Might be a bit of swearing in this chapter. Just if you wanted to know…
I apologize for the slow update, but school always comes before writing. … So does sleeping…
Disclaimer has been disclaimed… wait, that doesn't quite work…
He stood in the west tower for about an hour, pacing the floor, trying to regain any semblance of control. He didn't want to meet his friends as he was. If they saw him now… it would surprise them too much.
Actually, Harry was surprised too. Many times before this year, Draco and Harry had had their altercations, but this was the first time it had gotten physical. Normally they were just taunts, insults or threats, but they had never touched each other.
But how could Harry not hit that stupid git! The bastard was saying all this stuff about how he was sorry for his housemates! Like they were the problem! Draco stood their lying to his face, acting like he cared!
Acting like he loved him…
Harry felt the prickle of tears at the back of his throat and the corners of his eyes, and bit his bottom lip as hard as he could.
He would not cry over that liar. He would not fall apart due to that pathetic excuse of an asshole!
Harry started to kindle that fire of hatred again, as he grit his teeth.
Every memory of how Draco smirk made his stomach flip he paired with 'but I was worried if I said anything on it he would try to jump me'. Draco was never smiling at him. He was probably thinking of how hilarious it was to see Harry fall head over heels in-
Harry shook his head. He wasn't in love with that… that… thing. He never had been and he wasn't now.
The memories of Draco's hand on his skin he paired with 'What a whore.'
'Yeah, that was what he was thinking the whole time,' Harry assured himself.
Every burning kiss was substituted with 'wash the scent of mudbloods off.' 'Cause that's all Draco thought of him. A blood traitor. The Chosen One. Saintly Potter.
'Did he have it planned out from the beginning?' Harry wondered, remembering that day in the Slytherin common room that seemed so long ago. 'Did he realize who we were and decide to mess with me?'
'Yes…' A part whispered. 'There's no other explanation…'
Each thought added another knife to the heart, another log to the fire that was burning his insides. But now Harry squashed the rage, forcing it into a small ball. Turning it into a tight frigid flame that landed under his ribcage.
The light stayed in Harry's eyes, an insatiable anger, but now Harry could think past what Draco had done, and focus on what needed to happen next.
Thousands of ideas came to mind, and Harry thought them all over, but in the end he was still left with nothing.
'I'll think about it tomorrow,' Harry deliberated, working his way down the stairs of the tower. He could act calm, force his mind to still and think of nothing. He crossed through hallways, watching the pictures get ready to sleep. He walked into the moving stairway area, and continued up to the common room portal. But that carefully designed calm disappeared when he saw who was waiting for him.
Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and Draco stood next to the Fat Lady painting. McGonagall lips were pinched with disapproval as she looked at the approaching boy. Professor Snape's one eyebrow raise was in effect as well as his glare that was directed at lingering students who were watching curiously.
Draco looked just the same as he always did. Head held at a proud angle, eyes cool, not showing any emotion. But his usual smirk was missing. He looked stoic, as he watched the approaching Gryffindor.
'The jackass tattled!' Part of his mind yelped. That cold ball of ice was heating up again. 'How dare he!'
Harry also couldn't help but notice that his left cheek was still red. If it wasn't treated magically it would probably bruise by the morning.
Prof. McGonagall stepped forward first. Head raised and arms crossed. "Mr. Potter. I am very disappointed in you," Prof. McGonagall started off.
Harry focused his gaze on the floor. He wasn't expecting it, but he actually did feel disappointed in himself for letting Prof. McGonagall down. But the anger still rumbled in his chest.
"We do not use physical attacks on other students here. I can't believe that you would dare to dishonor this school in such a way." She continued, "For this… disgraceful act, fifty," she let the number sink in, "fifty points are deducted from Gryffindor house. And you will be having detention for a month. Is that understood?"
Harry raised his eyes from the ground as he mumbled out "Yes, Professor."
"Since this was attack against my student, I would like to take over Potter's detention," Snape cut in.
Harry couldn't stop himself from rolling his eyes. 'Of course Prof. Snape wants to be in charge of my detention.'
"You will meet me in the dungeons at 6 every day, " Snape informed Harry, not even glancing for confirmation from Prof. McGonagall.
Harry turned his head and met the Potions Master's gaze. "I understand," He bit out.
Snape's eyes widened at the anger that rippled behind those green eyes, but he kept his calm. Prof. McGonagall's face twisted in worry as she saw the young boy answer so… harshly. Nothing good could come out of this.
"Mr. Potter," Professor McGonagall started again. "I would like to impress upon you the magnitude of your actions. This is a very serious offense and if such actions happen again, there is a possibility of your expulsion. At Hogwarts-"
Harry focused his eyes on the ground again, tuning out the rest of her sermon. Any drive to pretend he was paying attention was overwhelmed by this strange fatigue that settled around his shoulders. Before he had been so energized, so ready to enact his revenge on that blonde headed Slytherin, but now he just wanted to sleep. To leave this horrible place and disappear into oblivion, just for a little while. Anger took so much energy out of people.
"-understood Mr. Potter?" McGonagall's voice cut through the fog at just the right moment. Harry nodded, keeping his gaze on the floor. "Then you are dismissed to your room."
Harry stalked forward towards the common room portal, passing between Prof. McGonagall and Prof. Snape to get there.
Draco finally moved, after standing still for so long. "Ha… Potter, wait."
Harry walked through the painting without glancing behind him. He heard the "Hey!" that followed, but did not dare to turn around. If he did 50 more points would be taken from Gryffindor, and Harry didn't know if he would be able to deal with 2 months detention with Professor Snape and come out sane in the end
He walked through the packed but silent common room to the staircase, taking them indifferently. He reached his room and walked in. All of his suitemates were gathered around in the center of the room talking in hushed tones.
Ron glanced up at the intrusion. "Harry! Your back!" Harry continued to his bed, crawling onto it on his knees. "We just heard what you did to Draco! It was awesome, but why did-"
"Ron," Harry muttered, his soft voice cutting through the others boisterous one. "Just leave me alone for tonight." Harry reached up and pulled the cord to close himself off from the rest of the suite. In his darkened area he laid down, pulling the pillow over his head.
His throat clogged and his eyes stung, but Harry blamed that on the anger that still resided in his chest.
The morning was quiet and uneventful, but dreary. Harry dressed in silence for the most part, and moved with Ron to go to the Great Hall. The rest of the Gryffindors watched him quietly. Half of the people unable to visualize Harry Potter attacking another student, the other half couldn't decide if they should approach him again.
Ron let Harry have his silence, not bothering him with any chit-chat on the walk to breakfast. But in the Great Hall there was another person waiting for their arrival. Hermoine didn't even allow him to sit down before she started.
"Harry! I just heard the news!" Harry kept his eyes on the table hoping that Hermoine would get the clue that he did not want to talk about it. "Are you okay? What happened?"
Harry barely kept himself from replying sarcastically. What a rhetorical question. Like she didn't know already…
"I heard from Pavarti who heard from Michelle that you hit Draco Malfoy! Is that true?"
'See?' The nagging was already fraying his restraint.
"'Moine," Ron murmured, "maybe you should just leave this alone."
"Harry! You can't just hit people!" Hermoine continued unrelenting. "You could have been expelled, do you realize this! It's amazing that they let you off with just a detention!"
Harry sighed. "Hermoine, can you please just drop it?"
"Drop it! You want me to drop it! My best friend is close to being expelled and you want me to just… drop it!" Hermoine exclaimed.
Harry stuffed his mouth with a bite of eggs to stop himself from snapping ack. This looked like it was going to be a long breakfast, and Harry wasn't sure if he could make it through.
"Why did you hit him? I thought you really liked him!" Harry's breathing stopped.
She just went somewhere she shouldn't have. Now all of those thoughts were back, now all of those memories that Harry kept on trying to tinge black. Now they were all filling his head with that stupid idiot's face.
"Weren't you guys starting to really get along? Won't you-"
"Would you SHUT UP!" Harry yelled, standing up from the table.
Harry's harsh breathing was seemed to be the only sound in the Great Hall as every student turned to look at him.
Hermoine's mouth had dropped open at the sudden outburst, and she leaned away from Harry.
"Hey now…" Ron growled, slowly standing up from his seat.
'Oh shit,' Harry thought as he saw the look on Ron's face. It was one of his protective faces, the type that would rather die than allow what was happening to continue.
His eyes flicked back to Hermoine, seeing how her eyes were wide, and she was reaching up to grab Ron's arm. Everyone around him was staring at him in a mixture of fear and reproach.
Harry slumped into his chair, letting out an unsteady breath. "Sorry," He all but whispered.
Ron watched him for a minute longer before also taking a seat. The trio descended into an uneasy silence. The rest of the Great Hall started to buzz in whispers.
That was more angsty than the 4th and 5th book combined… how on earth did I pull that off?
Well, tell me if I am getting too emotional with this character. It makes sense to me, but then again I am the writer, so…