Glamour

Gallery

 As study hall ended, Harry said a quick farewell to Neville and Hermione, letting them know he was heading to the library to finish of his homework before he returned to for dinner. He knew Hermione had already made plans with Ron that evening and was aiming to avoid the painful feeling of being the third wheel in the trios non existent friendship. As much as Hermione tried to dissuade the notion, Harry knew that their budding relationship combined with his new studious nature had cooled if not outright destroyed the friendship that he and Ron once had, so it was not too much of a hardship for him to let them have their quiet evenings together.

Making his way out of the great hall, Harry set off in the direction of the library, internally wincing when he walked straight into a familiar blond.

"Oy Potter, still lost your glasses? Or you not allowed to see now you cant be useful in quidditch?" Malfoy spat, brushing down his robes.

"Piss off Malfoy, it was an accident, I'm sorry." Harry replied, digging through his bag to see if he had remembered his Charms essay that he was planning on finishing in the library that evening, or if he needed to make a quick run to the tower to fetch it.

"Aww Potter getting upset." Malfoy laughed, "Cant handle Weasley besting you for a change, although I heard that you actually like his family. Guess beggars cant be choosers though, you'll do anything to have a mother I bet"

"I said piss off ferret!" Harry yelled, just as he noticed the blond pull out his wand. Dodging the hex Malfoy shot towards him, Harry walked off wanting to get away before his temper boiled over. He could feel his anger bubbling away just under his skin and knew if he stayed he would regret it. He could already hear Snape's snide voice telling him how he was a no good arrogant bully. Charms essay be damned, he would just start again if it wasn't in his bag.

"Running away now Potter? Some Gryffindor you are," Malfoy taunted. "Bet your father would be so proud, oh wait he can't be..."

Harry started to run, tears pricking his eyes and Malfoy's laughter echoing in the halls. Of all the comments Malfoy could have made, the comparison to his father was the worse. He knew his father would not be proud of him, but hearing someone say it out loud hurt more than he could imagine. There was still a part of him that wished he could be someone his father was proud of, but he knew it was never going to happen.

By the time Harry stopped running, he was in a part of the castle he did not recognise. The long corridors were bereft of students, and even the paintings held no people, instead portraying magnificent landscapes of far away places. He slowed to a walk, admiring the art that surrounded him, revelling in the quiet that this part of the castle offered.

As the corridor rounded the corner, it split, one part continuing on, the other leading to a large door. Burning with sudden curiosity, he slowly pushed open the door wondering if it was another abandoned classroom, or maybe even an office, or if it was just one of Flitch's old cleaning closets. The door shuddered slightly and he could feel it's resistance from lack of use, hoping slightly too late that Peeves hadn't booby trapped it.

What he found behind the door was nothing like he expected. A long gallery hall stretched before him, paintings lining one side and a view down to one of the seventh floor music halls on the other. As he walked in, looking in wonder at the paintings on display, he noticed a couple of alcoves, situated to allow a private view of the concert chamber below.

Despite this being a magical castle, obviously made of magic. Harry felt that this was one of the few places where it actually felt real. Yes the moving staircases were impressive, but they did not give the same sense of wonder and awe that he was currently feeling.