Disclaimer: If you recognise it, I do not own it. Sorry I have not been updating my fics. I make no promises but I will try to do better.
Harry was hesitant the next morning. The previous joy he had felt at having someone treat him nicely was now overrun by nerves. He had never pranked anyone before. Still, he made his way to breakfast as he had no choice. The pranks were due to start soon and he couldn't help but grow more worried since he noticed a couple of the teachers were looking at him with distrust just for sitting there. He was doing nothing but he could see them looking at him and feel the looks of the other students. If that was for something he did not do, how were they going to react to something he actually did?
As he noticed his distress, Lee plopped into the seat beside him. "Hey mate," Lee said giving him a nudge trying to catch his attention off his worries. No one should ever look that nervous for just sitting there and eating breakfast. "Don't look so nervous."
"I don't want to get into trouble," He admitted. "Maybe this was a bad idea."
It was just a prank. Lee couldn't imagine being so worried over getting caught playing a harmless prank. Not even in his first year had he looked that nervous. Still considering he had pulled him into the plans, he felt he needed to reassure him that he would be fine. "You won't, if anything, everyone will look at the twins and me, not you. It is not like you have ever gotten caught pulling a prank. They have no reason to even consider it being your fault."
Harry nodded but he still did not appear completely convinced. "I guess, but I don't want any of you in trouble either."
"Please, the twins were born trouble and corrupted me in our first year," Lee said giving him a bright smile. "There's no hope left for the three of us. Soon to be four if you let us corrupt you fully."
Harry just gave a shy smile. "I guess."
"Only guess," The twins said scooting in on both sides shoving a chuckling Lee over some as they stole his place.
"It sounds like you do not have faith in our ability to corrupt people."
"The horror."
"The travesty."
"We will have to prove you wrong then little seeker."
"We are more than capable of corrupting someone."
"Gifted in that very activity."
"Doubting us."
"Tisk tisk," They finished together shaking there heads mockingly.
Harry laughed slightly. The three of them always could make him smile. The laughter ended as he felt a sharp stinging pain, he jumped slightly in surprise. It had hurt. It was a pain he had begun to grow used to but never had he been hit with one so blatantly in the great hall. The person standing where he had felt it come from just walked away laughing with his friends. Harry glanced at the front table but despite Snape looking at him and sneering, either no one else had seen or no one cared. Bitterness over the last few weeks made him think it was the latter.
The group of fourth years realized very quickly that something happened but they weren't entirely sure what changed. They looked around seeing the students walking and laughing. Nothing else looked out of place. "What happened," Fred asked worriedly.
"Nothing," Harry lied but he remained tense and worried. Glancing back towards the group, he realized it was a Hufflepuff of all people who had shot the hex at him. He had expected it of Slytherins or even his own housemates but it was a different thing for the Hufflepuff to be sending the hexes.
"Bull," Lee challenged seeing where Harry's eyes traveled. "Did that puff do something to you?"
"It is fine," Harry said but he had cringed in on himself and any confidence he had regained in the last day was gone. "I should probably go...I..."
George stopped him. "You've got to see the pranks go off and we are to be escorted around remember? They've said clearly that they don't want people running off on our own."
He settled back into the chair rubbing his sore side slightly. "Potter, Harry, did he do something," Lee questioned? "You can tell us if he did."
"It's fine," Harry said.
Lee and the twins shared a look, they knew who was to be the next target of there pranks. "Showtime," Fred hissed realizing the pranks were beginning to get set off. The worst of the Gryffindors started scratching at there skin which was turning scaly and green. the Hufflepuffs screamed slightly when they began growing hair everywhere. It was chaotic as people tried to reverse the pranks but the spells sent just made it worse.
Harry hid a chuckle since they really did look ridiculous. "A good prank, harmless but humiliating in this case," Lee said knowing he had been uneasy about doing them. "Couldn't happen to nicer pricks." Especially as he saw that the Hufflepuff who had clearly done something to Harry had been affected. It was not avenging for what the boy had just done, but it satisfied them to know he got caught in it as well.
Harry couldn't help but smile at them gratefully. It wasn't for the pranks but the fact that they believed in him and wanted him to get involved. He felt less alone then he had a day before. "Thanks," Harry said wanting to be sure they knew how much it meant to him. "For believing in me. It means a lot to have people stand up for me."
"The staff should be," Lee returned. If they had noticed there was a problem with bullying and cruel comments, the staff should have. "But any time. We got your back harry. We didn't last year, we didn't attack you but we didn't defend you. We will be better friends this year. Promise."
Though he didn't like the reminder of the reactions after the point loss, they had not been any of the people who really hurt them so he easily had forgiven them for it. He hadn't expected near strangers to stand up for him but appreciated it.
"Why don't you hang out with us after classes," Lee suggested. "We can sit, do homework, the twins can plan prank products. Everyone will leave you alone if you are with us."
"You wouldn't mind," Harry asked hopefully. He really didn't want to be alone in the common room and Ron and Hermione always seemed to have something to do lately. Either they were scared of him and believed he was doing it or they were scared of the other students bullying them too. It seemed like they were always avoiding him and he was attacked even more when he was alone.
"Wouldn't have offered if I minded," Lee said. "Right Fred, George."
"Course you can hang out with us," they said without hesitation. "Come on Harry, your practically family. You are always welcome to join us."
"Plus corrupting people," Fred said.
"Will piss off our mother," George added.
"We always need a fourth," Fred said.
"If everyone else can't see how stupid they are being, screw em."
"We always were smarter than the sheep here."
"We know better."
Harry gave them a bright smile, despite there confusing speech he took it for what it was. Acceptance. Something he was beyond grateful for.