adored by him | *under editing*

third year × 38

"Looks a bit peaky, doesn't he?"

"Peaky?" Fred mocked. "What'd you expect him to look like? He fell fifty feet."

"Yeah, c'mon, Ron. We'll walk you off the Astronomy Tower and see how you come out looking." George suggested, the twins cracking up.

Harry's eyes slowly opened and he smiled, "Probably a right sight better than he usually does."

"Harry, how are you feeling?" Nadia asked, gently brushing his wet hair from his face.

"Brilliant." He deadpanned but grinned gratefully at her.

"You gave us a right good scare there, mate."

"What happened?"

"You fell off your broom," Ron answered.

"Really?" Harry shook his head, "I meant the game. Who won?"

Uncomfortable glances were exchanged throughout the group as Hermione sighed, "No one blames you, Harry. The Dementors aren't supposed to come onto school grounds. Dumbledore was furious. After he saved you, he sent them straight off."

Ron then appeared with something in his arms, concealed by a Gryffindor banner. "There's something else you should know, mate." He thrusted it into Nadia's arms, shrinking back slightly at the glare sent his way. "It'll be better if it comes from you."

Nadia let out a regretful breath, looking Harry in the eyes. He took her hand, urging her to go on. "Your Nimbus -- when it blew away? W-well, it sort of blew into the Whomping Willow and, um--" She trailed off, opening the banner to reveal Harry's broom. Only, it had been reduced to a pile of splintered wood.

***

Hand-in-hand, Nadia and Harry trudged through the dewey grass, the bitter winter air brushing against their rosy cheeks.

"I'm sorry about your broom, Harry. Is there no way of fixing it?" Professor Lupin questioned, sympathy laced through his weak voice.

Harry only shook his head, squeezing his girlfriend's hand for comfort. He swiftly changed the subject, "Why do they affect me so, Professor? I mean, more than everyone else."

"Dementors are amongst the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They feed on every good feeling, every happy memory, until a person is left with nothing but his worst experiences." Sensing his discomfort, Lupin smiled reassuringly, "You're not weak, Harry. The Dementors affect you most because there are true horrors in your past, horrors your classmates can scarcely imagine. You have nothing to be ashamed of."

Harry sighed, looking out over the Black Lake. "I'm scared, Professor."

"I'd consider you a fool if you weren't."

"I need to learn how to fight them. You could teach me, Professor?" He suggested hopefully.

"After all, you did make that one on the train go away." Nadia added, gazing up at him, frowning softly at the scars gashed across his ageing face.

"That was only one night--"

"But you made it go away."