Sorry if this chapter isn't as good, but the next one will be trust. I hate sports so writing them is ugh a no I'm sorry.

-Lemon Nugget

Harry had learnt something that sent crashing waves of guilt surging through his body. Not a new feeling, but one he was growing tired of. People whispered and gossiped to themselves as always, Harry never cared. That was until he learned what they were talking about.

While Harry had been busy beating Ron's face in, Katie Bell had almost died. He couldn't help but feel like it was somehow his fault. Everything bad that happened at Hogwarts was usually linked to him. Harry wasn't sure how it was linked to him, but he just knew it was. And he hadn't been there to help. He'd been crying into Luna as Katie was momentarily possessed like some cheap ghost movie.

It wasn't like he got to hear the news via his friends or in some nice way. No, he'd overheard some third years gossiping about it.

Harry sighed heavily, once again feeling like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. He sat alone in the back of the potions classroom. He stared at the back of Ron's head sometimes, wondering if the bloke would even glance at him. Ron never looked back.

Harry had long since completed his potion thanks to the miraculous book. So, he sat there waiting for the class to be over while thumbing his way through the 'Half-Blood Prince's' prized possession. There weren't just simple potion alterations in it, but spells too. Spells that gave no description, only simple words. Harry could guess that 'Levicorpus' had something to do with levitation because of common sense, but he wasn't too sure about the other spells.

Harry got perfect marks on his potion as expected, and the class was tasked with writing an essay that Harry would never write before being dismissed. On his way out, Slughorn caught his arm and pulled him back. Harry turned to Slughorn with a puzzled expression.

"Harry! So hard to reach you, but I must." Slughorn wiped the sweat from his brow with a handkerchief, delicately patting his forehead dry.

"I invite you to my party, only the most gifted students are attending. You may bring a guest of course." Slughorn didn't ask if Harry wanted to go, he just assumed. Harry wasn't planning on attending some dumb party, especially not one hosted by Slughorn.

"I think I'm alright." Harry stated coldly. Slughorn blinked in surprise.

"Harry, I must insist! Your friend Hermione Granger is even going." Harry was about to refuse again, but he thought twice. Maybe this party would be a chance to talk to her without her avoiding him like the plague. Harry didn't want to talk to Ron until Hermione had forgiven him first. The thought of talking to her again scared him, but he was a Gryffindor, he was supposed to face his fears.

"Fine, I'll go." Harry conceded regretfully. Slughorn grins too widely.

"I'll see you tomorrow, Harry. Good luck on your Quidditch game today." Harry nods respectfully, turning away from Slughorn. Harry hadn't forgotten his game this time. Harry calmly walked to the field. Inside he was trembling. He was terrified of not just doing poorly, but of being on a team with Ron.

He still had some time before the match though and he was going to use that to practice. He spent an hour or so practicing. As team captain he had access to the snitch, so he used that privilege. He chased that damn thing for what felt like forever, but he was just too slow. He flew down to the ground and he threw his broom down once he landed. He cursed his clumsy moves and felt his self-hatred bloom like a wicked rose.

"Harry?" a timid voice asked. Harry nearly jumped out of his skin, startled by the person. He knew without looking it was Luna, but he didn't feel like acknowledging her right now. He felt like a failure. He pouted like a young child.

"What are you doing here, Luna?" Harry questioned his broomstick or at least that's what he was looking at.

"I'm here for the match of course!" She said brightly, Harry couldn't help but smile as he glanced up at her.

"It isn't for another hour, Luna." She was wearing Gryffindor colors and lions hung from her ears. She even had her famous lion-topped hat which roared occasionally. Harry thought it was adorable.

"Yes, but I like to have a good seat." Luna pointed out. Harry almost laughed aloud, but he held himself back. No sense in teasing her.

"What are you doing here, Harry?" Luna asked back. Harry flushed, feeling his pale cheeks redden. Embarrassment flooded his veins.

"I'm practicing." He admitted. Luna didn't shame him for it though, she didn't even smirk. He supposed it shouldn't be as embarrassing as he found it, but he was the only one who was out there practicing. He hadn't shown up to the actual practice matches, he had always found an excuse not to go.

"Do you want to take a break?" Harry thought about it for a moment. He glared at his broomstick and knew his decision. Him flying around aimlessly searching for the stupid snitch wasn't helping.

"Yeah, actually, I do." He decided, summoning the snitch into his hand with a wave of his wand and placing it back into the box. He grabbed his broom and followed Luna to one of the front seats. She smiled sweetly as he sat down next to her.

For the next hour they chatted about things that mattered and things that didn't. Soft things and hard things. Harry sometimes caught himself just staring at Luna when the conversation died. If his heart wasn't so broken it would've been beating hard. She tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, and he found himself marveling over the silliest things about her. Like the way her ears came to a slight point or the way her hair looked in the sun. She was gold and silver.

He shook off those strange thoughts, feeling his cheeks redden as he saw his teammates walking out onto the field. He had to get ready, and as reluctant as Harry was to leave her, he had to.

"Bye, Luna." He said regretfully, wishing he could just stay with her. She was great company. He had to get ready; Harry wouldn't let his peers down again.

He left her sitting there as he went to get ready, changing into his Quidditch robes. Right before he was about to exit the changing room, a voice stopped him in his tracks.

"Oi! Harry!" Ron called and Harry spun around, expecting the worst.

"Good luck, mate." Ron said seriously, surprising Harry with his maturity. Harry knew Ron and Harry could tell he was serious. Harry took a moment to observe Ron. He looked just as nervous as Harry felt. Maybe it was just Harry's imagination, but Ron's nose still looked slightly bent.

"Good luck to you too." Harry said back. Despite everything, Harry knew they both wanted the best for each other. They exchanged the same awkward smile before Harry turned back around, taking a deep breath. It was time for the game.

Walking out onto that field and seeing the crowd of people stunned Harry. Every year before he'd been shocked, but the crowds just seemed to grow bigger. Everyone wanted to see Potter win or lose. Especially in a match between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Malfoy was nowhere to be seen, which Harry found suspicious. Come to think of it, where was Malfoy? Harry filed that away as a question for later, a puzzlement for a time where Harry wasn't terrified.

The match began and as soon as it started, it was over, the snitch gripped between Harry's hands. It all passed by in a blur that Harry couldn't remember. Harry had almost lost to Malfoy's replacement, but the new guy didn't have the instincts Harry had. Harry, while out of practice, knew some things instinctively.

Harry barely registered his surroundings as he was hoisted onto the shoulders of his teammates. They cheered and whooped, but Harry couldn't help but feel like a fraud. All he recalled was hearing people make fun of Ron, which angered Harry. Ron was still one of his best mates.

This time Harry felt inclined to join them in the festivities. He'd earned this, maybe for once he deserved something good.