Lily Potter (Harry Potter's Twin)

Chapter 78

Published August 1, 2018

Patches of the bright blue sky were beginning to appear over the castle turrets, but these signs of approaching summer did not lift my mood. This marked the week of Aragog's funeral and the start of something bigger than I knew how to handle.

Harry shared how he yet again not managed to find out what Malfoy was doing and how his efforts of getting the memory have been unsuccessful.

"For the last time, just forget about Malfoy," I urged. Harry knew Malfoy was out to kill me, but he didn't need to spend all his time obsessing over Malfoy.

We were sitting with Ron and Hermione in a sunny corner of the courtyard after lunch. Hermione and Ron were both clutching a Ministry of Magic leaflet—Common Apparition Mistakes and How to Avoid Them ­­– for they were taking their tests that very afternoon.

Ron gave a start and tried to hide behind Hermione as a girl came around the corner.

"It isn't Lavender," said Hermione wearily.

"Just dump her already," I huffed, rolling my eyes. "These games are annoying..."

"Harry Potter?" said the girl. "I was asked to give you this."

"Thanks..."

Once the girl was out of earshot he said, "Dumbledore said we wouldn't have any more lessons until I got the memory!"

"Maybe he just wants to check on how you are doing?" suggested Hermione, as Harry unrolled the parchment. His eyes scanned the paper.

"Look at this," he passed it to Hermione.

"Oh, for heaven's sake," she said, scanning it quickly and passing it to me.

'Dear Harry, Lily, Ron, and Hermione,

Aragog died last night. Harry and Ron, you met him and you know how special he was. Hermione and Lily, I know you would have liked him. It would mean a lot to me if you'd nip down for the burial later this evening. I'm planning on doing it 'round dusk, that was his favorite time of day. I know you're not supposed to be out that late, but you can use the cloak. Wouldn't ask, but I can't face it alone.

Hagrid.'

I finished reading then passed it to Ron, my stomach tightened, and my brain felt light and my vision blurred as the stress set in. In. Out. In. Out. Breathe. Act normal.

"He's mental!" Ron said furiously. "That thing told its mates to eat Harry and me! Told them to help themselves. And now Hagrid expects us to go down there and cry over its horrible hairy body!"

"It's not just that," said Hermione. "He's asking us to leave the castle at night and he knows security's a million times tighter and how much trouble we would be in if we got caught."

"We've gone own to see him by night before," Harry mentioned.

"Yeah, but for something like this?" asked Hermione. "We've risked a lot to help Hagrid out, but after all—Aragog is dead. If it were a question of saving him—"

"—I'd want to go even less," said Ron firmly. "You didn't meet him, Hermione. Believe me, being dead will have improved him a lot."

Harry took the note back and stared down at all the inky blotches all over it. Tears had clearly fallen thick and fast upon the parchment...

"Harry, you can't be thinking of going," said Hermione. "It's such a pointless thing to get detention for."

Harry sighed. "Yeah, I know," he said. "I s'pose Hagrid'll have to bury Aragog without us."