𝐼𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑑𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑊𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑠

𝘛𝘦𝘯

     𝑺o, the golden trio were back to square one.  After weeks of sleepless nights, there was no progress. Every step forward seemed to be 2 steps back. It frustrated Harry to no end, and seeing him hold the box with utter disappointment showed how dejected he was.

Hermione pursed her lips before glancing at Ron. With one look, they knew exactly what to do.

"Say," Ron spoke up, "how about we take a break from this, eh mate? Let's go to the Hogsmeade trip for a change."

Harry slowly turned his head. He sighed.

"Sure. Why not."

"Great!" Hermione clapped a little too enthusiastically. "We'll meet up at 10."

Thus, Harry, Hermione, and Ron continued their studies and halted their investigation.

 
     On the morning of Saturday, Hermione sat by the fireplace in the common room. She read a book, waiting for the boys to come down. She checked her watch. It was 9:30. Humming, she flipped a page, annotating as she read.

Twenty five minutes later, she heard the tumbling of footsteps coming down from the stairs. There stood Harry practically dragging Ron to the fireplace. Hermione's mouth went agape before she quickly shut it.

"What in Merlin's name are you doing?"

"Mornin' Hermione," Ron yawned.

"Were you sleeping?" Hermione tepidly asked.

"Maybe." Ron shrugged his shoulders lazily.

Hermione's eyebrow twitched and she put on a placid smile. "Let's go now."

She walked out of the common room, and the boys followed suit. Sooner or later, they arrived to Diagon Alley and stopped by Leaky Cauldron, buying butterbeers to drink. Taking a seat in a booth, the three made themselves comfortable in the busy ambience.

"Quit fidgeting Ron!" Hermione chided.

"I'm not!"

"Yes you are." Harry piped up, sipping his drink.

"Since when did today become 'gang up on Ron day?'"

"I haven't got the brightest clue what you mean," Hermione flushed.

"Sure."

"..."

"What's wrong, Harry?" Hermione asked with a worried expression.

"Nothing," he denied fervently. That set off an alarm in Hermione's and Ron's minds.

Ron glued his eyes to Harry cloak. "What'd you bring mate?"

"I haven't got a clue what you mean."

"Harry."

"Oh drop it, you."

"I thought we were taking a break from the mess!"

"Keep your voice down," Hermione half-whispered.

"Er, guys-"

"KeEp yUor VoiCe doWn- I do what I want, Hermione! I'm not some little kid that you babysit! Haven't you got your own problems to deal with?! 'Ron, don't do this- Ron don't do that-' bloody hell, you probably say my name more than your bloody rants about passing or failing in school!"

"Guys, seriously-"

"Oh, so that's how you want to play," Hermione fumed, her cheeks furiously red. "I always clean up after you when you make your mess, and for Merlin's beard, I always have to give you answers for homework don't I?! You're always coming around with 'Hermione what's the answer for this' or 'Hermione, please, please, PLEASE, give me the answer; I'll do whatever you want'-"

Harry was sweating buckets. "Guys-"

"SHUSH!" Ron and Hermione said simultaneously. When they finally got quiet, a splendid clap right at their table burst into the air, and it wasn't Harry who was clapping.

"Wow." At the foot of their table, Draco's hands would not stop moving. Although there was a sneer, he too was appalled by their.... little scuffle. Next to him we're Crabbe, Goyle, and the girl from potions mirroring similar expressions. Harry couldn't smell the citrus, but there was a hint of parchment.

"Bloody hell."
 

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