Disclaimer: I do not own the creation of Harry Potter or anything to do with it. It all belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Chapter Three: First Day Back
...
Harry uncomfortably entered the Great Hall late, staring at remainder chattering students. Despite having been comfortable and incredibly tired, last night had been rough. Throughout the whole night Harry seemed to be constantly be awakened by violent nightmares either of his Uncle or Voldemort. When he realised he had woken Neville and stirred Seamus, Harry had to place a silencing charm around his bed. Unfortunately this voided out his alarm clock, thus causing Harry wake up late after those last few hours of sleep he managed to get in the early hours of the morning.
Harry quietly sat down amongst the fifth years that were still at the table. Colin shuffled up next to Harry holding a sheet of parchment, and greeted him. "Hey Harry, you alright? This is yours."
"Yeah, fine thanks. What is it Colin?"
"It's your time-table. Ron chucked it on the table next to the pumpkin juice so I picked it up; he seemed to be in a rush." Colin handed to him a folded piece of card. Harry opened the hard parchment glanced at his first lesson.
"Thanks. Have a good day Collin." Harry smiled, though inside, his stomach was plummeting; first period with Snape. Harry looked at the rest of the day and saw to his surprise that it was largely free aside from DADA just before dinner.
Harry waited outside the Potions Lab sullenly, fifteen minutes earlier than necessary; Professor Snape was not in the classroom yet and they weren't allowed to enter without him. Harry had given himself more contingency to get to the Dungeons than he had planned. The first term always began with Harry's stomach not being to hold nearly as much as his mind told him to eat. After a summer of near starvation, the sudden intake of delicious food was just too much for his appetite – and this summer had been much worse compared to previous years.
The Gryffindor leaned against the wall, watching the other few students from different houses taking NEWT level Potions arrive at the door as a thought hit him with a funny jolt. It would just be himself and Hermione taking the class now as Ron had decided to drop Potions all together. Harry had always been distinctly aware of Ron's insecurities towards him, and wouldn't want anything to tip him over the edge. Harry hadn't ever felt anything other than sisterly love for Hermione, and the prospect of being with her seemed ludicrous – Harry hoped this feeling will come across to Ron now that the two are together.
Hermione made her a way over breathlessly to Harry, still ten minutes early, and asked him how he was feeling today. What Harry didn't know that Hermione and Ron had awoken early to speak about their best friend before lessons begun and had both resolved to separately make sure Harry had been okay over the summer after the events at the Ministry, the prophecy and Sirius' death; as unfriendly as they knew the Dursleys were, it did not occur to them that they could have possibly treated Harry with anything any further than strong dislike or neglect.
Harry replied shortly and cheerfully, causing Hermione to relax slightly and press forward with her questioning. "I'm not quite sure how to ask this Harry, it's been playing on my mind for a while; I felt ever so terrible that we were not allowed to contact you over the summer due to owl interception, especially what happened, and with Sirius-" Harry raised a hand and cut her off immediately. Sirius was not a topic he wished to talk about; the fact he no longer had an adult figure that he could turn to, write to, or even trust on a father/brother level, broke his heart more than Hermione or any of his peers could ever understand.
"Hermione you don't need to feel bad, I know it's not your fault and would have contacted if possible," Harry let out a dark laugh and thought to himself I'm not sure if I'd be able to reply though. Hermione appeared to have caught Harry's gloomy expression.
"I know Harry. I just wanted to make sure the summer hadn't been too testing for you, as I know what your relatives are like." Harry froze and asked immediately what she meant. She went onto say, "I can't imagine them talking to you about it or even you telling them about it! I just want you to know that Ron and I are here for you regardless of anything; that's a problem with you Harry, you're too secretive sometimes. Please, if you ever need to talk to either of us, don't think twice." She finished with a firm smile, glad she was able to say everything she needed to.
Harry internally relaxed once realising she hadn't discovered his secret, and let Hermione finish what she needed to say. It didn't matter what she said, no one could comprehend the pressure that had been bestowed upon him. To kill or be killed, to be the reason for his parents, another student and now his Godfathers death. Rather than a beacon of light, Harry felt like an advocate for bringing about death and pain to anyone who got close to him. If anything, Harry felt as though he was being selfish for not distancing himself from the other two. What was it like, he thought to himself, to not be under constant pressure or rejection? What was it like not to be a burden, or to be relatively unimportant in outcome of how the world was to turn out? The mixture of long and short cuts that were forming scars he created on himself tingled as he forced these thoughts to the back of his mind; how he wished he could forget the weight on his shoulders more often. But Harry knew that his method was not a healthy one, not one to be used frequently, if ever again.
Professor Snape opened the doors to the Potions lab and the inter-house students began filling in. Grimacing slightly, he took his new books out, and laid his head on the table, sitting next to Hermione on and end table in the middle. Dumbledore had taken liberty in purchasing all his books from Harry's account without permission instead of Harry leaving the Dursleys earlier as usual. It really ticked him off when he read the note last night explaining. Sighing Harry adjusted his head on the table.
Harry started at all of the toys with immense wonder as he walked around the famous toy shop Hamleys for the very first time. Dudley had insisted on Harry joining them on the trip, so Harry, surprised, yet delighted to be included in the family's plans, happily agreed. Uncle Vernon was taking them via the London Underground. Aunt Petunia was round one of Dudley's friend's house. Harry had never been on the tube before. He was going to be, oh, so good! Better than even Dudley, and he wouldn't ask for one single thing. So Harry stood in front of the wooden soldiers with unhidden awe, his eyes shining as he examined them. Harry bit his lip and looked around. Uncle Vernon was very interested by the toy gun Dudley was showing him. How he longed to touch the toy… One touch wouldn't hurt would it?
Harry brushed his thin fingers over the carefully sown red suits with marvellous shiny golden buttons. Upon further inspection, Harry saw the word 'Hamleys' engraved on each button. Harry next reached out to the soft furry big black hats. He had seen a picture of one before when studying Royalty at school and it always made him laugh. Harry looked around nervously again. Dudley and Uncle Vernon had disappeared. He was strangely unaffected by this. Sighing Harry picked up the small wooden structure. It looked very delicate. You could move the arms and legs though they could snap at the slightest jolt – Dudley would never want one of these. Harry sighed once more. He smiled blissfully as he closed his eyes picturing himself in his cupboard playing with it.
With no warning, Dudley came running into his view screaming loudly so that many could hear. "DAAD! Harry's trying to steal the toy!" He whined in a sing song voice. More strangers turned to him with disgrace. Harry's cousin then knocked the soldier out of his hand. "Dad! Dad! Harry BROKE it!" At this point a whole crowd had gathered. Uncle Vernon looked more murderous than ever, his face red with embarrassment. "BOY! Get over here at once!" He backhanded him harshly. "Just you wait till we get home you-"
"Potter. POTTER!" Harry jerked up from the memory.
"Sorry Sir." Harry said quietly. What an absurd flashback… But then Harry remembered what had happened afterwards. That was the first time Uncle Vernon had used the belt on Harry. The unjustness of the situation clenched Harry's heart. The Gryffindor looked back up to Snape, who loomed over Harry's face, simply furious.
"Falling asleep at the start of my lesson? School has worn you out already? After all that pampering from your relatives, what Hogwarts provides is not enough for the Golden Boy." Said Snape out loud. Harry stiffened uneasily, looking away from Snape's face to disguise the hurt written all over it. What did Snape know; what did anyone know? On countless occasions Harry had attempted to ask Dumbledore to let him stay in the castle, or at the Weasley but it simply wasn't feasible. Dumbledore had reasoned that no student stayed in Hogwarts over the summer, and staying with the Weasleys was a danger to their family. On many occasions Harry suspected Dumbledore knew more than he let on, but Harry wasn't sure he even wanted to know whether the Headmaster knew of the Dursleys treatment towards him.
"Detention at seven-thirty Potter and 20 house points removed from Gryffindor." Harry bowed his head in defeat, avoiding the looks of disappointment from any remaining Gryffindors in the class.
Severus Snape was not an idiot. He could spot through a badly performed glamour charm when he was that close up to one and was determined to find out what exactly his old enemy's son was trying to hide. A detention in the evening was a perfect opportunity to do so.
...
The day passed fairly quickly with no confrontations on the newspaper articles regarding Harry as the 'Chosen One' from anyone. Harry decided to eat lunch in the kitchens rather than in the Great Hall; a small crowd at breakfast had been easy to handle, as well as the small potions class. Harry wasn't sure however he'd be able to handle the huge chatter of students bustling in and out during lunch. Dobby naturally was overly willing to present Harry with any food he could possibly make in that short period of time; except Harry wasn't the only one that had decided to avoid the Great Hall today.
Draco sat idly on a bench in the kitchens, crunching on a ripe green apple. He watched Potter enter the kitchens and inwardly groaned; he did not feel to deal with Potter today for he had no idea how he was going to get through the Gryffindor's barriers. After a moment of hesitation, Draco decided to let his presence be known.
"Potter." Draco said civilly shuffling down the small bench to allow him to sit down. Harry looked at Draco suspiciously but sat down nevertheless.
"What are you doing here Malfoy?" he asked warily.
"Thought the secret to the kitchen was a privilege only for the Golden Boy?" Draco quickly snarled before mentally kicking himself and continuing, "I happen to come here when I require some peace and quiet. It seems as though that's not going to happen today." The Slytherin couldn't help himself and added hatefully "Don't you have a fan base waiting for you in the Great Hall?"
"Shut it Malfoy; I wasn't insinuating anything. Why have the other Slytherins abandoned you? It's obvious they have; I saw what happened on the train, and in Potions you were sitting with the Ravenclaws." Harry questioned, ignoring the mutual dislike radiating off Draco and himself. Harry deemed it more significant knowing the answers to these questions.
"Wonderful to know you've been keeping tabs on me Potter," Draco started sarcastically, "If you must know, I have severed certain ties with family members due to circumstance and the news has got out. When I tried to call a truce with you on the train, you didn't seem so willing." Draco said quickly, ad libbing and using this opportunity.
It most certainly took Harry off guard. "Wait what? You never asked to call truce! And I'll have you know, even if you had, I'd never, and I mean never call truce with a death eaters son," said Harry scathingly before adding on, "Even if you had severed ties with your locked up father, I'd never forgive you for how you treated me and my friends these past five years."
Harry got up and walked towards the fruit bowl portrait to leave. Before leaving he turned around and cast one look at Malfoy. "If you really have… changed… Confide in Dumbledore. He'll help you out." And with that, Harry left the kitchens. There was an essence of guilt in his decision, but Harry felt like he had to have evidence before he merely trusted Malfoy's word and what better proof than Malfoy turning to Dumbledore?
...
The double period before dinner was DADA so he met Hermione and Ron in the common room and together they made their way to the Defence classroom. This class was a lot bigger than his Potions class; Harry assumed that it was due to the fact Voldemort had returned – more students would want to be able to defend themselves during these dark times, understandably so.
Professor Markel was already in the classroom when the students began to fill in. He wasn't a tall man, but there was an air of dominance about him. His skin was a few shades short from a tan, hair dirty blonde and his eyes were brown with specs of green. He gave tight smile with his thin lips to the class and gestured them to sit down.
"Afternoon class. Please let me introduce myself again – I am Professor Markel, and as you know this is my first year teaching at Hogwarts." He straightened his robes and gave a deliberate look at the class.
"Firstly I'd like to congratulate you for making NEWT level Defence Against the Dark Arts. As you all know, these are dark time we live in, truly dark, and I am not one to hide these horrors from you. I know the teaching in this class has been incredibly skewed, but with me, I'm going to show you what Dark Arts is really about. You have to know what coming folks; you need to know what it's really like out there. Unlike that Ministry official last year, we're going to be practising real spells on each other and understand the Dark Arts properly."
The class was completely silent as they watched Professor Markel give his introduction speech. It reminded them a lot of Professor Moody, and whilst it turned out to be a nutter in the end, the fourth years of the time did learn a lot of useful material. It filled the class further with upcoming hope when he asked the students to put their books away, get into pairs and start by showing their level of understanding up to this point. He was willing, receptive and discretionary to questions which appeased the sixth years immediately. Professor Markel was off to a good beginning right from the start.
Harry, Ron and Hermione left the classroom two hours later with the same reaction as the rest of the class.
"That's the most decent lesson we've had since Moody!" said Ron excitedly whilst Harry nodded his head fervently in approval.
"That was a really good idea of his to get the class to show each other what level they were already on," said Hermione contemplatively, smiling at Ron and Harry's enthusiasm.
All thoughts on why most of the Slytherin pupils had been so pleased to see Professor Markel had vanished.
...
Chapter End
So this was more of a filler, leading onto Severus Snapes findings on Harry in the next chapter: warning for lots of angst coming up!
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Thank you to JWOHPfan, BassGuru, Murgy31, Tired, Avengers4EVER, robingrayson2014 and Agito Takanoe for your reviews so far!
Please drop me a review for support on what you think so far! On a side note, what does everyone think of JK Rowling's revelation on wish fulfilment for putting Hermione and Ron together? Personally, after reading the interview, I think the media blew what she said totally out of proportion, but I'd love to hear what other Potter fans thought!
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Raiise