redemption - SOULBOUND I̲̅I̲̅ || SS/HG

6. Breathe

The dining hall was filled with student, their laughter and voices joined in a suppressed anarchy while they ate their breakfast, wands at the ready for the day. Sun rays filtered through the cathedral-like windows dispersed in every corner of the tall roman structure, streaks of red blazes diverging into the enclosed room. The four houses' representative colours dominated the castle as they sat, arranged by gradient, spiritedly lunging on the feast provided to them. The stench of pumpkin juice soon overcame the air, memories of wizard's childhood rushing to the surface while others still marvelled at the unique taste of the beverage.

At the Gryffindor table, Ron was layering his plate with gusto, selecting assiduously his meal, granting no regard to his friend who gawked in the opposite corner of the room, his verdant orbs meeting lustrous indigo peppers in silent communication.

However, their peace was disrupted when the walloping of a scandalized witch clattered on the ground, hastening through the tide of students, shoving them aside until she reached her targets.

"You!" She yelled, pointing at Ron how stared gawking at her with his mouth wide open, stunned. "Control that psychotic friend of yours! Not only does she innovate the air with fog but she insults me nonetheless!"

Her voice was quacking in range, making every curious head turning and hearing focusing on her high pitched speech. "If it wasn't for my remarkable self-control I would have hexed her the moment I opened her shower curtains!"

"Why the hell would you do that?" Swilling the lump of food, Ron stared befuddled at the witches declaration. "Can't she have her own privacy?"

"Privacy? You are missing the point! Besides, she was showering with an inhumane temperature. If I hadn't saved her life she would have fried to death!"

Instantly, buzzing of muffled voices scattered around them, causing Harry to clench his teeth in revulsion. He hated public attention and especially attention seeking bints like Pavarti Patil. She was the epitome of a gossip eater, flipping heaven and hell to search for juicy news to ignite her daily life. It was sickening.

"Let it go, she's not her usual self lately." He snapped, his gaze unconsciously seeking the cold yet reassuring depth of Malfoy's eyes. "And before you go, refrain from intruding in Hermione's life, or anyone for that matter unless you want me to reveal to everyone where you spend the majority of your night!" His voice had lowered in volume until only his main target could hear.

Losing the colour in her cheeks Pavarti slightly shrugged away, recoiling backwards her hands no longer holding the edge of the wooden table and snapped, "whatever it is Harry she's lost her mind! Who in their right mind would shower at boiling point unless you want to lose your skin!"

Exchanging a frightened grace, Harry decided to change the subject while Ron stayed silent, preferring stuffing his mouth with food rather than speaking what was on his mind. Both were appalled by her words, calmly enjoying their breakfast when she bolted in the Great Hall screaming her lungs out that: "Hermione is losing her marbles!"

Once calmed, Pavarti stood up and went to sit with her twin sister, leaving Harry to take out a small piece of parchment from his pocket, writing down what the girl had told them.

Not far from where they stood Severus Snape was paying close attention to his students, particularly the dark-skinned girl who came stomping furiously into the hall, yelping words that had ticked his attention.

Noticing Harry's wand discreetly sticking out from his robe, Snape waited for the note to vanish and appear inside his own pocket. As expected when he dived his hand inside his cloak his fingers came into contact with a folded paper. While no one was watching he pulled it out and unfolded it on his laps, letting his eyes drifted through each word while his brain processed the information.