About Harry

Hermione

It's eleven thirty. I didn't inform Harry about Ted coming, I didn't want to run the risk of him opposing to the scheme. We spent the morning out running and working out and he is in a cheerful mood, but I'm not fooled by it anymore. It's not a case of recovery but only a mind blank.

He is sitting on the sofa next to me while I'm pretending to be absorbed by a book while I feel my inside squirming as if a bundle of slithering snakes, when a swish and a hoot inform me that Ted is here. I see Harry frowning surprised by this unexpected visit as he leaves the sofa to check who's there. I follow straight away curious to see how the encounter will unravel.

'Alright, Harry?' Ted asks with a bright smile brushing away some cinders from the discoloured jeans.

I see Harry's brows knitting together as if wondering something but when Ted, with a beam, stare fixedly into his eyes, he relaxes approaching him friendly 'Hey Ted! Nice to see you.' He says patting him on the shoulder 'What brings you here?'

'Just thought to pop in for a chat' he says brightly.

I greet him with a kiss to which he responds warmly and send me a shifty glance I understand straight away.

'I'll leave you two to chat. Don't take it bad Ted but I'm reading a very interesting book and I'd like to keep going' I say all sweetly and fluttering.

'Not at all' Ted answers with the same affected cheerfulness and lightness.

I close the door on them, and I press my ear immediately against it. Shame I haven't got some extendable ears with me. Probably I would find them in the kids' room, but I don't want to lose not even a second of this conversation.

Perhaps I shouldn't eavesdrop, but this knowledge doesn't stop me.

Harry is asking him 'Do you stay for lunch? We are having some chicken, I believe...' but then he hesitates a second as if unsure 'You don't eat meat though. Don't you?'

'Right.' He says brightly.

'No problem, we can cook something else'

'Thank you. You know, I never told you, it's funny, I actually stopped eating meat when I found out my dad was a werewolf. I guess my childish mind wanted to prove I was not one' He chuckles while explaining that much that surprise me greatly. It's the first time I hear him recounting it.

'So then, since we ascertained you have definitely not any werewolf's tendencies, you could start again. It's always such a pain in the arse when you come for dinner.'

Ted sniggers 'I think I won't anyway. It kind of characterise me, don't you think?'

'That may surely be but it's still a hassle for Hermione. However, she never complained so I guess she doesn't mind'

The chill on my back is soaring steadily.

'Do you mean when I come here for dinner?'

'Well, yeah. You are here quite often. Sometimes I feel a vegetarian too as a matter of fact'

A small pause follows but it's so short Harry doesn't even notice that fleeting hesitation.

'It surely wouldn't hurt you' Ted continues blithely 'So, how are you doing? Up to much lately?'

'It's fine. Just me and Hermione, nothing special. The usual. We are having walks time to time. I'm glad we decided to spend our holiday here instead of going somewhere else. It's relaxing.'

'I see...' Ted mumbles and I can hear the hesitation growing marked. On the other side of the door my fright is so enhanced I can barely breath. What is he talking about? What holiday?

'Since you mentioned it, there was something I meant to ask you about Hermione...'

And, just as my attention and morbid curiosity is reaching its zenith, I cannot hear anything else but a slow steady buzz. The cheeky whippersnapper! Harry should never have taught him the Muffiato spell!