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𝐈n the Great Hall, Potter, Weasley, and Granger seat themselves in the middle of their table. They feast on the delicious food in front of them: hotcakes drowning in butter and syrup, fruits, crisp bacon, sausages, eggs, and toast. Their cups are filled to the brim with juice. After an eventful night like that, they were starving.
"Hand me that platter, will you mate?" Ron holds out his hand mid-chew. Harry glanced at the plate full of sausages and handed it to his best friend who was in the middle of devouring his hotcakes. As they were eating, a certain someone arrives to their table.
"Oi, Potter."
The said boy stops eating and turns. Draco Malfoy stands behind him, arms crossed and an annoyed look plastered onto his face. No Crabbe. No Goyle. Harry swallows his food before asking, "why are you here?"
Malfoy lets out a 'tsk' and squeezes next to Harry. He eyes the trio carefully with harmless menace. "You need to solve her curse," he whisper-shouts, "as of by the end of this year."
"We know that!" Hermione snaps back. "We're working on it!"
"Clearly not enough!" He argues. "There's two months left! Two! She's already getting worse!"
"What?" Harry drops everything and stand up. "What exactly is happening to her?"
"If I could tell you, I would," Draco says. "But the Grey Lady should've told you that only Cass can say the truth."
Harry stares at him for a moment, before grabbing his things.
"Where are you goin?" Ron asks.
"To find the Room of Requirement," he answers. He stops to look at Malfoy again. "You're coming with us."
Instead of the expected refusal, Draco replies with a "yes."
The four exit the Great Hall and make their way to the seventh floor.
"Drink this," Hermione gives Draco.
"What is it?" He asks.
"Veritaserum," she answers.
"You've got to be kidding me," Draco mumbled as he consumes the liquid. "Ask away."
"What's your relationship with Cassiopeia?," Harry asks without skipping a beat.
"We're family," he say.
"Not to be rude or anything," Ron pipes up, "but you two look nothing alike. At all."
"Great observation, Weasley," Malfoy says sarcastically. "Who knew the only way to be family is through blood."
"You're married?!" Harry accuses.
"No!" Draco shouts. "Family as in we're like siblings! Merlin, you two are blundering dolts!"
"Excuse me-"
"Can you three stop it already?" Hermione exclaims. "We're almost there, and I can't concentrate with useless banter occurring every three seconds."
"Sorry," Harry apologizes.
"Thank you."
Hermione navigates her way to the left corridor, stopping in front of a large, empty wall. She whispers, "I wish to find the history of the Sung family."
Nothing happens.
"Nothing you do will work, mudbl- muggle-born," Draco interrupts. "Someone's already using the room."
