93

Chapter 93: Heart to Heart Talk

After a practice session, Harry quietly conferred with Michael in hushed tones—what should Ron do if he wanted to join the SSC too? Would Wade approve?

Every time Harry studied and trained at the Umbrella House, he felt a deep sense of fulfillment, even amidst injuries. But once he returned to the dormitory, that contentment vanished like a deflated balloon.

Ron hadn't spoken to him in over half a month. Sometimes, he'd pretend not to notice Harry. In class, Ron would rush off to chat with Seamus or Dean, leaving Harry to sit alone. They were no longer the inseparable pair they used to be.

While the SSC was fulfilling, Harry missed the lazy times with Ron—playing wizard chess, complaining about excessive homework. Ron was his first friend in the magical world, and Harry valued their friendship deeply.

Michael asked a few probing questions and, upon learning the situation, silently condemned Ron in his heart once more, regretting his foresight.

After a moment of thought, Michael said, "Harry, I understand you want to reconcile with your friend. But have you considered—friendship requires effort from both sides. Can you tolerate his behavior? Does he understand you? What's the core issue here?"

Harry paused, then replied, "I...I promised Ron I'd help with his questions before, but I broke that promise..."

"That's another matter, Harry."

Michael spoke slowly, "I believe that if someone wants to join an established group, they should demonstrate their abilities and willingness, earning everyone's respect through sincerity, hard work, or talent—not by relying on friends to plead their case. It's a difficult situation for both parties."

He looked earnestly at Harry. "Primarily, it's about you—I suspect these thoughts have been weighing on you for some time. You've been anxious about how to approach this, fearing rejection. And then there's us—if someone doesn't like Ron Weasley, will they feel pressured to accept, fearing it might strain our friendships?"

When Hermione had proposed Harry join, Michael had wanted to say this, but Wade's words about Harry Potter, orphaned by the war and favored due to his parents' sacrifice, had given him pause. Hermione's maternal concern for Harry was understandable.

Once Gryffindors took someone to heart, they were passionately loyal, but Michael couldn't condone indiscriminate inclusion. Would Ron join today and Seamus tomorrow? Dean the next day? Soon, every Gryffindor might be brought into their circle.

Michael didn't voice this outright, but his disapproval was evident. Finally, he said, "Weasley has turned his personal issue into a communal one. And during this time, what has he done?—A cold war with you. Harry, if a friend breaks off over something trivial, does he truly value this friendship?"

"—Or does he assume you'll always be the one to reach out and make amends?"

Harry lapsed into a lengthy silence.

…

Returning to the Ravenclaw common room, Michael recounted the incident to Wade, then asked, "Do you know what Harry Potter went through before coming to school?"

"I heard he grew up with Muggle relatives," Wade replied, a widely known fact.

Michael sighed. "His relatives likely didn't treat him well... Harry may not have had friends before."

"How can you tell?" Padma interjected. "He's quite popular! Surely he must have had friends."

Though wizards tended to keep to themselves, Padma and others understood that Muggle-born children often socialized with neighboring village kids during holidays.

"He seems modest in his friendships," Michael pondered aloud. "Given his 'Boy-Who-Lived' status and tragic past, one might expect him to be arrogant, like Malfoy."

"Muggles probably don't grasp the significance of the 'Boy-Who-Lived'. To them, Harry might be seen as the unwanted burden left by his relatives," Wade remarked, flipping through a book.

Padma nodded thoughtfully. "That would make sense..."

"What do you mean?" Michael queried.

"Have you noticed?" Padma observed, "Harry Potter's clothes under his robes never seem to fit properly... I assumed it was a Muggle fashion thing."

The two continued their discussion in subdued tones while Wade quietly turned another page of his book.

In Wade's understanding, Harry Potter had endured mistreatment from his aunt's family as a child, though their relationship had seemingly improved over time. Was this from the original storyline or fan interpretations that left an impression on him?

Recently, Wade noticed a peculiar development—Harry's attitude toward Professor Quirrell had notably warmed. Whenever they crossed paths, Harry offered encouraging smiles. Rumor had it he'd begun actively participating in Defense Against the Dark Arts class. Hermione refrained from intervening directly, merely watching.

Harry's behavior unsettled many. Snape seemed to shadow him more, leading Harry to believe Snape was monitoring him, ready to pounce and assign detention. He even missed two SSC sessions due to this scrutiny.

During one SSC training, Neville, whose wand had misfired again, seemed deeply affected. He sat in a daze for a long while, causing concern among the group. Wade signaled for the others to continue training, then approached Neville, patting him on the shoulder gently. "Want to talk?"

Neville nodded glumly.

The two walked to a quieter corner and settled on a couch. Wade didn't rush into conversation but poured a glass of water, sipping slowly.

After a long silence, Neville finally spoke up. "Wade, my Disarming Charm—my form and incantation are correct, right?"

"You're nearly as precise as Hermione," Wade affirmed, though he harbored some doubt.

"But I keep failing..."

Neville lowered his gaze, absently tracing patterns on the table's surface with his fingers, struggling to voice his thoughts.

"—Is it because I'm just... dumb?" he asked quietly.

"I don't think you're dumb. You've excelled in Herbology, haven't you?" Wade reassured him. "The issue with the Disarming Charm might be more about confidence—if you doubt your magic, it won't respond as well."

"So—" Neville hesitated, then asked, "It's not the wand's fault, right?"