The Truth Is Things Change

Hi everyone! Shiny-Chan is back in action! My beloved laptop is back from being repaired and now it’s better than ever! I’m still only going to be updating once or twice a week but I don’t have to go to the library to do it anymore! These storms the past few days have been a doozy haven’t they? I own a weather alert system with a really loud annoying alarm and it kept me up all night last night. It’s like a super evil version of a normal alarm clock with an irritating automated voice. Oh well. I’m done ranting. Time for review responses!

Angela: Yay I have a new reviewer! This makes me so happy that you like my story this much! Please keep reading!

Paigeey07: Yay I get another review from you!*happy dance*

Thrnbrooke: You are correct! You win . . . nothing I’m afraid. But all’s good cause I think you’ll love this chapter.

Silversong: I will try to email you but please forgive me if I forget sometimes. Thanks for your compliments. I truly got WAFF from that!

Celestialuna: Don’t worry! Things will get better for Harry eventually! You’ll just have to keep reading to see how things turn out, yes?

Anywhos time for the third installment of this cool story!

XD- Shiny-



Harry ran upstairs from the Great Hall straight to Gryffindor Tower. He scaled the stairs several at a time and when he reached his bedroom, dove deep into the bedcovers. He closed the hanging curtains around the bed, hoping for some much needed privacy, and closed his eyes to think. Harry still didn’t get why Draco, and now the other two Slytherins, Blaise and Pansy, wanted to be friends with him. The words he had heard all his life from his relatives this summer were cemented into his mind and were refusing to leave no matter how Harry wished them to. He could still hear the echoes of his uncle’s coarse and callous voice as he had said, “You are so worthless freak! Look at you! Abandoned here by your no-good parents because they were killed by a freak like you.”

The words ‘worthless freak’ reverberated inside his head until the tear dams broke and they rolled down his face to soak into his pillow. The bed almost shook with the force of his sobs even as Harry begged silently to whoever was listening to be proven wrong. To be told that he was not a worthless freak. But the room was empty aside from himself, and no one told him what he desperately needed to hear. The room grew dark as the last of the sunlight slipped over the horizon, and he heard heavy footsteps approaching the room. The door slowly creaked open and Ron Weasley entered the dark room and lit all the lanterns.

“Harry?” Harry ignored him and turned to face the opposite way. Ron jerked the curtains around Harry’s bed open.

“Come off it Harry! I know you’re not asleep yet.” Harry didn’t move, but his sobs ceased as he responded.

“What do you want?” Ron wasted no time in beginning the inquisition.

“Why did you sit with those bastards? Me and Hermione were right there!” Harry still did not look in his direction.

“I went because they invited me, Ron, not that it’s any of your business.” Ron’s volume increased at least thirty decibels and Harry winced.

“They could have cursed or poisoned you! You should never trust a Slytherin Harry, they’re all evil backstabbing losers!”

“Are they really.”

“Yeah Harry! You know that!” Harry wiped the tears from his eyes and turned to face Ron, glaring at the stubborn imbecile before him.

“All I know is that my ‘supposed’ best friend is now insulting people who have been nothing but nice to me since I really met them today. They want to be my friends and I want to be theirs.”

“But Harry, they’re Slytherins!”

“The only reason I wasn’t sorted to Slytherin was because you had already poisoned my ideas about them. So I begged the hat to put me in any other house. I wonder if I would have been friends with them if I had listened to the hat and not your prejudice? It really doesn’t matter because I can be friends with whomever I want, whether you like it or not!” Ron grabbed Harry’s arm to drag him closer and Harry’s glare narrowed and made Ron shiver in apprehension.

“Do not touch me!” Harry shrieked and Ron let go as his face reddened in anger.

“Fine!” He spat, “You can be friends with those Slytherins, but count me out! I don’t associate with anyone who likes Slytherins! “ Ron stomped to the door and flung it open.

“Let me know when you come to your senses.” He sneered, and slammed the door shut behind him. Harry seethed with barely concealed anger as he fought the urge to punch the headboard to smithereens. He didn’t care if Ron was his (ex) best friend or not, no one insults his friends and gets away with it. Harry rose from the bed and went over to the desk where he pulled a piece of parchment and a quill from a drawer. He begun the letter furiously, almost going through the paper he was writing so hard.

Dear Gred and Forge (my partners in crime),

It had come to my attention when I arrived at Hogwarts that someone here is badly in need of humiliation. Naturally the first to enlist for help would be you two. I was wondering if you two had any products that needed testing, preferably something public oriented, semi-permanent, and highly humiliating. The person it is for insulted some of my friends and I won’t let anyone get away with that. Let me know if you have something that sounds perfect, or just send it with instructions.

Thanks from your #1 investor,

H.J. Potter



Harry signed his name with a flourish and folded the note. He was tying it to Hedwig’s leg just as the door to the room creaked open once again.

“Ron, if you’re here to say something about the Slytherins again, you can just leave!” There was a slight pause before a tentative voice broke the silence.

“Harry, it’s Hermione.” Harry glowered dourly.

“Here to tell me I can’t make proper friends too?” Hermione sat on the bed nearest to Harry and faced him.

“Actually, I’m here to congratulate you. If you like them enough to befriend them then go for it!” Harry looked at her incredulously, surprised he wasn’t hearing a lecture from her too.

“Don’t look so surprised Harry. I have actually been friends with Blaise Zabini since fourth year. I never told you two because you were set on hating all Slytherins.

“Blaise is really nice, but kind of strange isn’t he?” Hermione snorted.

“I’ll say and then some. But his strange personality makes him interesting. I’ve been trying to get Ron to believe that Slytherins are people too but he just won’t go for it.” Harry nodded at her and sat beside her on the bed as his anger faded. The silence lengthened awkwardly before Hermione broke it.

“How did you become friends with Draco Malfoy anyway? Ron wouldn’t let me hear the end of it at dinner and he just got louder after you went to sit at their table.” Hermione rolled her eyes sarcastically and Harry hung his head sheepishly.

“I’m really sorry you had to deal with that. He’s like a crocodile that never lets go once it has bitten. Anyway, Draco was nice to me on the train. I never would have been opposed to being his friend in first year if he hadn’t been an arrogant prat. He’s a lot more understanding than Ron any day.” Hermione flopped backwards on the bed so she was lying on her back and she looked up at the darkened ceiling.

“Harry, I remember you wanted to tell me something at the end of last year, but with the debacle at the ministry with Sirius dying and you killing Bellatrix and Voldemort in revenge, I don’t think you ever got to tell me. Are you ready to talk about it now?” Harry lay down on the bed too and faced her, supporting himself on his elbows.

“It was hard to even think about telling anyone, but I figured that you would be the easiest person to tell. Hermione, I, I’m gay.” He closed his eyes, waiting for her reaction and was surprised when she hugged him tightly.

“I’m so glad you finally admitted it Harry!” Hermione squealed in happiness. Harry looked at Hermione warily at her uncharacteristic display of girlishness.

“Are you saying you knew that already?”

“Come on Harry. It was obvious if you think about it. You’ve only had a crush on one girl and she was kind of masculine with all the quiddich muscles. Plus you were always more into the al male activities. The only times I’ve really seen you be truly passionate is when you were fighting with Draco. Again, it was really obvious. Now, do you fancy Draco?” Harry flushed and turned his head indignantly.

“How do you get that idea Hermione?! We only just became friends today!”

“Well, you’re more passionate when you’re around him and you always looked oddly happy when fighting him.” Harry snorted and crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head.

“Now I know you’re delusional!” Hermione shrugged and swung herself off of the bed and face Harry, who was still on the bed.

“You can think whatever you want Harry, but I’m only telling you what I’ve observed the past five years.” Harry scowled and got up too.

“You really don’t have a problem with me being gay?”

“Nope!” Harry smiled his first real smile in six months as part of a huge burden lifted from is heart.

“Thanks ‘Mione! Now go away, I need a shower.”

“HJ you insolent little!” Hermione was cut off by a shove in the door’s direction and a low pitched snicker. The door closed in her face but she still smiled, knowing that she was the first to get a glimpse of his true smile since Sirius’ passing. Hermione began to hum happily.