A/N are at the bottom, make sure to read them ;)

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In darker times – chapter 9

The Hogsmeade weekend was a welcome distraction for most of Hogwarts' students. It had been a week full of homework and busy schedules. Harry had some extra work on top of the rest, for he had to turn in his essays to prove he possessed the knowledge of a sixth year student. The transfiguration essay had been the most challenging, Harry had a suspicion Dumbledore had been making it extra hard especially for him. Professor Dumbledore still didn't trust him, he had been watching him in the great hall when he thought Harry didn't see him.

But the essay turned out better than Harry had hoped. He had paid extra attention to it. He had even asked the Slytherin Head Boy, Richard, for help. Richard was a seventh year Slytherin who reminded Harry a lot of Hermione. He was smart, and knew a lot more than he had had to learn at Hogwarts. Richard had checked his essay and made some small changes, he had assured Harry it was a good essay, better than should be expected from a sixth year. So Harry left it at that and had turned it in hoping Dumbledore had the same opinion as Richard.

Right now, he was waiting for his roommates in the common room. They would be going to Hogsmeade together. Vincent was sitting with him. Harry still didn't know what to think about him, he seemed like a loyal friend to Tom, but he kept shooting him suspicious glances ever since he arrived at Hogwarts.

'So, Vincent, are you going to buy anything in particular today ?'

'I need a new winter robe, my old one is to short. Have you ever been in Hogsmeade before?'

'Only when I first arrived, my portkey brought me there.' Harry was glad he didn't have to lie, because he knew Vincent would look right trough him. Luckily Vincent only nodded and didn't seem to think twice about his answer.

'Do you have a girlfriend Harry ?' Harry almost jumped at the unexpected question.

'Why do you ask ?'

'Just curious, you don't seem like the steady girlfriend type.'

'No I don't have a girlfriend, but I'm not the type to have a different girl every week if that's what your suggesting.'

'I wasn't suggesting anything like that Harry.' Vincent had an amused grin on his face, he knew Harry was getting angry.

'Then what are you suggesting Vincent ?'

'I just think your more the boy type.'

'Well, you thought wrong then.' Apparently, Vincent didn't seem to get the hint for his grin only grew wider.

'You don't have to be embarrassed about it Harry, it's not a crime or something. Tom is into guys as well. The whole school knows it.'

Harry was startled at that. He had never known Tom to like guys, he hadn't even considered Tom to like anyone at all in that sort of way. He had never really thought about his sexual preferences himself. He thought he liked Cho, but when she had kissed him he hadn't felt a thing. And besides Cho, he had never looked at any girl like that. But he had felt that thing when he had thought about Tom a few days ago, but that surely hadn't meant anything, had it? He couldn't have a preference for guys, what would his friends think, or the rest of the world. The press would have a field day when they found out.

But he shouldn't care about the press, and would his friends really be that horrible to him if they knew he was gay? Probably not, at least Hermione wouldn't. Maybe Ron would be a bit difficult, but he would definitely come around. They had had some difficulties before, and they had always worked them out.

He didn't get much more time to think it over, because his dorm mates came down at that moment. Humphrey was laughing with Edmond over something, Paschal looked flustered so Harry suspected they had pulled a prank on him or something. Tom walked in the back, making eye contact with Vincent, who winked at Tom in return. Harry pretended not to have noticed when Tom looked his way. Instead he stood up and walked outside after Humphrey and Edmond.

Harry was lost in his own thoughts for the whole way down to Hogsmeade. Edmond was talking about the upcoming quiditch match against Ravenclaw. Harry pretended to listen to him, nodding every time Edmond looked his way.

'Is something wrong with you, Harry? I asked you a question and you only nodded.' Harry noticed Edmond really looked worried.

'I'm sorry, Edmond. I wasn't really listening. I guess I missed the question.'

'I asked what you think about the new kid playing for the Ravenclaw team.'

'I don't know, I haven't seen him play.' Harry didn't even know who Edmond was talking about, let alone how the kid played. He had only been thinking about what Vincent had told him. It was stupid to let Vincent influence him like this. The boy never spoke a word to him, and now that he had, Harry could only think about how Vincent may have been right.

'I think he sucks. Better for us though, one player less to worry about. The new seeker is someone to keep close watch on, I've heard he's pretty good.'

'Yeah, the new Ravenclaw seeker right ? He's the best they've had in the last couple years.' Humphrey had joined in on the conversation, which Harry was grateful for, because he wasn't really paying attention. He slowed his pace a little, so he could walk behind the two other boys.

Finally, after a walk that seemed to take forever, Harry saw Hogsmeade nearing. He noticed a lot of students where already walking around the now busy shopping street. Girls where carrying shopping bags and giggling together, while a group of Griffindor boys where leaving the candy store with bags full of candy. Harry felt a pang of sadness seeing the Griffindors laughing and joking around, he missed his Griffindor friends and classmates. Slytherin wasn't that bad, but it was different. The Griffindors seemed less serious, it felt like he had a warm robe around him while he was around them. The Slytherins where colder, more to themselves. He seemed like they would drop each other right away if they would get something out of it. His new friends seemed nice enough, but in the end, they would not be coming with him if he was going to do something reckless like saving his godfather. He would have to do things alone, while his Griffindor friends never hesitated, and would do anything to help him out. Even if that would put their own lives in danger.

He didn't get a long time to dwell on that, for Humphrey ran of with Edmond and Vincent, leaving Harry alone with Tom. Harry wondered if Vincent did this on purpose or just didn't want to spend the day with Harry and Tom, who had also been very quiet for the whole morning.

'So, Harry, where do you want to go first?' Harry shrugged, remembering on time that he was not supposed to know Hogsmeade.

'I don't know, what kind of shops are there? I do need a new winter robe though, Vincent mentioned that he was buying one as well. I want a new one outside of the Hogwarts robes.'

Tom laughed at that, a sound Harry got more used to every day. 'Yes that would be handy, you don't want everyone to know your from Hogwarts all the time.'

'No, I don't.'

'Well come on, I'm sure you'll take just as much time as some girls do right?' Harry pretended to look horrified at that, putting his hand on his forehead to add a little more drama. Which only made Tom laugh harder.

Half an hour later Tom and Harry walked out of the store with Harry carrying a bag with his new robe in it. He ended up with a beautiful midnight blue robe with soft fur on the inside. The fur peeked out at the linings and was visible inside of the hood. It had cost him a lot of money, a ridicules amount Harry would normally never spend on his appearance. But the seller and Tom had both insisted it looked gorgeous on him, and if that hadn't persuaded him, the giggling group of Ravenclaw girls hanging in the back of the store had. So Harry decided that a little spending wouldn't harm him, had bought it.

He did feel a bit guilty, both about the fur, and for his argument about the girls when he now knew Tom had his eyes on him. But Harry was still in doubt about his feelings and tried to convince himself as well that he did it for the girls. He had seen the emotions flash in Tom's eyes when he had said the girls would love this robe. He tried to ignore it, but he still felt guilty about it.

'Look, Tom, Vincent talked to me this morning, he said your into guys.'

Tom kept walking, not looking at Harry. 'Yes I know, he told me.'

'He also thought I also had an interest in boys.'

'Which you don't. You made that quiet obvious back in that store, Harry.' Tom had stopped walking to turn towards Harry.

'I don't know, Tom. He got me thinking. I have always been to busy to think about those things. I liked a girl once, but I never thought about the possibility of me liking boys as well. It's confusing.'

That had gotten Tom to lighten up a bit more. 'I know, it was pretty confusing for me as well, especially since I grew up in a muggle orphanage. It's a lot less normal for muggles then it is in the wizarding world you know. Vincent told me he had noticed that I wasn't interested in girls, and he mentioned I didn't have to hide my sexuality in the wizarding world, since it is accepted more. It's just not a big deal. And if you like guys, that does not mean your gay, you can like girls and boys.'

'Do you?'

'Do I what?'

'Like boys and girls?'

'No, I just like boys. Come on, we can better get inside if we don't want to freeze to death.' Tom was right, it was pretty cold outside, especially since it was only half of October and it was usually warmer this time of the year.

Harry was glad Tom had tried to lighten the conversation a bit and followed him inside the three broomsticks. It was crowded inside, but Harry easily spotted their roommates sitting in the back. Edmond waved them over, and Harry quickly forced himself trough the crowd of students. Only Edmond had noticed them, Harry noticed Paschal an Humphrey laughing together about something Vincent had said. He looked a lot less nervous, but the moment Harry and Tom took a seat at their table his mood changed dramatically. Paschal almost jumped from his chair.

"Easy Paschal, it's just us." Harry hoped to calm the boy down a bit, but it didn't seem to work. Humphrey also noticed this, for he announced he himself, Vincent and Paschal where going to the bookstore. A few moments later they had both left, leaving Harry to wonder why the other boy had reacted that way.

"What was that all about?"

"Don't worry about it Harry, Paschal will be fine in a while." Edmond gave him a apologetic look.

"Why is he so jumpy all the time, he seemed fine when we walked in."

Edmond exchanged a look with Tom, and Harry noticed Tom giving a dark look back. What was this all about, they where hiding something big from him. What did they think, that he was stupid?

"Tell me what's going on. Your hiding something about Paschal, and I want to know what it is."

"No, you don't Harry. It's not your business, it's something between me and Paschal." Now Harry was at the receiving end of Tom's dark mood. Harry decided to let it rest, whatever it was, he would get it out of someone, but he would not let this incident ruin his Hogsmeade trip. And it was quiet obvious nobody was going to tell him right now.

"So, what do you think about Hogsmeade so far Harry ?" Harry was grateful to Edmond for trying to lighten the mood.

"It's a nice change from Hogwarts. Have you bought anything ?"

"No, though I wish I could buy that new broom. Cleansweep 150, have you seen it?" Edmond was leaning forward in his chair, excitement written all over his face.

"No I haven't, what's so good about it ?" This was a conversation Harry enjoyed.

"Damn fast it is, reacts like no other broom around. If I can get my hands on one of those brooms we'll win this years cup for sure."

Tom laughed at that, "Sure Edmond, if you got your hands on that broom you should first give it to a descend player before promising things like the quiditch cup. You where the only reason we lost last year, you should have paid more attention to the quafle instead of those girls." Harry also started laughing. Edmond was glaring daggers at both of them, but started laughing as well when he couldn't hold it in anymore.

After all three of them had finished their butterbeers they left the three broomsticks to head over to Zonko's to get some candy before returning to Hogwarts. A lot of students where already leaving, most of them carrying bags full of candy or prank products. The girls where packed with clothes or books. One group was collected in front of the book store giggling over a girls magazine.

Edmond went loose in Zonko's, loading his bag to the brink with candy and fireworks.

"Look at this Harry, it will be so much fun to give this to Vince." His face was flushed from running around the store. "It's a chocolate frog in disguise, it makes him dance and sing the national anthem."

"Vincent won't be laughing about that you know." Harry couldn't help but grin about the image in his head. Vincent would definitely be the best target for this. "When are you giving it ? You have to make sure I'm there when you do it."

"Of course, everyone has to be there. But we have to wait a while, people always expect to be pranked after a Hogsmeade day."

When they left the store a while later the wind had picked up and it was already starting to get dark, they had to get back to the school. The walk back was mostly filled with Edmond talking about all his prank supplies, and the broom he had seen. Tom walked next to Harry in silence, he hadn't said much after what happened at the three broomsticks.

"Tom, I've been practicing. When is the next lesson ?" He made sure Edmond hadn't heard, but still got an angry glare in return, which he ignored.

"I don't know, tomorrow maybe, if you're up to it of course." Tom was grinning now, not the evil grin he normally whore, this was a more teasing grin. Harry picked it up immediately and poked Tom in the ribs.

"What do you think, I'm always ready." Tom only snorted in response.

"We'll see."

Harry left it at that, and started discussing pranks with Edmond again. He was up to some fun, this time could really use someone like the Weasley twins to make school more bearable. Especially since he had a nagging feeling that Tom was not only threatening with his lessons, he knew they would get harder.

A/N. Tanks for reading again. I've noticed a lot of people have added this story to their alert list, and a few even added it to their favourite list. I'm flattered by it, it means a lot since I'm having a pretty hard time writing this story. I've started a new job, and had some very hard things to do in the last period of time. It's starting to get better but it is still hard to find some time to write.

It is nice to see that so many of you are interested in this story, but it is also a bit disappointing to see that most of you aren't taking the time to review. It will not take a lot of time, and I would really like to know what you think about this story so far. Of course special thanks go to the people that did review, let's not forget about you. Some of you have even reviewed since the first chapter, which makes your reviews extra special for me.

I want to thank, Lelouche-21, my new beta. You should all be grateful to her as well since I know now that my grammar mistakes are big. She is putting a lot of effort and time in editing this story, and she is also giving me some tips on my writing, which are really helpful. Most of the earlier chapters are in line of being beta'd, but I've put this chapter online before she has seen it because I didn't want to make you wait longer.

The edited chapters aren't containing anything major that you have to know, but you can still read them again if you like.