The Family that Chooses You

Chapter 62: Self-Worth

Harry heard the portrait door open and he looked up with interest.  It was the day after Christmas, well technically very late at night, and he was curious to see who would be coming into the tower.  Ron had already gone to bed, as did Hermione.  He was sitting in the common room in front of the fire, wrapped in the quilt he received from Katie and Angelina last year.  He was quite comfortable, reading for fun and Crookshanks was sitting in his lap.

"Alicia?" he asked as he recognized the person as they entered the tower.

"Oh hi Harry," she replied.  She looked exhausted and upset but tried to look calm as soon as she saw him.  "I didn't think anyone would still be awake."

"I wasn't tired."  He tried to rise but Crookshanks could not be moved.  "Is everything okay?"

The fifth year girl hesitated for a moment.  "I'm okay," she said eventually, unconvincingly.  "I just felt like coming back early to get back into studying for my O.W.L.s.  Came through the Floo."

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asked again, concerned.  He usually never saw Alicia this upset before, at least when it was not about him.  He idly wondered if he had a hand in her current state but was reasonably sure that he did not.  "Would you like to talk about it?"

She shook her head.  "No.  I mean, no thank you.  It's nothing for you to worry about really.  I'll be fine.  I'm going to go to bed and I'll see you tomorrow."  Without waiting for his reply, she walked swiftly past and headed up the staircase.

Harry chewed his lip worriedly as he watched her leave.  She did not have her trunk with her, only a small bag and she was obviously deeply upset.  She also did not want to talk given how fast she walked away, how her shoulders curled in, her head down.  Signs he was very familiar with.  Not from her, Alicia typically was very open to talking.  More how he used to look to others.

Crookshanks looked up at Harry and rose on four legs.  The cat stretched lazily and hopped off the boy's lap, making his own way to the stairs and climbing up the steps.

Harry did not think anything of it, figuring the cat wanted to go up to Hermione's dorm to sleep with his owner.  He sighed to himself, worried about Alicia, and resolved to talk to her in the morning.

"Hey!  You mangy animal, give that back!"

Harry's head popped up and he watched with astonishment as Crookshanks came bounding back into the common room.  Alicia's shawl hung from his mouth and the cat leapt gracefully, somehow not tripping on the fabric.  Instead of returning to Harry, the cat leapt into the chair beside him, gathering the shawl beneath himself and settling down onto it.

Alicia slid into the common room, eyes wrathful and wand out.  "I'm going to shave you if you don't give that back!" she shouted at a very smug Crookshanks.

"How did he get your shawl?" Harry asked.

"He nosed his way into my dorm and just nabbed it.  When I noticed he ran off!"  Alicia stalked forward and stopped when she saw Crookshanks extend his claws into the shawl.  "Don't you dare!  I swear I'll shave you bald and lie to Hermione about what happened!"

Crookshanks hissed and slowly flexed his paws, his claws just catching the soft fabric.

"Harry, get my shawl back," Alicia pleaded.

Harry attempted to approach but stopped when the cat glared at him, settling down on the shawl and kneading it with very purposeful motions.  "I think we should let Crookshanks be for now.  It won't end well for anyone if we try to force him off."

Alicia resisted the urge to Curse but fully indulged in cursing.

Harry's eyes widened as he listened to her verbal storm.  "Uh, I know you said you were okay, but I don't think you are."  He winced, fully expecting her to turn her cursing onto him.  He was unexpected with the way she just deflated, sinking into the couch beside him.