Chapter Eight

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Running through the castle, Harry winced as he reconnected himself with the ground. Seeing as his feet were still very wet from the transformation and he did not have any socks or trainers, the stone floor did not make for the best surface to run on.

But run he must. For the only other option was to be sent back to the Dursleys. Who knew what their treatment of him would be when they saw that he didn't actually die like he thought they'd hoped?

The problem was, that despite its stunning beauty, Hogwarts was huge. It was too easy to get lost in its cavernous hallways—especially since Harry had tuned out the trip to the office months ago. He had to find a way to the lake. Severus had said that if he took the medallion off and then went in water, he would get his tail back. He figured there must be merpeople in the lake—why else would Minerva mention it if it wasn't true?

If there were merpeople, then maybe they'd be able to get in contact with Triton! Harry could let him know that he was okay, and that he was coming home. Maybe then, the storms would stop and the Slytherin Common Room would stop being in danger.

Getting back up after tripping again, this time on his slightly too long trousers, Harry sighed and tried to rub some warmth into his bare arms. It was no use—he was pretty sure he'd passed that painting already! It felt like he was going in circles.

"Pst! Kid!"

A whisper from a doorway drew Harry's attention and he walked cautiously into an empty classroom. Well, almost empty as there were two other kids sitting in it. One was a lean, slightly muscular boy with flaming red hair, a bag filled to the brim with books, and a very singed broom in his hands along with a burn on his left forearm. The other was a taller girl with a heart shaped face and short bubblegum pink hair.

"Are you okay?" the girl asked with a kind smile. "I've tripped on that spot too many times. Take it from someone who's been there—that spot's always slippery."

"Or you're just clumsy," the boy snorted and the girl shot him a dirty look. "What? It's true!"

"Ignore him," the girl turned to Harry. "Charlie here is just in a bad mood because the weather's preventing him from practicing his Quidditch moves."

"If I want to make the team next year, I'll have to practice!" Charlie argued. "It's just hard to do that when it's storming every bloody day!"

"Charlie!' the girl snapped and Charlie's ears turned bright red, as if he was embarrassed. Harry was confused—what was Quidditch?

"Sorry Tonks," Charlie chuckled. "I need to remember that for when I get home. Ron looks to be about this guy's age and the last thing Mum needs is another one of my brothers to be swearing left and right. Bill accidently taught the twins some new words over the summer."

Harry stared at the two in shock. They acted almost as he and Ariel did when he lived under the ocean. Maybe they'd be able to help him get to the lake? A large part of Harry said that it was too risky, and that the last time he was around people he didn't know he ended up at Hogwarts.

However, there was another part of him that said that maybe he could trust these two. Maybe there was someway they could help him.

"I thought term was over?" Harry asked, realizing something. "Why are you two still here?"

Charlie smiled at the younger boy. "My little sister's got the chicken pox and since I've never had them, I decided to stay at school. Mum doesn't need the extra hassle anyway."

"My mum got roped into some ministry gathering," Tonks stated. "I stayed to keep Charlie company."

Charlie wrapped his free arm around Tonks' shoulders and gave her a huge grin but then turned to Harry.

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