Sunday morning dawned quietly, the usual bustle of Hogwarts muted as most students took advantage of the weekend to sleep in. The corridors were nearly empty, save for a few early risers and the occasional ghost drifting through the walls. Izar, however, was wide awake, the events of the previous day still fresh in his mind. He had barely slept, his thoughts a tangled mess that refused to settle, and the idea of spending another day surrounded by people—especially the other Slytherins—was unbearable.
After quickly dressing, he slipped out of the Slytherin common room, careful not to wake anyone. The cool stone of the dungeon floors was a welcome contrast to the heat that seemed to settle in his chest every time he thought about what had happened. He needed to be alone, to find a place where he could think without the constant fear of being watched or judged.
The events of the previous day played on a loop in his mind, each memory sharper than the last. Avery's sneer, his cold words, the fear that had gripped Izar so tightly he could hardly breathe. Even now, his heart raced at the thought of it. The shame, the anger, the helplessness, it all swirled together, overwhelming him.
After wandering for what seemed like hours he found a small alcove in one of the lesser-walked corridors, Izar did not think he had ever been down this corridor in all his time at Hogwarts. It was secluded, away from prying eyes, away from the noise of the castle. Izar sank down onto the cold stone floor, his back against the wall as he hid himself away in the alcove, pulling his knees to his chest, trying to make himself as small as possible, as if that would somehow protect him from the weight of his thoughts.
But no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't escape them. Avery knew. And now, every moment, every interaction felt like it was balanced on the edge of a knife. What if Avery told someone? What if he let it slip? He would be ostracised, disowned, everything he had tried so hard to avoid. The fear gnawed at him, relentless and unforgiving.
Izar's hands trembled as he buried his face in them, desperately trying to contain the tears that threatened to spill over. He had never felt so exposed, so vulnerable. The carefully guarded secret he had kept for years was now laid bare, and it seemed as though the walls he had built around himself were crumbling down.
He wasn't sure how long he sat there, lost in his own turmoil, but the sound of soft footsteps approaching pulled him out of his thoughts. He quickly wiped at his eyes, trying to hid himself more into the alcove, not wanting to be seen, but it was too late. When he looked up, Hermione was standing there, her eyes wide with concern, she was holding a large piece of parchment in her hand, that had several different folding segments on it and seemed rather complicated.
"Izar?" she asked softly, her voice gentle, as if she were afraid of startling him. "What are you doing here alone?" She folded the parchment down, and muttered something that sounded like 'Mischief Managed' and tucked it into her robe pockets.
Izar swallowed hard, his throat tight. He hadn't meant for anyone to see him like this. But now that Hermione was here, he couldn't seem to find the words to send her away.
Hermione took a cautious step closer, her brow furrowing as she took in his dishevelled appearance, the redness in his eyes. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.
Izar's forced smile quickly faded, replaced by a heavy sigh as he shrugged his shoulders. His voice barely above a whisper, he explained, "I just needed to get away from everything for a bit."
Hermione's concern was evident as she watched him, her gaze searching his face as if trying to see through the walls he had built around himself. After a long pause, she sat down beside him, her presence calm and steady, offering silent support.
"You know," she began quietly, "you seemed fine yesterday, at the Hogs Head, things were looking up. But something's changed, hasn't it?"
Izar clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He could feel the emotions bubbling up inside him, threatening to spill over. He didn't want to burden Hermione with his problems, didn't want to drag her into the mess that had become his life. But at the same time, he couldn't keep it all inside anymore. It was too much, too heavy.
Hermione waited patiently, not pushing him to speak, just letting him know that she was there. It was that quiet understanding that finally broke through the walls he had built around himself. Izar took a shaky breath, his voice trembling as he spoke.
"Yesterday… everything felt okay, great even," he admitted, his voice barely audible. "But now… I don't know, Hermione. I don't know if I can handle this."
Hermione's expression softened, and she reached out, gently placing a hand on his arm. "Izar, what ever it is, you don't have to do this alone," she said softly. "You can talk to me. I'm here for you."
Izar looked down at her hand on his arm, the warmth of her touch a stark contrast to the cold fear that had settled in his chest. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but they felt so heavy, so final. Once he said them, there would be no going back.
But he couldn't keep it inside any longer. The pressure was too much.
"Avery… he found out," Izar whispered, his voice breaking. "He found out… about me. About… who I am. What I am."
Hermione's eyes widened in understanding, but she didn't interrupt. She simply nodded, encouraging him to continue.
Izar's breath hitched, and he struggled to get the words out. "I… I'm gay, Hermione," he finally confessed, the admission feeling like a weight lifted off his chest but also terrifyingly real. "And now… now he knows and is threatening me."
Hermione's expression softened even further, and without hesitation, she reached over and pulled him into a tight, comforting embrace. "Oh, Izar," she whispered, her voice filled with empathy. "I'm so sorry. You shouldn't have to go through this. Not alone."
Izar stiffened for a moment, the unfamiliar comfort of the hug catching him off guard. But then, slowly, he let himself relax into it, the tension in his body melting away as he finally allowed himself to cry. The tears came in silent sobs, his shoulders shaking as the emotions he had been holding back for so long finally broke free.
Hermione held him, her hand gently rubbing circles on his back as she whispered reassurances. "It's okay," she murmured. "You're going to be okay, Izar. I promise. You're not alone in this."
The tears came in a torrent, his shoulders shaking with the weight of all the pain and fear he had been carrying inside for so long. But with Hermione by his side, he felt safe enough to release it all. Izar clung to her, the warmth of her presence seeping into the cold emptiness that had taken root inside him. For the first time in what felt like forever, he didn't feel like he was drowning.
When his sobs finally subsided, and he pulled back slightly, Hermione handed him a handkerchief. He wiped at his tear-streaked face, his breath still coming in shaky gasps.
"Thank you," he whispered, his voice raw.
Hermione gave him a small, reassuring smile. "You don't have to thank me, Izar. I'm just glad you trusted me enough to tell me. You're so brave for doing that."
Izar looked down at his hands, his fingers still trembling slightly, he felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulder from his admission to someone who has accepted him. "You know what, that felt so good to say out loud," he said as he gave a small laugh.
"As it should!" Hermione said with a smile on his face. "You should be proud to be who you are Izar."
Izar's felt a large smile appear on his face. He had been so afraid that Hermione would judge him or reject him for being gay, but instead, she was offering him unwavering support. "I was so worried that… that you'd think differently of me," he confessed.
"Never," Hermione said firmly, her eyes shining with sincerity. "Who you are doesn't change how I see you, Izar. You're still the same person I sat with yesterday in the Hog's Head. The same person who is willing to stand up to Umbridge in the middle of class. And I'm still here for you, no matter what."
"Thank you, Hermione. I… I really needed to hear that."
Hermione squeezed his hand gently. "Anytime. And remember, you're stronger than you think, Izar. Don't let anyone make you feel less because of who you are."
Izar nodded, the warmth of her words filling him with a newfound sense of determination. Maybe things wouldn't be so bad if he were to come out, accept who he was fully, and not have this weight constantly hanging over him. A small part of him still feared what was to come, but at least now he knew he wasn't facing it alone. With Hermione's support and the knowledge that others were fighting back too, he felt a flicker of hope, something that made him not care about the consequences.
Hermione stayed by his side for a few moments longer, the comfortable silence between them speaking volumes. It was reassuring, this quiet companionship—something he hadn't realized he needed until now. When she finally spoke again, her voice was calm and purposeful.
"If you want, you can help me try and find somewhere we could meet," she suggested, pulling out a folded piece of parchment. Izar watched curiously as she pointed her wand at it and whispered, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
His eyes widened in amazement as ink began to spread across the parchment, forming a detailed map of Hogwarts. Every floor, every corridor, and most impressively tiny labeled dots representing the people inside the castle. His and Hermione's names were clearly visible, tucked away in the small alcove of the hallway they were in.
"I know, it's fantastic magic, isn't it?" Hermione said, a small smile tugging at her lips as she saw his reaction. "This is how I found you earlier."
Izar was still in awe, his fingers tracing the lines on the map. "It must be really powerful. I thought Hogwarts was unplottable?"
"I thought that too," Hermione admitted as she stood up. "But I guess it only applies to external maps. This one seems to be an exception."
Izar followed her lead, standing up and feeling a bit of excitement mix with his nerves. "So we use this map to find a room, that we can all meet?" He asked. "Is there really a place big enough for all of us to practice in secret?"
Hermione sighed, her expression determined. "There has to be. We'll find it. Come on, let's get started."
As they began to walk through the quiet corridors, the map guiding their steps, Izar couldn't help but feel a sense of purpose growing within him. This wasn't just about finding a room—it was about being part of something larger than himself, something that mattered. The weight of what they were doing settled on his shoulders, but for the first time, it felt bearable. They were in this together.
They studied the map carefully, their footsteps echoing softly as they moved through the castle. Occasionally, Hermione paused, her brow furrowing as she considered different areas. Izar glanced at the map again, his eyes scanning the many rooms and hidden passages.
"Maybe here?" he suggested, pointing to a small, unused chamber near the fifth floor.
Hermione looked at where he was pointing and nodded thoughtfully. "It's worth checking out. Let's go."
The two of them made their way to the fifth floor. Unfortunately, the chamber turned out to be full of old, unused desks and chairs. There was too much clutter to make the space usable, and both of them sighed in frustration.
As they examined the map again, they noticed Harry and Ron's names moving rapidly down the corridor on the seventh floor. The two groups converged near the Grand Staircase, where they bumped into each other.
Both Harry and Ron were out of breath, their faces flushed with excitement. "You'll never guess what we found?!" Ron exclaimed, his eyes wide with enthusiasm. Then, noticing Izar, his expression shifted to one of suspicion. "Wait, what are you doing with Lestrange?" His gaze swept over Izar, as if checking for any signs of betrayal.
Izar's heart sank at the familiar look of distrust, and he cast a quick glance at Hermione, silently pleading with her not to reveal too much. Hermione nodded slightly. "He's been helping me find a good spot for us to meet," she explained in a hushed voice. "Have you found anywhere?"
"Have we!" Harry chimed in, his excitement overriding any tension. "It's perfect! Come on, we'll show you."
Without waiting for a response, Harry took off up the staircase, Ron following close behind. Izar and Hermione exchanged a quick look before hurrying after them.
When they reached the seventh floor, Harry and Ron led them to a blank stretch of stone wall. Hermione frowned at the map in her hands. "There's nothing here," she murmured, her brow furrowing in confusion. "Are you sure there's a room?"
"Just watch," Harry replied, his eyes twinkling with excitement. He began pacing back and forth in front of a tapestry depicting a rather ridiculous scene of a wizard attempting to teach trolls ballet. On his third pass, the sound of grinding stone filled the air, and Izar turned just in time to see the once-blank wall transform into a solid wooden door.
He stood in stunned silence, his eyes wide with disbelief. "It only appears when you walk by three times thinking about what you need," Harry explained, grinning as he pushed the door open and stepped inside.
The others followed quickly behind, their curiosity piqued. The room that greeted them was vast, with high ceilings and walls lined with shelves of ancient tomes, glittering magical artifacts, and strange objects that seemed to hum with latent power. Training dummies were scattered throughout, and the space was lit with a warm, golden glow that bathed everything in a comforting light. It felt almost like stepping into another world—one that was both secretive and brimming with possibilities.
Hermione, looked around the room thoughtfully. "I still can't believe this room, It's like Hogwarts is on our side, giving us exactly what we need."
Ron nodded, looking around the room with a grin. "This place is brilliant. We'll be able to practice without anyone knowing."
"How did you find this place?" Izar asked, his voice tinged with awe as he walked around the room, trying to take in every detail. His fingers brushed the spine of a book, and he marvelled at the sheer range of items the room had provided.
"Dobby told me about it," Harry replied, examining one of the training dummies with interest. "He's a house-elf that works here. He said the room appears whenever someone needs it."
"I know Dobby," Izar said with a small smile, a flicker of warmth entering his voice as he thought back to his childhood. "He used to cook the best food at Malfoy Manor…" His voice trailed off, the weight of memories pulling him into the past. He remembered the little elf bustling about, always so eager to please despite the abusive conditions he lived under. "I… I wasn't very kind to him," he admitted quietly, a hint of regret lacing his words. "If you see him, could you tell him I'm sorry?"
Harry nodded, understanding the unspoken burden Izar was carrying. "I will," he promised.
A brief silence settled over them, filled only by the soft crackling of the magical lamps that illuminated the room. Then Harry spoke up again, his tone more determined. "So, I think this place will work well. It will adjust to whatever we need." He gestured around the room, as if trying to encompass its endless potential. "Now we just need to figure out how to tell the others this is where we're meeting… without letting Umbridge catch on."
"What if we just tell them to meet us outside in passing?" Ron suggests, "Then we can show them how to get in one by one when the coast is clear. It saves having all of us outside at the same time"
Hermione nodded thoughtfully, considering Ron's suggestion. "That could work, but we'd need to be careful. Someone might get suspicious if too many of us are seen loitering around the seventh floor. Maybe we could stagger the times they arrive, and each of us could bring in a few people at a time."
Harry agreed, adding, "And we'll have to make sure everyone knows not to talk about it anywhere public. If Umbridge gets wind of this, we're all in trouble."
Izar, who had been quietly listening, spoke up. "What if we also use that map? We can check if the coast is clear before anyone comes up here. That way, we reduce the risk of being caught."
Hermione's eyes lit up with approval. "That's a great idea, Izar! Between the map and staggering our arrival times, we should be able to manage this without raising too much suspicion." There was a collective nod of agreement, the room filled with a renewed sense of determination.
"Alright," Harry said, taking charge once more. "Let's get the word out carefully. We'll find as many people as we can today. We'll start bringing people in tomorrow, after the last class, but remember, no one says a word unless they're sure it's safe."
Hermione walked over to tables next to the bookshelves and placed the map down. She scanned the map silently, "I think I can see most people" she hummed, eyes glancing over the map. "We'll split up in twos and go from there" she smiled, "Harry and Ron, me and Izar"
She reached into her pocket and took out the list of names of those that had met up at the Hogs Head, he tried to remember everyone that was there, but couldn't remember most. There were about fifty people in total on the list. "Geminio" she said, causing a copy of the list to split off of the one she held, handing the copy to Harry.
"Lets get to work, cross people off as you find them and it will update on the other," she said, moving next to Izar.
"Will it not look a bit weird," Ron said, "Lestrange walking around the school with you?"
"I think Umbridge is suspicious of me either way," Izar shrugged, thinking for a moment about what others would think, he felt a small flutter of panic before shaking his head.
"Right, lets get moving" Hermione said, waving them out the room and into the corridor, where they split up at the end and went in different directions to cover more ground.
Hermione and Izar moved swiftly through the castle corridors, trying to locate as many people as possible, the parchment map clutched tightly in Hermione's hand. Their footsteps echoed softly in the stone hallways.
As they turned a corner near the library, they spotted at the first member, Luna Lovegood, the blonde girl was walking around without shoes on. Hermione quickened her pace, her expression softening slightly. "Luna," she called out gently, causing the blonde-haired Ravenclaw to look up with her usual dreamy expression.
"Hello, Hermione, Izar," Luna greeted them, her voice melodic and serene. "What brings you here this morning?"
"We're found a place where we can meet to… study," Hermione said cautiously, glancing around to ensure they were alone. "Its the sixth floor, meet us by the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy after last class tomorrow"
Luna's eyes twinkled with understanding. "Of course. I wouldn't miss it for the world."
Hermione smiled, and after a brief exchange, they moved on. Izar felt a small smile on his face, one person down, he was sure they could get the next few quickly. But as they approached the Charms corridor, his stomach dropped when he saw a figure leaning casually against the wall, a smirk playing on his lips. It was Avery and his group of friends.
"Well, well, if it isn't Lestrange and the Mudblood," Avery drawled, pushing off the wall and sauntering toward them. His eyes were cold, gleaming with malice as he took in the sight of Hermione and Izar together. "What are you two doing sneaking around on a Sunday morning? Didn't think she would be your type" he said, eyebrow raised. The other boys with him sneered at him.
Izar felt a surge of anger rise within him at the derogatory term, but before he could respond, Hermione stepped forward, her chin held high. "We're not sneaking, Avery. We're minding our own business, something you should try."
"You better watch your mouth Granger" Avery warned, eyes meeting hers filled with fury, his gaze flicking to Izar. "You know, Lestrange, I always wondered what it was about you that made you different, why you never go got stuck in in Slytherin. Guess now I know. We can add Blood Traitor to your list of… secrets"
Izar's heart pounded in his chest, and his fists clenched at his sides. He could feel Hermione tense beside him, her hand subtly brushing against his as if to offer silent support.
"You've got something to say, Avery?" Izar asked, his voice low but steady, refusing to let the fear show.
Avery's smirk widened, and he leaned in closer. "Oh, I've got plenty to say, Lestrange. But I wonder… what would everyone think if they knew about your other little secret? The one you've been so keen to keep hidden"
Izar's breath hitched, but he forced himself to stand tall, his gaze never leaving Avery's. He could feel Hermione's eyes on him, filled with concern, but also pride. "Go ahead then," Izar said, "tell eveyone" his voice unwavering. "I'm not going to let you blackmail me over this. If you want to tell everyone, do it. I'm done being scared of you."
Avery's expression faltered for a brief moment, clearly not expecting Izar to call his bluff and stand up to him. His eyes narrowed, and he straightened up, his confidence wavering. "You think you're so brave, don't you? We'll see how long that lasts." He turned to the boys around him, "Lestrange here is a poof lads. Found a bunch of queer magazines in his bed, and was hiding in an alley in Hogsmeade waiting to get bummed by some men."
The other boys made sounds of disgust as they looked at him, muttering several derogatory words under their breaths. Izar gave a small laugh to himself as he repeated the lie about him meeting up for sex.
With one last sneer, Avery turned and stalked off, "Come on boys, let's leave the faggot and the mudblood to themselves" he chuckled, as the others followed. The tension in the air was thick, but as Avery disappeared around the corner, Izar felt a strange sense of relief wash over him. He had taken a stand, and it felt empowering, even if the consequences were still unknown.
Hermione turned to him, her eyes filled with a mixture of pride and concern. "Izar… are you okay? You didn't need to do that."
Izar nodded, though his heart was still pounding. "I… yeah. I think I did." He muttered, unable to believe what had just happened. "I'm tired of living in fear, Hermione. I won't let him control me."
She gave him a small, encouraging smile. "I'm proud of you."
They continued their mission, and soon, they found themselves outside in one of the courtyards where they found Cho Chang, Marietta Edgecombe and Oliver Butler, studying.
"Hi, Hermione. Izar," Cho greeted them warmly, her eyes bright with curiosity. "What's going on?"
Hermione explained the plan to them, and as she was doing so Izar let his eyes wander over Oliver. The boy was a Ravenclaw in his Sixth year, the same as the two girls. He had light brown hair that was slightly curly, he was not the tallest of people, a bit shorter than Izar, despite being the older of the two, but what he lacked in height, he more than made up for in presence. His body is lean yet muscular, with broad shoulders that taper down to a toned waist, Izar was surprised that he was in Ravenclaw and not Gryffindor, he seemed relatively sporty and active. As he was looking at him, their eyes met briefly and Izar looked way quickly, his face blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"We'll be there," Cho promised, as Hermione finished her explanation. Marietta just nodded silently, she had not seemed to show much interest in what was happening.
"Looking forward to it" Oliver said, eyes glancing over to Izar before giving a playful smile, causing Izar's chest to feel lighter.
As Izar and Hermione walked away, he looked over his shoulder again, getting a final glance at Oliver. Hermione smiled as the two walked together, "looks like someone's got a crush" she laughed in a playful mocking voice.
"What? No" Izar said, almost to quickly giving a small awkward laugh, he paused for a second and looked back again, before back at Hermione."I mean he's cute" he admitted with a shrug.
"Really cute" Hermione corrected, nudging Izar with an elbow, "I think you two would look good together" she smiled.
Izar blushed and ran his hands through his hair, "I don't even know if he's… you know?" He said, trailing off, not feeling comfortable with where the conversation was going, admitting he was gay was one thing, but admitting he liked a boy felt like something completely different, the two seemed to be on different levels for him.
"Oh he is," Hermione said as they continued walking, "and he does morning swims in the lake, so he's fit. Viktor used to join him for morning swims when he was here last year, they became good friends, that's why he's such a strong supporter of gay rights," she said matter-of-factly.
"Huh," Izar said, his mind now filled with thoughts of Oliver, topless, swimming in the lake as they walked. His mind drifted back to the magazines and the copy with Viktor Krum on the cover.
The pair of them continued on the search for others for the next hour before they ticked the last name off, Cormac McLaggen.
"Didn't picture you being into blokes Lestrange" he said as Hermione and Izar were about to walk off.
Izar froze, his back stiffening at Cormac's words. He could feel Hermione tense beside him, her eyes narrowing at the Gryffindor boy. Avery had begun to spread what he knew around the school."What did you just say?" Hermione said.
Cormac shrugged, seemingly oblivious to what had happened. "Oh, come on, Granger. Everyone's talking about it. All I'm saying is that I didn't think Lestrange swung that way, but hey, who am I to judge?" He said holding up his hands, "Good luck to you mate, is all I can say."
"Thanks… I guess" Izar said, unsure how else to react to this conversation, before turning and walking away.
As Izar and Hermione made their way to the Great Hall for lunch, they were in a comfortable silence. Reaching the entrance to the hall, Hermione gave him a reassuring nod before they parted ways, heading to their respective house tables.
Izar walked toward the Slytherin table, keeping his head down, hoping to blend in as much as possible. But as he approached, he spotted Draco standing near the entrance, talking with Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zabini. The moment Draco saw him, his expression shifted, first to surprise, then to something darker.
Draco stepped forward, cutting off Izar's path. "Well, well, if it isn't the man of the hour," Draco drawled, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Heard the news going around, Izar. Didn't think you'd keep something like that hidden from your cousin and friends."
Izar felt a lump form in his throat, but he forced himself to meet Draco's gaze. "Draco, can we just talk?"
"Talk?" Draco interrupted, a sneer forming on his lips. "Why should we talk when you've been keeping secrets from us, you should have told us you were… gay" he said, almost unable to get the last word out of his lips, "you should have told us."
Izar clenched his fists, struggling to keep his composure. "I didn't ask for this, Draco. And it's not like it changes anything. I'm still the same person."
Draco scoffed, crossing his arms. "Same person? Right. The same person who just happens to have been lying to us all this time. What else aren't you telling us, Izar? Got any other secrets? Been checking us out in the showers?"
Izar looked at Draco horrified at where the conversation was going, "Of course not, you're my friends," he said, hurt evident in his voice, "you can just try not an make it out worse than it is."
Blaise, who had been quietly observing the exchange, finally spoke up, his tone more measured but still pointed. "Draco, maybe this isn't the place for this. You're making this a bigger deal than it is"
Draco shot him a glare but didn't back down. "You think this won't get back my Father? The whole school's talking, and you think we should just ignore it?"
Izar took a deep breath, trying to steady his nerves. "I'm not asking you to ignore it, Draco. I'm just asking you not to make it worse."
Draco's eyes narrowed, his voice lowering to a cold whisper. "You've already done that, Izar. You could have tried, I dunno, not being gay."
With that, Draco turned and walked away, leaving Izar standing there, his heart pounding in his chest. Pansy shot him a disdainful look before quickly following Draco, while Blaise lingered for a moment, "I'm sorry mate" he said, patting Izar on the shoulder before he too walked off.
Izar stood there for a few more seconds, trying to regain his composure. The stares from the rest of the Slytherin table felt like daggers, but he forced himself to sit down, even though every instinct screamed at him to leave.
As he picked at his food, his mind raced. Draco's words had hit harder than he wanted to admit, and for a moment he was regretting his choice to stand up to Avery earlier, but he knew he couldn't let them drag him down. He had faced worse before, and he would face worse again. This was just another challenge—one he would have to survive, just like all the others.
But as he glanced up and caught sight of Hermione across the hall, her smile warm and encouraging, he felt a flicker of hope. He wasn't completely alone in this. And for now, that would have to be enough. His thoughts were interrupted by a voice from behind him.
"Hem Hem"