie quickly came to his side as she kneeled but hesitated when she reached down to hold him. She didn't know what to do. What do you do? How can she help? How do you help a boy who has been abused by his family? Katie didn't know. She didn't know! She wanted to know! She needed to know!
"Harry?" She asked quietly, but the boy didn't answer. "Harry, I am so sorry we were talking about you. We didn't mean to breach your privacy like this, I swear! Please talk to me," Katie pleaded quietly, and she so badly wanted to maybe hold him. Do you do that with abused children? "Harry, please talk to me. I-I want to help," Katie whispered pleadingly.
Harry slowly raised his head from his knees and smiled a watery smile. His eyes were red and blotchy. "D-Do you think I'm a freak too?"
"Not at all! Why would you ask that?"
"T-They have always called me a freak," Harry murmured, hugging his knees tightly. "T-They always said I wouldn't ever have friends because I'm so...freakish."
Katie could only gap at him, and she didn't know what to do or say. The events of the days before, all the little things she noticed. All the things the team saw and discussed in the locker room. The flinching, constant apologizing, the forlong looks into nowhere. "Do you hate me?"
"I don't have many friends." "W-would you be my friend?" Echoed throughout the depths of her mind.
If Katie thought her heart had broken before, she wasn't prepared for it to shatter as the boy began to cry.
"I...I have tried so hard, but they still h-h-hate me!" Harry cried, "I-I-I don't want to be friendless again! P-Please don't leave me K-K-Katie, please!"
If any reservations were left in her chest, there wasn't any left. Katie quickly pulled the boy into a tight hug. Harry froze before melting into the older girl and wrapping his arms tightly around her. His cries were only muffled by Katie's quidditch robes, and soon she began to cry.
That was how the team found the two preteens. Holding each other tightly as they cried. A far difference from the fantastic seeker duel they saw a week before between the two. It wasn't long before the rest of the team surrounded the two rookies, holding them in a group hug as apologies were muttered to the youngest.
For the first time in Harry's life, he wasn't cold. He was warm. His body didn't burn like it usually did when people touched him. He was comfortable. He felt wanted. He didn't want to ever let go. The girl holding him, the others holding them both. Harry didn't want them to leave. He didn't want to be alone.
He would prove he deserved to be here! He would show he deserved to be on the team! But not just yet. Right now, he was warm, and that was all that mattered.
Vanilla. It smelt of vanilla. He liked vanilla.
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Next chapter will be a long one, so it will take longer to come out. But the first quidditch match will be happening! So I hope you all are looking forward to that.
