AUTOPHOBIA - G. WEASLEY

Second Year: First day back

✯ CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE ✯

❝Nothing awful, 'Mione.❞

September 2nd, 1992.

BREAKFAST THE NEXT day was nothing close to what was normal at Hogwarts. Normally all students were way too tired to process anything that was going on that early in the morning, and would therefore sit quietly munching on things like toast and occasionally whispering things to their friends.

Today was different, however, at least for Estella.

For starters, Hermione seemed very distant; she hadn't even bothered to wait for Estella as she finished getting ready so that they could walk to the Great Hall together like normal. It was likely that this was because she still disapproved of the little fight that had happened on the train, and when Estella realised that Hermione was being off with Harry and Ron as well, it was confirmed to her that the Granger was also still slightly annoyed about their arrival.

That wasn't the only thing that happened though. As a rushing noise sounded over the Gryffindor's heads, a hundred or so owls streamed in, circling the hall and dropping letters and packages into the quietly chatting crowd.

Remus had sent something for Estella, and the minute she opened it she was relieved to see that it didn't seem he knew about the train incident. He'd simply sent her tie, which she had forgot, and a note with a snarky comment telling her he was always right and she needed to listen more.

To which he had a point, she supposed, remember how hard she'd tried to convince him she had everything on the platform.

The sound of Ron's panicked voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and she turned to see him gasping, staring into Hermione's jug, which Estella then noticed his family owl was lying in.

"It's all right, he's still alive," Hermione was saying, prodding Errol with the tip of her finger.

Estella, however, knew immediately that the state that his owl was in wasn't what was worrying Ron. Eroll was holding a damp red letter in his beak; something that she knew was a Howler -- all Hogwarts students most dreaded gift from home.

She had received her very own one of these not even a year earlier.

"It's not that --" said Ron, eventually, once he'd managed to find his voice. "It's that."

He pointed at the red envelope.

"What is it?" asked Harry.

"She's -- she's sent me a Howler," said Ron faintly, although Harry's face remained blank.

Estella looked at him. "Remember that letter my Dad sent me last year after I punched Malfoy? The one that erupted with his loud shouts and made everyone in this room turn and stare at me?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah?"

"Ron's Mother has sent him one of those."

"Oh." Harry nodded in understanding and turned back to Ron. The redhead was dedicating his whole attention to the letter, which had begun to smoke at the corners.

"Open it," Neville, who was sat beside him, urged. "The consequences are horrible if you don't. It'll be over in a few minutes..."