The Split
Harry spent the rest of the morning in a daze, his eyes vacant as he stared off into nothingness. Hermione and Ron seemed to sense something was off and gave him the space he needed.
At lunchtime, they gathered at their usual spot at the end of the Gryffindor table. Harry's earlier appetite had vanished, replaced by a sense of unease. His stomach felt too tight to eat, and he pushed his food around the plate without much interest, barely nibbling on a piece of bread.
“What’s the matter with you? You’ve barely eaten anything,” Ron said while gobbling down a sausage.
“Leave him alone, Ron. I read in a book that panic attacks can reduce your appetite. It’s all due to the disruption of the stomach and intestine, you see. This can lead to various gastrointestinal issues like heartburn, diarrhea, and constipati—”
“Okay, okay, we get it!” Ron interrupted with a grimace, shoving his potato back onto his plate. “You’re making me lose MY appetite now.”
“I’m fine, really,” Harry said, trying to reassure Hermione. “I’ll eat more at dinner and maybe grab a snack from the kitchen later.” He really wanted to avoid her pestering him all afternoon.
A wave of sadness washed over him. Any time he thought about Hermione these days, it was about how he needed to lie to avoid fighting with her. Their friendship didn’t feel as strong as it had been during their first few years at Hogwarts. He didn’t know if she had become more overbearing over the years or if he simply didn’t have the same tolerance and patience as when he was younger.
What was once an annoying but harmless quirk of hers, had now become a feeling of being constantly suffocated. He didn’t want to be mothered by what was supposed to be his best friend; he wanted her to see him as her equal. But it was obvious that she unconsciously thought herself better than a lot of her classmates, him included.
It wasn't done with malice, but it made him feel inadequate. He didn’t feel the need to confide in her anymore. What was the point when he knew she would spend the entire conversation telling him all he was doing wrong?
“Go see Madam Pomfrey if it continues, and don’t forget to tell her about your nightmares, alright? Just in case Dumbledore should know,” Hermione pointed out.
And there was that, too. He just didn’t completely trust her anymore. She was constantly talking about Dumbledore these days. It was obvious she admired him a lot, but he couldn’t be sure she wouldn't spill his secrets to the man if she thought it was for his own good.
It was disheartening to realize he had lost that connection with her, especially when it was clear she and Ron were still going strong despite their little quarrel in fourth year. He felt like a third wheel most of the time nowadays.
Hermione suddenly looked down at her wrist.
“Oh my God, look at the time. I really need to go!”
“Where to? We don’t have class for another forty-five minutes!” Ron lamented.
“I promised Susan Bones I’d help her with her potion essay.”
“What? You never help us with our essays, it’s not fair."
“Really Ron? You’re never asking for help, you just want me to give you all the answers.”
“Well, that’s the same thing!”
Their back and forth was giving Harry a headache. He just wanted a bit of calm for a minute, but it seemed they were not going to stop on their own.
“Hermione, if you don’t go now you’re really going to be late,” he interjected.
“Oh, you’re right! I will see you two in Herbology.”
Within seconds, she grabbed her bag and disappeared, and he was left alone with Ron at the table. Now was probably a good time to bring up the morning’s fiasco. His anger had taken a backseat after his little revelation, so he felt level-headed enough to not immediately yell at the boy.
“Can I ask you something about this morning?” Harry asked nonchalantly, pretending to pour himself some water. He needed to word his sentence carefully, since he never knew how his friend was going to respond.
Ron was quite sensitive and could close up and respond with anger if he thought he was being attacked. Strangely, it only seemed to happen when Harry was the one talking to him, and not Hermione. He tried not to let that hurt him too much. Still, always walking on eggshells around his friend was starting to get tiring.
“Yeah, what about it, mate?” Ron replied, stuffing his face with pumpkin pie.
“What you did during Professor McGonagall’s class wasn’t okay,” Harry started vaguely.
Ron gave him a confused look, “What do you mean?”
“You know, the stuff you said about my nightmares…to everyone…” he pointed out.
“Oh, yes. But it got us out of detention. You owe me one, by the way,” he grinned at him, missing the point completely, as always.
“Yeah, well I would prefer if you didn’t do that again, please. It was really humiliating having the class hear about my supposed nightmares and panic attacks.”
“Who cares? It was all a lie anyway,” Ron said defensively.
“Yes, but the others didn’t know it was a lie,” Harry said, gritting his teeth to stop himself from yelling at Ron. The other boy still didn’t seem to understand what the problem was, and it was infuriating.
“Well, frankly, I still don’t get what your problem is,” Ron said with a disgruntled face. He had his arms crossed and looked ready to jump out of his seat. Well done, Harry.
The conversation was going nowhere, so he tried something different.
“Fine. Then how would you feel if I told everyone in our year that you still have nightmares about Peter Pettigrew being in your bed and observing you while you sleep?” Harry questioned with an exasperated look.
Ron turned a deep shade of red. “It’s not the same thing!”
“It’s exactly the same thing. It’s something deeply personal, and I would never tell anyone about it without asking you. So I really don’t understand how you thought it was a good idea to talk about my nightmare to the whole class!”
There was a moment of silence as Ron seemed to think about it.
“Yeah fine, whatever,” Ron muttered begrudgingly, “I was just trying to help us avoid detention, and I told the first thing that came to my mind. I won’t tell anything about you to anyone ever again, then. Happy?”
It wasn’t exactly what he wanted, but as always, Ron seemed to push things to the extreme instead of accepting that he was in the wrong. He looked like an angry child being denied candy.
“Yeah, thank you, I guess…”
“We’re good then? Are we done? I need to… talk to Dean about something… Quidditch.” It was a weak excuse, but he let it go. He hadn’t missed the fact that Ron had not apologized a single time during their talk.
“Yes, I’ll see you at our next class then.”
“Sure.”
Then, he was alone, finally.
He felt sad again. His conversation with Ron had shown him that they didn’t understand each other anymore. Or had they ever?
Like with Hermione, it looked like his friendship with Ron was fast coming to an end. It felt inevitable after the Triwizard Tournament. Ron’s petty jealousy had created a wedge between them that grew bigger and bigger as time passed.
They had tried to patch things up after Ron had apologized last year, but he realized he had never truly forgiven him. There was still this small voice in the back of his mind that whispered that Ron wasn’t truly sorry about what he did, that he was going to hurt him again.
He knew Ron’s jealousy had not truly disappeared either. When his family money or his fame as the “Boy-Who-Lived” came up in a conversation, he sometimes caught Ron's face changing for a fraction of a second before he smoothed it down. His eyes were usually furrowed and his mouth pinched with a scowl, as if he had smelled something bad.
Ron himself had started slowly breaking away from him. He now spent a lot of time talking and playing with Dean and Seamus in the dorm. It had hurt at first, but now he understood that it was for the best. They just weren’t best friends anymore.
He was feeling so alone now that he realized he had lost his closest friends.
He no longer had anyone he could confide in about his feelings. He longed to talk to someone about his dream and Lucius Malfoy, but there was no one he could trust enough to keep it between them instead of running to the Daily Prophet.
He was about to continue wallowing in self-pity, when someone slipped on the bench in front of him.
“Oh thank Merlin, they haven't taken the food away yet!”
He jumped at the sudden movement, “Neville! What are you doing here so late?”
“Crabbe thought it would be funny to transfigure my bag into a rabbit. I just spent an hour trying to catch it!”
“I’m surprised Crabbe managed to perform a successful spell with how useless he is in Transfiguration class.”
“I know, right? It seems like wickedness makes him surpass himself,” Neville sighed while pushing down nervously at his clothes. His shirt had three green streaks on the sleeves and his shoulder was sprinkled with small blades of grass.
“Anyway, I was so sure I was going to miss lunch, but it seems like they have decided to keep the food out longer today,” he said with a relieved smile while putting food on his plate. He looked at Harry’s mostly bare plate.
“Looks like I’m not the only one late today. Here, let me serve you some food”.
Neville seemed so happy to have someone to eat with him that Harry didn't have the heart to admit he just wasn’t hungry.
“Yeah, thank you,” he said with a smile.
“So, why aren’t you eating with Hermione and Ron today? Did you guys have a fallout or something?” Neville asked timidly.
“No, they just…had other things to do.” Harry gave him a little smile but it didn’t reach his eyes.
“Oh, okay. Well I’m glad we get to eat together then. We haven't talked in a while, but I’m a good conversationalist, I swear,” he joked.
Harry felt even worse now. He’d been a horrible friend. In his self-deprecating state, he hadn’t even considered his own behavior toward his other classmates. Neville had always been nice to him, and he hadn’t even taken the time to spend a moment with the boy. His calm personality really appealed to him, and it was so different from Ron’s chaotic behavior.
He was also the only one who could really understand what it was to be an orphan with a family that didn’t like him much.
He gave Neville a sheepish look. “Yeah, I’m sorry. Last year was kind of hectic and I guess I haven’t really tried to reconnect with other people since then.“
“No need to apologize. I know you had a lot on your plate last year,” he said, putting his fork down and looking at him with an unsure smile, “And I guess I’ve noticed how you, Ron and Hermione haven’t been that close lately. It’s not really my business, but is everything alright?”
“Yes, it’s just…” he started hesitantly. Neville waited patiently for him to finish his sentence.
“I guess we’ve just realized we don’t actually have a lot in common, you know. We kind of became friends by accident. In our first year, we didn’t really work well together, but with all the trauma and danger we went through, we couldn't help but forge some bonds. And then there was always some kind of deadly situation to talk about, and we never really took time to know each other outside of that frame.”
Harry couldn’t stop talking now that he had opened up.
“I was always the Boy-Who-Lived, with his intelligent researcher friend and his trusty, hot-headed companion, somehow constantly getting into trouble. I was never truly just Harry. But now that we finally have time to breathe, I think we understand that you can’t build a good friendship based on bad circumstances. We’re just too different, with different priorities in life, and it’s become clearer these past few weeks. We’re less patient, we argue, and we just don’t understand each other anymore. I still like them, and I’m sure they still like me too, but I think we just want to spend more time with other people. So, there’s that. Sorry for dumping it all on you,” Harry said with a guilty look.
He was scared Neville would look at him with pity, but he simply had a pensive look on his face.
It felt good to finally put his feelings into words and get it off his chest. It had been festering in him for some time now, even before the Triwizard Tournament fiasco.
“Don’t worry, Harry, that’s what friends are for, right? I can't really say I understand what you’re going through, because I’ve never been in this situation before, and I guess I don’t really have a lot of close friends here. But you should know that I’m there for you if you ever need to talk again, and I’ll promise to listen and never judge you, okay?” he said with a soft smile.
He was touched by his response, and wondered how he had never realized Neville was such a good person. He seemed to understand what he needed, unlike Hermione or Ron. He let him talk without interrupting and didn’t offer any unwanted or misplaced advice.
Harry really needed to try to be a better friend. He looked at him with resolve.
“Thank you, that really means a lot to me. I’m sorry for being a bad friend. We’re in the same year, and yet I barely know anything about you. I know I can’t change the past, but I really want us to spend more time together and get to know each other better. And I don’t want you to think I’m only saying this because I don’t have anyone else to turn to, okay?”
Neville gave him a big laugh and gently punched him on the shoulder.
“Of course, I’d love to be your friend! Honestly, I’ve always admired the bond you three had. You seemed so close, always having each other’s backs and getting into adventures together. I’ve always wanted a friendship like that. I know I can be quiet and a bit odd, and some people probably think I’m stupid, but I’m very loyal. And, maybe it sounds a little harsh, but part of me is glad you guys are drifting apart, if it means I get a chance to build a friendship with you. That being said, I don’t want you to think I’m trying to replace Ron or Hermione either, okay?"Neville pointed out quickly while putting some Treacle tart on his plate.
Harry realized he had finished his meal and didn’t even feel sick. His heart-to-heart conversation had released a knot in him, and he felt lighter.
“I get it, Neville, don’t worry.”
“By the way, if you want, you could join me and Luna on Tuesday and Friday nights. We go feed the Thestrals at the edge of the forest. You already met her on the train ride, remember? She’s a bit of an outcast like me, but she’s really cool and intelligent. She knows a lot about all kinds of creatures.
“I’d like that, thanks.”
“Great! I’ll tell her you’ll be there then. We can meet up at the Gryffindor entrance to go together if you want.”
They spent the rest of the meal in comfortable silence, none of them feeling the need to fill the space. After that, they started walking to their Herbology class, Neville explaining to him the history of different plants he had seen around Hogwarts. He was truly passionate about the subject and he had a way of explaining that made Harry interested, even though it was usually not his favorite subject.
They arrived at the greenhouse just in time for class and decided to team up for the lesson.
As they stepped through the vine-covered entrance, their noses were assaulted by a sweet fragrance, and in the middle of the room was a beautiful purple flower with petals in the shape of butterflies.
As they took a spot in front of a flower pot, Harry saw Hermione and Ron giving him confused looks from another table. It seemed they had kept him a seat. He gave them a little smile, trying to convey that he would explain the new sitting arrangement later.
“Good afternoon class! Today, we will learn how to take care of a Flutterby bush. The most knowledgeable of you might have recognized it by the enticing smell they produce, or by the very peculiar shape of their petal.” Professor Sprout said to the class in her usual happy voice.
Neville and he worked well throughout the lesson, his classmate giving him secret tips to take care of the plant.
His new friend left him at the end of class to go ask more questions to their professor, so Harry dragged his feet out of the greenhouse, where he found Hermione and Ron waiting for him.
“What was that about?” Ron asked.
He gave him a confused look, pretending to be clueless. “What do you mean?”
“Why did you sit with Neville, you always sit with us?”
“What Ron meant to say is that we were a bit surprised, that’s all. You’ve never worked with Neville before, and he’s usually not the best partner.” Hermione tried to rephrase it more politely, but it still sounded accusatory and even insulting to the other boy.
“Yeah, he’s such a bloody hazard in Potion,” Ron tried to joke, but it didn’t make Harry laugh. He knew what it was like to be so intimidated by someone that you couldn’t help but make mistakes. Thanks Aunt Petunia.
“I ate with him at lunch, and we talked about how it would be nice to work together for once.”
Ron suddenly let out a laugh as he said, “Ah I see. You know he’s good at Herbology, so you wanted to sit next to him to get a good grade. You could have just said that!”
“Oh my God, Harry! I can’t believe you,” Hermione exclaimed in an affronted voice, “That’s really mean to poor Neville.”
“It’s not like that! I wouldn’t do that,” He snapped, affronted by the accusation, “I’ve just realized we have a lot in common, he’s really nice, and we have good conversations. I want to know him better as a friend, and perhaps spend more time with him,” he explained, suddenly feeling nervous about their reaction. Why did their opinion matter anyway? He didn’t need their permission to make another friend.
“Really? Good conversation with Neville?” Ron said with a doubtful face, “Are we not good enough for you anymore, is that it?” he continued with a fake laugh that suggested he wasn’t really joking.
Harry felt a surge of annoyance.
“You’re one to talk. You’ve been spending a lot of time with Dean and Seamus recently, and I haven’t said anything. I think we’re old enough to decide who we want to spend time with, don’t you think?”
Ron's face took a deep shade of red as he clenched his fist. “Fine, then go spend time with your new best friend!” he spat before storming off to the castle.
Hermione sighed and looked at him with disappointment. “Really, Harry? You didn’t need to say it like that, you could have been more gentle.”
“But it’s not my role to appease his stupid jealousy, he’s not a kid anymore. It’s just like last year, but I’m tired of walking on eggshells around him.” His anger deflated, and he suddenly felt tired. He only seemed to have three emotions recently: sad, tired and angry.
“I know, it’s just…I want us to get along as we did in first year,” she said sadly.
It was nice to have a real conversation with Hermione for once, instead of her pretending everything was all right.
“I want that too, but I think we’ve just grown up and we have different interests now. Not just me and Ron, but you too. You’re just so intelligent, and you like learning and studying, and you don’t get that with us. It’s leaving you unsatisfied, and I don’t want you to start secretly resenting us for that.”
“Of course not, Harry! I love spending time with you and Ron, and I don’t mind if you’re not as smart as me,” she tried to reassure him.
“I know. But if you’d like to talk to other people who are more like you, I wouldn't blame you, you know. You’ve been spending more time with Ravenclaws these past few weeks. I don’t want you to feel guilty about it, and if you’re waiting for my approval or something, you really don’t need to.”
“Oh Harry…I’m so sorry, it’s just that I have such wonderful conversations with some of the Ravenclaws and–”
“You don’t need to justify yourself to me Hermione, I understand. I’ve realized that there are other people with whom I have more in common too.”
“Like Neville?” she added timidly.
“Yeah. We’re both orphaned, and we’ve been through some similar trauma. And as much as I love you guys, there are things you can’t really understand if you’ve never lived them. But that’s ok, we’re still friends, just not best friends anymore. ”
Hermione's eyes glistened with tears. “Don’t say that…”
“It’s true, though.”
“I– I guess you’re right. I still miss our old relationship from First year, right after you saved me from the troll. How easy it all seemed.”
“Me too, Hermione, me too…” Harry answered with a bittersweet smile. It felt like the end of an era.
“But I think we can still make it work! I’ll talk to Ron, alright. I’m sure he’ll come around eventually,” she said with renewed confidence, “He just has a lot of growing to do, still.”
Harry shook his head, “I don’t think I’m willing to wait for him anymore.”
Her earlier confidence crumbled at his words. “So, that’s it? You’re giving up on him?”
He stood his ground despite the unwanted guilt that started to wash over him. It was obvious she thought their relationship could still be salvaged, but he was being realistic.
“Well, at least you’ll still have me? And Neville, too?” she asked with uncertainty.
“Yes. Only the best of the best,” he joked, trying to break through the awkward tension.
They talked for a bit longer before going on their way. Their relationship would never be the same, but he was glad they had talked about it. He felt strangely free, and he looked forward to making other connections.
Harry slept like a baby that night, no nightmares or wet dreams to wake him up. Ron hadn’t spoken a word to him at dinner and had started ignoring him in the dorm, but he paid it no mind. He felt above it, like nothing could reach him.
The rest of the week passed without a hitch. He even managed to avoid detention with Snape.
Hermione somehow succeeded in convincing Ron that he was an idiot, and they were back to talking again, even though it was awkward and a bit tense.
On Tuesday, Neville asked him again if he wanted to go feed the Thestrals. They went to meet Luna next to Hagrid’s hut, where the beast were kept.
“Good evening.” The same blond girl from the train greeted them next to the enclosure.
“Hi,” Harry said with a shy smile, looking at her curiously. He hadn’t really spoken with the girl during their ride to Hogwarts, and he wasn’t used to making new friends.
She smiled at him, “Hi, Harry Potter, I’m Luna Lovegood, in case you don’t remember. It happens a lot.”
“I remember you. Your dad owns the Quibbler.”
“That’s right!” she beamed at him, before gazing above his head in concentration. “You’ve had a lot of Wrackspurts around you these past few days. Even now, you have some flying around your head.”
“Wrackspurts? What is that?” he asked confusedly, trying to see if there was indeed something flying around him.
“Luna has a special affinity with magical creatures, and she can see things invisible to us. There are a lot of creatures we don't know about, isn’t it fascinating?” Neville beamed at her with open admiration.
She smiled back warmly at Neville. These two seemed to really like each other.
“Animals experience the world and magic differently than humans. I've always been fascinated by them,” she stated, “But to answer your question, Wrackspurts are creatures that float around people’s heads, and they can enter through your ears to make your brain all confused. They feed on your dark emotions. Have you been having strange thoughts lately?”
His mind immediately went to his dream. He had been having strange thoughts alright. He felt his face redden, making Neville and Luna give him inquisitive looks.
“I…guess,” he said. “How do you make the Wrack…"
“Wrackspurts,” Neville said helpingly, holding a bucket full of meat in his hand, as he led them closer to the fence. Several Thestrals had taken notice and started making their way toward them.
“Yeah, how do you get rid of them?”
Luna’s hand reached out to one of the creatures to pet it on the snout while she answered pensively.
“Well, there’s different ways. You can try thinking happy thoughts for example, or you can try solving what is bothering you in the first place.”
“Yes, but how?” Harry asked helplessly. He picked a bit of meat, holding it over the fence, like Neville had showed him. One of the Thestral looked at him curiously, before slowly reaching toward it.
“I think speaking about it usually helps. That’s how I get rid of mine.”
“You have Wrackspurts too?” he asked. He still wasn’t really sure these creatures existed, but since there was still so much he didn’t know about the magical world, it wasn’t totally unbelievable.
“Yes. The other girls in my year don’t really like me, and they steal my shoes a lot, so I attract a lot of Wrackspurts,” she said in a soft voice.
“Oh. I’m sorry.” He didn’t really know what else to say. He wasn’t used to consoling people and he had never really thought about the fact that other people besides Slytherins could be bullies. It showed how sheltered and naïve he was.
“It’s okay. I’ve got Neville to talk to, and he knows how to make it all better,” she looked at the boy with a fond smile, while Neville blushed and tried to look unaffected.
“Yeah, we’ve got each other's back. And you know Harry, I meant it when I said I would listen and not judge you. So, if you want to talk about what’s bothering you, we can lend an ear.”
Harry didn’t know what to do. He really wanted to share his secret with someone, but he was scared of their reaction.
“Let me think about it?”
Neville nodded at him, “Of course! Don’t feel pressured into talking if you're not ready.”
They spent another thirty minutes talking and feeding the animals before Harry came to a decision.
“Alright, I really need to tell you something, but I need to be sure you won’t say a word to anyone, okay?”
“I understand. I swear on my Granny I won’t, but I can swear a magical oath if you prefer,” Neville asked.
“I won’t say a word either. I don't really have anyone to tell it to, anyway,” Luna added candidly.
“Your word will be enough. I really hope you meant it when you said you wouldn’t judge, Neville.”
“I meant it,” he confirmed resolutely.
“Alright then. What’s been bothering me lately is that I had a dream, a sexual dream I mean,” he started awkwardly, “but it was about a man.”.
He stopped and waited for shocked gasps or yells, but he was met with silence. He looked up at Neville and Luna to find them waiting calmly for him to continue.
“Aren’t you disgusted?” he asked timidly.
“By what?” Neville asked, confused.
“I think Harry is scared we will be disgusted because he likes men,” Luna said, helping him.
“Why?”
“I think it’s not very well accepted in the Muggle world, is that right?” she asked him for confirmation.
“Yes, it’s not well regarded and I guess I don’t know if it’s the same here, in the Magical world.”
“Oh well, it’s not that common, but no one really has a problem with it. Several famous wizards and witches were gay. Look at Dumbledore, no one gives him trouble about it. And I’m pretty sure several purebloods don’t hide the fact that they prefer the same sex, too.”
Harry felt a wave of relief go through his body. It was one less thing to worry about. It didn’t make him weird, or a freak like his uncle said.
Now that it was out of the way, there was still one problem left: the identity of the mysterious man from his dream. Should he tell them? It could potentially destroy the friendship he had just managed to create. Lucius Malfoy had been rumored to be a Death Eater, and Harry knew Neville’s parents had deeply suffered because of them.
“There’s something else,” Harry said, “The man I dreamed of is not a very nice person…” he paused, trying to think about what to say next.
Neville looked at him in shock, and a bit disturbed. “Tell me it’s not Professor Snape?” while Luna asked calmly, “Voldemort?”
Harry started choking on his own spit as he gave them both a dumbfounded look.
“No! Ew!”
Images of Snape and Voldemort in sex positions started involuntarily filling his mind and he tried not to puke.
“Oh, thank Merlin,” Neville said with a relieved smile. “I wouldn't judge you, but Professor Snape still scares me very much, and I really don’t need to imagine you two together like that.”
“Well, me neither. And Voldemort? Really? If you ever catch me fantasizing about him, I want you to have me checked for early dementia,” Harry said, as they all laughed at their stupidity.
Neville turned back to him after a bit. “So who is it then?”
“It’s– I don’t know how to say it,” he rambled.
“Just say it like it is.”
Harry took a deep breath. “Fine. It’s Lucius Malfoy.”
“Oh. I guess I can see the appeal,” Neville calmly confessed.
“He’s really hot for his age,” Luna added, not bothered in the least by what she was saying.
Neville turned to his friend with a red face, “Luna!”
“Don’t worry, Harry, a lot of other students fantasize about him too,” Luna added.
Neville gave her a questioning look, “Do they? How do you know?”
“I hear the girls in my dorm talk about boys a lot, and his name comes out quite often. Mostly they talk about his “air of mystery” and the fact that he’s very rich. I even heard some Gryffindor girls talk about him on the train, so it happens in all the houses.”
“I wonder what Draco thinks about it. Having your classmate think about your father like that must be weird,” Neville said.
“Oh my god, don’t remind me of that. How am I going to be able to look at Malfoy next time we have a fight?” Harry moaned.
“Well, just don’t fight.” Luna added, uselessly.
“Come to think of it, he’s been way more laid back this year, don’t you think? It’s been a while since he’s tried to sabotage me in class,” Neville said.
Harry tried to remember the last time he had truly exchanged insults with Malfoy, but couldn't think of anything.
“You’re right, I haven't fought with him since last year. He’s always reading or writing these days. I haven't seen him bully other Houses either. I wonder what’s gotten into him?”
“Perhaps he’s simply grown up?” Neville said hesitantly.
“Wow, he managed to do it before Ron.” Harry joked.
“Last week, he helped me gather my books from the floor after a girl pushed me,” Luna stated.
“Really? He must have had a big change of heart. Well, I’m not going to complain about him not being an ass anymore, that’s for sure,” Neville said.
Harry looked at Luna and found her staring at him intently.
“What?” he asked.
“The Wrackspurts have gone away. Does it feel like your head is clearer?”
He took a moment to concentrate on his feelings, and he found his head and his heart lighter. The feeling of dread he'd had since the dream had disappeared. Talking about it really had worked.
Harry smiled, “Yes, actually. I feel really good, like a weight has been taken from my shoulders. Thanks Luna!”
“I’m so happy you’re feeling better,” Neville said happily.
“Thank you for listening to me.”
They finished cleaning the feeding supplies before they decided to call it a night and go to bed. Harry felt giddy with excitement as he prepared for sleep. He had made another friend today. Luna was eccentric, but she had a calming aura and could be quite funny in her own way.
He really looked forward to meeting with her and Neville at the next Hogsmeade outing in two weeks. He would go with Ron and Hermione and spend an hour or so with them before joining Neville and Luna at the Three Broomsticks. He really couldn’t wait.