Purebloods and Peppermints

Dumbledore's Army

~Sophia's POV~

Harry's eyes flicked to mine and I could see they were filled with angst and determination. Usually his eyes were a soft, pale green. The light that was in his eyes left and they were a dark emerald. 

"Harry, what is it? And what's happened to your hand?" I said. The blood on the cloth was still crimson. His injury was fresh. 

Harry quick darted his eyes to his hand and then pulled it under the table while pressing his lips into a thin flat line, trying to avoid the question. Hermione rolled her eyes at him and forcibly removed his hand from hiding. He gave her a glare as his hand fell flat onto the table top, exposed for all eyes around it. 

"Harry, if you're going to ask for help, they deserve to know the whole story," Hermione said.

Harry then rolled his own eyes back at Hermione and then looked at Ron for backup. Ron was still sitting with his arms folded next to his brothers, gazing at the table in front of him. He knew it was best not to cross Hermione. Harry, knowing that he was without help, then let out a sigh of annoyance and slowly removed the cloth covering his left hand.

I turned to face Harry and then lifted his hand to get a better look, careful not to touch the fresh slits that laid upon his skin. On the back of his hand was a phrase written in small, precise cuts.

I must not tell lies. 

I raised my own hand over my mouth, shocked at what I was looking at. Fred and George looked over the table and for once the twins were both speechless. 

"Who did this to you?" 

"The new professor has different methods of punishment," Harry said sheepishly. 

"Umbridge? Harry, please tell me you told Dumbledore. She can't just attack students like this," I pleaded. 

Even though the question was directed at Harry, Hermione then pipped up from behind him. "Believe me, Sophia. I've tried to get him to report this. He says Dumbledore has too much going on. He won't hear of it." 

His eyes kept flickering from my own back to where I was still inspecting his lacerations. He then pulled his injured hand away from mine and covered it with the cloth, embarrassed of all the attention he was getting. 

Hermione was obviously cross with Harry for not disclosing this with the Headmaster. Harry was cross with Hermione for pushing him to do so. Ron was stuck in the middle. Still the same look of uncomfortably plastered on his face from the moment he set foot in the Great Hall.  

I, myself was feeling equally awkward. I couldn't understand why Harry wouldn't tell Dumbledore. It's no secret that Dumbledore has been distant lately. Ever since the arrival of Umbridge, all he seems to do is stay in his study. If any student could get his attention, it was Harry. However, he seemed to have his reasons as to why he wanted to keep his punishment secret. I could see it in his eyes. He was set on keeping this private. If Sirius trusted Harry, I trusted him. 

I pushed all doubts and concerns to the back of my mind and tried to talk to Harry as a friend. I never disliked Harry. If anything, I was jealous of him. Sometimes Harry forgets that he's not Sirius' only "child" so to speak. Sirius has been just as much as a father to me as to him. I try to be understanding. Harry was left alone at such a young age for years. That caused him to be possessive of the few things he did get, people included. 

"Do you have a plan?" I asked. 

Harry looked at me and I could see a look of uncertainty shadow across his face, but only for a second. He was quick to cover the precariousness. I could tell he was debating on if he wanted to be entirely truthful with me or not. With a look of encouragement from Hermione and a "C'mon, mate" from Ron, he decided to share his whim of an idea with the three of us.