•I think I like him•

4. Empathy With A Side Of Guilt

Word count- 817

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I ran through the wall, and then I saw the Scarlett train. The Hogwarts express.

Draco sighed, knowing what was coming.

I saw that boy again. The one from Diagon Ally.

He was insanely curious of how he had come across in first year, upon their second interaction.

After all he had learned about the Halfblood, it wasn't surprising he had earned himself some guilt along the way. He wished he could take it back. He still hated Harry Potter. He probably always would. But this... it just wasn't right.

He wondered how things would have been different, had Harry shook his hand. Had he of refrained from bad-mouthing the Weasley family. He was as bad as the Dursley's; people of which he had grown to hate.

Draco stayed there for a while, not sure whether to read on He stood up and sat back on his bed, picking up the book.

He had to read. He had to.

I didn't shake his hand. I wanted to, but it didn't seem like the right thing to do. I felt bad, until he glared at me.

And there it was.

He had got his answer, which he didn't know how long he had been looking for, and he stood up, book in hand.

There was only one thing left to do.

...

Harry got back to his dorm that evening, setting down his wand on his bedside table.

He opened the draw to retrieve his tooth brush.

He froze.

He shook his head quickly. "Ron, I told you I don't want another one!"

Ron looked up, confusion evident on his face "what you on about, mate?"

"A new book. I told you I didn't want one."

"I know.. which is why I didn't get you another one..?"

Harry looked back in his draw "but.." he grabbed the book and opened it quickly.
"My journal.."

Ron furrowed his brows and walked the length of the room to Harry, looking over his shoulder.

"Bloody hell.. how do you think it got there?"

"No idea", respond Harry, still mesmerised by the book.

Just then, Hermione walked in, Ron's unfinished homework in hand.

"Professor Sprout won't be happy if-" she paused mid-sentence. "What's going on?" She looked at their expressions curiously.

"It's harry, he found his journal." Said Ron, without looking away from the book held tightly in Harry's hands.

She looked perplexed, as she edged forward to inspect the book. "Where'd he find it?"

"In his draw.." said Ron again, shrugging.

"Are you sure it wasn't there the whole time?"

"No.. I watched him check it at least four times a few weeks ago. And plus, he goes in there every morning and night for his toothbrush."

They spoke as if harry wasn't there. Not that he minded, he was far to busy tracing the edges of the leather hard-back to pay enough attention to contribute to the conversation.

Hermione's head tilted slightly. She softly touched his hand, her other holding the edge of the book. He reluctantly let go, watching her flick through the pages, making sure each one was without damage.

"Harry.. did you put this in here?" She said, pulling out a letter from the middle of the book. "No..." spoke Harry, reaching for it.

He opened the letter to find a neat, hand-written note.

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𝐻𝑎𝑟𝑟𝑦 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟,

Valde doleo quod egi, culpa mea est, veniam tuam posco
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Harry stared at the paper.

"What does it say, mate?" Said ron, sitting on his bed.

"I don't know.. it's in a different language-"

"Give it here.." sighed Hermione, taking the paper out of Harry's hands.

"It looks like it's in Latin..."

"Well.. can you translate it?" Said Harry, impatiently.

"When have you ever heard me speak fluent Latin, Harry?" The brunette rolled her eyes "But I'm sure there are books in the library that could help"

"C'mon then!" Said the raven, grabbing his invisibility cloak.

"Harry, don't be ridiculous! It's a school night. And besides, it'll probably take a while to find one in the dark, especially since I'm not overly familiar with those books" Hermione reasoned.

"Wow, those are words I thought I'd never hear out of your mouth" Ron smirked and Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Fine... after breakfast?" Said Harry hopefully

"Ok, we should be able to find the book before classes start, and translate it during lunch."

Harry nodded and Hermione left the room, tapping Ron's homework as she left; Ron groaned.

Harry clambered into bed, his journal pressed to his chest protectively.

What if the note told him who stole it?

Tomorrow he would know, he just had to be patient.

AN-

If you like my story, please remember to vote, because since I deleted the other chapters my votes have gone WAYY down, and I would really appreciate if more people could see my story, ty!