Third Place - Angst

"What have you been doing?"

Harry awoke to the snarled question and his cocoon being ripped away from him. Harry scrambled to hold onto it and was forced into a sitting position, facing an obviously unhappy potions master.

Snape looked about the room and then sniffed disdainfully at the blanket in his fist. Black eyes looked up and pierced a still sleep befuddled Harry.

"Where did you get this, Potter?"

Harry scowled. "Well, I didn't steal it!"

"Oh, and somehow you acquired the taste and immediate funds and the ability to make a trip to Diagon Alley for this little purchase?"

"No, it was a gift!"

Snape's brow rose as he clearly disbelieved him. "A gift? And whom, pray tell, gifted you with this?"

Harry stumbled for a moment. "I'm not sure."

"Mm hmm," Snape murmured through pursed lips. "Something recalls to mind that this blanket looks amazingly like a certain blanket on Mr. Malfoy's bed." Snape began tugging on it and Harry was rolled off and onto his original covers. "This will be returned. And you will then open your trunk and show me the other hiding places you have."

Harry desperately held onto the corner of velvet he was able to grasp. "No! This is mine! I haven't stolen it or anything else!" He yanked hard and soon Professor and student were in a tug of war.

"Children, children, must we fight over our toys?" came a silky drawl. Harry looked up from his exertions and saw Logan take up his usual lounging stance in the doorway. "Severus, if you wish to play, I would be happy to accommodate you."

"Go away, Logan. This does not concern you," Snape said as he viscously ripped the material out of Harry's hands. Harry clambered off the bed after Snape as he disappeared out into the main room. Harry didn't even pause when he saw Lydia watching in bemusement from an overstuffed armchair. He lunged at Snape again and grabbed hold of his gift but was quickly pushed away and fell onto the sofa. Harry stood up and yelled.

"It's mine! You have no right to take it from me!" Harry fought back the tears that had sprung to his eyes.

"My goodness, such a commotion," Lydia said. "Why are you stripping the boy's bed, Severus? Surely he would have made it if you asked?" Logan chuckled from where he was still lounging in the doorway.

"The boy has obviously stolen this."

"I haven't! It was a gift!" Harry insisted, pleading his case to the woman. "It was just given to me yesterday!"

"Yes, but you are unsure by whom," Snape snapped.

"A secret admirer, perhaps," Logan drawled.

"Or, perhaps, not so secret and that is what has Severus so displeased," Lydia commented.

"Again, I say this has nothing to do with either of you," Snape seethed. "The blanket will be returned and that is the end of it."

"No, it's not!" Harry yelled, coming up to face Snape. "You are the one who is stealing! Give it back!"

"Perhaps," Lydia said as Snape appeared about to respond to the accusation, "you could tell us if you have any proof that it was a gift."

Harry glared into Snape's face and spoke in a nasty voice. "Of course. First, Ron was there when I got it. Second, Blaise Zabini gave it to me for somebody else and third, I still have the box it came in!"

"Oh dear, does appear he has you, Sev," Logan drawled. "But as he is half naked, I'd say that he was attempting perverted things and he should still have the item taken away from him!" The man smirked at Harry's glare.

"You shut up, you dumb whore!" Harry yelled, embarrassed at being reminded of standing there without a shirt and of what he had been doing the previous night. Writhing on a blanket wasn't perverted, was it?

Logan's eyes narrowed and a hard glint shone from them as he straightened up from his position. "How dare you," he seethed. "How dare you call me such?"

"Well, isn't that what you are?" Harry attacked. "I mean, you hardly seem qualified for much else. In fact, I doubt you can do anything other than lie on your back prettily and take it-,"

"Severus, stop this," Lydia called out. She rose from her chair in concern as Logan stalked closer to the lone Gryffindor.

"And you, little boy, are hardly anything more! I doubt you have ever gotten off your knees!"

"Logan, enough," Severus said harshly. The enraged man did not even pause or glance up from his quarry. Harry firmly stood his ground, glad that he could finally take on someone who would have no natural deterrents.

"Well, at least I don't have to go to the one with the most galleons. Oh, I'm sorry. I guess you're not good enough for an actual whole galleon," Harry sneered. He went to take a step forward but was held back by a hand on his bare shoulder. Harry immediately felt calmer and the rage began melting away.

Logan's wand hand was grabbed by Lydia and held down. Harry hadn't even seen him palm the thin length of wood.

"Enough, both of you." Lydia looked between them. "This is ridiculous. Severus, give the child back his blanket. Logan, stop antagonizing. Harry is obviously distressed." She turned back to Harry. "And, Harry, Logan and I are not whores."

Harry's eyes widened at what he had unintentionally implied. "Oh, no, ma'am, I didn't-,"

"Of course not," she said with a smile. "But, I assure you that we are here, with Severus, for more reasons then you think. I understand that his reputation lends to the belief that he would need to pay for his pleasure," again Harry winced at what he had unintentionally implied and was afraid to look back at the potions master, "but that is truly not the case and certainly not something for you to know. So, we shall all calm down and perhaps finish our tea?"

Logan shot off one last glare at Harry, pulled his hand away and stalked off to a corner. Harry ignored him and bravely turned around. Snape was not happy. But at least there were no silver streaks and Harry didn't feel the need to grovel, so he took that as a good sign.

"I'm sorry, sir. But it is my blanket. I swear that I did not steal it. I think that Draco gave it to me, but I'm not sure." Harry's voice had been as reverent and respectful as possible. He really wanted to keep the thing and couldn't imagine Snape destroying it.

Dark eyes were narrowed on him but finally Snape gave a long-suffering sigh and thrust the blanket at him.

"I hope you know what you are allowing by accepting this," he said. Harry gathered up the velvet and held it in his arms.

"I just really want this." He looked up at Snape in question. "Do you think that I shouldn't keep it if it's from Draco?"

"It is your life, Potter. Isn't that what you are continually whining about? If you want the odoriferous thing then have it, but know that it may mean much more than a cozy sleep." Snape pushed past him and grabbed his cloak from where Lydia was holding it out. "Come, we have an engagement, do we not?"

Snape held the chamber door open and Logan glared at Harry before stalking through it. Lydia followed but caressed Harry's cheek when she stopped in front of him.

"Have a good day, Harry," she said kindly. The door shut and Harry was left alone.

"Morning, Harry," Ron called. Harry waved and walked to the empty Gryffindor table. Hermione, Ron and a third year were the only ones there. He brushed the bit of hair that was still wet from his shower off his neck and finally made it to his friends.

Harry sat down and started filling his plate. Suddenly, there was a tugging at his sleeve. Harry looked up and found a first year Slytherin, named Gloria if he remembered correctly.

"I was told to give you this, Harry," she said. In her arms was a large basket filled with fruit, chocolate, and bottles of very expensive flavored drinks. Harry knew they were expensive because Draco had bought him one once at the Three Broomsticks. Harry had loved it but Draco had told him he wasn't going to buy another because then it would cut into his clothing money. Now, in this basket, there must have been a half dozen in a myriad of flavors along with other delicious looking edibles.

"He doesn't want it. Take it back," Hermione ordered.

"Yes, he does. Leave it here," Ron countered.

"Ron, he doesn't need any of that."

"No, but that's the point of fun gifts, isn't it? It's stuff you don't need but want."

"Ron," Hermione said exasperatedly. She launched into an argument but Harry turned back to the girl and tuned it out.

"Who's it from?" he asked in a whisper.

"Can't say," the girl whispered back. Then she grinned. "But you know who." Harry smiled, thanked the girl and took the basket.

"Hermione, I think you have gone round the bend on this," Ron was saying. "Okay, we all agree that Draco took things too far."

"Too far! Yes, I should say! About two flights too far!"

"Alright! But if he's trying to make it up to Harry, why can't you let him?"

"Paltry gifts are not enough to earn forgiveness," Hermione said nastily.

"Paltry? Getting magic hating muggles in here to kiss Harry's arse is paltry?" Ron said in disbelief.

"One gesture and a bucket of fruit-,"

"An extremely large basket filled with extremely expensive and hard to find fruit at this time of year and about thirty galleons worth of Fruit Fizz Fillers," Ron elaborated.

"Whatever! It is merely a Malfoy throwing about his wealth in an attempt to impress."

"Or beg for forgiveness!"

"Well, this hardly makes up for almost killing him, does it?"

"Fine, then. What will?"

"Nothing!"

"Exactly," Ron said softly causing Hermione to blink in surprise. "Hermione, there is nothing that Malfoy can do in your eyes that will ever redeem him for scaring you so badly."

"This isn't about me!" she replied hotly.

"Yeah? Well, it was Harry that got chucked, it was Harry that had to bow and scrape and live with the bloke. And I think Harry should be the one to decide what will earn back his forgiveness." Ron's voice was quiet as he explained.

"If it weren't for us, he'd have gotten right out of that hospital bed and gone back to him!"

"You're right." Ron nodded. "And as his friends we got him to safety and allowed things to cool down and for everyone to think."

"Ron, Malfoy is dangerous!"

"Yeah, well, so is Harry," Ron pointed out.

"But not against Malfoy." Hermione turned to Harry who was surprised they even remembered he was here. "Harry, you have no defenses against him. I know you are not shallow enough to be bribed by gifts like this!"

"Hermione, I know you have my best interest at heart-,"

"Look what you have done," Hermione accused as she turned back to Ron. "You've made him question his decision."

"No I haven't! If you'd have opened your narrow eyes, you'd have seen that Harry has been unhappy for some time!"

Hermione returned with another argument, but Harry decided he had heard enough. His friends didn't even see him as he grabbed his basket and walked out of the Great Hall. Harry decided to treat himself to a nice picnic in one of the greenhouses. That way he could look out at the snow but be warm and protected from the elements. Hmm, or he could share his bounty with Hagrid. Yes, that sounded more enjoyable.

Walking out past the Main doors, Harry made his way down the trail to Hagrid's hut. He was glad he could finally share something nice with his friend. He also hoped that Ron would finally figure out that arguing with Hermione would be a fruitless battle. He loved her dearly and he understood what she was trying to do. But he was starting to believe that Ron was right in this one and it was Harry who would need to figure out what he wanted.

"Somebody? Please..."

Harry stopped and listened. Everything was quiet in the blanketed world. He could have sworn he heard...

"Please... I need help... My leg...."

Harry turned towards the sound. He knew he had heard someone! Somebody, sounded like a first year, was hurt somewhere. Harry started toward where he had heard the sound. He could hear weeping as he neared the Forbidden Forest's edge.

"Hello?" he called out.

"Oh thank you," the voice called back faintly. "My leg, it's stuck. Please can you help me? Please!"

Harry stared into the dark foliage and with that last whimper dropped his basket and trudge through into the underbrush.

Indago - Chapter 52

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