As they walked down the stairs of the tower, the trio debated the merits of releasing Lethifolds in Snape's classroom and writing down his reaction for their essays.
"Mate, careful!"
As he paid little attention to where he was going, Seamus's sudden shout was Harry's only warning before running into a small boy in blue-trimmed robes. They'd barely begun to fall before Harry's reflexes kicked in and he pulled the young Ravenclaw against his chest as he turned, bracing for the impact. The fall and pain he was expecting did not come, however, as he felt Ron's hand grasp his collar and yank them back up.
"Easy there, Harry. Don't go dying on us."
"Yeah, that'd be a pretty shite way to die."
Relaxing, Harry let out the breath he was holding as he let go of the boy. He couldn't have been more than a third year and looked like a small animal, trembling all over like he was. He took a shaky step back and nearly slipped again, but Seamus put a hand on his shoulder to steady him. The boy's eyes were wide in a mix of amazement and terror Harry had long come to know. Still, that's no reason to be cruel to a kid.
"You alright there?"
The boy pulled up a piece of parchment from his robes with a trembling hand before throwing it in Harry's direction and ran down the stairs without a word. The note bounced on his concealed armour plate and would have fallen down the stairs had he not caught it with practised ease.
"I swear, they're treating you like a ghoul with dragon pox."
"He's probably worse in his eyes. Most blokes out there are convinced Harry killed Cedric and only escaped Azkaban because of his fame."
The glare Ron sent to the back of the running boy could have melted Goblin steel.
"What, they still believe that crap the prophet's printing?"
"Like everyone else." Harry said bitterly, turning around and resuming his descent. Behind him, Ron and Seamus gave each other concerned looks before catching up with him.
He liked to think that it didn't bother him. That he didn't care since he was used to it. Reminding himself of that fact every time he walked through the castle with fearful stares glued to him didn't seem to make it true, however.
Clenching his fists in frustration, Harry felt something crumble up in his grasp. Oh, right. The note. Probably the time for the next lesson with Dumbledore. Taking it out and unfolding it did not reveal the handwriting of the headmaster, however, but McGonagall's instead. It was an invitation to meet for tea in her office that afternoon.
"Guess I'll have to make a detour today."
Harry reached the end of the stairs and decidedly did not look at the Ravenclaw he could still hear running away in the corridor. Instead, he took off in the opposite direction. He had to go see McGonagall anyway. And it's been a while since he'd just walked around the castle so now was as good a time as any other.
His perfectly normal walk was not off to a great start, however, as he heard the voice of the last he wanted to see right now.
"Attacking kids now, Scarhead? I admit, even I didn't think you'd swoop this low. Then again, you've always been the cowardly sorts."
Malfoy, looking like the ever-arrogant pile of disdain and hair products he was, was surrounded by his usual cohort of housemates. And by the way, they looked at him, they seemed to find his situation to be the funniest thing since Umbridge's takeover.
"How the mighty have fallen. Everyone's finally realised none of that Boy-Who-Lived crap made up for the pathetic failure you are?"
"Sod off, Malfoy." Ron snapped.
"I heard you didn't even bother going to the tryouts Potter. Did you expect your fame to get you the position like before? Or perhaps you don't want everyone to see you fail at the only thing you still have going for you?"
That got another laugh from the Slytherins, followed a few seconds later by Goyle's. The burly boy seemed more focused on staring at Harry than listening to his master's taunts.
"I just have other stuff to do, Malfoy. Maybe this year you'll actually have a chance to win a match? Or do you need your dad to buy that for you too?"
All traces of his smile faded, replaced by a grimace of anger and disgust as his pale hand hovered dangerously close to his wand. In the corner of his eye, Harry could see Ron mirror his movement. When he spoke next, Draco's voice was low and cold.
"You should be careful with your words, Potter. You never know what could happen these days. And your precious Dumbledore won't always be around to protect you. It shouldn't be long before you get what you deserve and finally join your parents."
Harry held his stare for a short time before Draco turned and left, quickly followed by his friends. His glare remained on him, even after the green-trimmed robes disappeared around the corner.
"What an arse."
"That's one reason I'm glad we can spend time you know where, and not in the castle. He's been even more insufferable than ever lately. I've heard they've been prancing around the castle, terrorizing the younger years."
"Give him one little shiny badge and he goes mad with power. I bet he can't wait to get out there to start killing left and right."
While Ron and Seamus talked, Harry's gaze remained lost and a sombre mood marred his face. He remained silent until Ron stepped close and put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.
"You alright mate?"
"Yeah... Let's just go."
He still had to explain to McGonagall why he didn't have the time to play in the house team anymore... Or at least give a decent enough lie.