Through your black hair, my hands

Chapter 140-151

140.

To Harry, Muggle Studies was not an ordinary class, he grew up in the muggle world and was familiar with all its trappings, but at the same time, he was a wizard and he had to look at and study muggles through a wizard's eyes in this class. As Hermione had once said, looking at muggles from a wizard's point of view could be a strange experience, especially for one who well understands muggles.

Harry was carefully taking notes, but his keen senses recognized that someone was watching him. Lifting his head to glance around, he met James' eyes head-on. James looked away as though nothing had happened and Harry lowered his head as he pondered the increasingly strange relationship between them. It no longer felt like he was being befriended so that he could later be pumped for information, what he was feeling from James was becoming more and more indefinable and strange. This was especially apparent during the last Quidditch match several months ago, James had hesitated at the key moment, Harry firmly believes that he saw relief on James' face the moment Harry had caught the snitch. Why did James hesitate? Why would he feel relieved? Harry had pondered this during the entire summer vacation but had come to no conclusions. And now James was sneaking peeks at him then pretending otherwise. Harry was feeling increasingly baffled, he hadn't offended James somehow had he? He had been accommodating on all of James' requests so why was James acting increasingly weird? Should he try using legilimency again? In truth, he didn't like sneaking looks at the thoughts of others, after all everyone had the right to their secrets.

After class, James approached Harry, "Can we talk Harry?"

Harry hesitated only a moment before agreeing, "Alright."

James led the way to a secluded area down the corridor then stopped. "I heard that you are forbidden from entering the Tri-wizard Tournament?"

Harry's reply was open and straightforward, "Yes."

"Because Professor Voldemort is worried about you getting injured?"

"Not entirely," Harry scratched his head, "That's only one of the reasons."

"And the other reason?" James persisted.

Harry could only once again bring out the words he had spoken to Snape yesterday, "I don't actually want to enter the Tournament because I don't like being the focus of everyone's attention."

"You...you're joking right?" James exclaimed in shock, having never imagined that Harry himself would not want to enter. "You... how could you... not like...?"

"No, I don't like it, to be frank, I loathe it." Harry's reply was firm.

"Then... then... last year, you... were surrounded by flowers and applause and praise, you really didn't like it?" James tone grew more shrill at the end of that question, showing his doubt. Harry had been in the limelight all last year but James didn't really see him feeling any aversion to it.

Harry spread his hands helplessly, "If possible I would have preferred to not have been present, it would have been better if it was Voldy instead. You weren't in my position, you wouldn't understand the hassles I went through after that event."

James was speechless. He had been worried about Harry being upset at his being barred from the Tournament but it turns out that he was barking up the wrong tree, Harry wanted nothing to do with any possible fame that might result from the Tournament and his exclusion was right in-line with his own desires. He wasn't quite able to accept this turn of events, unwilling to believe that his interpretation of Harry's thoughts and feelings was so far off. "But, doesn't it make you uncomfortable, that Professor Voldemort arbitrarily made this decision to forbid you from entering the Tournament without asking for your consent or opinion?"