AN: Thank you so much for the response!
A big shout out for my beta: beau2809!
Chapter six
The first day of the holidays seemed calm on the outside, but on the inside Harry was reeling. The only one who knew what Harry had heard was Susan and she had to leave for home the morning after. The same morning the news came that Buckbeak's hearing was in April. While they still had been doing some research to the matter Harry, Hermione and Ron had still almost forgotten about it with the end of term exams approaching. Now that they were over, they threw themselves into their research.
Harry liked the excuse to do something that required minimal human interaction. He didn't feel up for fun or chatting right now. He was still confused and conflicted about Black. A part of him just wanted to tear things apart and go after Black. However even in his anger Harry realised that even if he wanted to get revenge, he was thirteen and up against the only person ever to break out from Azkaban. The odds would not be on his side.
But Harry didn't want to stop living. He had so many things he liked about life now and what was the point if he was only focused on revenge? He hated Black yes, but would his parents really appreciate him becoming some robot revenge drone? Harry didn't know but he would guess that they wouldn't.
It still hurt however. Harry wished that he had known them. He knew practically nothing about them. Apart from their blood status, first names, his mother being good at charms and his dad at transfiguration and Quidditch, Harry knew nothing about them really. He didn't know who their friends were or even their middle names. He didn't even know where they were buried.
All these thoughts hurt. Harry couldn't stand it and he had no outlet for it. The weather was too bad for flying, Susan was the only one who knew so he couldn't talk to anyone and he couldn't just destroy things. So Harry went to his new escape technique: studying. Of course it was defence books he studied at the moment. He had found one particularly interesting, called 'Defence with Creativity'. It detailed all these common charms and spells and how they could be used for your defence like they had done with the troll and the club in first year.
Their holiday homework was, of course, also calling their attention. They had all decided to try and fix as much as possible before Christmas so that they didn't need to do the customary hurry after New Years.
That didn't mean that Harry spent several days silent. Terry had stayed in the castle along with two first year Ravenclaws. Besides the Ravenclaws and the Gryffindor trio there was only one other third year, a Slytherin. Her name was Daphne Greengrass and Harry had never spoken to her properly. They shared their Spanish lesson (Daphne apparently already knew French) and also took the same electives. Since one was in Slytherin and the other in Gryffindor however, they interacted very little.
The results from the end of term exams arrived the morning of Christmas Eve. Harry was very pleased with his results and did a small happy dance in his dormitory since Ron was still asleep and no one else could see him. Harry did really well on the exams, barring potions and astronomy but he still passed those. Later during breakfast Harry looked up as Daphne Greengrass rose from the Slytherin table.
"Greengrass!" Harry sprinted after Daphne the morning of Christmas Eve as she exited the Great hall. She turned around and looked a bit surprised.
"What do you want Potter?" she didn't say it with a sneer like Malfoy would, but more warily.
"Well Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein are coming as well as the two Ravenclaw first years, Sheila and Jessica, and we are going swimming. Hermione and Ron won't come; they didn't feel up to it. But we wanted to invite you as well." She looked surprised but smiled at him.
"I'd like that. Where is the pool?" Harry gave her the directions as the bubbly first years came out of the hall and almost bumped into Harry as they chattered about swimming.
"Sorry Harry! I'm so glad we're going swimming, I'd missed it. Do you think we can transfigure floating devises as well as stuff like that?" Harry nodded as he quickly followed them, not wanting the two eleven year olds to be alone in the pool. He walked backwards still looking at Daphne.
"I hope you join us, it'll be fun to do something like this. Besides Jessica and Sheila have been begging us to go and swim with them since they found out about it." Daphne laughed as Harry stumbled a bit as he turned around.
"I'll make sure to come and have some fun with them." With that she went down to the dungeons as Harry went to the swimming pool. Terry and Anthony were thankfully already there, and Anthony apparently was transforming these floating devices the girls had been talking about. Harry was so busy staring at the weird things that he missed little Sheila pushing him into the pool.
Spluttering, Harry surfaced and tried not to flush as the others laughed. Sheila and Jessica didn't know that Harry had been going to the pool to learn to swim, so he couldn't be angry. But he was thankful that he was better at swimming now.
Revenge however is sometimes the best tactic. So Harry decided to start a water fight. Soon it became all out anarchy as it was everyone for themselves.
"HA I got you!" Sheila screeched as she managed to get a tidal wave over Terry who spluttered. They could all hear laughter from the door. Daphne stood there laughing as she quickly threw down her robe and jumped in.
"You go girl, let's take the boys down." The other quickly agreed and unfortunately for the boys, the girls won hands down.
"Well that was fun. I'll remember to beat you at water wars some more." Daphne gloated good naturedly.
"Sure as long as I get to beat Slytherin in Quidditch" Harry retorted. Daphne rolled her eyes as the Ravenclaws laughed.
Time had run away from them during their playful games however and Harry headed back to the common rooms. He had promised to spend the afternoon with Hermione and Ron. The library was closed since it was Christmas Eve but Hermione still had managed to borrow an impressive stack of books.
Harry had in the past few days done most of his homework; he only had astronomy and history left. Binns had chosen a particularly boring subject this time, asking them to write a four feet essay on the importance of the history of taxation for the evolution of the magical nations. Since he had never talked about the subject in class, most of the students had grumbled about it a lot.
Hermione looked up as Harry entered. Ron was engrossed in his potions essay. He had started to study a bit more recently. Ron had always done the assignments, he didn't try and come with stupid excuses like some, but recently he had started to do a little bit more. Harry was glad to see that because Ron was good, he just constantly took himself down by comparing his achievements to his brothers.
"Did you have fun?" Harry nodded and fell down into a chair before the fire.
"We had a really good time. The first years seemed to really enjoy themselves. We promised them to do it again; perhaps we should drag all the first years down for a swim. Daphne agreed that it might be a good idea and it was Terry's idea. What do you guys think?" Hermione nodded absently.
"Well I guess the first years have time for it, but I need to study. I hope it works out." Harry looked at Ron who looked like he had eaten something sour.
"A slytherin, really! They're just a pack of backstabbing bigots. Why would you invite them?" Harry looked at him.
"Not all of them. Snape and Malfoy aren't my favourite people in the world but why should I exclude a bunch of eleven year olds. If we get to know them now and they get to know muggleborns surely that would be better?" Ron snorted but shrugged.
"Better you then me. I don't trust them." Ron sulked about that for a while, but since the work for Buckbeak's hearing seemed to go forward decently as well as a delicious dinner made the mood of everyone better. The rest of Christmas Eve passed quickly as the snow continued to fall outside the castle's windows.
The next day the snow was thick outside and everyone in the castle woke up to a pile of presents at the end of their beds. Harry had a larger haul then ever, but was thankful that it wasn't as big as Dudley's had been. He never wanted to be so spoilt.
Harry received a deck of exploding cards that rise from the ashes like a phoenix from the twins, new gloves from Wood, as well as undershirts from Angelina, Alicia and Katie in green, purple and blue - the same colour on the shirts they had requested. Ron had given him a wireless together with Hermione. He was touched by the thoughtful gift, since they didn't require active magic to be used so he could use it during the summer. Harry felt a twinge of guilt for not having told them that he would not be returning to Privet Drive. He just didn't want to talk about why.
Moving on to the rest of the gifts, Harry had been given a new jumper and sweets from Mrs Weasley and hugged the shirt when Ron didn't see him. It meant more to him than any gold that she cared for him, simply because he was friends with her children.
Cedric and Penny had joined forces and given him a few books about charms, transfiguration and ancient runes that they swore would make OWLs much easier. Harry smiled at the thoughtful gift as they both knew Harry wanted new books on these subjects. Luna had given Harry a necklace to wear under his clothes that held a protective charm. The accompanying note said that it had belonged to her mother's brother. Harry made sure to send her a thank you note. Susan had given Harry a couple of wizarding fiction books, from children stories to classics.
Terry and Anthony had given him two things, first as a joke a certificate of swimming, like the ones they give little kids. They had also given him two sets robes one in green and one in blue, since Harry had admitted that he didn't have any wizarding clothing apart from his school robes. Some would think it a boring present, but for Harry it meant they had listened and actually tried to understand what he really wanted. Harry was angry at himself for not buying additional robes during the summer. Clothing was a large part of how you felt, represented yourself and was seen. Wearing muggle clothes or school robes meant Harry still had a distance from those who had lived in the magical world all their lives.
"Presents Harry! Great, you've actually gotten some this year. I'm glad." Ron chucked a pillow at Harry as he started ripping into his small mountain of presents.
"Happy Christmas Ron."
Happy Christmas to you too Harry." Just as Ron was done and Harry had moved his presents to their new places on his desk, in the drawer or in the wardrobe Harry realised that there was another present on the bed. It was a long package and felt oddly familiar. When Harry had finished with the wrappings he simply stared in shock. Who would give him something as expensive as this?
Ron came to see what was keeping Harry preoccupied since he had tried thanking Harry for his present several times with no success.
"Merlin's beard! Godric Harry who gave it to you?" the boys started looking for a note as Hermione came into their dormitories. Harry ignored the exchange between Hermione and Ron about Crookshanks as well as the weirdness that was the fact that girls were allowed into the boy's room but not the opposite. Harry bent down to see if any note was under the bed. He found nothing and proceeded to shake the quilt to see if anything was hidden in it.
"Goodness, who gave you that broom Harry?" Hermione asked Harry, seeing the broom on his bed.
"I don't know I can't find a note." Hermione bit her lip and seemed worried. Harry assumed it was because she also knew that most wouldn't give such an expensive gift and if they did most would say from whom. Harry tuned them out as they continued to bicker. Did he know anyone able to give him this broom? He could think of no one rich enough who would give him an anonymous present.
"Harry could I have a go at it later?" Ron asked. Before Harry could reply Hermione screeched.
"I don't think anyone should ride that broom!" Harry sensed another argument and tried to stop it.
"Guys lets talk about it later. How about breakfast?" grumbling, the two followed Harry to the great hall where Harry thanked Terry and Anthony for their presents and vice versa.
Thankfully things were more peaceful during the rest of the morning and afternoon. The students still in the castle had a snow fight and had a combination of lunch and tea served in their common rooms before Christmas dinner. At Christmas dinner, a few professors had unexpectantly had to leave for relatives while Professor Lupin was ill.
The dinner went mostly smoothly but with Professor Trelawney and her predictions of a table of thirteen ("the first who rises shall die") Harry was very thankful he switched classes. The woman seemed to thrive to predict doom and gloom and most of the time very personal misgivings for people. Harry decided to try and avoid the woman as much as possible. He also saw that professor McGonagall made sure that Harry sat a distance away from both Professors Trelawney and Dumbledore.
The big issue of the day unfortunately wasn't that it was Christmas day, but the fact that Harry got a Christmas present above the ordinary. The world class, exquisite Firebolt was confiscated by Professor McGonagall whose look promised future discussions. Harry had taken down the broom from the dormitories and examined it. He had been on a cursed broom once, which was enough. However, he had heard the proprietor in Diagon Alley talk about the security of this broom. Could it really be cursed?
Harry didn't have time to wonder as Hermione had taken matters into her own hand without talking to Harry. She said nothing as Professor McGonagall took the broom for examinations while Ron spluttered. Harry looked at Hermione and Ron as they argued and the only thing Harry felt was emptiness. Finally he raised his voice.
"Hermione I'm happy you look out for me, but did it ever occur to you that I'm not a toddler that needs to do what he's told! You could have told me and we could have fixed this together, instead of you sneaking behind my back, making decisions for me!" Harry took a deep breath and continued. Everything he had suppressed for months welled up.
"I might not have your grades but could you please stop behaving as if the rest of us are stupid if we don't get your scores or if we don't know everything. You're my friend so talk to me; talk with me, instead of going to a teacher as a first response. How would you feel if I went to Professor McGonagall or Madame Pomfrey and told them I feared for you health due to the stress of all your classes and thought that you need rest and perhaps drop one! You'd make a big scene and yell at me for not talking to you about it! That is what you just did, belittled me and acted as if I can't be reasoned with or as if I am incapable of making decision of my own health!" Hermione looked ready to argue back, but Harry didn't let her.
"I want to be your friend Hermione and yes I'm glad you care! But don't you get it that it's this behaviour as if you're so much better and more intelligent than the rest of us that puts people on edge and not your actual intelligence or grades. Be proud of those, but treat the rest of us as your equals; we're just the same!" Harry was infuriated with Hermione and everything that Harry had carried around spilled out of his mouth. He knew she did it out of care but that didn't make it better. He's not stupid. How could she not talk to him about it? He turned and headed up to his bed. He had lost all pleasure in this Christmas.
AN: Yes it wasn't pretty. They're teenagers who are growing up and going through puberty. This is not the end of the friendship and all of them weren't on their best behaviour. Things will get better, I promise!