𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒-ℍ𝕒𝕣𝕣𝕪 ℙ𝕠𝕥𝕥𝕖𝕣❥

𝐆𝐎𝐅 𝟏𝟎

The storm had blown itself out by the following morning, though the ceiling in the Great Hall was still gloomy; heavy clouds of pewter gray swirled overhead as Harry, Ron, and Hermione examined their new course schedules at breakfast.

A few seats along, Ethan, Fred, George, and Lee Jordan were discussing magical methods of aging themselves and bluffing their way into the Triwizard Tournament.

Harry turned his head, scanning the room for Emily after Hermione mentioned she was still getting ready and would be a bit late.

His face lit up the moment she walked in. Her hair was straightened, soft and shining, and the faint touch of makeup highlighted her features perfectly. Harry's chest tightened, and a small, happy smile curved his lips.

But the smile vanished almost instantly. His stomach dropped when he saw Dean swoop in behind her, lifting her effortlessly and spinning her around with a laugh. Emily's laughter rang out, bright and carefree, and Harry's hands clenched at his sides.

A sharp pang of jealousy shot through him, hot and unwelcome. He could feel it burning behind his eyes as he watched Dean's grin mirrored by Emily's sparkling amusement. Every instinct in him screamed to storm forward, grab her hand, and pull her away—but he stayed frozen, forcing himself to keep his jealousy hidden beneath a tight jaw and narrowed eyes.

Harry's heart sank as he realized how easily Dean could make her laugh like that, how carefree she looked in Dean's arms, and how powerless he felt in comparison.

"Today's not bad . . . outside all morning," said Ron, who was running his finger down the Monday column of his schedule. "Herbology with the Hufflepuffs and Care of Magical Creatures . . . damn it, we're still with the Slytherins. . . ."

"That cheeky git!" Harry groaned, Hermione and Ron looked up and saw what he was unhappy about.

"There friends, why is he a cheeky git?" Hermione asked but Harry just shook his head.

Emily made her way over after Dean finally placed her back on the ground and walked over to his own friends.

"Double Divination this afternoon," said Emily, looking down. Divination was her least favorite subject, apart from Potions. Professor Trelawney kept predicting Emily's and Harry's death, which she found extremely annoying.

"You should have given it up like me, shouldn't you?" said Hermione briskly, buttering herself some toast. "Then you'd be doing something sensible like Arithmancy."

"You're eating again, I notice," said Ron, watching Hermione adding liberal amounts of jam to her toast too.

"I've decided there are better ways of making a stand about elf rights," said Hermione haughtily.

"Yeah . . . and you were hungry," said Ron, grinning.

There was a sudden rustling noise above them, and a hundred owls came soaring through the open windows carrying the morning mail.

Instinctively, Harry looked up, but there was no sign of white among the mass of brown and gray.

The owls circled the tables, looking for the people to whom their letters and packages were addressed. A large tawny owl soared down to Neville Longbottom and deposited a parcel into his lap, Neville almost always forgot to pack something.

On the other side of the Hall Draco Malfoy's eagle owl had landed on his shoulder, carrying what looked like his usual supply of sweets and cakes from home.

Trying to ignore the sinking feeling of disappointment in his stomach, Harry returned to his porridge. Was it possible that something had happened to Hedwig, and that Sirius and Eric hadn't even got his letter?