Pretty Kitty (completed)

Chapter 22

The next morning, a pink flamingo landed on the Gryffindor table, bearing a letter to Fred and George. The two looked absolutely thrilled as they stroked the pink flamingo and marvelled over it – naturally, they would be fascinated with such a flamboyant bird.

"Not at all subtle, is he?" Hermione muttered, glaring at the flamingo. "He's on the bloody run, you'd think he'd go with normal barn owls."

Harry grinned. The flamingo was, of course, from Sirius. Harry had got a letter as well, inquiring about his health. Tension just seeped out of the letter, which highly confused Harry. He wrote back that he was fine, but worried about the corridor dreams he'd told Sirius about before, on Hermione's urging.

Harry was desperately curious about the letter to Fred and George. Undoubtedly, it contained some prank ideas for their new shop. What else would Sirius write to the two famous jokesters for?

The flamingo was soon sent off with two replies, and soared from the hall, the students watching it in awe. Umbridge's eyes bored into Harry, but he ignored the sensation in favour of talking to George, who was hand feeding him- after the flamingo arrival, Harry had been too curious to even think of food.

"Weasley, please confine your vile displays of affection to the privacy of your own rooms," Snape snarled as he passed them. George had merely given Harry the snogging of a lifetime in return, making sure to make the tongue action visible.

"Ten points from Gryffindor, and a detention tomorrow night, Potter!" Snape snapped, paling. Charlie suddenly materialised at his side, leaning against Snape, an arm on his shoulder.

"That's a bit harsh, Severus," he said happily, mere millimetres from Snape's ear. Snape growled low in his throat, struggled away from Charlie, and stomped away. Charlie watched him go for a moment, a strange smile that the twins sometimes gave Harry on his face, before sitting down next to his charge, scrubbing the unruly hair.

"Harry, how've you been?" Charlie asked, gaze shooting to Harry's bandaged right hand, before he tore his eyes away. Harry frowned, dropping his hand from the table to hide it underneath.

"I'm all right, you?" Harry asked cautiously. First Sirius, then Charlie- why was everyone asking about his health? Charlie nodded, looking like he didn't believe a word Harry said. Harry caught him rolling his eyes at Fred and George, who seemed to know exactly what the gesture meant.

"Right, well, first lesson and all, let's go," Harry said abruptly, grabbing his bag and standing. They were keeping secrets about him, he could tell from the heavy atmosphere, the glances, the silences.

Ron and Hermione frowned. Hermione looked at her watch. "But, Harry, classes don't start for half an hour."

Harry shrugged, turning, stuffing his hands in his pockets, and walking away from the group. Fred and George made to rise and go after him, but Hermione stopped them with a glare, stood herself, and dragged Ron with her after Harry.

He didn't need the twins. For once, Harry needed his friends.

XxXxXxX

"What are they keeping from me?" Harry asked, lying on a bench in the courtyard. It was getting into winter, but there was a harsh sunlight that shone down on that particular bench. He loved bathing in it.

"No one's keeping anything," Hermione assured him awkwardly, wondering if it was really safe to tell Harry the twin's plan. His pride was already smarting from the whole situation- he hated feeling so weak and pathetic. He wouldn't take the news that the twins planned to extract revenge for Harry very well. He'd feel even weaker.

"Convincing, Hermione," Harry said sarcastically, before giving her an apologetic look. She shrugged off the burst of anger- anyone who knew Harry knew of his penchant for quick anger that he took out on others accidentally.