*Author's note: I dislike how FF makes you post chapters. It is, to me, an unnecessary way of doing it. More complicated too. Someone just mentioned that this chapter was in HTML format but I since fixed it, I think.*
Chapter 2
He had to keep himself from looking into the stands as he flew. He could see a redhead talking with his bushy-haired friend as they watched everyone on the brooms. He had to dodge out of the way of the pass of a quaffle.
He looked to see the smug grin of Ginny before she flew off. He watched as she and two other chasers passed the quaffle around before throwing it around one of the goals that Ron wasn't guarding. Luckily Ron blocked the shot.
Harry could hear a cheer come from the stands. He looked over and could see Hermione clapping her hands, watching Ron. His eyes drifted just a little right, and he could see sky blue eyes looking at him. Her smile and wave turned him around as he tried to pretend he didn't see it. He quickly wiped the smile off his face once he realised it grew on his face.
He sent Ron down and Cormac up to the goal. It was Ron's five saves out of five to Cormac's four out of four.
He had Ginny, Katie, and Demelza Robins go and try to score again. He already decided that those three would be the primary chasers. He caught Cormac winking into the stands. He saw
Hermione blush and look away as Susan laughed at her.
His gaze turned upwards as he could hear the giggles of a group of girls that had been annoying him for the last two hours. Romilda Vance led the young gaggle of girls that tried to try out for the team. They couldn't even make it off the ground before he sent them away.
Unfortunately, they moved to watch from the stands. One of them spotted him watching them and pointed it out. He turned away from the group as Romilda waved at him.
Turning back he could make out Cormac missing the last shot. There was a look of confusion on the seventh year face before he started to demand a retry. Behind him, he could hear cheering from Ron, and he thought Lavander in the stands.
"Right, everyone, thank you all for coming down today. You all did well. I will have a roster up either later today or tomorrow. Just because you don't make the starting squad doesn't mean you won't get a chance to play. Once again thank you."
Harry moved back to the box that held the equipment—touching the runes, the quaffle and bludgers back to the chest. Once they were secured back into place, he shut the lid.
"Ron!"
"That was some good flying out there, Harry. When will I know that I made the team?"
"I still have to decide whether it is you or Cormac." Harry had already picked Ron but still wanted to tease him some more.
"I blocked the most shots!"
"Cormac is the smoother flier."
Ron looked flabbergasted as Harry tried to suppress the smirk. "Hermione, can you believe him? Harry is thinking about giving that arrogant arse."
Harry turned to see Hermione and Susan walking up to them.
He could see Hermione roll her eyes, "Ron, I am sure Harry is just teasing you."
"You bastard." Ron's cheeks started to turn the same shade of red as his hair as he began to fume in anger.
"You blocked more shots, Ron, and you were an excellent keeper last year. Of course, you would be my pick." His best mate beamed in the praise.
"Good. Let's back to the common room. I have some moves that will help us win drawn up. We can also go over who is also on the team."
"Sorry, I can't. I am, erm, helping Susan with some homework." He gestured to the redheaded girl standing next to Hermione that Ron just seemed to notice.
"You can help her later. We have to plan on how we will win the Cup again this year."
"Ron."
"It is alright, Hermione. You can come with us as Harry helps me. I will be happy to discuss your team's strategies with you. I promise I won't share them with my team."
Harry could only smirk at Susan's comment. "I did promise her I will help after tryouts, Ron. You are happy to come along if you want." There was a part of him that was hoping that Ron would say no and leave them be. Harry wanted his time with Susan to be moderately alone.
"But why would you want to help her over me?" There was a deep part of Harry that rose in anger about that comment before he could say anything Hermione intervened.
"Ron, you idiot." Hermione grabbed the new keeper's arm and started to pull him back to the castle.
"What, where are you taking me?"
"You still need to do your papers for class tomorrow. Plus we need to talk about how you talk about people standing next to you. Susan, it was a pleasure, and I will see you in class, hopefully, sooner. Harry, we will be talking tonight." The pointed look and threatening voice caused him to nod in agreement even if he would rather not talk.
He and Susan watched the two figures retreat off the field, leaving them by themselves.
"Sorry about Ron. He can be an idiot sometimes." She raised an eyebrow, "Most of the time."
"It is okay. I think it is sweet how much he is protective of his boyfriend."
Harry dropped the box he was holding and the broom that rested on top of said box.
"We're- It is not-"
He stopped as she began to break out in a fit of laughter. He could see the tears start to form in the corner of her eyes.
"I am sorry. I know you two aren't dating. It is easier to see Hermione and Ron like each other. But I couldn't help it. I know there were rumours about you and Ron after the Second Task in the Triwizard Tournament, but I never thought they were real."
He paused again as he started picking up what he dropped. "What rumours?"
"Well, the thing you missed the most ended up being Ron. Everyone else was someone they were romantically involved with or family."
He never thought of it like that. Merlin, did everyone think that was true? Do they still think it is true? She seemed to read his face as she began to reassure him that no one thought it was true, especially after his date with Cho no matter how bad it was.
"Does everyone know how bad that went?"
"You went with her to Madam Puddifoot on Valentine's Day, and you are Harry Potter, of course, people know how your date went."
He nodded before entering the locker room to change and take a quick shower. By the time he changed and walked out with his bag on his back and broom over his shoulder, he found Susan sitting against one of the walls with a book out and the box of quidditch supplies gone.
"Where did the box go?" He gestured to the spot where he left it.
"Oh, I figured you would be a little, so I ran it up to storage shed."
They continued the walk up to the shed in silence. It was a comfortable silence. He did not feel the need to fill it as he did with Cho.
"What do you want to try today?"
"I still could use some more help with the shield and Accio silent casting. I don't think you finished your charms essay either."
"It is mostly done." He pulled his bag closer to him, grunting at the weight.
"Wait, hang on."
He paused as Susan pulled out her wand. With a tap of the spruce wood, she silently had his bag turn orange.
"I was trying to cast the feather-light charm on it."
His smile grew, "I don't think the colour orange makes it lighter.
"Shut up. Pondus Damnum." She whispered the charm as he felt his bag become more comfortable to carry.
"Thank you, though do you mind changing the colour?"
"Depends on if you will finish your charms essay or not." She stuck out her tongue under his glare.
He debated about pulling his wand out and turning her bag a different colour before his stomach interrupted his thoughts.
"Do you want to go to the Great Hall beforehand?"
The thoughts of having to interact with more people caused him to shake his head. The idea of sitting down and then being swarmed by people who wanted to talk made him uneasy. "No, we can just have Dobby come to bring us food again."
She gave him a knowing nod. "You are going to have to go back there at some point."
"I do, maybe I will go back down for dinner. Sunday nights are usually more quiet affairs."
"You can sit with me, I mean at the Hufflepuff table. I am sure Hannah, Ernie, and Justin will love to have you with us."
"I don't know."
She laughed, "It wasn't a choice, Harry, I am going to bring you down to the Great Hall for
dinner even if I have to use the Imperius curse."
"You know it doesn't work that well on me."
"Well, I think I know some other ways to get you to do what I want."
Her sly smile caused him to furrow his brows and tilt his head as he tried to discern what she meant.
Entering the room, they set their bags off to the side as they decided to work on silent casting first. Dobby brought in a tray of sandwiches and a pitcher of water. Dobby also promised to put his broom back in Harry's room.
"Okay, lets work on Accio first." He set the books on the table away from them.
He let her try a few dozen times before he stepped in offering advice. The book only went a few inches each time. He would reset it after it fell off the table. "Are you saying the spell in your head?"
"Yes."
"Okay, trying just thinking about the book coming to you when you do the wand movement, don't say the spell just think about what you want to it to do."
"Does that work for you?" There was a sense of irritation in her question. "For spells that I use frequently, it is easier for me to think about what I want to be done. For others, I started the method of saying it softer and softer until I am thinking it. I know that method worked for your shield charm, but you use Accio more so it should be easier this way."
She took a breath before focusing on the book. With a flick of the wand, the book flew off of the desk. It only came halfway to her, but it was still significant progress.
He winced at the squeal. His vision was once again clouded by red hair as he felt arms wrapped around his neck. Her body started to press against him as Susan bounced up and down. He slowly put his arms around her lower back, hoping that would stop her jumping.
She pulled back to look him in the eyes. Her face was only a few inches away from his own. The blueness of her eyes dragged him deeper into her look. His line of vision drifted down to look at her red lips. Her cheeks brightened before she pulled back.
"Thank you, Harry."
With a flushed face he looked away, "It was no problem, Susan. You did well." He used the
Levitation charm to move the book back to its starting position. "Let's see if you can do it again."
She did.
She started to pull the book closer and closer to her until it would consistently fly to her hand.
Her growing smile every time she did it was infectious.
As the book started to fly to her, he cast his silent spell, causing the book to change direction and land in his hand. She looked less than pleased; he cheekily smiled.
"How about we check your shield and stinging hex now?"
"How are we going to do that?"
He didn't respond before he fired off his vocal stinging hex. She blocked it but spoke the incantation.
"Harry."
"You are supposed to block it with a silent shield, Susan."
"You can't just expect-"
He sent a silent hex this time. She managed was vocal for half a second before she closed her mouth. The shield was thin at best and his spell went through and hit her in the arm.
"Come on; I want to get it, so it becomes natural for you to cast the shield charm silently." He almost missed the flick of her wand as he silently raised his shield.
The glint of fun shined in her eye as he fired back.
They sat down next to each other, against the wall after 20 minutes of attacking each other.
Both were bruised and sweaty, Susan more than him. They stopped after the fight began to escalate in them silently summoning objects behind each other.
"I don't think that tickling charm was silent."
He shrugged, "You shouldn't have let it past your shield."
It wasn't a fair assessment as he summoned a chair a moment before causing her to be off-balance before forcing her to break out in a fit of giggles.
"That was utterly a Slytherin move." He was sure that she was trying to get a rise out of him.
"The Sorting Hat wanted me to go to Slytherin."
"Ha, I don't know why it would. You are probably the most Gryffindor person in the school, in the good way too."
"There is a bad way to be a Gryffindor?"
She nodded, "That Seventh year who tried out for Keeper, Cormac. He is arrogant, bashful, thinks to good of himself. He is all the bad traits of a traditional lion."
"Well, I am sure all of the houses have bad traits in them, not just us Gryffindor lions."
"Slytherins definitely have more annoying traits. Ravenclaws can be too full of their intelligence. But we Hufflepuffs are all good—no bad traits."
He shook his head, "I don't know. I can remember Fourth Year being harassed by Hufflepuffs. Hannah and Ernie were some of the worst."
She turned to lean sideways against the wall, laying her head on it. "I am sorry for how we acted how I acted. I know both Hannah and Ernie feel bad. Anyone who knew you should have known you didn't want the attention. It is just, Hufflepuff finally got sole attention of the school, and then a Gryffindor comes in, and well, we overreacted."
He only gave her a tired smile, "It is okay, Susan. As I said before, I do understand why you all did what you did. You weren't the only ones to doubt me or harass me."
He would describe the look she gave him as dreamily, "I think you would have been a wonderful Hufflepuff, Harry."
He knew that she meant that as a compliment when most would think it is an insult, he couldn't help teasing her. "And I think you would have been a wonderful Slytherin."
He rubbed his shoulder where she hit him with her fist, "Idiot. Come on; you have to finish your charms essay."
He watched her get up and dust as she turned to move back to their bags. He couldn't stop himself from staring at her retreating figure. He stood up so Susan wouldn't catch him as he followed her.
By the time dinner was being served, they managed to finish and revise their charms essays and finish their assignments for Transfiguration for the week. They also practised silent casting a few more times.
The sound from the Great Hall was deafening to a person that has been hiding in their inner thoughts for the last few weeks. He internally groaned at the thought about entering. He eyed the stairs that would lead down to the kitchen, to solitude.
He didn't get the chance to make a run for safety as Susan pulled at his sleeve. "Come along, Harry. I told you that you would be eating dinner at the Hufflepuff table, and I am not a liar."
The sound of voices talking over each other slammed into him as the doors opened. He felt himself shrink into himself as he was dragged away to the table with yellow colours. She led him to seats directly opposite Hannah and Ernie and next to Justin. She sat down next to Justin, leaving him on the edge of the table.
"Susan, I was wondering where you have been. Oh, hi, Harry." At the mention of his name, both Ernie and Justin looked up both said hello to him.
He just silently sat down.
"Sorry, Hannah. Harry was helping me with some homework, and then I was scouting the Gryffindor team."
"How does their team look?"
"Well, their keeper is okay. They still have Katie as a chaser. Though their seeker is easily distracted."
"I am not." The group around him chuckled.
"I don't know. Use some dementors, one demented bludger, a pretty girl, and I think we will win."
He blushed at the pretty girl comment, bad memories of Cho sprang to his mind. "I can banish the dementors, I was okay with the bludger, and the last pretty girl who tried to trick me lost."
"Ugh, enough Quidditch talk. What have you guys been going over?"
He smiled about how much Hannah reminded him of Hermione, "We were working on her silent casting for the shield charm, stinging hex, and summoning charm. Then we finished our essays for other classes."
"Susan, did you get them to work?" The redhead nodded at Justin's question, "Harry, can you help us out with it too?"
"Oh, well I-"
"You have to restart the DA. Snape isn't as terrible as Umbridge, but he doesn't offer any help with anything." Harry started to eye an easy route for the door. "Perhaps we can restart at the Partnous charm. I was close to getting corporeal form before we ended and I haven't been able to try since."
"I am sorry you know some spells that Dumbledore taught you that you could teach us. I mean after fighting in the Ministry you must know some good spells." He started to grip his bag, ready to make his escape to peace.
"Enough, both of you." Susan's voice froze him the moment before he bolted, "it should be obvious that Harry doesn't want to talk about the subject. Fighting isn't the same as duelling, Ernest. You try to cause harm in fights. They are difficult experiences for all partners involved. Not everyone wants to go boosting about facing off against the person that murdered their parents and tried to murder them multiple times now." Susan tone stunned him. He had never heard her this angry about something. Her usually welcoming blue eyes were frozen over ready to storm.
Both males apologised. It was only when Susan released his hand over his backpack's strap that he realised she was holding it. He realised his bag as he silently started to dig into his food. He was aware of the many eyes on the group.
The rest of the meal passed by in easy conversation. He and Ernie discussed their potions class. He talked with others about their shared classes and funny moments from the past years.
A yawn caused him to stop his sentence mid-flow. "I am sorry I haven't slept much. I guess tryouts took alot out of me. I probably should head to my bed." He started to gather his bag from under the table.
"Night, Harry."
"Night, see you in Potions."
Justin gave a wave as he had a mouth full of cake.
"I will walk with you."
He looked to Susan in some confusion, Gryffindor Tower was the complete opposite direction of Hufflepuff Common Room. He only nodded as she said her goodbyes and moved to follow him out of the Great Hall.
He started in the direction for the Hufflepuff Common Room.
"Last I checked the Gryffindors lived in a tower, Harry."
"Yes, but you are in the basement. I would rather you not have to walk down from dropping me off."
"That all?"
Harry nodded. In truth, he didn't want anything to happen to her on the long walk. Voldemort attacked her family, and with the future Death Eaters in Hogwarts, he wouldn't put it past them doing anything. He didn't trust Hogwarts much anymore. With all the betrayals the student body did to him over the last six years, he began to lose faith in it.
"What are your plans for the night? Are you going to study more?"
"No, I think you had the right idea of going to bed early. I don't have a class in the first period so I will probably sleep in."
"Ah."
They continued in silence down the last few steps before turning the corner to walk down to the entrance.
"Would you possibly want to spend lunch or breakfast together?"
He faltered in his steps as Susan asked her question, "I would like that. It should be lunch. I should spend some time with Hermione and Ron in the morning."
"I except you will make a full apology to them?"
"I will."
Her smile warmed his heart, "Good, I have Runes with Hermione tomorrow, so I will ask her if you did or not."
"And if I don't?"
"Well," She paused as she looked thoughtfully ahead, "I will tell Hermione that you said you would. You would then have to deal with a Granger rant. Then you will have to deal with me. You can ask Hannah and Ernie what happens when you cross me. I will also not accompany you to any more meals."
They stopped in front of the door, "You're very Slytherin, Susan." He tried to fight back the smile at her glare.
"Hilarious, Potter." There was a pregnant pause before her right hand caught hold of his forearm. "Thank you again for the help today, Harry. You are a good person."
"I was happy to help, Susan. Thank you for the last two days."
"Hopefully, there will be more days. Night, Harry."
For the second night in a row, she stood on her toes as he felt her lips press softly against his cheek for a second.
"Night, Susan." He waved before she entered into her common room.
He smiled before turning around. He decided to use one of the lesser-used ways to get back to his dorm. It was when he reached the Fat Lady that he realised that she never turned his bag back to its normal colour. Harry decided to leave it the new orange; it reminded him too much of her to change.
His luck from last night did not seem to last as Hermione spotted him immediately from her chair that faced the door. Her face gave him no option but to walk over to her. She gestured to a corner of the room where they could have some privacy. He only felt lucky that Ron was not around.
"Where is Ron?" He asked as he took a seat against the window sill.
"He and Dean are in an Exploding Snap Tournament." She crossed her arms, "So?"
He sighed, sending sideway glances to the stairs leading to his bed. She would just follow him, he knew.
"I am sorry."
"For?"
"For hiding away from you and Ron. And well, everyone else. I just- I just needed time to myself. With Sirius gone I just needed some time to myself. Time away from the Dursleys and I guess away from the crowd Burrow."
Hermione's arms dropped to her side as her face softened. "We would have given you that if you asked, Harry. We have all been worried about you. You weren't acting normal during the summer, but then once we got to Hogwarts, you shut us all out." He could feel the hurt dripping from her voice.
"I know I am sorry. I haven't been in a good place."
"It is okay; we are your best friends, Harry. We will never leave you."
His chest felt lighter at the proclamation, "Thank you."
She sat up straighter, "So, you and Susan?"
His eyebrows furrowed at how she said that "What?"
"Are you two dating? I will admit I thought you would either end up with a Gryffindor or Hufflepuff. Susan is a much better choice than Cho."
"What? No." He tried to get words out as he stammered over himself as his cheeks reddened.
"We are just friends. We have only been- She asked for some help with some of her assignments, so I have been helping her this weekend."
"Is that why you kept staring at her during Quidditch tryouts and supper?"
Hermione smugly smiled as Harry thought his cheeks were about as red as they could get.
"I was not."
"Oh, so you looking at me or was it Romilda?"
"Romilda, ew no. You are like a sister to me, Hermione. Fine, I was looking at Susan." He admitted quietly.
He heard her mutter something about boys as she rolled her eyes. "You know she likes you too? She kept stealing glances at you also."
His chest began to beat faster in his chest.
"Are you going to ask her out?"
He glanced down as he felt his chest grow heavy, "No."
"Why not?"
He couldn't stop himself before he spoke. He knew Hermione would connect the dots quickly, "It is not safe for her."
He watched her put puzzle pieces together in her head before her face twisted in outrage,
"Harry James Potter, have you been hiding from us because you think it isn't safe for us to be around you?" He couldn't even open his mouth fully before she started. "We all wanted to come with you. You tried multiple times not to have us come. We all knew the risk when we went. We got injured because we were all stupid. Not because of you."
"You wouldn't have been there if not for me."
"We wouldn't have been there if we did not care about and wanted to help you. Everyone made mistakes that night, Harry, not just you. But I do not regret coming to help you. I know the risk of being your best friend-like sister. And I think Susan knows the risk of being with you, but she still wants to try. Are you going to ask her out?"
He looked down to his hands. He thought he could still feel Susan's hand on his. His cheek still felt warm from his kiss. His orange, lighter, bag brought a smile to his face. "Maybe, I don't know. Yes?"
"I think she would be right for you. She is a good person. Plus I think you need to do some normal for once."
He scoffed at that, "I do normal things. I play Quidditch."
"You scare me half to death with your stunts. There is no one else in this school that would do the things that you do. You deserve a normal year of focusing on getting good grades, and" she poked him in the chest, "dating a girl that your best friend that is like a sister approves of."
"Are you ever going to let that go?"
"No. You're like a brother to me, Harry. Are we going to see her tomorrow?" He rolled his eyes.
"We are having lunch together tomorrow. I am sure I can get her to agree to sit at the Gryffindor table with us."
She moved on to other topics. He was questioned about what he was doing by himself for the last few weeks; she was happy when he replied he was studying. He kept the room he found a secret and how he was getting such good grades in Potions.
They continued to talk until a sour Ron joined him. His best mate waved off the apology and made no mention of who Harry spent the weekend with. He was more interested in talking about Quidditch. As he pressed him for who else made the team he realised he would need to decide that and post it tomorrow morning.
He went to bed that night with a smile plastered on his face. He had his friends back. He knew of a girl that had a crush on him that he returned too.