malice. |harry potter|

SUMMER.3

"fraud or not, he's rather nice to look at."

♥

"Beds empty! No note! Car gone — could have crashed — out of my mind with worry — did you care? — never, as long as I've lived — you wait until your father gets home, we never had trouble like this from Bill or Charlie or Percy —"

"Perfect Percy," Fred muttered.

"YOU COULD DO WITH TAKING A LEAF OUT OF PERCY'S BOOK!" yelled Mrs. Weasley, poking Fred in the chest. "You could have died, you could have been seen, you could have lost your father his job —"

Mali cringed. That woman could yell. After a bit, Molly turned to the only two brunettes in the room, smiling kindly. "Of course, I don't fault you, Malice. I'm very pleased to see you, Harry, dear," she said. "Come in and have some breakfast."

♥

After breakfast the next day, Kore, Mali's owl, swooped into the kitchen, dropping an envelope in front of the girl. The brown scops owl was accompanied by another, carrying letters for all of the Weasley children, as well as Harry. "Why are all of our books by bloody Gilderoy Lockhart?" Mali questioned, reading through her supply list. "I admit he's an interesting bloke, but this is like- every book he's written."

"Bet the new defense teacher's a fan," Fred whispered, avoiding eye contact with his Mum. "Probably a witch."

"This lot won't come cheap," George worried aloud. "Lockhart's books are really expensive."

Molly stared at the list with concern. "We'll manage," she dismissed, waving off her son. "Besides, I'm sure we can get a few of Ginny's books secondhand."

Mali frowned. There was no family more deserving than the Weasley's, and yet, they were without financial stability. It was sad, the way status and power and gold all intermingled in order to create happiness. She was spoiled, she knew it, but there was just something about seeing your friends worry about buying school supplies, something that she had always taken for granted.

"Oh, are you starting school this year?" Harry's voice cut through her rambling thoughts, directed at the pretty redhead girl at the end of the table. Ginny blushed a deep plum red, before nodding quickly and scurrying away. No one seemed to notice the interaction, but Mali made a note in her head to explore that later as another redhead joined the table.

"Morning all, lovely day," Percy Weasley greeted, settling into a chair before yelping and pulling an owl from underneath him, an owl that looked as though it was being held together by prayers and scotch tape.

"Errol!" Ron cried, jumping up to snatch the parchment attached. "It's Hermione's response. She hopes you're okay, Harry. She says she's busy with schoolwork- though I can't possibly see bloody how- and she'll be in Diagon Alley to buy her books on Wednesday."

     "Well, that's lovely! You can all go and get your things at the same time," Mrs. Weasley chirped. "What are you all planning to do today?"

♥

     The plan, as it seemed, was to play quidditch on the small paddock up the hill. Mali, though offered relentlessly, refused to play, instead opting to hang out without the boys, and helping Mrs. Weasley cool lunch. Malice was a talented baker, and, though knowing nothing of how to cook a roast or shepherd's pie, could make some of the most delicious desserts, her specialty being blueberries.