Chapter Text
“Harry, you still writing to your brother?”
A low voice pulled the teenager’s focus away from his study desk. Ignoring the parchment filled with ink for a moment, he turned to see one of his dorm mates, who had been watching quietly, Gideon Prewett. With a small smile, Harry said, “Just have to write the address. Can I leave it with you? I need to teach the new Quidditch team after this.”
“Sure, just leave it on the table.”
“Thanks, Gideon, you’re the best.”
The young man chuckled softly in reply. Then he headed to the bathroom, leaving Harry alone, who was now panicking as he searched for his pile of empty envelopes. He thought he’d taken one out of his trunk earlier, so it should be here now. But since the time was getting closer to Quidditch practice, he reluctantly took out his trunk again and just placed it on the bed.
“Ugh, why did I have to stash it under the clothes?” he muttered frustratedly.
He quickly grabbed one and slipped his letter inside. The wax seal on the front looked quite messy, but whatever, he didn’t have time anymore. Just as he finished writing the recipient’s name, someone appeared through the open door and called out for him.
“Harry, everyone’s been waiting for you. What are you doing?”
“All right, all right... Sorry, I had to write a letter to Charlus.”
“Done?”
“Yeah, let’s go now.”
They both jogged off without noticing what Harry had left behind, his trunk wide open. The nearly grown teen didn’t even bother to tidy the messy pile of clothes and scattered items he had taken out.
Gideon came out of the bathroom with his brows furrowed. He knew one of his friend’s bad habits was leaving things in a mess when panicked and searching for something. But Harry really shouldn’t leave his trunk open like that, especially with the door wide open too. Anyone could come in and take something, even though he trusted no Gryffindor would stoop that low.
Now his inner conflict was raging, confused about whether he should leave the items scattered or just tidy them up. Maybe there's nothing wrong with closing that trunk again, he could explain it to Harry later. After all, all of this was for his own good. Before his long fingers could swing his wand, his brown eyes accidentally caught a few more thrown envelopes among the pile of clothes, almost slipping in with the other items. These weren't empty envelopes, but ones filled with contents and the recipient's name, just not sealed with wax, perhaps Harry didn't have time to do it, Gideon thought.
He picked up five letters, pressed the wax seals on them, and honestly, was a bit stunned at who they were addressed to. All were Hogwarts students he knew too well.
Orion Black
Theodorus Nott
Antonin Dolohov
Edward Crouch
Xinophilus Macmillan
Three were Slytherins, one Ravenclaw, and one Hufflepuff. He wondered what was going on between Harry and all these people. He knew Harry was quite close with two of them, especially Dolohov. They were like stamps stuck together in the third and fourth years, though not as close afterwards, but still interacted often. Nott often becomes his potion partner, and sometimes they spend time together in Professor Slughorn's laboratory, becoming his favorite golden students.
Harry and Crouch only interacted briefly when they sat in the same class with Ravenclaw, his friend was found in a group of two with that kid. If he's not mistaken, they spent almost a month together with some appointments to discuss their project assignment. Maybe Harry needed something related to their project first. Macmillan himself was quite popular, his friendly Hufflepuff nature made him liked by students and Professors, especially when it came to magical plants. It could be that Harry wanted to know something about plants, Gideon thought.
But… he wasn’t sure if Harry was even friendly or had interacted with Black Heir. Black was certainly friends with Nott, maybe they had some conversations Gideon didn’t know about. After all, Gideon never accompanied Harry when he went to see other dorm mates. So, should he send these letters along with the one for his brother?
“Ah, better I send them, maybe he just forgot to ask for.” Besides, Harry already sealed them all.