Skill and Seclusion [2] || Harry Potter x OC x Draco Malfoy

165. A Weight

DISCLAIMER

I do not own Harry Potter ... but ain't everyone got a weight on their chest?

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There was a weight on her chest.

Both in the metaphorical sense, and in the literal one.

Beginning with the literal one, Bel peeled her eyes open to see a familiar black owl perched right on top of her.

Gus, her first true friend in the wizarding world, a missing part of her soul that she just so happened to find pushed to the back of an owlery in Diagon Alley, had taken it upon himself to be the one to wake up his owner on her birthday morning.

Despite the metaphorical weight on her chest, Bel couldn't help but crack a smile.

"Good morning, Gus", she greeted, reaching up a lazy arm to pet him in his favourite spot just to the left of his head.

"Good morning", came a reply from across the room.

Gus (the human, not the bird) was sitting on the edge of his bed beside hers, already fully dressed and smiling widely at the awakening Hufflepuff.

"I wasn't talking to you", Bel groaned as she moved to sit up herself, her owl jumping off her chest to perch on the wooden bedpost instead.

"You can't help but forgive my confusion", Gus replied. "Same name and all."

"Just assume that whenever I speak your name, I'm addressing my owl. The far preferable companion."

Gus let out a squawk of agreement, whilst Gus let out a snort of disbelief.

"I'll let that slide because it's your birthday", her cherished friend retorted before sliding off his bed to join her side.

"What a kind gift", Bel said as Gus sat on top of her bedsheet, leaning back against the headboard and crossing one leg over the other.

"Better than anything Ms Haversham let us have", Gus murmured.

Bel merely nodded her agreement as they both recollected their time under the foul woman's care in one of the six orphanages she had lived in prior to Hogwarts.

A truly horrid place. But strangely, she found herself appreciating it.

Some of the only happy memories she has of living in the muggle world took place there. With the boy she never thought she would see again currently sat beside her.

"Perhaps you can give me a second gift and not mention that woman's name again today", Bel pleaded.

Gus scoffed. "Done. I'm assuming you have an entire list of things you'd rather not have me mention today?"

Ah, yes. That metaphorical weight on her chest.

The fact that, despite now living under the same roof, Harry and Bel had not spoken a word to one another.

Gus had informed her that his hearing had gone as well as it could have gone. Harry was not expelled from Hogwarts, nor arrested by a delusional Cornelius Fudge who has yet to budge on his idiotic denial that Voldemort has returned.

It would never fail to annoy her, but Bel didn't find herself caring about that. All she had cared about was that Harry was back, safe and sound.

Something she got to see with her own two eyes the next day, when she entered the kitchen for breakfast.

Harry had been sitting at the table beside Sirius – the two whispering to themselves about something Bel knew she wouldn't approve of.

Upon her entrance, everyone had fallen silent and stared between the two. A second later, Harry had stood, excused himself, and left the kitchen without another glance her way.