tick-tock | a drarry tale

II.

Harry didn't pay attention to either the Sorting for the scared first years or Dumbledore's welcoming speech. He just stared at his empty plate, wishing with all his might that the stares would vanish. He just wanted to see the food appear, eat, and go to the dormitories, away from everyone and everything.

When he walked through the gates, Harry thought he would become comfortable and be the Gryffindor he was chosen to be. He wanted to become confident and keep his head up.

But now that plan seemed to be flushed down the drain. He tuned into Dumbledore's final words, "-let the feast begin!" and sighed gratefully.

With a quick snap, chicken after steak after ribs after potatoes piled onto each of the House tables. Harry glanced up and eyed his friends. They both were sitting across from him, looking pale. But Harry was sure he looked much worse.

He glanced over at his fellow Gryffindors; Seamus and Dean were both chowing down their food, Fred and George were goofing off with some peers in their year, and Ginny was sitting quietly, picking at her food. Harry's stomach flipped at the sight, but disappeared when Ron addressed him.

"You should eat, Harry. You're not looking so good," he said, taking a bite of a fried chicken leg shortly after.Hermione was drinking her pumpkin juice, eyeing Harry over the goblet.

Harry grabbed a spoonful of mashed potatoes and plopped it on his plate. Like usual, it was delicious. But Harry hardly noticed. His taste buds seemed to had stop working.

Ron and Hermione shared another glance, but kept quiet

_________

Across the room, Draco sat quietly, eating his food slowly. Crabbe, Goyle, Pansy, and a few other peers were going on about Potter and Voldemort.

"Totally naive," Draco thought as he sipped some of his pumpkin juice.

"Potter's not looking so good... looks like he's gonna puke any second now," Pansy observed, her eyes staring across the room at the 4-eyed freak.All at once, the group glanced over at Harry.

Pansy was right; Potter was dreadfully pale. His messy hair was messier than usual, and he took a bite of his food only every now and then.

"Fame's wearing him down," Draco joked, making the other Slytherins all snicker.

"'Bout time," Goyle murmured, smiling as he took a drink.

"Yeah, Saint Potter," Crabbe spat. "Look at him now. Useless. If the Dark Lord really did return, he'd be no match compared to him."

"Don't call him that, Crabbe," Draco sneered. "That's my nickname for the freak."

Crabbe swallowed his chicken harshly. "Right, right... Sorry, Draco."

Draco relaxed and glanced at Harry again.

He'll be no match for the Dark Lord.

__________

After dessert was finished, Harry not eating his most favored pudding, they were dismissed by the Headmaster. Harry sat up abruptly and hurried out of the room, leaving his friends in the dust.

He hurried up Hogwarts' moving stairs, and stopped at the Fat Lady's portrait.

I don't know the password.

He looked around, and saw Hermione marching towards him, first years behind her like baby ducks following their mother.

"I forgot you were a prefect," Harry muttered. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked up to the Fat Lady, who was fully awake now.