Chapter 2: Crumbling Heart
By the time Harry figured out how to get out of the secret room it was past curfew. He cursed his ignorance for forgetting his invisibility cloak in his trunk that morning. He was in the heart of the school without any way to shield himself from the ever watching eyes of Filch and his horrid cat not to mention the one man who thrived on Harry's suffering, the resident potion master who resembled a large greasy bat with an attitude to match.
Moving slowly down the halls Harry kept to the shadows. As he turned the corner the boy who lived came face to face with Snape as he was making his rounds for the night.
"Potter, I would think after four years you would learn to stay in your room after curfew. Just because you are the boy who lived doesn't mean you get free reign of the school at night." Snape said coldly.
Harry scowled slightly and grumbled a very obscene phrase that included Snape a broomstick.
Snape turned around "I heard that Potter, don't think that just because you aren't in my house that you won't get punished to the fullest extent." The potion master said grabbing Harry by the shoulder and leading him through the school to the head of his house's private chambers. Raising his hand and banging the door with a great force the wooden door opened revealing an irate professor McGonagall in her bathrobe.
"Severus it's after midnight, and what are you doing out of bed Potter?" she asked focusing her square spectacle gaze on the Gryffindor.
The boy looked away quickly trying to figure out how he was going to explain being out of bed once again.
Snape cleared his throat " That doesn't matter at the moment, the fact that he is out of bed is one thing but also he seems to think it's fine to speak obscenely to his teachers when he can't think up a lie quick enough." The potion master said looking at the transfiguration teacher before him as he moved over and whispered what Harry had said to him.
"Potter, I want you to go back to your room… but you will be serving detention with Professor Snape for the next week for your lewd comment. After that week is done you will be serving one evening of detention with me for being out after curfew." McGonagall said her hands on her hips in anger.
Harry nodded his head as he took off to the common room, when he got there the fat lady was not pleased about being woken so late. After slipping into the common room Harry dragged himself up the stairs to his bed where he collapsed fully dressed wishing that everything that had just happened was just a terrible dream. The young Gryffindor failed to notice the large brown owl sitting outside the window with a letter for him.
The owl sitting on the ledge was not happy that it was being ignored. Hoping back and forth on the ledge it tapped its beak on the glass trying to get someone to pay attention to it. Harry was slowly roused from his bed, as he moved over he opened the window and grabbed the letter as the mysterious owl took off into the dark sky. Opening the envelope he pulled out the letter.
With a soft sigh the emerald words that brought forth such feelings were once again on the parchment.
Harry
I heard what happened in potions, I'm sorry that I caused this trouble for you. Please believe me I didn't send that first letter as a joke to make a fool out of you; my feelings for you are true. Someday I would like to say these words to you in person… but for now I must keep myself secret, I hope you understand.
Your Secret Admirer
Folding the letter Harry placed it with the first one he received into his trunk after changing into his nightwear before climbing into bed and trying to let sleep claim him.
--
In the Slytherin common room Draco had just returned from taking a private walk around outside on the castle grounds, he liked his time alone to think about things that no one else really needed to know. Walking slowly to the boy's dorm Draco felt someone grab him by the arm and pull him into the firelight. Nott and Zabini were smirking "Draco we came up with the perfect plan to take care of Potter before our first match." Nott said with a wide smirk on his face.
"We were thinking, what if we send a fake letter to Potter to meet his admirer all alone the night before the match. We jump him and make sure he doesn't show up to that match" Balise remarked as he rubbed his hands together a bit.
Draco gave an uneasy laugh at the idea; he didn't want anything to happen that could ruin his chances with the boy who lived.
"I'm guessing the only reason you two need me is because I have the neatest handwriting out of the three of us" Draco said looking at the two other Slytherin boys standing next to him.
Both boys nodded and decided that now that they had Draco's promised help they could turn in for the night without worry.
Draco collapsed into an arm chair and felt his chest tighten as he tried to keep himself from crying at the thought of what might happen if his friends got their hands on Harry.
The blonde curled up into a ball and felt a few stray tears slide down his porcelain white cheek before disappearing into the darkness of his cloak. If I don't do my part everyone will wonder why I chose not to take the chance to ruin Potter's life. Draco thought curling into a tighter ball.
--
Three weeks had passed and the first Quidditch match of the year was only four hours away. Harry hadn't gotten a letter from his admirer since the late night one. He was wondering what was going on, had he angered her somehow? Harry was in a daze at the house table his gold plate empty. Hermione reached over and shook her friend till he blinked.
"Harry, you have a letter from your admirer again" she said handing the envelope over.
The boy who lived grabbed the envelope away from his friend and tore it open to read the letter inside.
Harry
I want to meet in person with you, we should meet alone today in the owlery after you receive this letter come up and we can finally see each other face to face . You must come I need to speak with you in person and share my feelings with you.
Your Secret Admirer
Getting up from his seat Harry tore out of the Great Hall and up the stairs, first years jumped out of the way as he ran at full speed down the hall to the stairs that would lead up to the owlery tower.
I'll finally be able to come face to face with Cho in private and she'll tell me just how she feels. Harry thought as he pushed the heavy wooden door of the owlery open.
Across the hay covered room Draco was looking out the window he had a plan of his own. Turning around he looked at Harry "What are you doing up here Potter? I didn't know you had any friends outside of school to write to" the blonde said faking his evil remarks when he really wanted to reveal the truth to the boy who lived.
Harry glared at Draco "it's none of your business Malfoy" the raven haired boy said wishing his rival would disappear all ready in case Cho showed up soon.
With his back to the door Harry didn't see Balise and Nott sneak in behind him until he felt a great force send him sprawling to the floor amidst the owl pellets and hay. Harry's glasses skidding across the floor just short of a large crack in the ground leading to the floor below.
Temporarily incapacitated Harry tried to get to his feet which harder then it seemed with two heavier boys piling on him and crushing him against the cold stone floor.
Malfoy stood back and watched, his hand covering the pocket of his robe protecting something inside of it.
Harry felt the air get knocked out of his lungs a second time as he tried to get to his feet and a disarming spell hit him square in his chest. His wand flew out of his hand in a graceful arch and landed with a soft thud on a pile of Hay near Draco's feet.
Nott and Zabini were having too much fun trying to curse Harry into dust to notice Draco pulling his wand out and pointing it at Harry's glasses " Accio, Potter's glasses" the blonde whispered softly as the glasses shot into his now open hand. Pocketing the cracked glasses he pointed his wand at his 'enemy' and took a deep breath, he knew that his loyalties would be more then questioned after he uttered his next spell.
"Accio… Potter" Draco roared as Harry flew out from under Nott's foot as it came down to smash against Harry's face.
Roaring in pain Nott fell over grasping his foot. He had put so much weight behind it he ended up injuring it when it hit the stone floor instead of Harry's face.
Draco stumbled back when the boy who lived flew into his arms.
Balise turned quickly his wand drawn he locked eyes with Draco as the blonde reached into his pocket and grasped the small shell from his pocket and pushed into Harry's hand as well. Yelling out a curse Balise saw the curse strike the portkey being held by the two rivals.
Harry felt the distinct tug behind his navel and that his hand was stuck to something, as well as being held by someone else.
The feeling got weirder when Harry thought he could hear screaming as he slowly lost consciousness.