✔️ 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐓𝐄𝐆𝐎 → ℎ. 𝑝𝑜𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑡𝑤𝑖𝑛 𝑠𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑦

13 | H A P P Y N E W Y E A R

   Apple pie and cotton wool in the air, Ember passed him by; his hand intertwined with the curly haired Gryffindor, throwing Ember a sharp glare for the split of a second, before Ron Weasley wrapped his arm around Lavender's shoulder and vanished into the crowd that streamed into the Great Hall.

   Ember felt the sensation of betrayal boiling under her skin. Ever since two weeks ago they had returned to Hogwarts, she couldn't get rid of the feeling that Ginny hadn't kept her mouth shut. Having been befriended with the youngest Weasley since the day the ginger had started Hogwarts, this action cutted deeper than a knife. Something inside her started screaming for revenge, but on the other hand, it seemed to be karma doing its job pretty well.

   Ginny didn't look that happy lately, and not rarely, Ember found her with puffy eyes hurdling through empty hallways, knowing the younger one had just yet another fight with Dean Thomas. Part of Ember was convinced that it just was what Ginny deserved, but the Hufflepuff in her was yelling at Ember to forgive her friend and support her; the latter part lost the fight all over again.

   The snow outside slowly melted, and soon it was time for the next Quidditch match, Hufflepuff against Slytherin, which was nothing Ember was looking forward to. Draco had grown a distance between them, that couldn't be crossed, looking paler and paler with every passing day, and even though she tried to surpress it with all force she could afford, Ember didn't manage to get rid of the worry for the boy that grew in her stomach like a tumor. If she just could remember ...

   In the back of her head voices were screaming oh so loud about the latest events, but they echoed in her mind, whirling all up, making it impossible to gain the information she desperately tried to find.

   "I see two possibilities", Susan said, arms crossed as she leaned against the fountain in the courtyard. Fortunately her and Hannah forgave Ember in the blink of an eye after the girl told her two best friends what has happened — at least the part she could remember. "Either it's some sort of self prevention of your mind, or — and I think that's what's happening to you — they didn't want you to remember in case you regain the upper hand."

   "I know it's there", Ember said, sitting down on the cold edge of said fountain. "It's like a radio in the back of my head screaming in a language I can't understand. I just need to find the right frequency." She cracked a smile and waved at Hannah, who was just passing by with Neville, smiling like crazy. "She's got him, yeah?"

   "Dunno", Susan snorted, "they're kinda hanging out like all the time, but I never see them holding hands or whatsoever."

   "Oh, probably she's just way more subtle than other ones", Ember muttered in a growl, as she spotted Ron and Lavender entering the courtyard with their arms wrapped around each other; but while Lavender was giggling like the mad bitch she was, Ron's smile was a forced, creepy mask.

   "Doesn't look that happy, though", Susan spoke in a for her uncommonly soft voice.

   "Well, she for sure does", Ember sighed.

   "That poor bloke", Susan snorted. "You just have to wait a little longer. He'll totally ditch her."

   "What do you mean I have to wait?", Ember asked in a sharp tone, her cheeks burning in the cold January air. "What shall I wait for?"

   "Oh Emmie, I'm not blind and neither am I stupid." Throwing her long red hair over her shoulder, Susan snickered. "The way you look at him ... Loathed wrath! A glare only a deeply hurt girl can throw."

   "You're right, you aren't stupid. You're bonkers!" Ember shook her head with narrowed eyes. "He is just a friend. Was just a friend. He's not really acting like one lately, though."

   "Maybe because he likes you, too, but you were glued to Malfoy's face", Susan chugged, and Ember could feel her friends eyes on her, but her own were pierced at Ron — who was suddenly staring back.

   She shook the odd sensation in her tummy off, tearing her eyes off of him, now looking back at Susan. "He's a git. A desperate one, because this constellation can't be explained otherwise."

   "Well, if he's a git, then she suits him well", Susan dryly replied. "But I have the feeling, she doesn't and —"

   Susan's words got cut off, as she stared at a point next to Ember's head. The latter turned around and flinched, almost slipping from the fountains edge into the icy water.

   That close, his features looked even more frightening than from afar. Greyish pale skin, dark purple shadows under his eyes, leaving Ember wondered when the boy has have gotten a full night of sleep for weeks, he stared at her.

   "What are you, a ninja?", Ember gasped, as she had neither seen, not heard him coming. "You're looking horrid!"

   "We need to talk", he hissed, his voice husky.

   "If this is the breakup talk, let me inform you, we weren't dating at all", Ember snorted, but his face didn't take the slightest change. Sliding down off her cold seat, Ember threw Susan a gaze. "I see you at dinner", she told her, before she followed Malfoy into the castle, straight down into the dungeon.

   "What is it", Ember asked, as he finally closed the door of an empty classroom behind them. "Really, you look awful, what is going on?"

   "You can't remember", he said, and it wasn't a question, but nevertheless the girl nodded briefly. "Good."

   "Good?", Ember echoed, cocking an eyebrow. "Fine, you obviously know what's going on, huh? Would you have mercy and tell me? I'm about to freak ou—"

   "You need to stay away from me", he cut her off, having her startled.

   "It might escaped your notice, but it was you bringing me here", she scoffed, crossing her arms.

   "They are furious, Potter! They want you back, and I shall bring you back", he hurdled to speak in a sharp whisper. "Stay away from me as far as you could. Don't talk to me, don't even try to!"

   "But —"

   "What is it with you that you always need to complain?", he snapped. "Do as I told you and we might both get out of this alive."

   "Draco, what's going on?"

   His door already on the handle, he froze. "The less you know, the safer you are. Stay. Away." He pulled down the handle. "And Potter?" He slightly turned, so she could see his side profile. "Don't trust Snape."

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