Interloping Enticement

..interloping enticement..

...*chapter three

ron's POV

I woke up the next morning in the secret hallway, curled up in the now squashed, deformed cushion. I was alone. I guessed Harry had left to attend an early Quidditch practice. It made sense, as it was a usual occurrence.

I felt... groggy. I also felt wonderful,so the groggy feeling went unnoticed for the most part. The prior night had been a dream come true. I closed my eyes and leaned my head back, thinking about the night’s events.

Harry had said he loved me. I had told him that I loved him. We were in love. Bound to each other by something that most people only dream of.

It was SO satisfying.

I let out a long, elated breath and hoisted myself up from the cushion. I saw my reflection in one of the crystal mirrors on the wall, and laughed. My appearance certainly did not match my fabulous mood. What did I care? I was in love.

Whistling softly to myself, I made my way through the secret hallways and finally found myself in a familiar corridor; the Gryffindor Wing. I strolled up to the Fat Lady portrait. She was still sleeping, so I cleared my throat rather loudly.

The Fat Lady stirred, snorted, and awoke at once. She looked around, saw me, and a look of pure annoyance came upon her face. “Password,” she stated, in a monotonous tone.

“Sub ubi,” I said without a pause, and climbed through the newly opened portrait hole. The common room looked as if it were asleep. It was empty, and the fire from the previous night had quieted to a dim trace of glowing ashes. I plopped myself in a big arm chair, and poked at the pathetic fire with the iron stick. I felt myself dozing off, until I heard some footsteps behind me. I didn’t bother turning around.

The footsteps became louder with each step until I found myself looking at Hermione. She was freshly showered, smelling sweet, and looking wide awake. I never had any idea that she was usually the first Gryffindor awake. But it did make sense.

“Good morning,” she said, with a bright smile. She sat in the chair next to me and crossed her legs.

“Hey,” I greeted in return. I felt amazingly comfortable. It was pleasant sitting there alone, before the rest of the world awoke.

“So,” started Hermione, picking on a loose thread in her robes, “I was wondering if we could find some time to talk about what happened last night.”

My head snapped in her direction and I gaped at her. How could she know what happened? Had Harry told her? Why did she want to talk about it?

“I mean,” she continued, “although I don’t really regret what we did or what I said, I do want to apologize again for my forwardness.”

And suddenly it hit me. Hermione and I had kissed and she had told me she loved me. I had completely forgotten. I felt terrible.

“Hermione, it’s alright,” I said to her sincerely. “You honestly have nothing to apologize for. I mean, I enjoyed it.”

We both were silent for a second.

“You did?”

The question pierced the silence. Had I really said that? Did I really mean what I said?

I decided that the answer to both of the questions was yes. I did enjoy kissing Hermione. She was so small, so soft, and so clever in every way. There was electricity when our lips met. She was sexy. I had never truly noticed it until last night.

“Yeah,” I replied truthfully. “I did.” I paused, wondering if I should go on, wondering if I could tell her it could never happen again, wondering if I could ever tell her about Harry and me.

“Well, I’m really glad that you aren’t trying to pretend it didn’t happen or something. I know nothing more can happen between us, but really. Thank you for appreciating it. It was really special to me.” Hermione smiled at me shyly.

What could I do? I opened my arms and invited her for a hug. She came over, sat on my lap, and rested her head on my shoulder. I enclosed my arms around her, feeling her heartbeat with my every move.

Mental note to self: Do NOT give in to temptation.

“What’s on the cards for today?” I asked her casually, trying to steer conversation away from last night’s activities.

“Well, I have classes, of course. I don’t have time to eat lunch or dinner, as I have to spend all of my free time at the library, researching for my Potion's project. After all that, I have a meeting with the Yule Ball committee, and then homework...” Hermione yawned, and I felt bad for her once again. Why did she do this to herself all the time?

I smiled sympathetically. “I’m really proud of you, Mione. The way you take on so much, and never fail with any of it. I’ve always admired that. You make it look so easy.”

Hermione opened her mouth to say something just as we heard a noise coming from the entrance to the Common Room. In climbed the House Quidditch team, looking tired and cranky. Harry was the last to tumble in, and he had a horrid disposition on his face. Everyone but him headed up to their dorm rooms.

Harry slowly trudged down the steps, and finally looked up and saw Hermione and me. His face twisted into a look of chagrin. I suddenly realized how bad the scene looked; Hermione was still sitting on my lap, my arms around her, and her head was on my shoulder. I made a sudden movement, signaling for Hermione to get up, but she didn’t get the hint. Harry frowned, turned around, and headed up to our dorm.

I sighed. This would not be as easy to explain as last night was.

“He must have had a really rough time out on the pitch,” remarked Hermione.

I gave a half-hearted nod. I wasn’t very happy with her at that moment, and I made a very un-subtle movement for her to get off of me. She obliged, sliding off of my lap. I stood up and made my way to the stairway to the dorm without a word.

“Ron, where are you going? When are we going to talk?” I shook my head and shrugged off the questions that Hermione was tossing in my direction. I had someone very important to comfort upstairs.

I climbed the stairs as quickly as I could. When I reached the door to our room, I took a deep breath. I gathered myself together and went in.

Harry was sitting cross-legged on his bed, staring at the floor. His face was streaked with a few lone tears, and he was absent-mindedly fingering the lining of his Quidditch robes. The other three boys whom we shared the room with were fast asleep. Harry didn’t look up as I came in.

I approached him tentatively. He still didn’t show any sign that he even knew I was there. This was worse than I imagined.

“Harry?” When I spoke, his eyes shifted from the floor to the wall at the other end of the room. “Harry, it isn’t what you think.”

He brought his eyes up to look at me. Sad, anguished eyes that I knew I was the cause of. “How do you know what I think.”

It wasn’t a question, but a statement. I didn’t know how to reply to that. He lingered his eyes on me for a few more seconds, torturous seconds that seemed an eternity, and then shifted his position so he was facing away from me.

Right then. Now what?

“Harry...” I thought about reaching out to touch his shoulder, but I knew that would only elicit a negative response. I stood at the edge of his bed awkwardly, taking my hands in and out of my pockets, not really knowing what to do with myself.

“I trusted you,” I heard Harry say in a muffled voice. “I trusted you that there was nothing more going on between you and... and her.”

My heart completely crumbled into a million pieces. “Harry, there isn’t. What you saw in there honestly was not what you think.”

He turned around slowly, and finally faced me. “I should ask you again, how is it that you even know what I think I saw? If you think that I’m thinking one thing, and you feel bad about that, then you obviously are feeling guilty about the thing that you think I’m thinking about.”

I made a face. “Right... I have no idea what you just said, but Harry, I want so much for you to believe me. We were just talking, she looked like she desperately needed a hug, some contact with someone.”

“As if she didn’t receive enough contact from you last night?” Harry rolled his eyes and turned away from me again. “It happened one time, Ron. Once. I can believe that one time meant nothing. But when I walk in and see you in each other’s arms, acting close and intimate, then I really can’t believe much except what I saw with my own eyes.”

“You said last night that you knew I would never do anything to hurt you,” I reminded him, softly. “And I wouldn’t. You just told me that you trusted me. Do you know how much it hurts me that I have just potentially lost your trust?”

Harry just shook his head and stood up. “I need to go send a letter to Sirius. See you later.”

And with that, he grabbed his outdoor robes, wand, and strolled out of the room. I plunked down on his bed, defeated. How was I going to fix this one? Things had been so perfect. They had all been so perfect until something happened with Hermione. Why did I give in to temptation so easily? I dragged myself off of his bed and changed my clothes, getting ready for the day. The weather was dreary, which suited me fine. I didn’t want to talk to anyone but Harry that day, and I had a horrid feeling that he didn’t want to talk to me at all.

What had I done? I remembered the petty little mental note I had made to myself earlier that morning. Do NOT give in to temptation, Ronald Weasley. Perhaps I should start writing it out on a piece of parchment and signing it. I shook my head miserably.

I knew as soon as I walked out of my dorm, I would have to face Hermione. That was about the last thing I wanted to do. But what would she think if both Harry and I weren’t speaking to her, let alone each other? I was ninety-nine percent sure that Harry would be avoiding her. Well, he had every right to. I didn’t have a right.. I didn’t really CARE either, though.

I saw Seamus stir in his bed, and decided to venture out of the room, after all. I didn’t feel like explaining why I was up and alert so early to anyone.

I made my way down the stairs. The common room was quite crowded by then, and I saw no sign of Hermione. I slipped out the portrait hole and headed towards the Great Hall to pick up some unwanted breakfast. I found myself wishing that Fred and George still attended Hogwarts. Whenever I was in a dispute with Harry, or Hermione, or both, I would usually tag along with them. I suddenly missed my brothers greatly. I missed how they never had a care in the world. Everything was a joke to them.

I rounded a corner and found myself in the Great Hall. There was a lot of activity there at that hour of the day. I sat down at the end of the Gryffindor table and ate a biscuit and a banana that appeared before me. They had no taste, and I don’t recall my stomach being very welcoming to them, either.

I surveyed the room. I saw that Dean, Seamus, and Neville had finally gotten themselves out of bed. I saw my sister Ginny. I caught her eyes and gave her a little smile. She walked over to where I was sitting.

“You’re a sorry sight,” said Ginny, looking me up and down. “Did you get ANY sleep at all last night?”

I smiled tiredly. “That’s the sad part. I actually had a very pleasant night’s sleep. I’m just having a terrible morning from Hell.”

“I see... where are your friends? Where is Hermione and, um, Harry?” Ginny blushed as she said Harry’s name. Her crush on him was always so apparent.

“They’re around. We’re not ALWAYS together, you know,” I said defensively.

Ginny looked taken aback. “Alright, alright. I didn’t mean anything by it, Ron.”

I felt bad. “I know, Gin. I’m sorry, I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I think I just need to be alone, if you follow me.”

“Of course,” said Ginny with a warm smile. “But if you need anyone to talk to, you know where to find me. See you later.”

She walked away to join her friends. I sighed and dropped my head to the table. It made a loud thunk, and hurt pretty badly. I buried my head into my arms and wished that the day would be over and that everything would be good again. I wished that, that evening, I could climb into bed with Harry, and hold him in my arms. I wished I could lift my head up, and he would be sitting there, smiling at me.

I felt LOST.

The noise was diminishing in the Great Hall, so I figured everyone was getting ready to go to their first class. This would include me, too. I miserably lifted my head and got ready to endure Potions with the Slytherins. I groaned. What a PERFECT day this was.

The Potions dungeon was particularly dreary that day. I’m not sure if it was the weather, or my foul mood, or the fact that it was the absolute last place that I wanted to be, but it was darker than I had ever remembered. Professor Snape was at the front of the class, grouping together several different substances in vials. He looked agitated already, which was no surprise.

I crept into the classroom and took a seat in the back row. No one ever sat back there, because there was a bit of a foul smell. I decided to risk it that day. A little putrid smell was a fair trade for not having to come into contact with anyone.

I watched as the rest of the students filed in. Hermione came in shortly after I did, and took a seat in the front row. Harry skirted in soon after, taking a seat behind Hermione, next to Neville Longbottom. I saw Hermione turn around to talk to Harry, but Harry must have given her the impression that he did not want to talk, because she turned back around defiantly and faced front. I grumbled to myself. It was her fault that Harry was angry.

Draco Malfoy, a tall, sleek Slytherin boy, sauntered in, flanked by his two friends, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle. Normally at this point, Harry and I would look at each other and roll our eyes, but under circumstances, I settled for slumping in my seat and sighing to myself. My attention was brought to the front of the classroom by Professor Snape’s tapping of a cauldron.

“Good morning. We have a lot of work to do today, and I don’t want any trickery going on to slow down our pace. I need everyone to be focused, and bunched together for today’s lesson. I will not repeat myself at all.” Snape surveyed the room. I slumped even deeper into my chair, but he saw me. “Mister Weasley. If you insist on hiding from us all, then you may as well not even be here. Come up to the front row and join the class... Five points from Gryffindor.”

The Gryffindor side of the classroom groaned at me as I made my way up to the front row. The only empty seat left was next to Hermione. I disdainfully sat down as far away as possible on the bench next to Hermione, and could physically feel Harry glaring at the back of my head. I shook it off, and focused my attention to Professor Snape.

“Now that we are all in the vicinity, I will introduce today’s lesson. We will be learning how to make Serum. Serum is a nice little potion that forces a person to tell the truth about some matter. This potion is not nearly severe as Veritaserum, which is the most powerful Serum available. Three drops will have you spilling your most secret of thoughts,” said Snape delightedly, a small curl of a nasty smile playing on his lips. “However, Vertitaserum is strictly controlled by The Ministry of Magic.”

Hermione raised her hand. “Sir, if Veritaserum is so controlled by the Ministry, then why isn’t Serum controlled nearly as much? Shouldn’t it ultimately have the same effect? Sooner or later, the person who is being given the Serum will have told you all that you need to know.”

“It’s different, Granger,” called a lazy voice from the other side of the room. It was Draco Malfoy. He had his feet propped up on a chair in front of him, and was leaning back casually. “Veritaserum is only used in the most desperate of situations. Situations where there may be murder involved, or dark magic.”

“Mister Malfoy is correct. Fifteen points to Slytherin,” said Snape, oily. Hermione slumped in her seat, ever so slightly. “We will be concocting a simple Serum, of which you will be testing on each other. You will ask each other very simple questions, questions that you know the person will lie about. We should have interesting results. You will pick partners, and get to work immediately. I’ve set out a fresh order of Jobberknoll feathers in the cupboards. Off you go.”

I immediately turned around to Harry, and gave him a pleading look. I had a plan. “Partners?”

Harry looked at me quizzically, and then understood what I was up to. “Alright.”

While Harry went to gather the ingredients, I picked a table farthest away from everyone else. I didn’t want anyone eavesdropping on the truth-telling I was going to be doing. I was finding the directions in my book when I felt someone tap my shoulder.

I spun around. It was Hermione.

“I need to know what is going on,” she said, looking very upset. “Harry isn’t speaking to me, and you don’t seem to want to speak to me very much, either. I don’t understand, Ron. What did I do? I can’t think of a thing.”

I saw Harry walking back. His pace slowed a bit when he saw Hermione talking to me. I had to act fast. “We’ll talk later, Hermione. Alright? Now is not a good time. I need to do this potion right. My Potions grade is not really up to par. Please,” I said, with false sincerity in my voice. “I really need to concentrate during this class.”

Hermione narrowed her eyes at me suspiciously. “I don’t know what you are up to, Ron, but I will find out. I know it runs deeper than simply needing to do well on one potion.” She turned around, bumped shoulders with Harry, and walked away to where Neville was.

“She’s everywhere,” said Harry, setting down the ingredients.

“It’s only because she makes it that way, Harry. You know Hermione - she always has to know what is going on, who it’s going on with, and where.” I didn’t really know what I was talking about. I just wanted to make that Serum, and have this whole fight blow over.

We mixed the potion in an awkward silence. Occasionally, one of us would correct the other in a measurement, or ask for a little bit of assistance in pouring something out. Other than that, it was painfully silent.

Once the potion was done, I took a deep breath. I hadn’t told Harry about my little ploy yet, but I had a feeling that he knew what I was thinking. Without a word, I picked up the vial containing the Serum, and looked at it closely.

“Bottom’s up,” I said, cracking a small smile. Harry just nodded with a straight face. I drank the Serum until it was gone. It flowed a warm, hyper sensation through my body. I felt like I had a million things to say, but only one minute to say them all. What a strange feeling. I looked expectantly at Harry.

“Alright,” said Harry. “Tell me where my broomstick cleaning solution REALLY disappeared to.”

I sighed. “It was on the floor one night, and I tripped over it. I would have told you what had happened, but you had just had a really messy Quidditch practice, and you were really content on servicing your broom... So I transfigured the empty bottle into a button and tossed it in my draw.”

Harry frowned. I didn’t like this game very much. I silently pleaded with him to ask me the right questions.

“Ron,” Harry began, until I noticed Malfoy coming up from behind him. I rolled my eyes, and Harry turned around to look. “What do you want, Malfoy?”

“Just to hear some of the sweet truths of life,” said Malfoy. “Now, which one of you girls is under the influence?”

“I am,” I spoke up, without hesitation. Damn! Harry looked at me and gave a small wink.

“He’s lying. It is I who drank the Serum,” said Harry, grandly.

“No way! Harry mixed it, and then I drank it,” I said, honestly. I knew what Harry was doing, but I couldn’t help spitting out the truth.

Malfoy looked annoyed. “One of you is lying.”

“Ron’s a really good liar,” said Harry, innocently.

“No! No, I’m not! I drank the Serum, and now I am obligated to tell any truth you wish to hear,” I said desperately, unable to control myself.

“He is trying to mess me up. Ron, I may have been able to fight the Imperius Curse, but I cannot fight off this Serum. That’s the truth,” Harry added charmingly.

“Then tell me this, Weasel,” said Draco. “Just how much financial trouble is your family in right now?”

It was a strange feeling. I could feel my ears go bright pink, and at the same time, I was trying to fight the Serum. It was impossible. “Well, we are-...”

“Say one more thing about him, Malfoy,” interrupted Harry, standing between Malfoy and me. “One more thing. Maybe I have let it happen in the past years, but this year, I’m not going to let comments like that slide. You think I’m lying? Try me.”

Malfoy looked taken aback. He looked from Harry to me, and then to Harry again. “You two aren’t worth my time.” And with that, he skulked off. He yelled over his shoulder, “You stick up for him like you two are in love or something. Disgusting.”

“I am,” I said, softly.

Harry raised an eyebrow suspiciously. “With who?”

“Oh, Harry, you know that I mean you. I have been miserable all day. I can’t believe that you think I would ever try to hurt you,” I said, truthfully. I lowered my voice to just above a whisper. “I love you, Harry. Only you. No one else. Hermione has no effect on me, whatsoever.”

Harry tilted his head and pondered this. He finally looked me in the eye and smiled. “I love you, too,” he whispered.

“And the truth shall set us free,” I cracked, gathering up the clutter we had created while making the Serum. Harry helped me, and soon our table was clear. I gazed across the room and saw Hermione, standing alone by the door. I frowned at Harry. “We should invite her over, don’t you think?”

Harry heaved a sigh and shrugged. “Yeah. I mean, since there is nothing going on, then there isn’t a reason to alienate her anymore.” He still looked bothered by the notion of Hermione being near, and I really didn’t blame him, but I did feel bad for making Hermione stand by herself.

I caught Hermione’s eye and waved her over. Her face lit up, and she made her way towards us. Harry suddenly grabbed my arm, and whispered to me, “You’re still under the influence of the Serum. Be careful what you say.”

I nodded. Hopefully Hermione wouldn’t ask any compromising questions that would provoke me to say anything I might regret.

“Terrible class, that was. Professor Snape is such a slimy git. He took five points from Gryffindor just because stupid Neville couldn’t think of a question that I would usually lie to,” said Hermione. She clapped her hand over her mouth and blushed. “Darn this Serum!”

I laughed and glanced at Harry, who dared to show a sign of a smile. We walked out of the classroom and headed for Gryffindor Tower. Harry chatted about his plan for the Quidditch game that Sunday, while Hermione and I listened, afraid to say anything, for fear of what might come out. We finally reached the Fat Lady’s portrait hole, and climbed in. There was a crisp fire going in the fireplace. A bunch of Gryffindors were lazily lounging around, chatting with each other and doing last minute homework.

“Well, I am going to get started on next week’s Defense Against the Dark Art’s homework. You two would be wise to join me, but you will probably leave it until the night before, like you always do. It’s so irresponsible, you know? I mean, people like you - oh, no.” Hermione clapped her hand over her mouth again and blushed even pinker. “I am going to go gargle until I am rid of this horrid potion!” She stalked away.

I laughed. “She is really great.”

Harry made a face at me. “I’m glad you think so.”

I gave him a playful shove. “You know what I mean. She’s just a really great friend. You, however...”

Harry grinned. “Spare me. I’m going to go take a nap before Quidditch practice. Care to come with?”

I felt warmth flow through me. Just the thought of laying with Harry was intoxicating, and the fact that he wanted me with him was even better, but I knew he needed a good rest. I wanted to go somewhere to think by myself, anyway.

“Ron?” Harry tugged at my sleeve, and gave me a hopeful look.

“Harry, you know there is no place I would rather be, but I think you need to take a good nap,” I said, so wishing I could reach out and stroke his hair.

He smiled and nodded. “I’ll see you later, then,” said Harry, giving me a quick wink.

I watched him walk away until he rounded a corner and I couldn’t see him anymore. I thought about running to catch up with him, but I decided to hold on to the one last shred of self control that I had.

Taking in the scenery, I strolled down the hallway, my footsteps echoing softly against the walls. I needed a place to be alone, to be able to gather my thoughts. All I could think about was Harry. Every single space in my mind was occupied by Harry. I wanted him so badly, I needed to feel his touch. I knew he should be resting, but I was aching for him.

I turned around and started walking back up to Gryffindor Tower. I turned a sharp corner and slammed right into Draco Malfoy.

“Weasley! What the hell do you think you’re doing? Can you not even afford to pay attention to where you’re going?” Malfoy made a big deal out of straightening his robes and brushing off the filth that was bumping into a Weasley.

I just stared at him calmly, taking deep, steady breaths. I was afraid that I was still a bit under the influence of the Serum, so I didn’t want to speak any more than was necessary. “What were you doing coming from this direction? The only thing that is down the corridor that you happened to be traveling down is Gryffindor Tower.”

“You know that’s not true, Weasley,” said Malfoy, stepping closer so that we were eye to eye.

“Oh, but I do”

Malfoy and I were staring at each other, as if daring the other to make the next move. Finally, he took the dare.

“So, you must know about what has been going on at the Ministry,” said Draco coolly.

I racked my brain, trying to remember anything I heard so that I could wipe that look of smugness off of his face. Unfortunately, I had nothing. “No. Why don’t you tell me?”

“Fudge has been reevaluating the positions. Thinking over what is really necessary, and what is expendable.” Malfoy paused for a second. His expression looked either thoughtful, or cruel. I wasn’t sure.

“And?”

“It was only a matter of time, Weasley,” hissed Malfoy. “Only a matter of time before your Muggle-loving father received what he had coming to him. Every decent and well-bred wizard knows that the magic and non-magic worlds should never correlate.”

My stomach dropped to the floor. “Just tell me what you think you know, Malfoy.”

“I don’t THINK I know anything, Weasley,” he sneered. “It’s a common fact that the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts department got tossed, as did all the wizards working in it. Such a shame, really.”

I stared at him, dumbfounded. “How can you be so sure?”

Malfoy leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. “My father tells me everything, Weasley. Such a pity yours doesn’t.”

I backed away from him in disbelief. This couldn’t be happening. Not to me. Not to my family. My father was a good, honest man. How could such a horrible thing happen to such a wonderful person? I felt tears of anger and frustration stinging at the corners of my eyes. I turned around and faced the wall so that Malfoy wouldn’t see.

“Go away,” I said, through gritted teeth. I felt a tear slide down my cheek. I hated that I was letting him get to me.

“I’m only telling you the truth, Weasley,” Malfoy said softly. “Nothing more, nothing less.”

I turned around and looked at him angrily. “Why, Malfoy? Why do you ALWAYS have to remind me of my situation? Why do you always have to be there, ruining everything, and smirking about it? Why can’t you just leave me the hell alone?”

To my surprise, Malfoy just bowed courteously, and started to walk away, his eyes never leaving mine. He eventually turned around, his expensive shoes scuffing the floor ever so slightly as he walked down the hallway. I glanced down at my own shoes, sneakers I had had for two years, and they were even hand-me-downs from Fred. My tear dripped off of my cheek and landed on the tip of my shoe.

I felt lower than I had ever felt in my life. I felt ashamed that Malfoy had seen me cry. I knew that I couldn’t trust him, but I had a very bad feeling that he was telling the truth this time. After all, we had just mixed the Serum a few hours earlier.

I shuffled dejectedly to Gryffindor Tower. All the portraits on the walls gave me questioning looks, and some even tsk-tsked me. I finally arrived at the Fat Lady.

“Password?”

“Uhh... “ I searched my mind for the password, but all that registered was the fact that my father was jobless. I shrugged at her and turned around to walk away.

“Dear, I know who you are. I will let you in without the password, just this once,” said the Fat Lady kindly.

I smiled gratefully at her, and made my way into the Gryffindor common room. Luckily, there were not many people there. I slipped in and stealthily made my way to my dorm, dragging my feet with every step up the stairs.

Harry was fast asleep in his bed, and Neville and Seamus were sitting on the floor, doing last-minute homework. They lifted their heads to greet me as I walked in, but something on my face told them not to say anything. I kicked off my shoes and drew the curtains around my bed. I plopped down onto it, and buried my face in my pillows. I wanted to scream. I wanted to hold Harry in my arms. I wanted someone to comfort me. I wanted the Malfoy family to taste the bitter flavor of poverty. But most of all, I just wanted everything to be right in the world again.

Everything was so unfair.

***