No One Will Notice You're Gone

No One Will Notice You're Gone

By: Black Faith

Chapter 9 ~ Silence

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School started two days after Harry was released from the hospital. But he didn't want to face them back at school. Neville - even Malfoy - he didn't want to face all of them. He couldn't stand not telling Mr. and Mrs. Weasley that their son was a Death Eater so he kept it silent - although it picked at his brain constantly. He didn't tell anyone anything.

He found out that Luna's father Louis Lovegood had joined the Order in the beginning of the summer once he arrived at Number 12. What was strange was that everything seemed as if nothing happened. The aura around Number 12 was very happy, at least, when Harry stayed there - for the short time that he did. Luna's father was extremely funny and would do almost anything for a laugh - Mr. Lovegood lightened his mood a bit and made him laugh.

Yet, during the night, the house felt empty and cold - no longer did it feel as warm as the members of the Order made it feel during the day. During the night Harry thought he could still hear Sirius talking to Buckbeak in the next room, it drove him near insanity. He was happy to get out and be back at Hogwarts - but he didn't want to face them.

He spent most of his time with his friends playing Exploding Snap and the unnamed game that Fred and George invented. They were going to market it once they came up with a name but until then it was a both dangerous and strange game that the Gryffindors played - well, and Luna Lovegood.

Life was starting to look up as the weeks passed by at school. Especially since the Ministry of Magic was now under the watchful eye of the new Minister-ess of Magic: Nymphadora Tonks.

They had destroyed the Dementors and now, Azkaban - although less scary - was being patrolled by highly trained specialists in Dark Wizards and guarded by the most fearsome looking dragon of it's species: the Hungarian Horntail.

Harry was still on edge that he had a prophecy to fulfil, but in spite of everything, he made time for his friends too. He cared about them after all - even when he had Occlumency lessons - he still made time for them. Neville was starting to become a close friend in their little group. Everyone was happy, for a change.

Yet, there was something different about Hogwarts that bothered him - it was as if something was missing. It didn't feel right. Everything was going smoothly but that missing piece was beginning to drive him mad. It was too peaceful at Hogwarts.

Malfoy.

He was being too quiet... a bit too quiet to even notice. Was he even at Hogwarts?

Harry glanced across the Great Hall and spotted Malfoy picking at his food, making no eye contact with anyone around him. The Slytherins didn't even seem to be paying attention to him. Crabbe and Goyle were sitting at opposite ends of the table and it didn't look right. Malfoy wasn't smirking at all.

Harry sighed. He didn't know what to think. He knew what it was like to lose someone and even parents - but to lose someone you knew your whole life, who raised you... Devastation would be the only thing to describe what Malfoy was feeling. He had to grow up this summer, at only sixteen; he had to live alone without his parents.

Harry felt bad for him, at least he had friends that he cared for and that cared for him. Malfoy looked so alone, sitting in the crowded Slytherin table surrounded by chattering people. Malfoy just sat there like a statue staring at his plate looking miserable.

Without warning, Draco stood up and ambled slowly out of the Great Hall. No one noticed him - but Harry did. He got up from the Gryffindor table, muttering he had to use the loo and followed Malfoy out. He couldn't believe that he was doing this but he wanted Malfoy to know that he sympathized - no, Malfoy wouldn't want sympathy - he cared and understood.

"Malfoy!" Harry called to the silver-haired boy.

Malfoy whirled around, his face expressionless. He didn't say anything he just stood there as Harry walked up to him.

Harry gave him the tiniest of grins. "I'm sorry," he said in a tone that had just a bit of sympathy, "about your mother - and your father being in Azkaban..."

Malfoy's expression never changed as he spoke.

He continued, "And I want you to know that I understand what you're going through and that - I care," Harry said, confessing the truth - he did care. "I know you don't want sympathy, but no one should have to go through living alone without a friend."

Harry couldn't believe what was coming out of his mouth but it was true - even if the person he was saying it to treated him like nothing but the lowest scum of the earth. He was practically offering his hand in friendship to one of his worse enemies - but the silence that Malfoy given them over the past two months wasn't something that two enemies exchanged. Were they enemies anymore or was being enemies something that lasted forever?

Malfoy nodded his head slowly. "Thanks, Potter," he whispered hoarsely, spinning on his heal and stalking off further into the dungeons.

Harry stared at his back until he disappeared. Maybe enemies do last forever...

"You might think that, Harry."

Harry's eyes widened and he turned around coming face-to-face with-

"Belle?" Harry asked disbelievingly, but he could recognize that voice anywhere.

The girl with black hair nodded, she looked familiar, and he really had seen her before - in the Hogs Head once last year but he didn't take any notice of her then ...

"Yes, Harry," she said with a coy smile.

Harry's eyebrows furrowed. "But you don't look a day older than seventeen how do you- "

She twirled her wand in her fingers and interrupted him. "Know all of the information that I know?"

Harry nodded. She always had the tendency to finish his sentences...

Belle circled him slowly with a smirk playing across her face. "I know all. I see all. I've been around forever and I'll state this much-" she paused and stopped circling.

"Malfoy will not be your enemy for long - he'll come around," she said with a small shrug, and then the coy smile re-appeared upon her face.

"Tell me one thing though, Harry," she said pocketing her wand.

"Would you have offered your hand in friendship to Draco Malfoy if you had never spent that time with me?" Belle asked with a smug-like grin.

Harry shook his head. "No, but you still haven't answered my question. How you know all of the information you know and you're only - what - seventeen?"

Belle smirked. "Only in body."

She moved closer to him and whispered into his ear, "In truth," she paused and he waited, the airy silence settled around them.

"I'm destiny, Harry."

Before Harry could say another word she disappeared into thin air like a cloud of dust blowing in the wind. He looked around for her but she was nowhere to be found. In the distance he could hear a small whisper:

"Within the dream portal you are ascended into another world without knowing it. Into world much different from your own - the land of destiny," her voice paused.

"You were asleep, Harry, and no one noticed you were gone. Did they?"

Harry sucked in a breath. Luna did. He thought.

Belle laughed in the back of his mind. "She's been here before, Harry, she knows, she understands - she cares."

Harry smiled. That's why he felt such a connection to her after Sirius died and now Malfoy...

"Malfoy will come around too, Harry, he just hasn't learned enough - yet..."

Harry nodded. As Hermione had told him before: Call it destiny - though you may say that destiny is a sadistic bastard. He would have to disagree with her. He would have to say something else about destiny:

"You're a sadistic bitch - but for all the right reasons."

Fin

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