A/N:

I'm sorry if i uploaded late. We don't have internet connection for the past month so here it is.

I'm sorry if it's short. I'll make it up the next one.

Enjoy reading!

Chapter Three

T H E

S T A R T

O F

C H A N G E

When Harry woke up, he understandably did not move. He was afraid the effects of the potions he took already wore off and he didn't want to feel unexpected pain at the moment. He might scream if that were to happen but he didn't feel any pain. He still felt fine and he sighed in relief. He stood and a quick tempus made him realize it's already 8:03 in the morning. He looked around and saw that only he and Ron were left in the dorm. He took a quick bath and wore clothes before he took off to the Gryffindor common room and saw only a few inside. He walked out towards the Great Hall and sat beside Hermione who looked like she just woke up.

"Hey 'Mione" Harry said sleepily. He took a small amount of food and nibbled it. Hermione looked startled and whipped her head to the side and saw him. "Harry? You just got up?"

"What do you think 'Mione?" he answered groggily. He wanted to sleep again but he decided against it. He didn't want the potions he took yesterday to wear off in the dorm or in the common room or anywhere where many people obviously stays.

"Oh, I-I just thought you had planned to sleep throughout the day. You clearly lack sleep." Hermione said. Harry looked at her and smiled teasingly.

"You just didn't want me to know you woke up late" he said and Hermione blushed. Harry laughed outright when Hermione huffed off and headed out of the Great Hall with her head in the air as if defiantly disagreeing with him but couldn't find the proper words to get through him, he's stubborn after all.

After eating, he went in the common room and saw not many were staying there inside. He asked some lower years if they saw Ron and they all said he were walking around and they didn't know exactly where he is right now. He thanked them and decided to go talk to Hermione first, knowing his muggle friend, she probably walked straight to the library. He really can't shake off what happened in the train yesterday.

He spotted Hermione sitting in one of the tables filled with books around, piled up one after another. He shook his head. He can't understand what Hermione see in books that she'd be willing to stay in the library whenever she's free. He sat across the chair Hermione seated and waited for her to notice him, but it seems like Hermione is busy with her books. He shook his head and knocked at the table. The sound caught her attention and she looked up.

"Oh! Harry, what are you doing here?" she asked, closing the book she's reading and put it at the top of the compiled books. Before he could answer, she interrupted. "Are you finally having an interest in studying? Reading books ease one's mind."

"I want to talk about Ron." Harry, not the type of person who beats around the bush, just said it abruptly and at once, Hermione's teasing smile faded into concern. "What is it Hermione?" Harry asked patiently. He wanted – needed – to know what his best mate is thinking. He honestly didn't want to have a row with Ron again like when they were fourth years during the triwizard tournament.

"It seems stupid, Harry. Not really important if you ask me." Hermione said and returned to her books but Harry was having none of that. He wanted to know why, even if it seems stupid to everyone. To him, all his friends' worries are not stupid because all of them must be justified.

Hermione sighed. He knew how stubborn Harry is and she knew whatever she say to avoid answering him would be futile so she answered.

"I think Ron is upset with you because of you snapping at us last year?" she said uncertainly. Because really, it sounded so stupid in her ears. Apparently, Harry did too because he was looking at her incredulously.

"Is that all? As in?" Harry asked and when Hermione nodded he said, "But, there should be something! I know there is. I admit Ron isn't that smart and tend to focus on one thought and reacts without thinking but that reasoning to hate me is understandably absurd!"

"I know. That's why I said that it sounded stupid."

"What do you think is the real reason, Hermione?" Harry asked suddenly after a few minutes passed with them only staring at each other, not really caring at their surrounding at the moment.

"I'm not sure…" she started but looking at Harry's inquiring look, she gave her part of conclusion at their redhead friend's behaviour. "We were talking about you—"

"Of course." Harry cut in and Hermione narrowed her eyes on him and he raised both of his hands in the air as if saying he surrender under the intense scrutiny. Hermione shook her head lightly and continued.

"Right, we were talking about you – don't butt in!" his witch friend exclaimed when Harry opened his mouth as if saying to get on with it already. Harry only gaped at her because of her choice of words. Satisfied, she continued. "… because of that stunt you did. You ran out of the compartment like you're butt is seared with fire. And then Luna said you may have problems …" she paused and looked at him as if sizing up if what she said is true.

"What?" Harry said defensively. Hermione looked like she believed what Luna said and was looking at Harry as if saying he should tell what the problem is. He never liked people looking at him, seizing an answer just by that. He felt as if they were intruding his personal space. Although their speculation is true…

Hermione shook her head and continued. "… and she asked us if we noticed and we said not. She looked at us disappointingly and she returned to reading." At this, she looked at me intensely. "We were worried of course. You're the type of person who bottles his worries inside himself. Don't ever do that, understand?" the bushy brown haired witch demanded sternly at him and Harry can't help but swallow hard. He hoped she didn't catch on with that move. He's already keeping secret about his condition and promising something like that to her …

Unfortunately, she did and she looked at him hard, settling her book in front of her. "Are you keeping something, Harry?" she asked. Harry laughed nervously.

"I already told you my worries 'Mione. It's about Ron right now. I was just … affected by your look." Harry said and scratched the back of his neck unconsciously. Seeing it, Hermione returned to the subject at hand. When Harry does that move, it means he's uncomfortable and Hermione took pity on him so she dropped that subject … for the meantime.

And Harry knew she would bother him all day just to know what he was keeping from them. Ugh! Why is his friend so observant?

"Anyway, Ron said not to worry about you coz your only grieving about your loss" at this, Hermione looked uncertain again and he had to wait patiently and nod at her encouragingly for her to continue. Because he can't really understand what's wrong with what Ron said as it was true, he really is still grieving. Sirius is his only relative after all. "There was something different about the way he said it. It's like he's mocking you … or something like that. I don't know, Harry. I'm not too sure myself." She finished.

Harry sighed and shook his head, trying to push away the rage he felt when Hermione said that Ron said something like that with his voice sounding like he was mocking him. Harry wanted to clear his head and to think rationally. He didn't want to act rashly out of blind rage. He wanted to see the point of view of his friend to understand him because frankly, Ron just makes him frustrated. Harry didn't know what Ron wanted from him.

"Ok 'Mione, thanks. Do you, by any chance, know where Ron went? I want to talk to him. I want to sort this out as soon as possible."

"I don't know Harry. He's been avoiding us since yesterday. I can't even catch him alone and he won't look at me much during our meeting as prefects." Hermione answered, looking at him with those sad and hollowed eyes.

"Ok 'Mione. I'll just go look for him. Maybe I'll be lucky and I might find him somewhere. I'll just go around school and look for him" Harry said and he left his witch friend at her table. He walked out of the library and decided to stroll around.

Annoyingly, his fellow students probably thought he needed some consolation from them and they come to him whenever they saw him and gave out their condolences and trying to cheer him up. Grr!Why can't they just leave him alone?

Harry walked around the campus while looking around himself and also looking for Ron. As much as he wanted to see Ron immediately, he didn't want to meet anyone at the moment. They're just annoying him.

As he decided to stay at the Gryffindor Common Room and just wait for Ron there, already heading towards the Pink Lady Portrait, he felt something poke at his face and knew almost instantly that the potions he took yesterday are wearing off. He looked at his watch and saw it's already almost 10. The 24-hour day requirement for the potion to wear off is already coming too close.

He panicked.

He didn't want to be seen.

He didn't want others to know of his abuse.

He didn't want another nasty article about himself at the Daily Prophet.

He didn't want any attention.

Harry ran towards the Astronomy Tower, knowing that the tower is deserted right now and no one would come there. He knew no one would bother staying at the tower when they can stroll around the castle and visit other places. The tower is just too plain. The only great thing there was the sight you can see, which Harry wanted from the tower.

When he arrived, he walked towards the balcony where he can see the view outside of Hogwarts. But unlike the usual, he didn't have time to marvel at the sight he is seeing as suddenly, and without warning at all, he collapsed on the floor when his energy slowly dissipated and left him, leaving him entirely too weak. Even lifting his hands seems like a chore to do. He's vulnerable at the moment and he was glad he's protected inside the Hogwarts.

And then, all at once, the explosion of the sudden burst of pain came through and attacked his body and Harry screamed.

He screamed at the top of his lungs.

When a piercing pained filled voice ripped through his mouth, he reached for his wand and, still struggling, muttered and raised a silencing spell around him.

Clutching his wand tightly even when he's weak and in pain, his body writhed around in uncontrollable spasms at the deserted Astronomy Tower, fighting for his consciousness to stay.

A/N:

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