𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝐿𝑋𝑋𝑋𝐼.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙚𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙮-𝙤𝙣𝙚

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

RON WAS RELEASED from the hospital wing a few days later. The four friends sat in the Great Hall at breakfast, trying to ignore Romilda and Lavender's angry stares. Romilda had gotten a Howler from her father the day before, and Caroline was amused by it. She sat next to Harry, his arms tensed as his elbows rested on the table. Caroline looped her arm around his, her head pushed into his shoulder as she read his Potions book with him. "Stop it, Ron. You're making it snow." Hermione said, seated across from Harry.

        Harry brushed the snow off of the table and dusted it off Caroline's arm. "Tell me how I broke up with Lavender again." Ron asked.

        Hermione glanced at Harry and Caroline, who looked up from Harry's book. "Um, well, she came to visit you in the hospital. And you talked. I don't believe it was a particularly long conversation." Hermione said slowly, trying to figure how to say what had happened. Caroline shrugged.

        "Don't get me wrong, I'm bloody thrilled to be shot of her. She seems a bit put out." Ron leant towards his friends, lowering his voice.

        Caroline and Harry looked over their shoulder, seeing Lavender gripping her spoon harshly, Romilda applying makeup beside her. "Yes, she does, doesn't she?" Caroline said, turning Harry around. They went back to flipping through his book, Caroline's chin on Harry's shoulder.

        "You say you don't remember anything from that night? Anything at all?" Hermione said. Caroline couldn't tell if Hermione was hoping for him to remember, or not to remember.

        "There is something," Ron sighed. Harry looked at Caroline, and then at Hermione. "But it can't be. I was completely boggled, wasn't I?"

        Hermione laughed quietly with Ron. "Right. Boggled." she brushed off, turning her attention back to her book.

        Caroline saw Harry's eyes lingering on a particular spell, one labeled 'For Enemies'. Neither one of them knew what it did, and Caroline hoped Harry wouldn't try to find out. When she saw Katie Bell walk by, Caroline closed his book. "Harry, that's Katie. Katie Bell." Hermione said, and Harry stood, grabbing the book and walking to catch up with Katie.

        Caroline watched the scene closely, and her gaze shifted to behind her as Hermione cleared her throat. Malfoy was standing between the tables, watching Harry's conversation. He looked ill, really ill. Caroline hated Draco, but that didn't mean she wasn't concerned about his well-being. "Draco. Are you alright?" Caroline asked, standing and moving towards the blonde Slytherin.

        Draco didn't say anything, and if even possible, he turned an even paler shade as Harry turned towards him. "I'm sorry. For what we did to your father." Draco said quietly, turning to leave.

        Stunned, Caroline remained still. What did her father have to do with anything? Caroline noticed something. Draco said 'we'. We, as in the Death Eaters. Harry walked back over, touching her shoulder, snapping her out of her trance. "What did Malfoy say to you?" Harry asked harshly, but Caroline didn't answer.

        Harry left her side and walked out of the Great Hall, following Draco. Harry had his suspicions, and his conversation with Katie confirmed them. Now, Draco was talking to Caroline, his Caroline, and Harry wouldn't stand for that. "Carol. What was that?" Ron asked, Caroline's legs moving her back to her seat.