❝𝘶𝘯𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴,
𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘪𝘢❞
𝗛𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗬 𝗣𝗢𝗧𝗧𝗘𝗥 was a somewhat quiet, yet mischievous guy who had trouble tailing him since he was a mere one year-old. He encounters a girl, whose only known attribute wa...
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LXXXIX. TO LET SOMEBODY GO
31:07 ─❁────────── 31:80
◁ Ⅱ ▷
❝You gave everything this golden glow
Now turn off all the stars 'cause this I know❞
༻───────────────༺
THE SKIES WERE BRIGHTENING OVER them, indicating the signs that summer was approaching sooner than later, and neither Lucia nor Harry was all that excited about it. Especially Harry, who had been thwarted, both in his attempts to find out what Malfoy was doing, and in his efforts to start a conversation with Slughorn that might lead, somehow, to Slughorn handing over the memory he had apparently suppressed for decades.
"For the last time, just forget about Malfoy," Hermione told Harry firmly.
They were sitting with Ron and Lucia in a sunny corner of the courtyard after lunch. Lucia, Hermione, and Ron were clutching a Ministry of Magic leaflet — Common Apparition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them — for they were taking their tests that very afternoon, but by and large the leaflets had not proved soothing to the nerves.
Ron gave a start and tried to hide behind Hermione as a girl came around the corner.
"It isn't Lavender," said Hermione wearily.
"Oh, good," said Ron, relaxing.
"You're a great prat, do you know that?" said Lucia, already giving up on using all her efforts on Ron as she didn't raise her gaze from the leaflet. "Break up. It's as easy as that. You're only going to hurt her feelings more if you keep up with this,"
"That's easy for you to say," said Ron, mumbling.
"Yes, it is. Because it is that easy," deadpanned Lucia.
"Harry Potter?" said the girl. "I was asked to give you this."
"Thanks..." Harry's heart sank as he took the small scroll of parchment. Once the girl was out of earshot he said, "Dumbledore said we wouldn't be having any more lessons until I got the memory!"
"Maybe he wants to check on how you're doing?" suggested Hermione, as Harry unrolled the parchment; but rather than finding Dumbledore's long, narrow, slanted writing he saw an untidy sprawl, very difficult to read due to the presence of large blotches on the parchment where the ink had run. Lucia peered over his shoulder to read, and her heart instant ached for Hagrid.
Aragog died last night. Harry and Ron, you met him, and you know how special he was. Lucia and Hermione, I know you two have liked him. It would mean a lot to me if you'd nip down for the burial later this evening. I'm planning on doing it round dusk, that was his favorite time of day. I know you're not supposed to be out that late, but you can use the cloak. Wouldn't ask, but I can't face it alone.
Hagrid
"Look at this," said Harry, handing the note to Hermione.
"Oh, for heaven's sake," she said, scanning it quickly and passing it to Ron, who read it through looking increasingly incredulous.
"He's mental!" he said furiously. "That thing told its mates to eat Harry and me! Told them to help themselves! And now Hagrid expects us to go down there and cry over its horrible hairy body!"
"It's not just that," said Hermione. "He's asking us to leave the castle at night and he knows security's a million times tighter and how much trouble we'd be in if we were caught."
"We've been down to see him by night before," said Harry.
"Yes, but for something like this?" said Hermione. "We've risked a lot to help Hagrid out, but after all — Aragog's dead. If it were a question of saving him —"
"— I'd want to go even less," said Ron firmly. "You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot."
Harry took the note back and stared down at all the inky blotches all over it. Tears had clearly fallen thick and fast upon the parchment...
"Harry, you can't be thinking of going," said Hermione. "It's such a pointless thing to get detention for."
Harry sighed. "Yeah, I know," he said. "I s'pose Hagrid'll have to bury Aragog without us."
"Then I'll be the only one going," said Lucia, who took the parchment from Harry, frowning down at it with deep sadness. "Whether it's dangerous or not, it's still a funeral for his dear friend, and he needs support. If any of you don't want to go, then I'll go by myself!"
"For heaven's sake, Lucia, it's dangerous!" Hermione rolled her eyes.
"I've almost died before!" said Lucia, causing all three of them to flinch at the dark reminder, "I'm not afraid of death! Not much like before anyway..."
"Still..."
"I am going!" she said stubbornly.
"Fine! But how do you suppose you will be going down, huh? Never thought of that, did you?" said Hermione.
Lucia turned to Harry. "Can I borrow your cloak?"
Harry looked at her with incredulity painted his expression, but he also knew that she was being dead serious about this. He sighed. "Fine."
"I can believe you, Harry," said Hermione, looking at Harry reproachfully with a shook of disapproval. "Look, Potions will be almost empty this afternoon, with us all off doing our tests... Try and soften Slughorn up a bit then!"
"Fifty-seventh time lucky, you think?" said Harry bitterly.
"Lucky," said Ron suddenly. "Harry, that's it — get lucky!"
"What's gotten into you all of the sudden?" said Lucia, cocking a brow.
"Use your lucky potion!"
"Ron, that's — that's it!" said Hermione, sounding stunned. "Of course! Why didn't I think of it?"
