Miss Brightside

Chapter 5

"Yep! Never again," Addi agreed with a smile, rubbing her bandages arm gently. Harry wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"Now, who's hungry? It's time for lunch," Addi exclaimed and the common room cheered.

Snape watched in dismay as a stampede of Gryfindors tumbled into the Great Hall.

~~~

"Was it terribly scary, Draco?" Pansy Parkinson's whiny voice filled the air. Ron scoffed as the four listened from the table next to them.

"Terribly." Draco replied dryly, looking at his fingernails in boredom. 

"Lucky that filthy half-blood stepped in front of you. Better her than you," Pansy spat when mentioning Addi. Draco put a steely gaze on the pug-faced girl.

"Quiet, Pansy. Nobody deserves what happened to Addi," Pansy made a whimpering noise, turning her face to avoid the blond's glare. 

One table over, the four gryfindors listened with wide eyes. Addi unconsciously rubbed her bandaged arm; that was the exact reason Addi took the injury in the first place. Harry noticed the unfocused look upon his friend's face and intertwined their fingers under the table, giving the smaller hand a squeeze. Addi smiled gratefully at her best friend, squeezing his hand back before continuing to eat her lunch. 

"At least Hagrid didn't get sacked," Harry spoke first. Ron nodded absentmindedly, watching as Addi began to scratch at her bandages. The red-head reached across the table and gently smacked her hand away from her injury, "Don't scratch, you'll make it worse." 

Addi pouted before turning away from him with a hmph. Hermione leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice, " Yes, but I hear Draco's father's furious. I don't think we've heard the end of this." 

Ron scoffed, eyes wide in disbelief. "Nothing even bloody happened to his son. What does he have to be mad about?" 

His question went unanswered as Seamus burst into the Great Hall screaming 'He's been sighted, he's been sighted'. Getting closer to where most of the Gryffindors were, the boy threw down a copy of the Daily Prophet, the others crowding around it hurriedly.  

"Who?" Ron asked before catching sight of the notorious Sirius Black on the front page. Immediately whispers broke out among the students. Addi scratched at her arm nervously until someone smacked her hand away again.  Looking away from the paper on the table, Addi looked up to see Ron pointing a scolding finger at her. Shrugging, she looked back at the paper with racing thoughts.

"Dufftown? That's not far from here,"  Hermione exclaimed, looking back at Addi in worry. Addi watched as Harry become progressively tense and reached out to run a hand through his hair. Harry sighed slightly as his the tension in his shoulders seemed to melt away, but only for a second.

"You don't think he'd come to Hogwarts, do you?" Neville innocently asked, looking over his friends for comfort. 

"With the Dementors at every entrance?" 

"Dementors? He's already slipped by them once, hasn't he? Who's to say he can't do it again?" Lavender spoke causing Harry to tense again; even Addi couldn't help this time. 

"That's right," A boy named Bem began," Black could be anywhere. Its like trying to catch smoke.  Like trying to catch smoke with your bare hands." Addi grimaced while patting Harry on the shoulder. 

"Thanks, Bem! Couldn't have kept that to yourself?" Addi muttered sarcastically under her breath. The Tyler girl told Harry that she had to go before quickly jogging out of the great hall. Harry watched her go, before following after her. 

He caught up to her near the portrait hole, she was looking at the ground and scratching her injured arm.

"You know, you really shouldn't scratch. It won't heal if you do," His voice caused the blonde girl to jump in fright and spin around to face him.

"Harry James Potter! Never do that again," She warned while glaring at him, hand placed dramatically over her heart. Harry laughed brightly, sauntering over and wrapping an arm around her. 

"Addison Lyra Tyler! Never do that again," Harry mocked while pointing at her injury. Obviously he meant not to scratch anymore. Addi giggled, muttering the password and watching as the portrait swung open. Harry led her into the common room and plopped them both onto the sofa, watching as the fire crackled. "So why'd you run out?" 

Addi glance at the boy next to her briefly before directing her gaze back on the fire. "I'm not really sure if I'm being completely honest. Everyone was talking over each other, and whatnot. I guess it just became to much for me." 

Harry nodded before switching his position; his head now laying in her lap and his legs up on the cushions. Addi absently ran her hand through his unruly hair while they conversed. This was normal for them. Whenever Ron and Hermione would argue, Harry and Addi would sit like this and wait for them to solve it for themselves. Occasionally, the pair would do this when either were upset or angry. It made them both feel better, and for the first time in Harry's life he felt unburdened. This is why Addi was one of his best friends; she made his life easier and refreshing.  Something Harry desperately needed in his life.

"Ready for Lupin's lesson?" Addi asked. Harry let one eye open as he looked up at her. 

"Is it already time for his lesson?" He asked in surprise. He could of sworn that it had only been ten minutes since they began talking. 

Addi nodded,"Yeah, we have like fifteen minutes till class starts."

"Oh! Well that's plenty of time," Harry replied before closing his eye again. Addi laughed, standing up and watching as Harry tumbled from the sofa. 

"Time for lessons, Harry," Addi smirked.

Harry groaned from the floor.