Written In The Stars VI -[Harry Potter xF!Oc]

Chapter Twenty-One: Question of Honour.

"You're going about it the wrong way. Only you can get the memory, Dumbledore says. That must mean you can persuade Slughorn where other people can't. It's not a question of slipping him a potion, anyone could do that —"

"I told him that," Mel sighed. "There's a reason why it was us who convinced him to come back, we are his best collection yet, we just need to find a way to use it in our favour..."

"How d'you spell 'belligerent'?" Ron interrupted. "It can't be B — U — M —" 

"No, it isn't," Hermione leaned over to read his parchment. "And 'augury' doesn't begin O — R — G either. What kind of quill are you using?"

"It's one of Fred and George's Spell-Check ones... but I think the charm must be wearing off..."

"Yes, it must, because we were asked how we'd deal with dementors, not 'Dugbogs,' and I don't remember you changing your name to 'Roonil Wazlib' either."

"Ah no!" Ron complained over Mel and Harry's laughter. "Don't say I'll have to write the whole thing out again!"

"It's okay, we can fix it..." Hermione drew out her wand and started to quickly correct the words.

"I love you, Hermione," Ron heaved a sigh.

Harry and Mel exchanged a knowing grin, Hermione blushed and mumbled something about not saying that in front of Lavender.

"I won't — Or maybe I will... then she'll ditch me..."

"Why don't you ditch her if you want to finish it?" Harry questioned.

"You haven't ever chucked anyone, have you?" said Ron. "You and Cho just —"

"Sort of fell apart, yeah," said Harry glimpsing at Mel briefly.

"Wish that would happen with me and Lavender, but the more I hint I want to finish it, the tighter she holds on. It's like going out with the giant squid."

"Dating your brother felt like going out with the giant squid," The boys laughed at her reply.

"There!" said Hermione, handing back Ron's work.

"Thanks a million. Can I borrow your quill for the conclusion?"

A loud noise startled them, and next thing she knew, Kreacher was bowing in front of Mel.

"Master said he wanted regular reports on what the Malfoy boy is doing, so Kreacher has come to give —" 

Another loud crack and Dobby showed up next to him.

"Dobby has been helping too, Harry Potter! And Kreacher ought to tell Dobby when he is coming to see Harry Potter so they can make their reports together!" He scowled. Mel had never seen the elf upset with anyone before.

"What is this?" asked Hermione. "What's going on, Harry?"

"Well... they've been following Malfoy for me," He said. 

"Night and day," Kreacher nodded.

"Dobby has not slept for a week, Harry Potter!" A moment later he kind of went sideways but recovered abruptly.

"You haven't slept, Dobby?" Hermione's eyes widened. "But surely, Harry, you didn't tell him not to —"

"No, of course I didn't! Dobby, you can sleep, all right? But has either of you found out anything?" 

"Master Malfoy moves with a nobility that befits his pureblood. His features recall the fine bones of my mistress and his manners are those of —"

"Draco Malfoy is a bad boy! A bad boy who — who —" He attempted to punish himself, but Harry stopped him. "Thank you, Harry Potter... Dobby still finds it difficult to speak ill of his old masters... But Kreacher should know that Draco Malfoy is not a good master to a house-elf!"