Onwards we go:
Harry did not do as his professor said. Instead, he sneaked out the very next day before breakfast to grab some extra sweets, since he felt he hadn't grabbed enough the day before. It had been a really stupid move, for more than one reason. Mostly because he knew better and was now breaking a promise, but also because he nearly ran into Dumbledore while in Honeydukes, though the great wizard seemed to intentionally dodge him. He didn't leave Honeydukes, but went back the way he had come.
That was when he ran into Theodore Nott because Harry had unwisely not checked the map before exiting the Witch's hump. The other boy was a rather tall, thin boy who seemed a bit frail in Harry's opinion like he had maybe been sick a lot when he was younger. Theodore always wore his dark brunette hair a little in his blue eyes and didn't socialize much, preferring to be alone. He was good at potions however, and saw blood-status as very important, much like Draco.
Theodore took one good look at Harry standing there, having just exited the Witch's hump with map and invisibility cloak in hand, and then said, "And now you're going to be my best friend."
Harry's mouth fell slightly open to protest, but realized he couldn't. Theodore Nott knew his secret (two...no three of them) and could go running to Professor Snape if he had wanted, but instead he had offered friendship...in a very Slytherin sort of way, of course.
"And now I'm going to be your best friend." Harry resigned.
To be honest, it didn't turn out to be as bad as Harry had expected. Theodore wasn't much of a talker as it turned out and they enjoyed their quiet companionship rather than awkward conversation. They studied together and Theo (he agreed to let Harry call him this) even went with Harry up to Hagrid during Care of Magical Creatures after Harry had received a letter stating he had lost the case for Buckbeak and the new security measures made it impossible to meet up with Hagrid except during class. Hermione, Ginny, and Ronald had also approached him.
Hagrid seemed sick with grief. "S'all my fault. Got all tongue-tied. They was all sittin' there in black robes an' I kep' droppin' me notes and forgettin' all them dates yeh looked up fer me, Hermione. An' then Lucius Malfoy stood up an' said his bit, and the Committee jus' did exac'ly what he told 'em..."
"There's still the appeal!" Ron stated. "Don't give up yet, we're working on it!"
This didn't seem much comfort to Hagrid, "S'no good, Ron. That Committee's in Lucius Malfoy's pocket. I'm jus' gonna make sure the rest o' Beaky's time is the happiest he's ever had. I owe him that..."
As the five of them started away after class (it was the most awkward moment of Harry's life, admittedly) they heard Malfoy behind them, laughing with his two lackeys.
"Did you see him blubbering? Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic? And he's supposed to be our teacher!"
Harry was sure Ron was about to hex the living daylights out of Malfoy, but Hermione got to him first. SMACK!
Everyone's mouths, even Theodore's, dropped as they watched her slap Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster. He staggered. Hermione raised her hand again.
"Don't you DARE call Hagrid pathetic, you foul...you evil..."
"Hermione!" Ginny grabbed onto her friend before she could hit the other again.
"Get OFF, Ginny!"
Hermione yanked out her wand and pointed it at Malfoy.
"C'mon." Malfoy grabbed onto his lackeys and the three rushed off into the castle, heading undoubtedly for the dungeons.
Ron spun on Harry and Theodore. "Bet you're about to defend that little creep."
Theodore shrugged and replied in a soft voice. "He had it coming."
"From a LONG way off." Harry added.
At this Ron focused back on his bushy-haired friend. "Hermione! I can't believe you!"
The day didn't seem to be Hermione's day. Apparently, she missed Charms and later she stormed out of Divination, all of which Harry was astounded to hear from Ginny in passing.
Then it was spring break, the worst spring break of Harry's life thus far. There was so much homework, he felt like he was going to collapse from exhaustion every night and then he foolishly went off to Hogsmeade with Theodore after pretending to his professor to be spending a day in the library. Then he had nearly been caught by Professor McGonagall in the hall of the One-Eyed Witch statue and he had to toss the map aside, so as not to be caught with it. Luckily, she had no proof and he was able to escape without trouble and get back into the library so as to look like he'd been there most of the day.
Sadly, when he returned to where he'd tossed the map, it was gone. He later discovered that Ron had found it and been using it, only to have it confiscated by Professor Lupin, who seemed to know exactly what it was.
School started again and the lessons and homework were enough to give nightmares. On top of this Harry had Quidditch practice every night in preparation for the Slytherin versus Gryffindor match, which would decide the Quidditch Cup. Marcus Flint was extra brutal during practice and Harry felt like he'd be sick after the final match.
The night before, he couldn't sleep, his unconscious mind riddled with nightmares, and so he decided to go for a little stroll in his invisibility cloak. Accidentally, however, he tripped over Theodore who had been lying on the floor and reading by light cast from his wand.
"What are you up to, Harry?" Theodore asked as he stood, straightening out his robes he was still wearing.
"Thought I'd go for a walk." Harry murmured. "I can't sleep...nightmares..."
"Ah." Theodore picked up his book and motioned towards the exit. "Mind I join you?"
"Not at all." Harry helped his...friend...under the invisibility cloak and the two set off about the castle and finally settled on a wall overlooking the grounds. "Cold tonight."
"A bit." Theo opened up his book and continued studying it.
"What are you reading?" Harry inquired, though he was only partially interested.
"About Animagi."
Harry straightened and looked over at his friend. "Really? I want to become an Animagus, but the professors said I had to wait until after the whole Black thing straightened out."
Theo raised an eyebrow and looked over at Harry. "I'm becoming one. I got approval from everyone."
Mouth dropped, Harry couldn't believe what he had just heard. "That's not fair!"
"I can teach you what I've learned so far." Theodore offered. "I mean, really it's not hard. It's just focusing your magical energy around the idea of assuming another form, an animal form and practicing that. If you can perform a Patronus Charm than Animagi shouldn't be a bit of trouble for you. They're considered one and the same basically. Animagi forms and Patronus forms are the same shape too."
"What was my Patronus?" Harry asked, curious. "I never saw it."
"I didn't either." Theodore admitted. "I didn't go to the game, but I heard Draco saying something about it being a bird. Some kind of falcon or something."
"A falcon?" Harry smiled a little. "That's...cool."
"It fits you."
"Thanks."
They sat there for some time with Theo explaining how to focus the magic and having Harry make attempts at it. Thinking of his Patronus form seemed to help and Harry could feel the bubble of magic welling in him as Theo explained should happen.
"You could probably go through the tests now." Theo told him with a hint of pride over his teaching skills. "You seem ready. I've been studying all year and this last lesson was the first time I felt like I could. I'm supposed to start the tests in a few days."
Harry sighed. "Yeah, but the teachers are fairly certain I'm too stressed and all that."
"Well..." Theo shrugged, not knowing words of comfort.
They stared out at the grounds and then Harry gasped and pointed, hoping he wasn't the only one seeing this.
There by the Whomping Willow stood Hermione's orange cat along with a gigantic, shaggy black dog. Theo stood, apparently having seen it as well, and pulled Harry up with him. They watched the two disappear off into the Forgotten Forest together and then they faced each other.
What on earth had they just seen?
And here we are.