"You know you don't have to do this Harry, right?" Seamus said, watching his boyfriend put on a short sleeve shirt.
"I know I don't have to," Harry said, looking at himself in the mirror. "But I need to learn to be comfortable with myself. If that means showing off my arms….then so be it."
"Are you sure you're ready?"
Harry turned to Seamus and took him by his waist, bringing him closer. He put his forehead to Seamus'. "No. But I need to start somewhere. And with you by my side…"
Seamus kissed him on the nose, causing Harry to scrunch his face. Seamus loved when he did that. "If anyone so much as says something to you –"
"I know you'll kick their ass!" Harry chuckled. They finished getting ready for the school day. As it was just a few days before the Christmas holidays, the students were allowed to wear just their school shirts and not their robes: Most of the school robes were getting cleaned for the students' arrival back to school.
Harry felt nervous as they made their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast. Seamus held his hand tightly, reassuring him that he wasn't alone. Harry paused and took a deep breath as they entered the dining hall. He spotted Hermione and Ron, and they waved them over.
"Hey!" Hermione watched as the couple took a seat next to Ron. "Harry, you're wearing short sleeves again," she said under her breath, smiling.
"I figured since it's the holidays….maybe people will forget after we come back…" Harry said, running his hand over his arm nervously.
"Don't worry, it'll be fine. We're here for you," Seamus said, putting a hand on Harry's knee. Harry sighed and nodded, getting on with his breakfast.
The first lesson of the day was Transfiguration with the Slytherins. Harry was waiting with the other Gryffindors just outside of the classroom, waiting for the last of the previous class to file out. Harry stayed close to Seamus…he was aware of the stares he was starting to receive from the others. No one, however, said anything…no one even pointed…when Harry looked up at some of his fellow Gryffindors, they just smiled kindly and continued their conversation.
They soon entered the classroom and took their seats. The day's lesson was filled with reviews of what they had learned during the semester. They were put into pairs and practiced different spells and incantations for the rest of the class.
Harry, who was naturally paired with Seamus, was trying to transfigure a mouse into a pocket watch. Seamus was guiding Harry through it: He still didn't quite have the technique down as Seamus had.
"No, it's more of a cursive L shape," Seamus said, demonstrating with his own wand. "Try it."
Harry did exactly what Seamus did. While the mouse didn't quite turn into a watch, there was a pattern of numbers and a clock face on it. "Damn, almost there!"
"It's still something!" Seamus said proudly. "Try it again!"
"Maybe you can try transfiguring those scars into a proper arm again," Crabbe said stupidly, standing next to him. Seamus grabbed hold of Harry's arm before he could do anything.
"Keep talking and I'll transfigure you into a ferret, like your friend Malfoy!" Seamus retorted back. Crabbe cracked his knuckles threateningly but turned back to his own work. Seamus looked at Harry. "I'm sorry – "
"It's fine…it's just Crabbe," Harry said, self-consciously rubbing his arm again. "Come on, let's continue."
The rest of the day went by without much incident. While Harry did receive a lot of stares, he was receiving just as much kind smiles and nods. Harry started to feel more comfortable walking around, he felt almost elated, like he was being understood and accepted. Harry and Seamus walked through the halls, arm in arm, feeling happy as the friends laughed and joked…he was starting to feel normal again…
"Do you think we can try and see Hagrid again?" Harry asked as they passed by one the foggy windows. They stopped by it and looked out: Hagrid's hut was filled with light, smoke coming out of his chimney. It had been a few weeks since Hagrid had been fired. He barely came to meals anymore, and he always stayed inside his hut during Care of Magical Creatures lessons.
Ron looked down at his watch. "I don't know – we still have about twenty minutes until curfew. By the time we got our coats and come back down, it'll be too late."
"What about the Invisibility Cloak?" Hermione suggested.
"We can barely fit two people under it, let alone four of us," Harry sighed. "I guess we can try again tomorrow."
"Don't worry, baby, I'm sure we'll be able to see him before we go home for the holidays." Seamus said, putting his arm around Harry's shoulders.
"You're still coming home with me, right?" Ron asked Harry and Hermione.
"Of course!" Hermione said. "It's going to be a great Christmas!"
"Harry? You coming?" Ron asked, watching his best friend. Harry just nodded, still looking out of the window.
Seamus leaned in close to his ear. "I know you want us to stay together…but mum says I need to spend time with my grandparents…"
"I know, it's ok," Harry whispered back, putting his head on Seamus' shoulder. "It's only for a few weeks."
"I hear the holiday feast is going to be great tomorrow!" Ron said, as they continued on through the hall. "Do you think –"
"Hey there, tiger!"
They turned around to find Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle heading their way.
"What the fuck now?" Harry sighed as the boys stopped in front of them.
"Just wanted to let you know your new nickname: Tiger! You know, because of the stripes!" Malfoy said, indicating Harry's self-harm scars once more. This time, it wasn't Harry that needed to be help back, but Seamus.
"Shay, no!" Harry said, grabbing his arms.
"Aww Shay? Did you guys hear that? The fags have a nickname for each other!" Malfoy and his friends started laughing. "And what does Shay call you, tiger? Stripes? Suicidy? I know! How about –"
Before Malfoy finished, Ron pulled his fist back and punched Malfoy as hard as he could. Crabbe and Goyle were about to pounce on him, but Hermione whipped out her wand and blocked them from Ron.
"What is going on here?!" McGonagall and Flitwick ran up to the group. "Why is it there is always trouble when you're around?" She glared at Malfoy, who was supporting a bloody nose.
"He called us a fag, professor!" Seamus yelled.
"And he made fun of of my scars again!" Harry yelled, his eyes watering with angry tears.
"Weasley punched me!" Malfoy cried out.
"Because you were making fun of Harry!" Ron yelled angrily. "He was giving Harry disrespectful names like suicidy and making fun of his mental health again!"
"Be that as it may, we cannot allow fighting!" Flitwick squeaked. "I'm sorry Mr. Weasley, but I'll have to give you and Mr. Malfoy a detention for this. And ten points from Gryffindor – "
" – and thirty points from Slytherin!" McGonagall said, her nostrils flailing dangerously "and a detention as well, Malfoy! Do this again, and it will be a lot worse! Now off to the hospital wing you go!"
Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle ran off, Flitwick following behind them. McGonagall turned to the group once more. Ron was rubbing his bruised knuckles – Hermione, examining them: Seamus was rubbing Harry's back, as a few tears spilled onto his cheeks, his lips quivering.
"Are you ok, Potter?" McGonagall asked kindly. Harry nodded his head, wiping the tears away. He was shaking lightly. "Why don't you all head back to your house? Calm down before dinner."
They nodded their heads and headed down the hall. McGonagall watched, shaking her head sadly before turning in the opposite direction.