Chapter 16
Harry felt like he was in a trance the week after the second task.
He had never known that Ben and Jack were together, never even had the slightest clue. He couldn’t stop thinking about the two kissing. At first, he had thought that Jack had done it to distract Ben from the incoming panic attack, once he had seen Ben kiss back though, he knew it wasn’t like that.
Sure, it could have been from the shock of the kiss. But there was just a difference in the kiss that made Harry know that it wasn’t.
He couldn’t help but wonder what other relationships his friends were in that he didn’t know about.
Harry felt even worse when he realized he was pining over his friends from the mansion. From Jeff to Ben, to even Toby. He realized he had at least a small crush on each of them, that had rapidly grown and he had never realized until now.
To make matters worse, everyone was talking about the two kissing, along with his outburst at Dumbledore. He had gotten a letter from Amelia Bones, wanting him to come in the next weekend and answer some questions about what he had said to the man. Harry had replied back after getting the okay from Slender, wanting his godfather to finally be free. He knew the woman would want the facts and get his godfather a fair trial, she was known for stuff like it after all.
Harry had begun avoiding people in the halls like the plague, however. Everyone kept asking him questions about Ben and Jack and their relationship, which he hadn’t even known about. He used the marauder’s map and invisibility cloak a lot, maneuvering through hidden corridors and secret passages when possible. Taking the long way to some classes and barely getting there in time, sometimes being late and losing points for it.
It didn't help much though, as people had taken to waiting outside the classroom for him or stalking him to ask. Harry had to start eating in his rooms just to hide from the constant questions. He wouldn't have minded if they were asking about Dumbledore and what he said, or even yelling at him about the things they said is not true, even though it was obvious. The questions were all about Ben and Jack though, and Harry couldn't stand it. He needed a way to escape it.
Harry hurried down to the lake in hopes to hide from some of the students. He wanted to go to the forest and use the port there to go back to the mansion for a few hours, but couldn't. Not after what he had seen.
Harry ended up sitting on the far side of the lake, looking at the castle from beside the forbidden forest, wondering what to do.
"Harry?" A voice called out from the water, making Harry blink as he looked at the water.
Aalton rested on the bank beside Harry, looking at the 14-year-old quizzedly. "Why do you seem lost?"
Harry rubbed his head, not sure what to say. "Just some stuff going on right now. I don't really want to talk about it." He admitted to the mer, who seemed to accept the answer.
"It seems to weigh on your mind. Would you like to accompany me to take your mind off it?" Aalton asked him, making Harry look at him with mild surprise.
"Really?" He asked, and when Aalton nodded he set his bag up in a tree, before transfiguring his clothes in something easier to swim in, along with casting a warming charm on himself before getting into the water.
Once in the water, Aalton took his hand, pulling the wizard down into the depths below.
It was the first time in a while, Harry was truly able to relax.