CHAPTER FOUR:

It was finally that time of the year; Hogsmeade. No classes. No Professors. Just you, your mates, and house. Of course you could only go with permission from your family; sign a form and you're all set to go. It was the times they went to Hogsmeade that every child allowed to go in Hogwarts could be seen with a wide smile on their faces.

Harry's P.O.V.

What the bloody hell. Not the first year, not the second, and not now. I think to myself, will I ever be able to go to Hogsmeade while attending Hogwarts? Doubt it. I'm stuck here, in the castle, with no one else. There isn't a single snake who is staying behind; their parents couldn't care less, but Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia don't want me to be more influenced by the bad wiza- oops they say it as the bad "w" word.

I think I'm gonna try to just read ahead for Potions, I mean it's the only class that I actually enjoy and excel in. I was sitting in the Common Room while Draco, Zambini, Parkinson, Nott, Bulstrode; the whole gang zipped up the jackets and put on the most layers I've ever seen.

"You going to be fine Harry?" Draco questioned curiously.

"Yeah, I guess I just have to deal with it," I acted calm, but on the inside, I was fuming.

He looked at me once more before starting a conversation with Crabbe and Goyle. I focused my drooping eyes towards the faded text once more, before a small hand was placed on my shoulder. I jumped up in surprise and squeaked, but scowled as my mates turned to me laughing and smirking at the sound I produced.

"Real manly, Potter," Blaise drawled with a laugh. My cheeks were tinted scarlet.

"Oh shut up boys, I thought you were his friends. If no one will, then I'm willing to stay back with Harry and we'll have much more fun together than you guys will," Daphne smiled sweetly at me. By then, I'm pretty sure I was sweating an ocean. I tried to deny her company and insisted on her having fun with her friends, but she countered back by rejecting all comments; I was her friend. End of conversation.

Draco winked at me as he left through the doorway. Zambini gave me his signature bad boy smirk and followed after. I, on the other hand, sat in a chair with my book, next to Daphne Greengrass; how interesting.

She and I just sat there for a while, each of us reading our own book in silence. Every once and awhile I would awkwardly gaze up at her. Her blonde hair would occasionally fall in her face, and she would casually blow it out. She was so beautiful. I realized I had been staring at her for the past ten minutes when she looked up and smiled at me. I blushed and turned away. Suddenly I felt her behind my chair.

"You know Harry, you don't have to look away… I feel the same…" My face turned beet red. My stomach turned. She liked me?

"You do…?"

I turned to look at her, hope in my eyes. She smiled at me, that beautiful glowing smile. Everything was racing in my body, I was beamed, and she started to nod. She opened her mouth and…

SMASH!

We both turned to the stairs that led to the boys dormitory. There stood Sirius Black.

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Daphne POV

I had no words. The escaped criminal, Sirius Black, came to Hogwarts out of all places, more specifically, to the Slytherin Common Room. I mean, I'm not scared of going up against him; I love challenges, but I'm really worried about Harry's reaction. In DADA, we had to practice getting rid of our boggarts which were basically our greatest fear at the time, and apparently Black was his. Maybe the fact that Black and his parents were really close. I looked over at Harry, and my suspicions were correct. He had collapsed onto his knees and was shaking as if it were a snowstorm. His fingers clenched at his scalp with his head lowered. His beautiful green orbs were shut close and he was hiccuping in fear. It kinda looked cute and I wish I had the courage to hug him.

"Harry, snap out of it! He's not going to hurt you; not under my watch!" I screamed till I got coarse.

No answer.

"How sweet, I take it you two are mates? Not much longer though," Sirius took some glass shards from the wreckage he made when bursting through the window. He chucked them; small ones scratched Harry's face and arms, but a some big ones struck his torso and thigh.

"HARRY!" I cried, obviously in worry.

Harry didn't even look one bit fazed; he looked as if he felt absolutely nothing and saw a ghost. That's when I got mad.

"Why you...Expelliarmus!" Thinking of the first spell coming to mind, I pointed my wand at him, hoping it would do something. No avail and only gained a sadistic chuckle that got louder and louder.

"Petrificus Totalus!" Missed again.

"Why are you protecting this worthless coward. He sees an enemy or anyone and just cowers like a little bunny. Especially a Slytherin; a snake? Being a bunny, or in other words a Hufflepuff? Hah, never heard of it. If I were you, I would just ditch the slumbag and get a better man," he sneered.

By this point, I was fuming heat waves of anger that would burn anything in its path. I knew this guy was bad, but I didn't know he was going to be a jerk.

"First of all, Harry is not a coward. We all fear something time to time, and it is not something to laugh about when everyone is in the same boat. Second of all, I think many would be a bit afraid of an escaped criminal who assisted The Dark Lord in killing his best mates. Thirdly, we are not mates. I will make an oath, and will follow it, even if that takes my life! As long as I live, if I can, I will do anything to protect my friend, Harry James Potter!" I yelled in anger, panting with a fierce expression placed on my face.

Black's face fell,"...Wait, that's Harry Potter, as in The Boy Who Lived? Son of Lily and James Potter?"

"Yeah, you got a problem or something, cuz he's my friend too. Take one more step and things will get nasty."

Sirius collapsed, face held no more cockiness, and sneers. He looked like he had just stabbed his mother in the back, though it wouldn't be the first time that he has killed someone close to him. He grabbed his face roughly,"No, no, no, no, NO!"

"What happened, big boy. Just a second ago, you were boasting and-" I started to say, but got cut off.

"I'm so sorry James, Lily. Harry m'boy…" He reached out to Harry, but I kicked him away.

"What are you doing?! DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH HIM! YOU'RE APOLOGIZING AFTER YOU LITERALLY THREW A WINDOW AT HIM?" I yelled,"go away; Petrificus Totalus!"

X hits the mark. Bullseye. The man collapsed and I tied him up, gagged him, and threw him into my closet, waiting for the others and Professor Snape to come back from Hogsmeade. Noticing it was only midday, I proceeded to pick Harry up by the armpits and lay him across the floor. His head was in my lap and I continued to read my Potions book, while playing with his tousled hair as if nothing even happened.

Hey guessss. So sorry that it's really short and rushed. I've already fallen behind on the one chapter a day schedule, but I'm trying my best and I'm still fairly new...Sorry XD