𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐠𝐥𝐨𝐫𝐲 | 𝐝.𝐦.

five

The Great Hall is blanketed in muffled whispers and murmurs when Betty enters it. Though it isn't the kind of jabbering the hall is used to, it is the solemn, grim sort which bewilders Betty.

She weaves her way to her friends who are huddled on the Gryffindor table, in deep conversation too. They quiet down when she appears and Ron opens a space for her to squeeze in to. Hermione is whispering to Harry, simmering him down because he seems a little agitated.

"What's going on? What did I miss?" Betty asks, glancing at any one of them, hoping they might speak up. "Why does it feel like someone's died?"

Hermione scrunches her face upwards in a wince. "You should probably mind your words, now, Betty," she says.

Betty frowns. "Why? Did someone actually - you know..."

"Not really," Hermione stammers, tapping her fingers on the table, a habit she has developed since young when she is nervous or anxious. "Well, almost."

"Blimey, Hermione. Just tell her already. It's not that big of a deal. What's with all the beating around the bush," Ron whispers. Hermione sends him a scathing look. It's ostensible that the pair had gotten into another of their squabble.

"Alright, Ronald. Just - shut it, first," Hermione says before returning her attention to Betty. "You're aware of Katie Bell? The seventh year quidditch chaser. Well, she's in the hospital wing now because she's been poisoned - "

"Poisoned?" Betty gasps, before lowering her voice carefully, "Poisoned? By who? And what? What did Dumbledore say about this?"

"Well, that's the thing. We haven't an idea who's the culprit - but we do know what's poisoned her," Hermione continues, softening her voice when one of the Katie Bell's friends past them by, sobbing uncontrollably in her palms.

"I know who the culprit is," Harry interrupts Hermione gruffly.

Hermione's forehead puckers. "No, you don't, Harry," she says dismissively, "You can't be sure it's Malfoy. Professor Mcgonagall's already told you, you can't go around accusing - "

Betty cuts the bushy-haired girl before she could finish, "Wait, Malfoy? You think Malfoy's done this?"

"Well, Harry thinks so - " Ron tries to say, nodding his head discreetly at the fuming boy beside Hermione.

"I don't think so," the boy with the lightning scar claims, "I know so."

"Yeah, but you still can't go around accusing him like this," Hermione goes on, "You've already lost us some house points with your boldness in front of Snape - "

"Wait, tell me, quick, what poisoned Katie Bell?" Betty intercepts their dispute.

"Uh - " Hermione glances briefly at Ron and Harry, uncertain if she could say. Ron nods eagerly while Harry looks uninterested, indignant that he isn't being heard. "Well, Professor Mcgonagall's told us we can't say a thing to anyone else. But, I'm sure she wouldn't mind if we tell you. Just promise you won't tell anyone else."

"Yeah, I won't," Betty promises absently.

"It's an opal necklace," Hermione finally divulges, and Betty isn't even surprised. She only wanted to affirm her suspicions about Malfoy. "I don't think you've ever heard of it, but Professor Mcgonagall's said that it was a kind of necklace that withholds dark magic and could poison very easily, anyone who touches it."

"Well, why would Katie Bell have it on her," Betty asks.

"I'll tell you," Harry speaks, combing his hair with his hand frustratedly, "She was under a trance - by Malfoy."