falling ; hp

─── thirty four

Willow was back to Hogwarts and she felt happy, to be honest. Somehow she'd survived the first day after Christmas holidays (except for Defense against Dark Arts).

After so much of struggle, Hermione dragged Willow and Ron to Library as they started doing their DADA homework.

"I'm gonna hex that woman," Willow muttered underneath her breath as Ron nodded his head. "Today's our first day and look!" She showed her pages of writing as Hermione heaved a sigh.

"There's nothing you can do, Will," Hermione said helplessly as Willow rolled her eyes. All of a sudden, she looked at Hermione with a frown.

"Hermy, when did you get this new scarf?" Willow asked as Ron too looked up and noticed it. Hermione's cheeks went red as she corrected her scarf and looked down.

"Um, Christmas, " she answered hastily.

"It looks good on you, Hermione, " Ron stated as he smiled a little. Still, Hermione didn't look up as she continued doing her homework.

"Thanks," she muttered.

"How come I was not aware of you getting a brand new scarf? " Willow asked as Hermione huffed in annoyance.

"I got it as a gift,"

"From who, may I ask?" Hermione slammed her quill down as she looked up to see Willow controlling herself from smiling.

"Leo," She snapped and continued doing her work. "And, stop smiling, you dimwit!"

"As you wish," Willow said with a knowing smile as she looked side to see the smile of Ron's face fall as he immediately averted his gaze back to the paper in front of him. Willow felt bad for her friend as she decided to have a talk with him later. She could understand Ron's emotions.

Minutes later, Harry entered the library after his private session from Snape for occlumency. He sat between Willow and Ron as he heaved a sigh.

“How did it go?” Willow whispered, and then, looking concerned, “Are you all right, Harry?”

“Yeah . . . fine . . . I dunno,” said Harry impatiently, wincing as
pain shot through his scar again. “Listen . . . I’ve just realized something. . . .”

And he told them what he had just seen and deduced.
“So . . . so, are you saying . . .” whispered Ron, as Madam Pince
swept past, squeaking slightly, “that the weapon — the thing You-
Know-Who’s after — is in the Ministry of Magic?”

“In the Department of Mysteries, it’s got to be,” Harry whispered.
“I saw that door when your dad took me down to the courtrooms for my hearing and it’s definitely the same one he was guarding when the snake bit him.”

"But, out of all the places, why must it be department of Mysteries?" Willow asked curiously. "There must be a reason, right? "

"Exactly, "Harry agreed with her as he looked at Ron. " what’s in the Department of Mysteries?” Harry. “Has your dad ever mentioned anything about it?”

“I know they call the people who work in there ‘Unspeakables,’ ”
said Ron, frowning. “Because no one really seems to know what they do in there. . . . Weird place to have a weapon . . .”

“It’s not weird at all, it makes perfect sense,” said Hermione. “It will be something top secret that the Ministry has been developing, I expect. . . . Harry, are you sure you’re all right?”