𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠

𝘍𝘰𝘶𝘳

𝐸ventually the next day came, and Harry was ready to fire. When Neville left the dorm room to eat breakfast, Ron was immediately interrogated.

"Tell me where the box is." Harry pleaded.

Ron shot an annoyed glance. "I told you that I. Don't. Know."

"I know you know where it is." Potter pressed. "You took it."

"But I don't have it," Ron insisted. "Now, if you'll excuse me," he spoke in a mimicking tone, "I'll fancy myself some breakfast, thank you very much." He left Harry to replenish his energy and ease his hunger. With no other option, Harry followed after him.

He found Ron sitting with Hermione, scarfing down some eggs and toast. Intent on finding his box he sat across from his two friends.

"Good morning, Harry," Hermione greeted.

"Morning," Harry said quickly before scrutinizing Ron. "Tell me who has my box."

"Box?" Hermione repeated. "Do you mean this one here?" She held up the very object Harry was so desperately searching for. The boy's mouth went agape and he lunged for it. However, Hermione was much quicker and held the wooden container out of his reach.

"Hermione," Harry breathed. "Give me the box."

"Not unless you tell us who it's for," she sniffed. "Surely the person must be highly skilled in charms to make a security spell. Who made this?"

"I don't know." Harry said, making another grab for it.

Hermione was baffled. "What do you mean you don't know?" She held the box further away. "You're telling me-"

"Us," Ron interrupted, still consuming his food.

"Us," Hermione rolled her eyes, "that you're talking to a complete stranger? Harry, that could be anyone in this hall! Malfoy could be taking your letters for blackmail!"

"Bloody hell," Ron realized. "Hermione's right. He might be using your little confessions for his next plot!"

"It's not Malfoy," Harry snapped. He snatched the box and carefully wrapped it in his cloak.

"And how would you know?" Ron narrowed his eyes.

"Cause this person is actually really sweet and sincere." There was a daydream-like look on Harry's face. "They actually take interest in my days: what I feel, how my day's going, my favorite and least favorite spells and classes, my rants about Professor Snape, quidditch, and they even reply every single time! Every conversation comes up smoothly and naturally. It's like they're..."

"Your other half?"

"Horribly lonely?"

Harry glared at Ron. "... like they're actually interested in me."

Ron looked utterly confused. "Have you caught some sort of disease, mate?"

"Oh, you absolutely oblivious excuse of a friend," Hermione scowled. "Don't you see? Harry's completely heads over heels for this mystery person!"

"What?" Ron laughed out loud. "That's a funny joke, Hermione. Really? Bloody hell, you think he's-" The redhead paused and observed his best friend. Blush? Was Harry blushing right now? "You're nutters, Harry," he said, gob smacked. "Bloody hell, you fell for a person you don't even know!"

"So what?!" Harry snapped defensively. "There's nothing wrong with that."

Ron looked at Hermione in disbelief. The girl only shrugged. "But Harry," she wondered, "don't you want to know who you're talking to?"

"Of course I do," he confessed. "But there's no way to find out." Hermione picked up on a tone of hopelessness in his voice. "They've kept themselves completely anonymous."

There was a sly look on Granger's face and she smirked. "They won't be for long."

   .