The Dark Mark (The Girl Who Lived part II)

Malfoy Manor-isms

Time dragged on as it usually did. But as time did this, I noticed a few things. Everyone became fixated on certain things that we normally wouldn't think about twice. We also had many more arguments than we normally would. We spent a large portion of our time together, and it was easy to see that we had begun getting on each other's nerves. I often found myself fighting with Harry, and Ron with Hermoine about stupid little things.

The four of us all had our own personal belongings that made us sane. That made us remember who we were. Ron, his sweater that Mrs. Weasley had knitted him. Harry, the watch I had given him. Hermoine, with her perfume. These items seemed much more important compared to the necklace that I wore underneath my clothes. It was the vial necklace with the forgetfulness potion that had been given to me by Dumbledore. I wasn't especially connected to the necklace like Hermoine was to her perfume, Ron to his sweater, and Harry to his watch. There was no sentimental value to it. It was what the necklace symbolized that was important. The vial symbolized a way out. An escape.

Harry and I returned to the tent from guard duty to find Ron sitting on the bed listening to the radio along with Hermoine. It was one of the songs that was played during the Yule Ball. They normally slept during this time, but I suppose they were unable to. Ron and Hermoine swayed to the music. Ron made his way over to me. "Would you care to dance?" He asked me, offering his hand. Harry glanced in between the two of us. He'd become much more protective of me since I joined them. "I would, thank you". I took his hand. The two of us danced across the tent. Harry offered his hand to Hermoine and they began to dance as well. "Your hand goes here". I said as I lowered his hand to the small of my back. "Where?" He gulped. I began to laugh. Something I hadn't done in a long time. "What?" He asked, his face turning a scarlet. "This reminds me of fourth year when McGonagall was teaching us how to dance". I said between laughs. "I won't have you running around like a babbling, bumbling band of baboons". The four of us mimicked Professor McGonagall in sync. We broke out into laughter as the song began to end.

We settled down onto one of the beds as the radio transitioned from the music to a broadcast. "Anyone hungry?" Hermoine asked to no one in particular. "I am". Said Ron. "But you're always hungry. What about you, Scarlet. Harry?" Hermoine completely dismissed Ron and turned to me and Harry. "I'm not starving, but it's about dinner time. May as well eat now". Said Harry. Ron and I began preparing dinner while Harry and Hermoine reinforced the tent stakes. The radio broadcast played in the background. Ron didn't want Hermoine cooking us dinner because he said her cooking was atrocious. When dinner was served, the four of us sat around the radio. It wasn't much, but it's what we had. The food had to be rationed. And there was even less considering that there had been one more added to the group.

I wasn't very hungry. But I watched as Hermoine and Harry ate their meals with haste while Ron practically swallowed his food, forgetting the chewing step. Ron slowed down when he noticed I wasn't eating anything. He scooped some of his vegetables off his plate and onto mine. "No thanks, I'm not hungry". I said. Harry glanced over at me. He nudged me. A signal that he was worried and wanted me to eat. I ate a few bites, but I certainly didn't enjoy it. I handed the plate over to Ron who at first was hesitant, and then eagerly ate the extra portion. We continued to listen to the broadcast that reported news that actually happened. "Thank goodness someone's got a bloody clue on what's going on. They actually tell the story like it is. People need to know the truth about Voldemort-" Harry covered his mouth when he realized what he'd done. He'd broken the taboo.

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