PRECEDENT : Draco Malfoy II

38

            After we return on the last Friday of the Easter break, I drop my stuff off in my dorm room. I want to get to the boathouse quickly, mostly because I feel like I've had a breakthrough in the Sagum, partially because I think Draco will try to meet me there after the feast tonight, and I don't really feel like attending the feast tonight since Mandy was already a huge problem on the train the entire way here. If my tinkering is right, I'll be able to finish working on the Sagum before the end of the school year.

It's a hassle to push my way downstairs. Girls are still heading up the stairs, trunks behind them and the occasional cat prowling beside their feet. Every small alcove forces me to press my body tightly against the wall, and every few steps I had to try to flatten myself against the wall. My robe keeps getting snagged on trunks and owl cages, and I want to just rip it off.

It's the end of April. Realistically, I won't need the cloak for many more days. There aren't many left in the school year at all.

"Marty?"

One of the girls walks by. Cho Chang isn't someone I know well, even though we've spent a while together in her club. Just in front of her is Marietta, the red blemishes across her cheeks hidden by make up, but they are puffed up above her face so much you can still read the message. SNEAK.

"Terry is looking for you," Cho answers.

Marietta doesn't meet my eyes.

I nod, heading down. Then, I try not to think of Hermione and how we are always studying together. I overheard Cho talking to Anthony and Padma about it the night before we left. How Madam Pomphrey thinks the mark will scar, how unfair it is to judge Marietta forever based off one decision. Padma agreed, and Anthony was diplomatic about it, as always. Even if we are caught, I don't know how any of could go back to the club after that.

It's Gryffindor righteousness. I try not to judge people by their worst mistakes. After all, I see Draco Malfoy, regularly about now.

At the bottom of the stairs, I spot Terry. The Common Room is still mostly empty, but he's sitting at one of the tables. His hair is long again, and I'm not sure when it got that long. I haven't noticed in a while. My fingers haven't touched it, not since December. Terry stands up when he sees me and crosses the room.

His hair is long enough that he can hide such a mark. I'm not quite sure what it says about me that I'm more upset about Hermione's betrayal than Marietta's. I suppose I hadn't expected the army to be safe, and I had expected that of Hermione. I suppose that I don't like the public branding of shame. I prefer quiet, hidden consequences.

"We didn't get to talk much on the train," Terry says.

I nod. Mandy did most of it. The only bits of conversation that didn't come from her mouth were a few reassuring words from Anthony to Michael, who seemed upset, and then Mandy went on a tirade about how much she dislikes Ginny Weasley and I tuned her out.

"Walk with me?" I ask.

I can feign going to the library and then I can sneak out around him at some point later. Privacy is preferred, and I suppose some endings cannot be avoided.

We walk through the hallways. Most people are still getting settled, so there aren't many people around us. Terry maintains a distance between us. If I had to guess, we are somewhere around seven inches apart. In my head, I can heal Filch hammering a decree into the stone outside of the Great Hall.

"We almost got caught," he says quietly.

I shrug, "Michael is clever."

"Yes," Terry agrees.