Chapter 19

Showoff

Miles was worried. They all were. Harry hadn't joined them through the barrier in Kings Cross Station, and for whatever reason Lily and James couldn't go through the other side for a good five minutes. 

He'd gone on the train, hastily exchanging goodbyes with his parents and the Weasleys, as the latter attempted to comfort the Potters. The train ride was spent with his friends consoling him once they found out what was happening. With the exception of Draco, who considered admitting he was worried about Harry to be nothing less, or for that matter, worse than torture.

They made it to the grounds and were taken by the thestral-drawn carriages up to the castle. Miles had never seen them, but Sirius had informed them they were there and had given a description of the creatures, which Remus used to create a sketch to give Miles a better idea of what they looked like. 

They entered the Great Hall, and watched the Sorting, as the nerve-wracked first-years stepped up to be sorted into their respective houses. Slytherin welcomed the new additions to the house, and their group made room for the new additions at the end of the table. 

He scanned the hall now, searching fruitlessly for Harry, hoping that perhaps by some fluke he'd made it onto the train after all and that he just couldn't spot him among the throng at the Gryffindor table. He looked at the entrance, hoping that his brother would walk in at any moment, claiming to have been held up for a short while. 

But Harry didn't arrive. Worried, he waited until the feast was over before making his way to the head table as Professor McGonagall was leaving. She'd come to the feast late as well, as had Dumbledore and Snape. He hoped that was because they'd found Harry, and perhaps that his brother just hadn't been able to make it to the feast. 

"Professor, a word please?"

"Mr. Potter, I was expecting you," she said, amused. "Your brother is well."

"That's a relief," he said. "What held him up?"

"That's a matter I believe you should discuss with him. Now, I must speak with Professor Dumbledore. Off you go."

And he did, wondering when he'd be able to ask Harry what had happened. 

★

Miles went down to the dungeons and made his way to the suite. Upon opening the door, he was greeted with a very agitated Draco.

"Of course, Potter had to show off!" he said, pacing around the room. 

Theo and Blaise were sat in armchairs, doing their homework, though occasionally glancing up to watch Draco's antics. 

"What's going on here?" Miles asked, unsure if he really wanted to know the answer. 

Draco pointed at him accusingly. "Your brother that's what!"

"What did he do?"

"He came to school in a bloody flying car!"

Miles just stood there in shock. He glanced at Blaise, hoping the other boy would indicate that Draco was exaggerating the situation. Granted, he wasn't sure what kind of situation could be exaggerated to that extent. Blaise nodded, affirming his suspicions. It was true.

"Is he okay?!"

"Of course he is!" 

Miles made his way across the room and sank into his own armchair. "What's all the fuss about then?"

Draco huffed, then sat down defeatedly on the armrest. "I dunno."

"If I didn't know better Dray, I'd say you were jealous."

Draco whipped around, and Miles had to give Blaise credit for not backing down from the glare sent in his direction. "I. Am. Not. Jealous. Of. Potter." He spat the name and Miles had to remind himself that Draco wasn't talking about him. However, he was talking about Harry.

"Watch it, that's my brother you're talking about."

Draco sighed again. "Right, sorry."

"It's getting late, why don't we call it a night?" Theo suggested tentatively. 

"Great idea!" Blaise stood up and disappeared into his room without another word. The rest followed suit. 

☆

Harry woke up the next morning, happy and relieved to put last night's events behind him. Ron however, couldn't be any different. He stopped at the entrance to the Great Hall, and very nearly went back in the other direction.

"What's the matter with you?" he asked.

"I just know Mum's gonna send something horrible in the post."

Harry laughed. "The most she'll send is a letter."

The expression Ron gave him was so haunted that Harry immediately stopped. "You don't know?"

"About what?"

"Howlers."

It was Harry's turn to send Ron a horrified expression. "You don't mean she'd actually send one!"

Ron nodded gravely. "I wouldn't put it past her."

With that, they both cautiously entered the hall and tried to ignore the immediate murmur and glances toward them as they made their way to the Gryffindor table. Harry saw Snape glaring at him from the head table, no doubt still sour from the night before. The Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were staring at the two of them in curiosity, probably wondering what had gotten into the two.

The Slytherins were making no attempt to hide their hostility, but the fiercest glare came from Draco Malfoy, who was sitting next to Miles. Harry made eye contact with his brother and wasn't sure what emotion was playing across the features that were so similar to his own. The rest of their friends were looking at them in amusement, and while Harry didn't appreciate it, it was better than the glares he supposed.

The Gryffindors greeted them enthusiastically when they sat down at the table. Fred and George took it upon themselves to personally congratulate them, and Harry had never seen Ron look more proud. It wasn't every day he was given compliments by his brothers. 

Not every Gryffindor shared the sentiment though. Percy came up to the two and told Ron he was very disappointed in him and forbade him from ever doing anything of the sort again. Hermione had come up to them and had begun to start on a lecture of her own before Harry cut her off. 

"We know Hermione. We won't do it again."

"I should hope not," she replied, and all was forgotten as they talked about their summers. 

They had their breakfast, and Harry was once more torn as to whose food he liked better. Lily's or the house elves. Halfway through, the post began to arrive. 

Ron groaned and attempted to hide beneath the table. Harry had to pull him up by his robes. "It'll be fine mate."

Still looking haunted, the red-haired boy reluctantly got out from underneath the table and was just starting to enjoy his breakfast when a large gray bundle fell into Hermione's jug of milk.

"Errol!" Ron lunged for the owl and Harry helped him drag the bedraggled creature out of the jug, where he collapsed in a bundle of wet feathers. "Oh, no-" Ron gasped.

"Don't worry Ron, he's still alive," Hermione said, poking the owl gently.

"It's not that- it's that." With a trembling finger, Ron pointed at the slightly damp envelope Errol had clutched in his slack beak.

"A Howler," Harry breathed. 

Neville spoke up. "You'd better open it, Ron. It gets worse if you don't." He continued about an incident where his grandmother had sent him one, but by that time Harry wasn't listening.

Ron had reached for the envelope, prying it lightly out of Errol's beak, and slit it open. Neville stuffed his fingers, and Harry realized too late that he ought to have done the same. A roar filled the hall as the chatter died down to be replaced with stunned silence in the wake of Mrs. Weasley's fury.

"-STEALING THE CAR, I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SURPRISED IF THEY'D EXPELLED YOU, YOU WAIT TILL I GET A HOLD OF YOU, I DON'T SUPPOSE YOU STOPPED TO THINK WHAT YOUR FATHER AND I WENT THROUGH WHEN WE SAW IT WAS GONE-"

Ron, face as red as his hair, sank underneath the table once more. Harry made no attempt to pull him back up this time, half-ready to do the same himself. 

"-LETTER FROM DUMBLEDORE LAST NIGHT, I THOUGHTYOUR FATHER WOULD DIE OF SHAME, WE DIDN'T BRINGYOU UP TO BEHAVE LIKE THIS, YOU AND HARRY COULDBOTH HAVE DIED-"

He'd wondered when his name was going to crop up. He looked at his trainers, which had never seemed more interesting as an amused murmur started up in the hall.

"-ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED—YOUR FATHER'S FACING ANINQUIRY AT WORK, IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT AND IFYOU PUT ANOTHER TOE OUT OF LINE WE'LL BRING YOUSTRAIGHT BACK HOME!"

And with that, the envelope dropped from Ron's hands and burst into flames upon touching the floor, curling into ashes. 

Harry and Ron sat in a stunned and horrified silence as laughter rang in the hall, before dissipating and being replaced with the usual chatter. Guilt like nothing he'd felt before rushed through him. They could have waited at the station, but no, they just had to be there at Hogwarts for the feast that they hadn't been able to attend anyway. 

Now Mr. Weasley was facing an inquiry at work, Mr. Weasley who worked so hard every day for the family and had been nothing but kind to Harry when he came over. He couldn't even imagine the embarrassment James and Lily must have been feeling over this latest escapade, and was rather surprised he hadn't gotten a Howler himself. It was more than he deserved. 

The worst part of that morning, however, was revealed when he allowed his attention to wander over to the Slytherin table. There was Draco Malfoy, doing an impersonation of him or Ron listening to the Howler, though dramatizing it quite a bit. All of his friends, or cronies as Harry thought of them, were laughing. What he hadn't expected to see was Miles among the group, laughing with the rest of them. Laughing at him. 

A/N: Hello all, I know this is a bit late but it's here at last. Hoping to have the next chapter out by next week but I can't guarantee anything at the moment with school being as hectic as it is. That said, I'd like to thank everyone who brought this fic to 1.8k reads. Every vote, every comment, and addition to your reading lists has brought us to this point, and I am very grateful. I wouldn't have the motivation to write without your support, so thank you all again. Have a good day/night!

- Max