The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

75. Blame It On Me

"But I didn't do anything!" Blaise's voice echoed around the nearly empty Great Hall. "For once in my life, I am completely innocent."

Nobody looked convinced. Absolutely nobody.

Ginny immediately buried her face in her hands.

Harry snorted.

Ron laughed.

Hermione rolled her eyes.

Even Draco looked sceptical.

Blaise pointed accusingly at them all. "Why does nobody believe me?"

"Because we know you," Ginny replied.

The group laughed.

Blaise looked wounded. Deeply wounded. "That hurts."

"You'll survive."

"I don't know if I will."

Ginny smiled despite herself.

Sloane noticed immediately. Actually, she'd noticed all morning.

Every dramatic complaint. Every exaggerated sigh. Every ridiculous comment. Blaise wasn't trying to make himself laugh. He was trying to make Ginny laugh.

And judging by the small smile she kept failing to suppress...

It was working.

The realisation warmed Sloane's heart. Because despite the fear. Despite the nightmares. Despite everything else.

They were still finding ways to take care of one another. Even now. Especially now.

As the last students filtered out of the Great Hall, Luna glanced towards the staff table. Then towards the main doors. Then back at the group.

"Do you think they did it?"

Several people looked confused.

"Did what?" Ron asked.

"The Gargoyles."

"Oh."

Draco immediately understood. His expression darkened. "You mean caught them?"

Luna nodded.

Draco considered it. Then slowly shook his head. "Already?" His tone made it clear what he thought of that possibility. "I doubt it."

Harry agreed. "So do I."

"If they had," Hermione added, "someone would've told us."

The thought settled over the group.

Not comfortably. Just realistically. Because they all knew this wasn't going to be simple.

Nothing involving Hogwarts ever was.

"Thank you for waiting." Professor Flitwick approached their table.

The tiny professor looked tired. Not exhausted. But tired enough that the students immediately noticed.

Which wasn't exactly reassuring.

He smiled warmly and climbed onto the bench opposite them. For a moment he simply looked around the group.

Harry.
Hermione.
Ron.
Luna.
Ginny.
Blaise.
Draco.
Sloane.

All eight looked dreadful.

There really wasn't another word for it. Pale. Exhausted. Emotionally drained.

The sort of look that came after weeks of stress. Not days. Weeks. Months. Years.