𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐄𝐑 𝐎𝐅 𝐖𝐈𝐒𝐃𝐎𝐌

Chapter 40

Harry and Albus walked down the corridor together in silence. Harry hated the stares from the other students as he kept silent. Albus held Harry’s upper arm and escorted him to his seat at the Gryffindor table.

 

“Students, can I have your attention?” Albus’ voice was always commanding. The students stilled immediately.

 

“Please do not ask Harry about the events of last evening or of any other persons related to the incident of yesterday. Should any student be foolish enough to do so, it will mean immediate expulsion from Hogwarts. I hope you all heed this warning,” Albus said to the student body who were all staring at him.

 

Harry hung his head with his eyes closed. Albus squeezed Harry’s shoulder and they exchanged a look. Albus walked to the head table as the bustling chatter broke out in the hall. Harry sat and stared at his plate. The smells of breakfast nauseated Harry who put his elbows on the table and his head in his hands with his eyes closed. Not one student dared to speak a word to Harry the entire meal. Ron and Hermione ate in silence as did most of the Gryffindor table. Harry heard whispers but ignored them. It was Thursday. The students filed out of the hall heading to classes still ignoring Harry who hadn’t moved the entire meal.

 

“Harry, Ron and I are going to class now,” Hermione said quietly. Harry never moved. “We’ll see you at lunch.” Ron and Hermione left and soon Harry was the only person in the Hall besides Albus, Professor Flitwick and Filch. Harry felt Albus walking over to him.

 

“I’m going to my office. Would you like to come?” Albus asked. Harry shook his head slightly without looking up. “If you need me, that’s where I’ll be. I love you.” Harry nodded to the table and Albus walked away. Harry was left in the Dining Hall alone to his thoughts.

 

//Where are you? Please answer me. Talk to me.// Harry thought to Voldemort. There was no answer. Harry kept his mind open to receiving any thoughts that might come. Harry sat deep in thought with his plan and all the alternatives in relation to it for hours. Eventually the teachers and students started filing in again for lunch. Ron and Hermione came quickly to the table.

 

“Harry, have you been sitting here the whole time since breakfast?” Ron asked. Harry who had his head in his hands still nodded slightly. Ron and Hermione shared a look of concern as they sat down and began to fill their plates. Harry sat the entire meal and never looked to anyone or spoke a word. Once again, the meal came to a close and students started exiting the Dining Hall for the second time leaving Harry in the same position he’d been in all day.

 

“Harry, you really need to get up and move about. You haven’t eaten anything all day, son,” Albus said in concern. Harry slowly lifted his head to meet Albus’ face. The absence of the normal vibrancy of life in Harry’s eyes hurt. The tracks of tears over Harry’s sallow cheeks was prevalent. There was nothing but sorrow and a depth of deadness in Harry’s very soul that mourned with Harry’s every breath. “I’ll be in my office again if you need me. Please try to eat something.” Harry lowered his head back to his hands. Albus stood for only a moment more before exiting the hall leaving his child to his misery.

 

The time Harry spent alone in the silence of the Dining Hall went by slowly. Harry would think of days spent in the sun on the lawn with Draco. Harry could almost feel the grain of the wood on his hands remembering their work on the gazebo. The tears continued to stain Harry’s cheeks as he sat in silence. Harry let his thoughts drift from days of sun at Hogwarts to Severus’ wedding and how nice everyone looked on that special day. Dancing in the common rooms at Friday night parties of fun and careless evenings together flying above the trees of the forest came and went and still Harry sat in his agony. Harry again contemplated his plan over and over in his mind and it was these thoughts he was having as the students started filing in again for the evening meal.