The Journey

2. An Unhappy Breakfast

Ron and Hermoine were worried.  They hadn't seen Harry since he had passed out after receiving a letter yesterday, and had also been told not to visit him in the hospital wing.  So their moods were one of sadness and longing.

Draco and the rest of the Slytherins were intrigued.  They too wanted to know what the letter was about, and how it was so bad, that it had brought the golden boy to his knees.  They loved gossip, and if the truth were to be told, loved having juicy info to hold over people's heads.  

The Ravenclaws were an intelligent bunch, noting that the Gryffindors were sad about Harry, but also having the knowledge to not ask questions.  They knew that there would be a reasonable explanation for his reaction to the hand delivered mail.  And so they waited.

The Hufflepuffs were concerned.  They all knew what Harry had done for them, and they loved him more for it.  In fourth year, when they had thought that he was stealing the glory away from Cedric, they had hated him.  When they had found out that it wasn't him that had put his name in the Goblet of Fire, they were big on forgiveness and asked the same of him.  He understood and agreed.  

Professor Mcgonagall stood up and asked for everyone's attention.  "Good morning students.  Classes will resume as normal from today.  You will notice that Harry is not attending breakfast, and I would like to ask each of you to keep Harry in your thoughts, as he will no doubt keep you in his.  For those of you who are very close to his heart, a letter has been left on your pillow.  Please read it so you will understand.  Thank you", she said sitting down.

Hermoine's blood ran cold.  Had Harry left them?  She could not contemplate having to go through their last year without him there.  He was one of the trio, surely he would be back before dinner?  Looking at Ron, she could see that he was having the same thoughts.  Breakfast from then on was a silent affair.  Students rushing to finish what was on their plates, dying to get back to their dorms, in the hopes that there would be a letter for them.

Draco was not one of them.  He knew for a fact that Potter hated him, and of course the feeling was mutual.  A savior and a death eater being friends.  He chuckled at the thought.  Looking at Pansy and Blaise, and of course Theo and Gregory, he thought he saw worry on their faces.  Why the fuck would they worry about Potter?  Shaking his head at them, he stood up and started to leave the hall.  The others followed shortly after.

The rest of the teachers were all huddled together around their Headmistress, asking questions as to what was going on.  She told them that they would have a staff meeting after lunch so that she could discuss what was going on and what they were going to do moving forward.  They agreed, albeit reluctantly.  They wanted answers now.

"Where the hell is Snape?", asked Seamus nodding towards the teachers table.  All heads turned to look.  All the teachers were there except for their potions master.  "Holy shit", said Dean.  

"Would it be too much to hope that he's missing, or even better, retired since last night?", asked Ron with a snigger, making all the other Gryffindors laugh.

"Tsk Tsk Weasley", came the snobbish voice of Malfoy.  "Ten points from Gryffindor for talking bad about a Professor, and another ten because I don't like you".

"Fuck off Malfoy, you can't take points.  You're not a prefect any more you dick", said Ron.  Although this was true, and Malfoy knew it, he loved riling the redhead up.  Well he was second choice if Potter wasn't around, and since the golden boy wasn't around, well.  Weasley was fair game, was he not?

But Ron's words had Hermoine thinking.  Was Snape with Harry in the hospital wing?  Was he taking care of him?  Oh Merlin, she needed answers.  Scowling at the Slytherins, she grabbed Ron's hand and dragged him towards their common room.  She wanted a letter to be on her pillow.  A letter meant that Harry was either very ill or had received very bad news, and had left to take care of it.  But what news would that be?  She prayed he was going to be ok.

The Slytherins had seen her look of worry and her grabbing Ron's hand.  So, she was concerned, what else was new?  She also had no knowledge of what was going on.  Looking at each other, they started their way to their dorms.

Professor Mcgonagall had been watching all of them.  She had seen the worry on most of the faces at the breakfast table, and she had seen the frowns.  She had also seen the faces that wore the mask of 'don't know, don't care', and smiled to herself.  Well they were all going to care pretty soon, she thought.  They just didn't know it yet.  She had urged Potter to let his friends know what was going on, but he thought the less they knew the better for everyone.  He didn't want funny looks on his return, and he most definitely didn't want their pity.  He hated pity.

She let her thoughts drift back to the letter that he had received yesterday, and felt a lump in her throat once again.

Dear Harry

Vernon is dead.  I need you to help Dudley carry his coffin.  You owe us this for raising you.

Also, I have some stuff here that belonged to your Mother.

Do this so we can finally put the past behind us.

From

Petunia Dursley

Put the past behind us!  As if it never happened.  As if it was a daily occurrence, and who were you to think otherwise?  As if it didn't matter.  It had never mattered, and it never would.  The horrors that Harry had gone through didn't warrant it to be put behind him.  If he were to be truly happy, he had to face it.  He would have to go all the way, and in that she knew that Harry would succeed.  He was persistent in his beliefs, and that made her proud.  She said a silent prayer that Harry and Snape wouldn't end up killing each other.