The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

Favorite Things

We returned to Hogwarts from the Burrow as we usually did. I didn't see Harry much. He was busy working for Dumbledore. And as soon as I knew it, it was March, and Ron's birthday was approaching. Neville and I were planning to give him the best gift of all. To get him away from Bellatrix who was still in the form of Lavender Brown. "I feel like a spy". Said Neville who was my sidekick in the operation. "How so?" I asked him, as we watched Lavender round the corner from afar with omnioculars. "Well, we're doing all this creeping around, investigating, and such. It's like being James Bond". Said Neville who held his hands up into a gun-like form and raised his eyebrows.

I'd been increasingly spending time with Ron. Bellatrix couldn't do anything to him with me around. "What do you think she's here for, anyway. She hasn't done anything suspicious yet. So she's most likely a mole. But, who's she watching?" I did realize why Neville felt like a spy. Or more rather, a detective. "Her target isn't Ron. He's got nothing to do with the mess I'm in. No, she just positioned herself next to Ron so she could keep a close eye on whoever she was keeping tabs on. I'm sure it's me, Draco, or Harry, she's watching". Neville nodded his head in agreement.

But Ron's birthday wasn't as wonderful as I anticipated for it to be. He drank a love potion brewed by Romilda Vane which was meant for Harry. I yelled at her for that. Not for liking Harry. For giving attempting to give Harry a love potion baked into some chocolates, which Ron consumed, which caused Ron to have the poisoned mulled mead. Although she hadn't intended for this to happen, she may as well have had given the poisoned mulled mead herself. Neville had to stop me from yelling at her even further. She was beginning to tear up.

Now, the day after, Neville and I sat at Ron's bedside. Harry was off running an errand, and would returning soon. Hermoine and Ron still hadn't reconciled yet, but knowing that Hermoine knew of Ron's health, she'd be visiting and forgiving him fairly soon. "So much for a birthday". I said not to Ron nor Neville, but to myself.

Harry entered the Hospital Wing. "How is he?" He asked me. Hermoine and Ginny would be arriving much later. "He's still not moving". Neville said. I sucked in my breath, realizing the reality of it all. "Thanks for saving him, Harry". "It'll be thanks enough when he opens his eyes". Harry said who pulled up a chair to sit on the other side of me. "How is my Ron?" It was Bellatrix who was still in the form of Lavender, who ran through the Hospital Wing and directly to Ron. She annoyed me even more than Pansy. And that said something. She stopped short in front of his bed. "What is she doing here?" She pointed her long fingernails toward me, not even having the common courtesy to say my name. I crossed my arms and stood opposite of her. "I'm his friend. What are you doing here?" I saw the insincerity behind Bellatrix's eyes. It sickened me. Because of her, Ron was like this. I knew she was behind it somehow. And to see this false sympathy really hit a nerve. "I'm his girlfriend, that's what". Ron mumbled something. I made my way to his side while Bellatrix went to his other and held his hands. "Yes my sweetheart, what is it?" Ron mumbled something again. This time, more audible. We leaned in to hear it. "Raindrops on roses......bright copper kettles....warm woolen mittens....crisp apple streudles....schnitzel with noodles...." "Oh, it's his favorite things. Everything that he loves". Said Harry who simply waved this off. "He does love his apple streudles". I said, sniffling a bit. Neville handed me a tissue that he kept in his pocket. I wiped my nose and thanked him for the tissue.

Ron opened his mouth to speak again, and we quieted ourselves again. "....Scarlet...." He mumbled, just audible for the four of to hear it. Lavender began to tear up and rushed out of the room, wiping her face with her sleeves. That Bellatrix was quite an actress. Harry looked back and forth between the two of us. Searching for something that was between us that was more than the friendship we shared. "I...... better go". I said, scooting out from my chair and exiting the Hospital Wing.