"You have your mother's eyes," strangers tell him, as if it means something.

"Your mother died to save you," Dumbledore tells him, as if it can change anything.

"You're destined for great things," people tell him, as if he is stupid enough to fall for it.

Because he doesn't need their empty words, nor their hollow pity.

Instead he does only so much as is necessary, and lets others only so close as makes them useful.

"You're not what I expected," Sirius tells him, worn and broken, though Harry doesn't dwell on it.

It's only the ravings of a madman.