Forged Memories

"You do know, Harry, that this is a really awful idea. So when it turns out to not work, don't you blame it on me," Hermione scolded as she walked over to sit next to Harry. Harry rolled his eyes as he stared out the window of the Gryffindor Common Room. Ron was sitting in a chair by the fire, shivering gently in the cold air that blew through the common room--the window was cracked open a bit. Harry didn't mind, the cold felt good on his irritating scar. Nowadays, his scar prickled and stung all the time...He had gotten used to it, however, and was quite content with his life. Now in the seventh year, he had so much freedom of choice. He dropped out of potions, finally able to escape the menacing glares and snickers of Snape.

"Oh, shut your face Hermione." Ron's voice cracked the unnerving silence at last. Hermione had already fallen silent though, and didn't speak again. She did, however, shoot a cruel look at Ron, who didn't seem to either notice or care. Harry sighed softly. The two always bickered at one another, even though they were dating. Harry was again, alone. Cho Chang was still going out with Michael Corner, but Harry had gotten over the sniveling chaos of the girl. But what agitated him was that Cho only cried when she was with Harry. Ron always made crude comments about how she should get over ______?, to only Harry of course.

Hermione had gotten out of her seat next to Harry and lazily wavered over to the chair where Ron sat. Hermione edged into Ron's lap, and to Harry's surprise, heard Ron give a small chuckle as Hermione curled up in his lap and gazed into the fireplace. Harry's eyes were fixed on the outside again, at the falling snow...the cloudy sky. It was a Saturday, and nobody was outside. Harry was staring attentively at the sky, willing it to be dusk. Harry heard people coming up into the common room...so Dinner in the Great Hall must've been finished. Lots of people entered all at once, bidding each other good night and gently brushing kisses across the cheeks of their loved ones.

Harry felt all alone in the small world. His only godfather had died two years ago, because of Harry's stupidity. Hermione was dating Ron, and both were always 'busy' with each other. Neville was dating Ginny Weasley (much to Harry's surprise) and Luna Lovegood's family was attacked by Lord Voldemort's Death Eaters over the past summer, and everyone in the house at the time was murdered...including Luna. All of Harry's friends were busy with their own lives. The only comfort he found was visiting Dumbledore or McGonagall, but neither had much comfort for him these days.

"Goodnight Harry, I'm going to bed..." He heard Hermione's voice yawn.

"Yeah, me too mate. I'm bloody tired..." Ron said aloud, as if recited.

Harry focused hard on the billowing snow outside, tracing for signs of a cease in the billowing storm. But, Harry surrendered at last. He wouldn't be able to mount his broom and set out to Hogsmeade...not in the blizzard.

He looked up just in time to see Ron sneaking up the stairs to the Head Boy's Dormitory, grasping Hermione's hand as she followed silently in his wake. He turned away quickly so Ron wouldn't know he saw where they were headed off to do. He sighed, and pushed his chair in and stumbled up the stairs to the boys' dormitories, knowing that as he got into bed, his two best friends were feeling pleasure while he felt sorrow for his godfather.