Chapter Six: Unknown shadows and potions

Groaning, Harry slumped over the table as he muttered the ingredients needed for a potion which name he couldn't remember. Merlin knows what happened to his memories today-but then again it wasn't as if he had a strong one either.

"Harry, you've been stuck on that page for ages." Hermione sighed, ignoring the glares sent to their way by the librarian.

Harry rolled his eyes as he eyed Ron who was drooling on the table. Hermione wrinkled her nose in disgust and smacked his head.

"Ow-Hermione, what was that for-" Harry put up his hand. "Before the two of you gets into a fight and get us kick out for the umpteenth time, I'll go out for a walk."

"But wait, mate, why are you studying Potions anyway? I heard the new professor just came yesterday and classes haven't even started yet." Ron asked, the last of his sleepiness finally fading.

He forced a shrug and said, "Who knows."

.......

Walking down the hallways, Harry felt the guilt worming into his heart all over again. The times when he had whispered behind the Potion Master's back about all the bad things he had said to him, the contempt in Snape's eyes that used to make his brim with fury.

But what he didn't saw was him, always alone even among the other professors, silently enduring the harsh burden that was placed on him. He never saw any of it, for he hide it so well that no one could see it.

But when Harry saw it, it was already too late.

They knew about him, Harry Potter, the boy who lived, savior of the wizarding world. Yet who knew of one person whom saved them all? No one, except for Harry and Dumbledore.

He was the true hero, a better hero and savior than Harry could ever be.

But instead, he was never acknowledge.

His footsteps stopping, he stared in shock at the place in front of him. Unknowingly, he had walked towards the one place he keep running from, the place where he could still remembered the warm smile on the Headmaster's face as Fawkes looked at him knowingly with wise eyes.

All he had to do was said the password that hasn't change since the end of the Great War.

Time ticked by. He longed for the kindness that the Headmaster has given him, yet he was unable to face eve his portrait as he was reminded of his shame. His scars burned as if they were blighted, the horrid truth taunting him closer to the demons within him.

His footsteps never sounded. He was like the presence of a ghost, silently vanishing from the place he once stood, unnoticed.

He was a coward, a selfish coward who thought of nothing but himself.

The silent calmed the ablazed tempest in him, drawing him further into his grief, banishing the hold he had on himself. Yet he would not fall, not yet, for no matter how easy it would be for him to descend, how much the want was fueled in him, he held himself back with a strength that he didn't know he had. Perhaps there was still a light out there that he had sensed, for he found himself unable to forget his life now.

"Do you think phoenix can reincarnate, Harry?" A hypnotic voice sounded in his ears as he glanced at his side to see Luna. The wand that was in his hand was silently returned to his robes.

"It was written in the book, Luna." He said, wondering what she was about to say. It was commonly known that she sprouted nonsense of creatures that were never heard of, much less existed, yet her bright blue eyes and the smile she always had on her face made him wondered if she knew something they don't.

"The book says that the phoenix is reborn with its body anew, but what about the soul?" Her eyes seemed to pierce into his conscious.

She continued. "The phoenix is reborn with a pure mind and heart, reviving the flames that only the purest could harness. The process was excruciating, but they were able to bear it."

"Its not easy to burn away the unpure."

His face was emotionless, unreadable as he gazed levelly at her. "I'm sorry to say that I am not one."

She smiled again, her teeth flashing under the light as she skipped away. "I never said you are, Harry. Just that you can be reborn like one."

Her words echoing in the narrow path, she disappeared like a gentle breeze of wind.

........

"Good morning class, my name is Professor Sindial and I will be your potions teacher for the rest of the year." Said the tall, lean man coolly. Unlike Snape who despise everything, it was as if this man viewed everything plain with a slight distaste.

Harry sighed as he continued. "In my class, what I said must be followed. I do not tolerate rudeness or any such behavior, and suitable punishment will be given if you were to break the rules."

He flicked his eyes to the parchment he was holding. "You will be separate into partners until the rest of the year." He paused dramatically. "Chosen by me." Groans immediately sounded as the whispers got louder.

"Parkingson, Zabini."

"Wealey, Lovegood."

"Granger, Longbottom."

The list went on and on as Harry drifted of in his own world when he heard his name being called.

"Potter, Malfoy."

Whispers became full blown yelps of surprise and gasps. Hermione looked at the professor as if he just went mad. Did he not know of the rumors that had been going on?

"But professor-" Ron protested.

"5 points from Gryffindor for arguing against me" Ron glared at him but said nothing.

"What are you waiting for, Mr.Potter? Go to your place so I can continue my lesson."

Harry glanced at Draco who had an unreadable face on him. His blond-white hair made him wondered how it would feel like to touch it-

Picking his things up, he silently took his place beside the Malfoy, close enough to speak yet far enough that the distance between them was reminded like a gaping hole beckoning them.

If it was before, perhaps he would have fought back recklessly like he used to without a second thought. But now, he was tired, too tired to even say anything. If the whole world was determined to go against him, he doubt he had the strength to do anything.

"Your first assignment will begin with a potion. You are to create one that you had never seen before in the time you are in Hogwarts as long as it is within the rules." He found his way to the door and exited with the swish of his robes.

"I want it by the end of this month. Class dismissed."

Without a word, Draco gathered his things and went out, leaving Harry to stare at him silently.

It looks like the project won't be happening soon enough if the two of them couldn't talk to each other.

...........
Took me quite a while but its done! :)

Thank you so much for 100+ reads! (Yeah its nothing that major but I'm still happy that there's people out there who are willing to read my books <3)

Yes I know, I missed last week's update. Like I said, my schedule is hectic and cmon, I don't even update every Friday like I said in the book (more like every Saturday but meh)

So that's all for now, and please like always, vote, comment and spread the word about Tainted Frost!

S'long!