If Only//Harry Potter [4]

17

Feeling a bit uneasy, Harry walked back from Dumbledore's office ready to return to his warm bed. 

"It's a sign, Severus. You know what it means as well as I."

Harry recognised that voice as Igor, the Durmstrang's headmaster. Harry tried to stay out of it, but the door next to him abruptly opened. Harry's curiosity got in the way, so he looked through the doorway, only to see Igor and Snape, both of them nearly out the door. Igor's forearm was out, and a snake and skull tattoo was permanently etched onto his skin.

Harry looked at Igor strangely, and Igor returned a look — but one of sternness. He pulled his sleeve back over his arm and hurried off. Harry, who didn't want to be alone with Snape, hurried along as well. But he didn't get far because Snape spoke directly to him.

"Potter! What's your hurry?"

Harry stopped walking and slowly turned to face his Professor.

"Congratulations, your performance in the Black Lake was inspiring. Gillyweed, am I correct?" Snape slyly said. 

"Yes, sir." Harry answered carefully.

"Ingenious. A rather rare herb, gillyweed." Snape turned away and walked into the small room he and Igor were just in. Harry peered around and saw potions stacked everywhere. Snape grabbed one as he spoke. "Not something found in your everyday garden. Nor is this. Know what it is?" He held up the potion to Harry's face.

"Bubble juice, sir?" Harry asked, tired of the day's events and he didn't want to deal with Snape.

"Veritaserum. Three drops of this and You-Know-Who himself would spill his darkest secrets. The use of it on a student is, regrettably, forbidden. However. . . should you ever steal from my personal stores again. . . my hand might just slip over your morning pumpkin juice."

"I haven't stolen anything." Harry shook his head as he honestly answered.

"Don't lie to me. Gillyweed may be innocuous, but boomslang skin, lacewing flies? You and your little friends are brewing Polyjuice Potion, and believe me, I'm going to find out why!" Snape shut the door, leaving Harry to walk back to his dormitory, wondering who was making polyjuice potion.

>>>

"Polyjuice Potion?" Autumn asked, comfortably sitting next to Matt; his arm around her shoulder. Autumn, Matt, Hermione, Ron, and Harry all sat in the common room, talking about the previous night's occurrences. "Who would need that?"

"The 'who' isn't important. The reason why is, though." Hermione said thoughtfully.

"Actually, Hermione, I'd like to know who." Harry said sarcastically.

"He's got a point." Matt said humorously.

Autumn could feel the awkward tension when Matt was with the group. She could tell Harry didn't like him and neither did Ron. Matt tried his best to be friendly with the group, but Hermione was the only other person to be nice to Matt.

"Myrtle mentioned it, too." Harry added.

"When?" Ron asked.

"Before the second task. When Cedric told me to put it in the bathwater, Myrtle was in the prefect's bathroom. Myrtle said that she found polyjuice potion down the pipe."

Autumn scoffed at Cedric's name; pure hatred flowing because of his name.

"Wait, tell us what you saw in your vision again? The one from the beginning of school." Hermione asked, trying to remember it herself.

"There was a man, an old man, walking in an abandoned house. He went up the stairs because he saw voices. Voldemort, Wormtail, and Barty Crouch Jr —Barty Crouch's son— talking about. . . something about needing the boy for the plan to work properly. Wormtail said it could be done without the boy, but Voldemort wasn't having it. Then, they killed the old man and I wake up." Harry spoke as if he was tired of saying it.

"Well, the boy could be you." Hermione thought. "But why would Voldemort need you?"

"To kill him." Ron stated. "Isn't that what this is all for? So that he can kill you?"

"I dunno." Autumn added in. "Dumbledore said himself that Voldemort was weak. Maybe he needs someone to build his strength again. It may not even be Harry that he needs."

"Thank goodness Harry has these dreams to warn him, right?" Matt joined, trying to be a part of the conversation and not just a listener.

Harry stood up and walked out of the common room. He wasn't in a hurry, he just left with no explanation. 

Ron stood up to follow him, but Autumn stood as well. "I got it." She said, hurrying after the boy. She walked out of the painting and saw Harry walk down the hall. "Harry, wait up."

Harry sighed, then turned around facing Autumn.

"What's wrong?" Autumn asked, looking at her friend with curiosity written on her face. "Was is something Matt said?"

Harry shook his head and rolled his eyes. "It's not about what he said, it's just. . . I don't trust him."

"You don't what?" Autumn asked, feeling shocked.

"Just the way that he randomly appeared in your life and the polyjuice potion—"

"Wait, wait, wait. You're accusing him of using polyjuice potion?" 

"Well, when you put it that way. . ." Harry looked at the ground, not knowing what to say.

"I can't believe this." Autumn threw her hands into the air. "What's up with you?" She angrily asked. "If you're jealous, just say so!"

An arm placed itself around her shoulder as Matt's voice filled the air. "It's okay, Autumn. I'll try to figure this out, you go to bed. It's late."

Autumn looked up at Matt then back to Harry. "Will you? Because you both are very close to me and I want you to be friends."

"I'll try, but this is really just up to Harry." Matt said, looking at him.

Autumn looked at Harry, trying to read how he was feeling, but he only looked tired.

Harry took a breath then spoke. "Yeah, sure. I'll try."

Autumn smiled then pulled the two in for a hug. "I'm going to bed, please work it out before I wake up tomorrow. Goodnight, you two."

"Night." The two replied.

Once Autumn was out of sight, the Harry spoke.

"Listen, Matt. I'm sorry for being mean, I guess I'm just under a lot of stress."

"Yeah, man. It's cool. I guess it's sorta stressful when Autumn would rather tell more things to someone she's known only for a year, than someone she's known for four years."

"What do you mean?" Harry asked, not knowing what Matt was talking about.

"Well, she's only told you stuff about her life because you kept pestering her in. . . what was it? Second year?"

Harry glared at Matt as he spoke.

"While she's told me stuff about her life without me even asking. She just talked to me about it instead of you."

"I don't believe you."

"Remember that bruise from the beginning of the year that Autumn had on her cheek?"

Harry stared at Matt, trying to remember. He briefly remembered Hermione mentioning it to Harry in a conversation.

"That's from her new caretaker." Matt shot Harry a look. "But I guess she didn't tell you that."

"When. . . Why. . . What?"

"I've proved my point. Tomorrow we tell Autumn we've made up or I'll tell her that you like her."

"But I don't like her like that!" Harry shouted quietly.

"She doesn't know that." Matt smirked then walked back to the Gryffindor Common Room, leaving Harry alone in the castle hallway.