Where I belong by Handa

Snape never talked again in the rest of Harry’s set of detentions from the quidditch incident with Draco. They worked in silence, Snape over various assignments from students and Harry doing numerous disgusting potion ingredient preparation tasks.

Harry convinced himself it was a good thing Snape had not spoken to him again during detention, it must mean he was finally doing something right. He hadn’t sat at the Gryffindor table again (although he did look longingly at it), and he had tried to keep his head down and not let himself be bothered by his head of house and housemates.

However, if Professor Snape wanted to find something to be angry at Harry for, he would have no trouble finding it, Harry knew that for sure. Harry was grateful when he finally finished his detentions, and he could spend more time with his friends.

Harry’s housemates were insufferable as usual. Hermione taught Harry a stinging charm to put on his trunk to keep his belongings safe, but it seemed that only encouraged them to target Harry himself, instead of merely his belongings.

The constant shoves and pushes were starting to form bruises on Harry, and his right side had a particular big bruise where Crabbe had shoved him aside and he’d fallen into a nearby suit of armour.

He hadn’t told anyone, not only because he knew there wasn’t much anyone could do about it, but also because he couldn’t help but be a little embarrassed. He didn’t want to imagine the faces of his friends or even Hagrid, if they found out that Harry was too weak to fight back.

Maybe that’s why he hadn’t been sorted into Gryffindor.

Speaking of Hagrid, he tried to visit the half giant as much as he could, sometimes alongside Hermione, Ron, and Neville but other times just by himself.

Hagrid was always happy to see Harry and even more happy that Harry seemed to be better in himself, compared to that horrid night where he had taken the sodden first year into his hut. Harry was glad Hagrid never had brought it up since and especially not in front of Harry’s new friends. The gentle giant even let Harry and his friends pick out some pumpkins from the pumpkin patch to carve in his hut, together at the weekend for the upcoming Halloween feast the following week.

Harry and Ron’s friendship was developing to Harry’s surprise, although he still did feel a little weary for his friend. He didn’t want to trust again so quickly, but Ron seemed genuinely apologetic. It was nice to have people around him that genuinely wanted to spend time with him, it made Harry feel braver about facing his dorm-mates.

Overall, Hogwarts wasn’t as bad as Harry had first experienced. And no matter what the Slytherins did, Harry knew that learning about magic and having his new-found friends around would make anywhere better than the Dursley's.

Although even anywhere that served him 3 magnificent meals a day, is better than the Dursley's to be fair.

Even Draco boasting on and on about a new magical pocket watch his parents had sent him to the other Slytherin boys late into the night, while Harry tried to sleep, couldn’t make him feel too down about his Hogwarts experience.

“It has all members of the noble family of Malfoy on it and where they are at all times! Look, there’s me at Hogwarts!” Draco had boasted and all the other boys had rushed over in awe. Harry held back and groan and tugged his pillow over his head to cover his ears.

Unfortunately, the universe was definitely not on Harry’s side that night as it sent a most disturbing dream Harry’s way that night.

The figures were blurry, and Harry couldn’t make out much of what was happening to make it so bad, but the feelings were enough to shake him. There was a flash of green light and then a woman screaming over and over and over again, while a cruel, deep, laugh echoed in Harry’s eardrums. Harry woke up gasping for breath and he hadn’t even realised he was crying until tears were streaming down his face.

He didn’t sleep much after that.

Hermione noticed as much when they were studying in the library the next day and asked him about it. Maybe it was because it was just Harry’s closest friends which he had began to trust that he began to explain his dream (or maybe he just wasn’t thinking straight because of the lack of sleep).

He noticed that the more he told the story of his dream, his Gryffindor friend’s expressions became more and more sombre.

“What?” Harry asked.

Ron’s eyebrows screwed up. “I don’t really know how to say this mate,” He hesitated. “But it sounds to me that you were dreaming about …the night your parents died.”

Harry felt what felt like a rock settle in his stomach. “Oh.”

“A green light is said to be one of the l-last things someone sees when they’re hit with the …killing curse.” Neville whispered, his hands casted down to his hands, deep in thought.

Hermione placed a hand on Harry’s wrist, comfortingly. “It’s understandable Harry really, with their anniversary coming up and everything.”

Harry froze. What kind of son was he? He’d found out this year that his parents had not only been murdered and were not in fact drunks who died in a car smash, but his parents died for him. How could he have forgotten that the anniversary of their death was coming up?

“Halloween.” Harry murmured weakly. How could he have been carving pumpkins eagerly in Hagrid’s hut, barely a few days ago when it was less than a week until the anniversary of his parents’ death? How could he be so disrespectful? So selfish. He was a terrible son.

It was silent for a while, all of the first-year students lost for words until Ron broke it.

“Hey, why don’t we do something special for Halloween?” He said, nudging Harry’s elbow but Harry shrugged it off and wrapped his arms around himself.

“I don’t really feel like celebrating when-“

“No, not celebrating,” Ron interrupted Harry. “Like to honour them.”

Harry was confused, but he was also intrigued so he continued to listen.

“Yeah,” Hermione joined. “Let’s skip the feast and do our own thing, toast to your parents and do a small memorial for them.”

Harry smiled softly. “Yeah...I think I’d like that.”

----

Plans were made. Ron oversaw snacks, Hermione and Neville were in charge of pillows and blankets and Harry was in charge of the location. After a lot of deliberation, On Halloween night Harry found himself walking up to his chosen place: the astronomy tower. On his shoulder was Hedwig, the bird gave extra comfort to the small boy as he made his way to meet his friends.

He’d thought he had arrived a little earlier than they had planned, yet suddenly he was engulphed in a hug, before he had got up the last step of the tower. From the large amounts of hair blocking his vision, Harry could tell it was Hermione.

“Hiya Hermione.” Harry murmured and when her death grip finally lifted felt himself gasp. The Astronomy tower looked cosier than ever, lit only by the light of a single lantern, the room glowed beneath the stars. Surrounding it was pillows and blankets and the most Halloween candy Harry had ever seen.
On the cushions Harry also spotted his other two friends smiling softly up at him.

“Thank you.” Harry said, wondering how he would ever be able to show his gratitude to his friends. The simple words just didn’t seem enough to describe how full his heart was right now.

His friends seemed to understand though and with a gentle push from Hermione, Harry joined his friends on the floor with a small thump, making his friends crack a laugh and Harry couldn’t help but join. Hedwig fluttered up to perch on a nearby ledge. Ron had brought his rat Scabbers along and even Neville’s toad Trevor joined the group.

“Where did you even get all this food?” Harry had asked at one point in the evening.

“Stole it.” Ron had replied making Harry’s heart skip a beat. “Don’t look at me like that.” Ron admonished, grinning. “I didn’t actually steal it, just asked the elves in the kitchens if they would make something for us. We’re-er- not really supposed to do that though.”

Harry relaxed a little, but still didn’t know what these elves everyone talked about were. Hagrid had spoken about them before as well, hadn’t he?

Just to be sure, Harry cast his eyes over to Hermione, knowing she would toss a fit if they really were breaking the rules, but all she did was smile and reach for two of the chocolate Halloween cupcakes and hand one to Harry. He accepted it and took a bite.

It felt right, to be surrounded by his friends on such a special day. It wasn’t as though they were joking loudly, or being in any way disrespectful, but the atmosphere was calm and happy. And somehow, when he looked up at the stars, Harry felt like he was being watched by his parents.

He wondered what they would’ve thought of him. Over the last few weeks, Harry had fretted over them being disappointed of him, being sorted in Slytherin and all, yet surrounded by his friends and sat under the stars, he thought he might have made them just a little bit proud.

Harry walked back to the Slytherin dorms with a newfound weight off his shoulders, he felt so much lighter. And although he felt a little bit sick from the candy he had ate, it was overshadowed by the gratefulness he felt to have such amazing friends. He also felt somehow a little bit closer to his parents. In summary, Harry thought nothing could bring him down.

That was until he walked back into the dormitory and saw his head of house standing in the entry way, glaring daggers at him. The rest of his house mates over his shoulder, grinning almost maliciously. Harry noticed Draco in the centre looking particularly smug. Harry’s heart dropped like a stone.

His turned his head to look at the grandfather clock in the common room, he was well-within curfew, it had been extended until 10pm for first years, due to the Halloween celebrations. Harry bit his lip as his hands grew clammy with nervousness. In what ways were the Slytherin boys going to torment him now?

“Mr Potter.” Professor Snape murmured softly, but Harry could tell he was mad from his mean expression and towering stance. "I require a word. Now."