Courage

-61-

Book: Courage
Chapter 61
Word Count: 3030

When Layla awoke, she was pleasantly surprised to see that Harry had already left with Mr Weasley for his hearing to decide whether or not he was going to be expelled from Hogwarts, meaning she wouldn't have to worry about running into him around her house. Although she was too stubborn to admit it aloud, she really, really hoped that Harry wouldn't be expelled. Sure, she was still furious with him and couldn't think about Harry without Cedric flashing in her mind, Hogwarts wouldn't be the same without him.

The whole day, however, passed rather uneventfully. Everybody that Layla passed around the house seemed worried and anxious, more so than when Harry was attacked by dementors. The Ministry had proven time and time again that they certainly do not like Harry at all. At least with the dementors, they knew he was safe.

Even Layla, who of course was still refusing to speak to Harry at all, was on edge. Hermione was constantly pacing and Ron was tapping relentlessly on the coffee table.

When dinner time came around, they all heard the front door open. Everyone piled into the kitchen doorway (except Layla, who was still sat in her seat in the kitchen, though she had straightened up and was anxiously waiting to hear the verdict), waiting for Harry to come around the corner. He did, moments later, with the biggest smile on his face.

"I've gotten off," he said rather breathlessly.

The kitchen went into an immediate uproar. Layla was finding it hard to fight back a relieved smile, shielding her face with her dyed hair.

"I knew it!" yelled Ron, punching the air. "You always get away with stuff!"

"They were bound to clear you," said Hermione, who had looked positively faint with anxiety when Harry had entered the kitchen and was now holding a shaking hand over her eyes, "there was no case against you, none at all."

"Everyone seems quite relieved, though, considering you all knew I'd get off," said Harry, smiling.

Mrs Weasley was wiping her face on her apron, and Fred, George, and Ginny were doing a kind of war dance to a chant that went: "He got off, he got off, he got off..."

"That's enough! Settle down!" shouted Mr Weasley, though he too was smiling. "Listen, Sirius, Lucius Malfoy was at the Ministry—"

"What?" said Sirius sharply.

"He got off, he got off, he got off..."

"Be quiet, you three! Yes, we saw him talking to Fudge on Level Nine, then they went up to Fudge's office together. Dumbledore ought to know."

"Absolutely," said Sirius. "We'll tell him, don't worry."

"Well, I'd better get going, there's a vomiting toilet waiting for me in Bethnal Green. Molly, I'll be late, I'm covering for Tonks, but Kingsley might be dropping in for dinner—"

"He got off, he got off, he got off..."

"That's enough — Fred — George — Ginny!" said Mrs Weasley, as Mr Weasley left the kitchen. "Harry, dear, come and sit down, have some lunch, you hardly ate breakfast."

As Harry sat down opposite Layla, trying to avoid eye contact with her in the worry that she would snap at him for looking at her, he was surprised when she directly addressed him.

"Um... congrats, Harry," she said, standing up to leave the kitchen, knowing that if she stayed any longer, she would go over and hug him. She was far too stubborn for that. That, and everybody had begun grabbing things to eat and she would feel awkward being the only one who didn't grab something.