The Greatest Kind of Magic

21. Surprises

The owls swooped into the Great Hall, gliding silently over the House tables. Liam looked up expectantly as the letters and packages started dropping.

"I'm sure they didn't forget," said Ginny with a laugh. "You look so anxious."

Liam smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, well. It is my birthday."

Ginny leaned over and kissed him. "You told me already."

Distracted for a moment - Ginny always had that effect on him - Liam didn't notice his package arrive until Shadow, the family owl, dropped it onto his head. Ginny laughed again, while Liam winced, rubbing his fresh bruise.

He opened the package, sorting through the cards and gifts from his family with barely a glance. Finally, he found an envelope addressed in Davey's handwriting, which he tore open.

Liam, you flaming tosser, Pearl Jam is in less than two weeks! You still haven't told us if you're coming - and you'd better be, or Sarah will kick your arse with her new Docs. If you think we're spending money getting you another birthday present when we already got you that ticket, you'd better think again. Use some of that hocus-pocus of yours and GET YOUR ARSE DOWN HERE on the 15th! Or I will personally make sure one of us tells you how brilliant that concert was EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE.

Happy birthday, by the way. Jessie and Sarah say hi.

If you don't show up, we'll ALL kick your arse. That's a promise.

Cheers,

Davey

Liam stared at the letter, his spirits dropping. Surely, surely they knew he wouldn't be able to go? Surely they'd think of sending him something, anything to remind him of his old life?

"What's wrong?" Ginny asked.

Liam handed over the letter silently.

I'm over-reacting, he told himself. It's just a birthday. I never cared before - why now?

"You miss them, don't you?" Ginny asked. "Especially 'cause it's your birthday."

Liam nodded. Knows me better than I do, as usual. "Yeah. I haven't had a birthday without Davey since I was... seven. No, six. We always give each other the weirdest presents." He laughed sadly. "It's stupid, you know? It's not the presents that matter - not like any of us ever had much money - it's just the way we'd always do it and have a good laugh and go out and do something crazy."

Ginny nodded. "Yeah."

Liam thought for a moment before continuing. "It's like... My whole life, my normal life, it's completely gone. No funny birthdays, no Davey and Sarah, no Pearl Jam!"

He laughed again, feeling silly, but knowing that Ginny understood. "We've been waiting for years to see Pearl Jam. They toured last year, but the tickets sold out before we got there! And now..." - he waved the letter - "now they're going without me." Somehow, that thought was the most miserable of all.

He looked at Ginny, and saw her sadness, her genuine wish that he could have his old life, that he could have his old friends. She didn't think he was being silly - she understood how much he missed Stonewall.

As often happened when Liam was feeling down, he thought of Ginny and felt better. If I'd stayed at Stonewall, yeah, I'd be mucking around with Davey and Sarah and Jessie, and I'd never have to worry about anything except the next maths exam - but I never would've met Ginny.

An echo of his - no, their - music, the music the castle had played that night sang in Liam's mind - or did he really hear it for a moment? That music magic, that love magic, it's her and only her, and can never be anyone else.

He gave Ginny a faint smile. She smiled back and hugged him. He enfolded her in his arms, feeling how small and slim and soft she was, running his fingers through her thick curls. They tickled his face, and they smelled of strawberry shampoo.

Liam smiled into Ginny's hair. This was here, that was now, and it beat anything he might be missing.

Liam heard someone giggle, and he saw Parvati and Lavender looking at them across the table. Reluctantly, he let Ginny go. He was feeling much better.

He didn't say anything for a while, reading through the cards from his family and passing out slices of the birthday cake his mother had sent. It was only later, as he and Ginny were walking to Transfiguration, that he said, quietly, "You know, ever since I came here, everything's been so... serious. This war, it's hanging over everything. Even parties have to be victory parties. I just wish..." he paused, pushing open the door to McGonagall's classroom. "I just wish I could forget all that, and just have fun and muck around for no reason at all. If only for a day."

Ginny was very quiet throughout the lesson.

***

"What's he doing?" Jeremy whispered to Bauer as they watched Malfoy fiddling with the bug. "What are all the mirrors for?"

Bauer shook his head. "No idea. But I'm sure it's nothing good."

Jeremy silently agreed. He felt a strange sense of foreboding as he watched Malfoy working in the flickering green light of the common room. It was hard to make out just what he was doing - at the moment, he appeared to be fixing several mirrors in a circle around the bug. His face had a fixed, tight-lipped smile that Jeremy knew meant danger. The green torches reflected eerily in his eyes.

Pansy Parkinson, Nott, Zabini, and Crabbe and Goyle stood nearby. As Jeremy watched, Malfoy whispered something to them. Crabbe and Goyle lumbered off up the dormitory stairs, while Nott and Zabini started doing something with their wands. Jeremy couldn't see anything happening. Somehow, that made it all the more creepy.

What are they doing? he wondered again, this time to himself.

Crabbe and Goyle returned, carrying vials of potion. Pansy took them and smirked in her most unpleasant manner. She caught Malfoy's eye and smiled suggestively, then leaned forward and whispered something in his ear. He leered at her, then said loudly, "Not now, Parkinson."

Bauer made a retching noise. "Ugh, imagine if they get married. Their kids will have seven toes. Nothing like a bit of pureblood inbreeding to spice up the population."

Bauer's joke slightly eased the tension, but soon Jeremy's insides were again twisting ominously.

He knew he wasn't the only one. Jeremy noticed several people throwing surreptitious glances at Malfoy and his assistants. The scrape of a chair on the stone floor echoed in the uncharacteristic silence that had descended over the Slytherin common room. A burst of Pansy's hyena-like laughter grated on Jeremy's ears.

What is Malfoy doing?

And who's going to get hurt?

***

"Hermione, when are you going to give it up?" said Ron, looking up from Harry's latest noughts and crosses defeat in the margin of his Potions textbook. "They haven't said anything useful since that raid. All we've heard since then is Pansy Parkinson flirting with Malfoy!" Ron grimaced in disgust. "Unless that strikes your fancy..."

Hermione gave him her best withering stare and returned her attention to the Extendable Ear.

"Will you two be quiet?" she said. "I'm trying to hear!"

Harry perked up a little, and leaned over to listen with her. "What are they saying?"

"Shh!" she hissed. "I'm trying..." The Extendable Ear had fallen infuriatingly silent. "I thought I heard them whispering something. I'm sure it was a spell. And..." she trailed off, listening intently. Harry and Ron leaned forward. After a while, they did hear someone whispering. But try as they might, they couldn't distinguish the words.

Hermione sighed and leaned back in her chair, for a moment just listening to the crackling of the fire and the drumming of rain on the roof, shutting out the murmur of voices in the common room.

She'd never admit it to the boys, but she was exhausted. It's like I'm the only one holding everyone together, keeping everyone serious. She looked at Harry and Ron, who had started another game of noughts and crosses, and bit back a scolding remark. Oh, what's the use? If I tell them off, we'll just have another row, and Harry will probably get into one of his moods again...

Hermione rubbed her eyes wearily. That was the toughest challenge of all - holding Harry together. Of course, it's him, really, that the DA hangs on. He's the one who keeps everyone motivated and enthusiastic, with that strange, reluctant charm of his. Hermione knew that it was Harry who drew people to the DA meetings, even when they'd rather be doing something else. He didn't seem like he was a good leader - and yet, strangely, he was.

But it's me who has to hold Harry together. Hermione was pulled back into worry. Well, okay, not just me. Ron does as much, if not more. Like that day we were having the party, and Harry just walked out. Ron knew straight away something was wrong - I didn't even notice until he told me afterwards. And Ron brought him back, Ron brought him out.

Hermione looked at Ron, who was trying to draw on Harry's face, and felt some of her worry melt away. I'm not alone in this. Never. Ron will always do everything he can to support Harry.

Even if he does act awfully childish sometimes.

But Ron didn't act childish after that incident at the victory party, when he pulled Hermione aside and told her, quietly and seriously, "Harry's hiding something from us. Something big."

Hermione sighed. She knew that - they both did. We thought he'd tell us in his own time, so we never pushed. But it looks like there's more to it than him not being ready - whatever this is, it's eating him up from the inside.

"Oi! That was permanent ink!" Ron yelled, bringing her back to the present. Noughts and crosses had turned into a quill fight. Harry and Ron were laughing hysterically as they tried to draw on each other's faces. Both already had ink splattered on their robes.

It doesn't seem to be eating him now, though, Hermione thought with some relief. I can't even bring myself to roll my eyes at those two, I'm so happy just to see Harry having fun for a change.

A huge glob of black ink landed on her potions essay with a splat. Hermione decided enough was enough. "Will you two please grow up?"

They looked at her sheepishly. Ron had ink in his hair. Harry had it trickling down his glasses.

Hermione giggled. She struggled to sound stern as she said, "This essay is due tomorrow. And I can't hear a thing with the racket you're making."

"Not like you'd hear anything anyway," Ron grumbled. "You haven't heard anything useful for days."

"That doesn't mean we should stop listening. This is the first plan we've had that's actually worked."

She realised she was scolding again and kicked herself mentally. I'm taking all my irritation out on Ron. I'm not being fair.

Worries about Harry aside, Hermione was becoming increasingly frustrated with the silence from the bug. Ron was right - they hadn't heard anything useful since the day of the DA's victory party. When Hermione realised the bug was being neglected, she'd raced back to the common room, Harry and Ron on her heels. They caught the tail end of a blazing row among the Slytherins. But try as they might, they couldn't piece together exactly what'd happened.

Perhaps because of the argument, after that day the Slytherins became strangely subdued. Malfoy no longer got up on the soapbox every night. All Hermione heard from the Extendable Ear these days was petty gossip.

"Look, Hermione," said Harry, trying to wipe the ink from his glasses, "maybe it's time we came up with something new? I mean, yeah, the Extendable Ears worked, but like Ron said, we haven't heard anything useful for days. We got lucky with Malfoy knowing about that raid. But we can't just keep hoping we'll get lucky again. And everyone's getting bored - if we don't do something soon, they'll stop coming to the meetings, let alone stop listening to the Ear."

"Parvati and Lavender won't stop," Hermione said derisively. "They like the gossip too much." But she knew Harry was right. They had one victory - but it would take a lot more than that to make a real difference in the war. But even more important, to Hermione at least, was the fact that when the DA was making progress, Harry came alive.

I know whatever it is he's hiding from us doesn't disappear, but maybe fighting the war helps him fight that, too. In fact, I'm sure it's something to do with the war - oh, how I wish he'd tell us! But if the DA stops it eating him, then I have to keep the DA going. To fight the war - and to help Harry.

"All right," Hermione said, setting aside her ink-splattered Potions essay. "We do need something new." She couldn't resist adding, "But we have to keep listening to the bug, no matter what we do. The Slytherins might still slip somewhere."

"Okay, okay," Harry said. "But we should stop worrying about it so much. And look, here's what I've been thinking." He looked from Ron to Hermione, as if to make sure he had their full attention. "Remember how Umbridge intercepted my mail last year? Well, what do you think of trying to do the same to Malfoy? I want to know where he's getting all his information from. I'm sure the Order does, too."

Hermione considered. If we can do it without hurting the owl... She frowned. We could get into so much trouble! But then, we could get into so much trouble for bugging the Slytherins, too.

She thought a bit more. I must check out that book on magical owls by Newt Scamander. And maybe A History of Magical Communication? Hermione rubbed her mental hands. Too bad it's after curfew now...

"We'll go to the library tomorrow morning," she said. "Good idea, Harry."

Ron and Harry looked at each other and grinned. Hermione shook her head. "You'd better finish your essays," she told them.

"You'd better finish yours," Ron retorted, "so we can copy."

Hermione rolled her eyes, but couldn't suppress a smile. It does feel good to be planning something new. And it's wonderful to see Harry thinking, to see Harry planning the next move. I know it's only a matter of time before he goes into one of his moods again...

Hermione bit her lip and forced the thought away. If this keeps Harry's mind off whatever's been eating at him, I'll go along with whatever he thinks of.

"So," Harry asked, pointedly ignoring his Potions textbook. "You two have any ideas for how we're going to do this?"

***

Glancing around to make sure Liam was still busy, Ginny started re-reading Fred and George's letter.

Dear Ginny,

We're proud of you, little sister. We always thought Ronniekins would be the one to follow in our noble footsteps, but he's been a massive disappointment to us. Your plot earns you a place in the Fred and George Hall of Fame. You can rest assured Mum, Dad, Percy and Ron will never hear a word from us.

Well, maybe on your thirtieth birthday.

Better still, on our deathbed.

Anyway. You did a good job asking us, because we doubt you'd have much luck with this on your own. Not to put you down, of course - how could we, Heir to the Throne of Mischief that you are - but you haven't had our extensive experience in wreaking havoc and mayhem.

"Found her!" Liam shouted, struggling with something invisible. "Quickly..."

Michel Corner rushed forward. "Finite incantatem!" he yelled, pointing his wand between Liam's hands. Immediately, an angry black kitten came into view. It was hissing furiously.

"That's the last time I practice Vanishing charms with you!" Michael yelled, picking up the kitten.

Liam held up his hands defensively. "Hey, it was an accident!"

Michael scowled and stalked off, clutching the kitten. Liam grinned and came over to Ginny. "Well, at least I know I can do a Vanishing charm now."

Ginny stuffed the letter into her pocket and patted him on the head. "Good boy." Then she added, quietly, "You're lucky it's a magical cat, you know. If it was a normal one, it would've just disappeared - I mean completely. Not just become invisible."

Liam paled. "Are you serious? Lucky I didn't try that spell on Creevey, then..."

Ginny gave him her most innocent smile. "I don't think it works on people. Of course, if you want to try it out on Creevey... I'm sure no one would mind that much..."

"You're a cruel woman, Ginny," said Liam, shaking his head mournfully.

"And I have you wrapped around my little finger."

Liam nodded eagerly, with an expression that said he didn't mind at all. He flopped down next to her and opened his Transfiguration textbook. For a while, she just watched him, as he struggled to force himself to concentrate. Within minutes, he'd given up, and with a furtive glance around the common room, he pulled out his notebook and started scribbling down song lyrics.

After a few seconds, he looked up, and his gaze lingered on Ginny. She looked back, feeling a tingling somewhere between her chest and stomach. This had once unnerved her, but she liked it now. It was a reminder of her place in Liam's heart, and his place in hers.

The talk and laughter of their fellow Gryffindors became distant. Here, there were just the two of them, warm and cosy with the rain pattering on the window.

It's like our own little place, Ginny thought, just mine and Liam's, where no one else can intrude.

And it's keeping me sane. When I'm with Liam, I don't feel so... stifled.

Hogwarts was getting to Ginny. The curfew, the strict rules, the ban on Quidditch - constant reminders of the war, the deaths, the darkness still to come. And last year, with Umbridge breathing down everyone's neck... Ginny shuddered. But at least I had Quidditch then. Finally, after all those years of having to sneak around with Ron's broom. But now... she grimaced, looking around the over-crowded common room. It feels just like a prison.

She felt her eyes drawn to the wreath above the mantelpiece, that constant reminder of Melanie, Ginny's dead team-mate. Who'll never play Quidditch again, Ginny thought bitterly. Who never came back from our last Hogsmeade visit.

She tore her eyes away from the memorial, turning back to look at Liam. She did know how he felt, missing his "normal" life. Ginny's normal life was gone, too. It stopped the day Melanie died. Not just because she died, though that's the worst of all - but because everything that used to be normal, like Quidditch and Hogsmeade visits and butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks - has been taken away. Of course Ginny knew there were good reasons for that, and that she couldn't change what'd happened, and that the war meant "normal life" had to be suspended. But like Liam, she couldn't help wishing for break. If only for a little while.

Making sure Liam was absorbed in his songwriting, Ginny read over Fred and George's letter again. Here was her chance. She sent a silent thank you to the twins for not being as protective as the rest of her family.

Ginny knew Liam would like his belated birthday present.

***

Pansy Parkinson was screaming.

"Oh, stop, stop, stop you banshee!" Bauer pleaded, though only Jeremy could hear him. "What the hell is she yelling about?"

Nothing important, by the looks of it, Jeremy thought. She'd just exploded, completely unexpectedly, at a younger girl.

"... FILTHY LITTLE BRAT! HOW DARE YOU, I'LL FUCKING KILL YOU, YOU LITTLE..."

The younger girl, a third or fourth year, stood frozen to the spot, her eyes wide and her lips trembling. Jeremy couldn't see from this distance, but he was sure from the way the girl kept flinching that spittle was flying from Pansy's mouth. Her yells bounced off the stone walls, distorted by the echoes.

"It's like... spontaneous combustion." Bauer closed his eyes in agony. "Oh please someone make her stop."

And then Jeremy saw something that made the hair prickle on the back of his neck. He grabbed Bauer's arm. "Look!"

Bauer's eyes snapped open.

Malfoy, Zabini and Nott had started chanting something - Jeremy saw their lips moving. Their wands emitted thin, spiderweb-like strands of bluish light. Slowly, these strands started forming a cage around the bug, growing more solid by the minute.

Pansy Parkinson kept screaming. "... FUCKING WHORE! I KNOW UNFORGIVABLES, AND DON'T YOU THINK I WOULDN'T USE THEM, YOU HORRIBLE, PATHETIC..."

"What are they chanting?" Jeremy asked urgently, though he knew Bauer didn't have a clue either. We'll never hear, with the noise Parkinson's making. And... neither will whoever's spying on us!

Jeremy's breath quickened. The bluish light was brighter than the torches now, lighting up the wizards' faces from below. This cast shadows onto their eyes, making them look hollow. With Pansy's screams bouncing off the walls, the entire scene felt surreal and nightmarish.

Suddenly, the light around the bug, which was now a solid, glowing dome, flickered. Malfoy, Nott and Zabini lowered their wands. The dome began rapidly shrinking in on itself, as if being sucked into its own core.

"The bug is sucking it in."

Jeremy immediately felt silly for saying it, but Bauer nodded in agreement.

And then, just like that, the light was gone. Pansy gave off a final string of expletives and quietened.

Dead silence.

Then, Jeremy heard a breath released, and the common room began muttering, all eyes on Malfoy and his assistants.

"What the hell just happened?" Bauer whispered to the equally-bewildered Jeremy.

Jeremy didn't answer. In the middle of the common room, the centre of everyone's attention, Malfoy raised a finger to his lips and smiled. Then he picked up the bug and held it against his ear.

***

Ellie stifled a yawn as she scanned the shelves. "Economics... Electricity... Energy..." she read under her breath. Why don't I just ask Liam?

Ellie's hand froze on the spine of the book on "Energy". Oh. How could I ever forget?

She saw: Liam's face, his warm smile, his laughter ringing out in the library hush...

First friend I ever had, Ellie thought, rubbing her eyes wearily. First friend I ever lost.

She shook herself, pulling out the book in one sharp movement. Don't think about that. Think about your essay. Due tomorrow, and you haven't even started. It's almost curfew - listen to how quiet it's become. Everyone's going back to their dorms. Back to their friends, their groups, their people to talk to and laugh with and to help each other with essays...

No, don't think.

Better get on with this, while the library's still open. At least here, I'm not the only one studying alone...

"Ellie."

Liam...?

She spun around, but of course it wasn't Liam. It was Jeremy, glancing behind him as he sidled up to her. Ellie felt a flash of disappointment before she smiled, because of course, she was glad to see him - the only friend she had left.

"How are you?" she asked, stepping towards him. "How's the detention going?"

"Detention's okay. Not as bad as I expected, really. Though I hardly have any time left for anything else." He paused, as if he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he should. Ellie noticed dark circles around his eyes, as if he hadn't been sleeping properly.

"How are you?" he asked finally. "Is... Is Grady still not talking to you?"

Ellie shook her head sadly. To her surprise, Jeremy looked genuinely disappointed. "That's too bad," he said. He took a deep breath. "Listen, Ellie, you're going to have to try talking to him again."

Ellie's stomach lurched. He didn't need to say it out loud - Ellie knew straight away that something had happened.

In a low, urgent tone, Jeremy began to explain.

"Listen. Grady and his friends - Potter, Granger, Weasley, a whole lot of people - they managed to plant a bug in our common room. That was how the Ministry knew about that Azkaban raid - Malfoy had been bragging about it for weeks, showing off how much he knew."

"How do you know it was Liam and them?"

"I was getting to that. I found the bug." He frowned and bit his lip. "I handed it over to Malfoy. I know I shouldn't have, but Malfoy was going nuts. He was blaming Bauer for the whole mess, and I had to distract him somehow." He sighed. "Can't change it now. He did some weird magic - he reversed the spell that was on that bug. So now, I think, they can still hear us, but we can also hear them. Well," he snorted bitterly, "Malfoy and his cronies can, anyway. Bauer and I aren't exactly very popular at the moment."

Ellie stared at him in surprise. He's so calm! He used to be terrified of Malfoy... Jeremy sounded bitter, yes, but he showed none of his old fear. Tired, anxious - but not cowed. Not at all like he used to be, all hunched up and hesitant, and always looking around like he was afraid someone's creeping up on him...Especially when he's talking about Malfoy. Ellie had a moment to wonder about the change before Jeremy went on.

"So, I don't know exactly what's going on. I've picked up enough that I know for sure it's Grady and his lot down the other end. And I'm pretty sure they don't have a clue what's happened. And that's why you have to talk to him, Ellie." He looked at her, directly at her - something else he'd never done before. He wasn't commanding, but he wasn't just asking, either. His eyes told her, Do whatever you can. This is important, and I'm counting on you.

"Malfoy's been dropping hints all over the place," he said. "It sounds... well, bad. I don't know what they're learning from that thing, but I reckon it's enough to put the Ministry in danger. And," he looked at her steadily again, "I want the Ministry to win. Last thing I want is to end up living in a world run by Malfoys."

His tone was defiant, almost as if he expected her to disagree or to tell him not to be silly. Ellie was amazed - she'd never expected him to change sides so definitely.

Jeremy fell silent. He seemed to be waiting for her to respond.

"So, you want me to talk to Liam and tell him what's going on?" she asked, already feeling a little sick at the thought. Again, she saw Liam's face, so vivid in her mind: warm and friendly and smiling, and then, cold, tight-lipped, showing no sign that he'd ever known her at all, much less called her a friend. Every time she saw him, Ellie felt angry and sick and worthless all at once.

He looks at me as if I tortured him, as if I erased his memory. And I start feeling like I did, like I really did do that to him! Then he turns his back and I just feel empty and it hurts every time. It hurts so much.

"He won't talk to me," she said flatly. "He hates me."

Jeremy slumped against the bookshelves, looking at his feet. "He hates me, too. Guess I deserve it." For a moment, he seemed like his old self: helpless and torn.

Ellie reached out and touched his arm. "You don't deserve it. You only did it because you were scared."

Jeremy jerked his arm as if to pull away - Ellie remembered how he never liked being touched. And then, completely unexpectedly, he reached out, took Ellie's hand, and gave it a squeeze.

"Listen. I'll be damned if I let Malfoy win again. And you're the only person I can trust. I need your help." He gave her hand another squeeze.

Ellie was too stunned to speak. She was keenly aware of Jeremy's hand gripping hers like no one had ever gripped her hand before. He was looking at her like no one had ever looked at her before. Jeremy needed her.

Ellie knew she couldn't possibly refuse. She had to help him beat Malfoy, whatever that took. Jeremy, who'd found more courage in himself than any Gryffindor. Jeremy, who was alone in hostile Slytherin. Jeremy, who was counting on her.

"All right. I'll talk to him. Somehow, I'll make him listen. I promise."

***

I hate Muggle Studies, Liam thought as he dropped his bag on the desk. Can't believe this used to be my easiest subject.

Muggle Studies was draining, not mentally, but emotionally. Every time I look up, I see... her.

Liam remembered Ellie passing him notes under the desk, showing him around Hogsmeade, asking him about his Muggle school. And then he felt the black hole in his memory that she knew the cause of, and again he was slammed into rage, cold fury and hate.

And now there's guilt, too. Liam squirmed as opened his textbook, staring at the black letters without seeing a single word.

She should've told me! a part of him screamed.

But you should at least give her a chance to explain, another part argued.

I had a great big hole ripped in my fucking memory!

And you ripped a great big hole in her heart.

Liam flipped the page of his book, tearing it. The battle in his mind raged on and on until he wanted to rip his hair out in frustration. Neither side could win, could ever silence the other. Liam couldn't convince himself he was in the right. Nor could he force himself to go up to Ellie and apologise - or even speak to her. Every time I try, the words just freeze, because that great hole opens up and spews out all that hate.

Never the memories. Only pain and anger and hate, like a great big hole full of shite.

"Not your best, Grady," said Professor Downey, interrupting Liam's latest battle. A roll of parchment landed on his desk, a red "A" at the top. Liam had never received anything below an "E" in Muggle Studies before.

"I hope you're not starting to neglect this subject because you think it's a soft option," said the teacher. "I know you can do better than this."

Liam didn't say anything, so Professor Downey moved on. "Much improved, Collins... Getting better, Smith... Need to work on those exchange rates, Patil."

Liam looked up from his half-hearted essay and saw Ellie looking back. He dropped his gaze immediately, the conflict of emotions starting anew. Oh God, when is this going to end...

In answer to Liam's silent plea, the bell rang out through the castle. Liam jumped to his feet immediately, stuffing his books, quills and essay haphazardly into his bag. He dashed to the door, desperate to get away.

Ellie caught up with him in the hallway, grabbing him by the sleeve to stop him running away. She planted herself in front of him, forcing him to come to a halt.

"Liam. I have to talk to you."

He tried to dodge past her, but she was too quick, too determined. "No! Liam - stop! Just hear me out, okay?"

That's right, hear her out, Liam! urged the calm and reasonable voice. Give her a chance to explain herself!

Liam took a deep breath. "All right. All right, go on."

"Not here," she said. She led him around the corner, into a less crowded hallway.

Liam waited.

Ellie started to say something several times, stopping before she got the first word out. Finally, she stammered, "Look... I'm really sorry about... Well, you know." She looked down at her feet, then her eyes flicked up, just for a moment, as if she were scared to look at him. That boosted Liam's guilt, and softened the anger that was fighting to get through. She means it, I know she does. She really means it.

Ellie seemed to be gathering courage as she spoke. She wasn't so hesitant when she continued. "I didn't want to hide it from you, I really didn't. But... I promised Jeremy I wouldn't tell."

Jeremy. At the sound of that name, Liam felt his hate burst forward, struggling against his weakening restraint. He saw Ellie flinch at the look on his face.

"He didn't want to do any of that! Malfoy made him. He's got all the Slytherins completely terrified, and they're doing everything he wants. Jeremy had nightmares about it for weeks after. He confessed to Dumbledore, he gave him the names of everyone else who was there. But it's Malfoy who's really responsible, he's the one who forces everyone to do this stuff."

"Yeah? If it's just Malfoy, then why do they do it? Why don't they tell him to sod off?"

Ellie seemed at a loss. "Because they're scared. They're all scared of him."

"And that's an excuse? Because you're scared shitless, you can go around... you can..." Liam broke off, the bile rising up as he struggled to find words for abuse he couldn't remember.

"No, of course not! But he was all alone. Jeremy, I mean. It was just him against all the other Slytherins! He didn't want to do it, but he was terrified!"

"Bollocks! Leighton just cooked that up to get your sympathy!"

Liam felt another pang of guilt at the pained look that crossed her face, but the feeling was growing weaker by the second under the onslaught of his own flashback pain, fear and hate. She feels sorry for them, after what they did to me. She's taking their side! After they... after they...

And again, he slammed into the empty blackness, where memories couldn't be reached but sickening terror lived and flourished. Damn them! Damn them, damn them, damn them...

"Jeremy is trying to help you! You and your friends - he wanted me to tell you..."

But Liam wasn't listening anymore. He couldn't bear it, not for another second. If he listened to another word, there was no telling what he'd do.

"Shut up! Shut up! Do you have any idea what they put me through? Do you? Yeah, of course you do, because he told you everything, didn't he? And you protected him! You knew it was him all along, and you never told me. You'd rather protect that Slytherin scum!"

He didn't notice that he was shouting at the top of his voice. He didn't notice that Ellie was backing away, her lips trembling. He didn't notice that people were stopping to stare.

But he did notice his bag burst into flames.

Liam gasped in shock and dropped it. Forgetting magic, he stamped on it with his feet, like he'd done when his Chemistry textbook had caught fire at Stonewall. When the flames were finally out, he scooped up the charred remains and left, his eyes stinging with angry tears.

Ellie didn't follow him.

***

Ginny found him an hour later, alone in his dormitory, his violin screaming furiously, ripping out each note with feverish desperation. When he stopped, the loudest silence she had ever heard finished the music. Liam looked completely worn out: when she reached out to touch him, she found he was trembling.

"I heard you've been doing fireworks," she said, resting her hands on his shoulders. "How come I didn't get to see?"

"I wouldn't want you to see this," he said hoarsely, putting his arms around her. "I lost it completely. It's amazing I didn't hurt anyone."

"You hurt yourself."

Liam sighed. "Yeah. But it could've been worse."

Ginny silently agreed. She mentally thanked Fred and George for all their help in making possible the surprise she'd planned for that evening. It couldn't come too soon.

Finally, we can get away. Just for a few hours, but Merlin, how he needs it. How we both need it. She was almost tempted to tell Liam there and then, to give him something to look forward to, something to think about besides whatever had happened between him and Eloise. But she held her tongue, not wanting to spoil the surprise she'd planned so carefully. So she just held him, saying silently, Hold on. Just wait, and tonight you'll feel better. Just hold on.

After a few minutes passed, she felt his arms tighten around her, and then he was kissing her, urgently, desperately, as if his very life depended on it. For a moment, it was almost frightening. Ginny felt shivers down her spine, her skin burning where he touched her. Then she was kissing him back, pressing against him, fingers grasping the fabric of his cloak.

Liam's furious melody was still ringing in Ginny's ears.

***

Ellie walked to the Great Hall in a daze, Liam's words repeating in her mind, over and over, a mantra of anger and hate.

Do you have any idea what they put me through?... Of course you do, because he told you everything, didn't he?... You knew it was him all along! You'd rather protect that Slytherin scum!...

Ellie shuddered. That's not the Liam I know. What happened to him? Ellie knew, she knew he wasn't like that. It's as if that night in the library, the attack - it broke something inside him. And Liam, the Liam I know, the Liam who didn't care about my nose or my pimples or my shyness, he's gone. Obliterated.

But that wasn't true. Liam had still been perfectly nice after the attack, even if he did smile less. It's only after he found out who did it, and that I'd kept it from him, that he became - like this.

Ellie sat down at the end of the Ravenclaw table and put her head in her hands. She felt on the verge of tears, and the last thing she wanted was to draw more attention herself. People had been giving her weird looks all day - gossip seemed to travel faster than sound in this school. All those years that she'd longed for people to notice her, and when they finally did, it had to be because she'd had a blazing row with her only friend.

No, not my only friend, she corrected herself. There's Jeremy - and he's counting on me to get through to Liam...

Ellie groaned. She knew she couldn't do it. Liam was a no-go zone. Ellie wondered if the news of his outburst had reached Jeremy's ears.

But she had to try, she had to! For Jeremy's sake - and for everyone else who was in danger because of that damn bug. Ellie looked towards the Gryffindor table. Liam was nowhere to be seen. Ellie felt relieved.

Then she looked towards the Slytherin table, and Jeremy caught her eye. He didn't make any sort of signal, but she knew what he wanted to tell her. You're the only person I can trust. I need your help. Ellie remembered his hand gripping hers - she could still feel it.

All right. If Liam is a no-go zone, I'll just have to talk to someone else. After all, it's not just Liam who's in danger, is it?

But who else was there? Jeremy had listed a few people he thought were involved. Potter, of course, but Ellie didn't know him at all, she couldn't talk to him. Weasley - Jeremy didn't say which Weasley. I certainly don't want to talk to Ginny - she's always strolling around with Liam...

Ellie clenched her fists and forced down her anger. Ron. Maybe talk to Ron Weasley?

But he always looks like he's laughing at me. I swear he's always staring at my nose...

Ellie kicked herself for worrying about something so trivial, but she knew she couldn't talk to Ron.

Hermione, then?

Ellie unclenched her fists. Of course! Hermione talked to Ellie occasionally - she was actually really nice. They'd even sat together in Arithmancy a few times. Hermione was bound to know about what was going on with the bug, and whatever else that secret club of theirs did. I can't believe I didn't think of her before.

Ellie smiled. She wasn't going to let Jeremy down, after all. She would catch up with Hermione after dinner and tell her what'd happened. And maybe - Ellie's heart leapt at the possibility - I can ask her to pass a message to Liam? He might listen to her!

Ellie looked over at the Slytherin table again. Jeremy wasn't looking at her anymore - he was talking to the boy next to him. But after a few minutes, he caught her eye again. Ellie smiled and nodded, hoping he'd understand her optimistic signal.

I'll give the warning to Hermione, and help Jeremy beat Malfoy. And maybe, just maybe, there's still a chance of patching things up with Liam.

But whatever happens, I won't let Jeremy down.

***

Liam wandered down to the common room around dinnertime, when he hoped it would be mostly empty. He wanted to avoid the crowds that day - the only person he wanted near him was Ginny.

When he got there, however, he was immediately accosted by the Creevey brothers.

"There you are! We've been waiting for you," Colin said, looking annoyed. "It's your turn on the Extendable Ear, and we want to go to dinner. What've you been doing?"

Wouldn't you like to know, Liam thought. He was glad Ginny had gone back to her dormitory to get her books. "Nothing, Colin. I forgot."

Dennis handed him the Extendable Ear. "It's been really quiet. Zabini was talking about Death Eaters a little while ago, but it was all about stuff they did in the past. Nothing useful."

"Right," Liam said, taking the Ear.

The Creeveys left. Liam sighed. He really had forgotten about the Extendable Ear - he and Ginny always listened to it during dinnertime on Fridays. They never really heard anything at all - like the other common rooms, the Slytherin one was mostly empty around that time.

Just to check, Liam listened for few seconds. Dead silence. The Slytherins were at dinner, like everyone else. He put the Extendable Ear in his pocket - it would be safe to only check it occasionally for the next hour.

Ginny came down a few minutes later, but to Liam's surprise, she was empty-handed.

"I thought we were going to study?" he asked, looking up from his book - a Muggle paperback, which had nothing to do with his homework.

Ginny smiled the devious smile that told Liam she was Up To Something. "Not tonight," she said. "I have a surprise for you."

***

Harry, Ron and Hermione raced along the corridor, puffing from their climb up the castle stairs. Harry's heart pounded. His mind raced over all the conversations they'd had while listening to the Extendable Ear. What did we give away? How much do the Slytherins know?

Eloise Midgen had pulled Hermione aside as they left the Great Hall. A minute later, Hermione came tearing up the stairs, explaining as she ran.

With horror, Harry thought of all the people they might've betrayed. He'd never, not once, considered that the Slytherins could listen back. None of us did.

They burst into the common room, gasping for breath. Hermione immediately raced up to her dormitory, coming back with the roster clutched in her hand. "Liam and Ginny," she said, looking around. "They should have the Ear. Where are they?"

The two were nowhere to be seen. "Maybe they went to the library?" Harry suggested.

"Check the dorms first," Hermione said. "Liam had a huge fight with Eloise - maybe he just wanted to get away from people."

"With Ginny?" Ron asked, and raced up the stairs without waiting for an answer. Harry followed, thinking, That's all we need - Ron hexing Liam for touching Ginny...

Ron crashed through the door, which bounced back off on its hinges from the force of his fury. But the room was empty except for Hedwig, who was eating a dead mouse on the windowsill. Harry's stomach twisted painfully as he remembered talking about intercepting Malfoy's mail. Did they hear that? When did they reverse the spell?

He saw Ron looking carefully at Liam's bed, obviously searching for incriminating evidence. "Come on," Harry said. "We have to find the Extendable Ear." He emphasised the last words, trying to draw Ron's attention back to their biggest problem.

Ron looked up and nodded. "Yeah. That's right. Yeah," he said, though he sounded far from convinced.

Hermione came running into the dorm. She was breathing fast, her face pale. "Ginny..." she gasped between breaths. "She's..."

Ron rushed forward. "What? What happened to her?" Harry heard the worry in his voice now bordering on terror. His own stomach gave a sickening lurch.

"I found this in Ginny's dorm," Hermione said, holding out a sheet of parchment. Ron grabbed it out of her shaking hand. Harry stood on his toes to read over Ron's shoulder.

Dear Ginny,

We're proud of you, little sister...

***

Liam followed Ginny along the dim, musty-smelling passage, still not quite believing where they were. He'd known Hogwarts was full of secrets, but he'd been completely unprepared for the tunnel that opened up when Ginny tapped the hunchbacked witch statue on the third floor and said "Dissendium."

Inside the passage, Liam had found his heavy winter jacket, Ginny's Weasley jumper and his Muggle wallet. Ginny had obviously planned this.

"So, are you going to explain?" he asked for the third time. "Where does this passage go?"

"Hogsmeade," Ginny said. "Liam, what day is it today?"

"Friday," he said, puzzled. "Why? And why Hogsmeade? Can't we get expelled for that?"

He heard Ginny giggle. "Yes. If we get caught, that is."

"Right. So why..."

She giggled again. It seemed she'd been keeping the secret to herself for so long, she couldn't contain it. "Okay, Liam, what's the date?"

"The fourteenth? No, the fifteenth..." he trailed off, suddenly remembering what he was missing today.

"Right, and what's happening on the fifteenth?"

"Pearl Jam are playing," he said flatly. Then, his heart gave a sudden leap. "Wait... You're not..."

Ginny was laughing now. She was looking at him over her shoulder. "Oh, if you could see your face!"

Liam didn't dare believe what was happening. "You're saying you can get us there? We can go, see the concert and come back - without getting caught?"

"Well I should bloody well hope we don't get caught."

"But... in Hogsmeade... Someone's bound to... And there's only one ticket..."

"All taken care of. It's like... a belated birthday present."

Liam laughed. The day's events flashed again through his memory, and all he could think was I can see my friends. I can get away from it all, just for a little while, and go back to what it was like...

Then another realisation dawned, multiplying his joy a hundredfold. Ginny is coming with me.

He rushed forward and grabbed her around the waist, kissing her as passionately as he had in the dormitory, but with such different feelings. But of course, my feelings for her can never be different, never ever. Just for everything else...

Stop thinking, you're not making sense, he told himself, and laughed. "I love you," he said to Ginny. "If you hadn't done this, I'd love you anyway, but you have and I love you and I always have and I always will. I don't know how I ever lived without you, but it can't have been much of a life. I love you, Ginny."

She turned around fully to look at him, her eyes twinkling in the light of her wand. "I love you, too. But you knew that already. Or you should have."

Then they walked on, the light from Ginny's wand bobbing up and down, their feet kicking up clods of dirt and their voices racing ahead of them down the passageway. And for a while, the narrow, earthy tunnel passing under Hogwarts castle and leading them into Honeydukes, was the most magical place in the entire world.

***

In the Slytherin common room, Malfoy smiled his most wicked smile. Then, leaving Nott in charge of the bug, he sprinted to the Owlery. "Take this to my mother," he told the owl as he tied the letter to its leg. "And you'd better get there in time."