two rings and bad things

45_ the plan

Ed laid in her bed one summer night with a sigh, wondering where everything went wrong.

Earlier that day were two events that she couldn't stop playing in her mind...

"I'm going to miss you," Ed said as she hugged her best friend.

"I will too," Malorie replied with tears falling down her cheeks.

"I promise I'll keep in touch," she added.

But Ed shook her head.

"It's not safe. Besides, that's the reason why you're moving—to be safe from your uncle recruiting you."

"I know," Malorie sighed.

"And I'm so grateful that Aunt Glenna is taking Claire and I to our grandma's house all the way in Marseille, but it doesn't feel right leaving Hogwarts."

"Are you going to Beauxbatons now, then?"

"No, Grandma says she's getting too old and needs some help around the house," Malorie smiled, but Ed could tell it was forced.

"It still seems surreal. The Death Eaters taking over again and all. Poor Aunt Glenna, after all she did to stay away from Rowle."

"Why did they even get married in the first place?"

"It was an arranged marriage, but they ended up getting divorced anyways."

"I'm sorry, Ed, I have to leave now. Aunt Glenna will lose it if I'm not back in time," said Malorie.

"I'll see you soon," Ed reassured her.

"Thanks for being my best friend," Malorie smiled.

"Those five years were the best we ever had; I'll never forget them," Ed smiled back as she hugged Malorie one last time.

They soon walked into the other room, where Malorie stepped into the fireplace and mumbled a few words. In the blink of an eye, she was gone, consumed by furious green flames.

As the memory ended, Ed's gray kitten crawled on top of her.

"Hi, Dragon," she said as she pet his soft fur.

He purred as she did so, and suddenly she was reminded of the day Draco gave him to her.

Oh, Draco, she thought.

They had written to each other as much as possible at the beginning of summer, but he slowly stopped writing.

Ed knew something was wrong, but didn't know what it was until earlier that day.

Ed was sitting at the kitchen table, reading her book when her mom, who was reading The Daily Prophet, suddenly gasped.

"What?" Ed asked.

"This is just terrible, everything that's happening... another muggle couple died—they had two children. Oh, how sad."

"If it's so sad stop reading it," Ed thought to herself.

"Wait a minute, you go to school with him!" Mrs. Koldings practically shouted.

"They're Death Eaters!" She whispered (she didn't want Kai and Leo to hear).

"Who?" Ed asked, acting dumb.

Mrs. Koldings handed her the newspaper.

"That Malfoy boy, I always knew he was no good," she sneered.