Awareness Vs Sleep
"So let me get this straight: Harry went to Professor Dumbledore and told him Draco Malfoy is innocent."
"Yeah and then-" Seamus went on.
"-what?!" Ron gaped, pausing at them. "Are you serious?
"Oh, he's so honest… even though Malfoy deserves hell," Creevey went on. "Everyone should be as great as Harry Potter, although I can't say it's possible. He's just… perfect."
Ron looked at Creevey. "Mate, you're scaring me."
Hermione stopped by them while passing them in the hall. "Have any of you seen Harry?"
"Ran off from the infirmary again?" Seamus asked.
"No, he was let out this morning. I haven't seen him since yesterday."
Ron frowned at Hermione's weary eyes and crestfallen expression.
"Don't worry 'Mione, he'll show up."
She sighed. "I just don't understand why he's being this way. We haven't done anything, have we?"
"No, we haven't. He's just being a jerk."
"Don't say that, Ron… he might be hurting. You know how Harry is."
"Yeah, you can tell minutes in how socially inept he is."
She gave him a bored look.
"Sorry," he mumbled. "He doesn't have to treat us this way!"
"That's why we should find out why he is."
"I guess."
"I have Advanced Arithmacy. I'll see you guys later."
With that, she walked off.
They watched her till she turned a corner, then Ron turned back to the other two. "We have to find Harry. He can't be off the grounds and he can't skip Potions."
They nodded.
During Potions, Ron put his head on his folded arms. "Hey, Ron… Harry is still missing and it doesn't look like he'll be making it to Potions."
"Quiet!" Professor Snape yelled, making them jump. "Pay attention, Gryffindor! Heaven and hell know you do."
The door creaked open. "Professor Snape, a word please?" Professor McGonagall.
Professor Snape swished through the class, up and out the door with her, holding the door almost closed behind him. The students watched silently until the door was closed before turning to each other in a burst of gossiping whispers. The door slammed open. "SILENCE!"
All breaths were held until the door closed again.
A few seconds later, Professor Snape walked back in and into the storage room.
"MALFOY!" he called.
Draco Malfoy lifted his head as everyone else as Professor Snape walked out of the storage room and to his desk, holding a rack. He went to the professor's desk. Some muttering, mixing and stirring later, the professor poured a purple liquid from the cauldron and poured it in a flask, sealing it with a cork before putting it in a case.
Draco Malfoy nodded and accepted it before turning to leave.
"What do you think is happening?" Hermione whispered.
Ron shrugged. "It's probably some transfiguration-thing."
"We never used potions for transfiguration."
"Maybe we'll learn it next period."
She exhaled.
Professor Snape poured the rest of the potion into a bigger container, sealed it then took it to the store room. He changed the cauldron and did three other potions before putting them all away.
At his return, he finally looked through the students.
"Is anyone even half-done?"
"We only need to finish boiling skrewt shells for the potion, professor," Hermione said.
"And what are you waiting for?"
"For it to boil, sir."
Draco Malfoy walked back into the class. Professor Snape turned to him.
"Professor Dumbledore wishes to speak to you, professor, after class."
Professor Snape nodded. "Finish your potion, Draco."
"Yes, sir," Draco said, going back to his table with his partners.
After Transfiguration, Ron and Hermione walked to the Great Hall.
"He missed Transfiguration too… I'm worried," Hermione said, looking around the hall to get a glimpse of Harry.
"Maybe he's in the tower."
"But what if he isn't? We've looked everywhere, Ron."
"We'll go check after dinner. Nothing to lose."
Although dinner barely filled their stomachs with a few bites, they stayed.
Meanwhile, on the other side of things, Harry dragged himself through the corridor, barely hiding his limp. Too much… Today was too much.
"Oh boy, am I going to be accused of doing this as well?"
"Shut up, Malfoy. Let me through."
"Professor Snape sent this for you. They're on your case, Potter – you better have a good reason for worrying Snape or you're dead," Draco said, waving and case containing the flasks.
"Funny, I already am. Now shove over," Harry said, taking the case.
"Enjoy passing out in the middle of the tower. Oh, and enjoy explaining to your dear Gryffindorks later too."
With that, Draco walked off.
You know nothing, asshole. Harry grunted the password then continued to drag himself to the dormitory.
"Finally…" He dropped the case on the bed, not even bothering with it, and kicked his shoes off next to it. He tossed the robes and his clothes onto the chair.
He pulled the covers up and slid in, tagging the case and looking at its contents. He snorted as he mentally translated the labels. Dreamless sleep. Skin burn healer. Wizard's Prozac, he thought, rolling his eyes. Whatever. He downed them, corked the empty flasks then put them back into the case before putting it into the drawer next to his bed.
Hedwig hooted.
"Hey Hedwig. You love me, right girl?"
The owl hooted.
Harry smiled. "I hope that's a yes." His eyes drooped and welled in tire as he watched the beautiful white, mountain owl. As the greens closed for the last time that night, his brows frowned at the beginning of a weak crawl under his skin. Go away…