Redamancy || Draco Malfoy

OOTP // 01

I watched in amusement as Fred and George hexed each other.

They were running around the room, wands out and ready. They ran out of the door, and I could still hear shouting.

"What is up with them?" Ron commented, nose scrunching up in disdain.

I rolled my eyes, "Don't pretend like you're not going to be like that when you turn of legal age."

Ron scoffed, but said nothing else. Hermione hid a small smile.

All three of us glanced up as the door creaked open. On the other side, stood Harry Potter.

"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, rushing over to engulf him in a bear hug. "Are you okay?!"

Harry nodded, a little dazed. He looked faraway.

Only recently, Harry had used magic in front of a muggle, which just happened to be his lunatic cousin. The Ministry heard about it and "expelled" Harry. Harry would attend his trial tomorrow.

"It's just so unfair!" Hermione complained.

I nodded, "Exactly. It wasn't like you attacked the bloody muggle."

Harry didn't reply, clearly upset.

We tried cheering him up for a while, but to no avail. Not even Ron's inane blabber could distract Harry from his thoughts.

It wasn't long until Fred and George appeared as well, apparating beside Harry.

"Thought we heard you in here," George commented, slinging an arm around Harry's shoulders.

"Yeah," Fred continued. "Don't bottle it up, though, mate. Let it out."

Before any of us could respond, Ginny appeared at the door. "Are you all done?" She asked impatiently. "There's something more interesting you'd like to hear."

I exchanged a curious look with Ron, before the lot of us headed outside.

At the staircase, above the room the adults were in, George lowered one of his prank ears things, those that enabled you to hear whatever the ear at the end could hear. It was like a muggle telephone. Dad always loved those.

I leaned in, squishing Harry in the process, trying to listen. "Harry... Godfather... Voldemort... Who else... Snivellus..." Was all I heard.

"Snape?" Hermione inquired distastefully. "He's in the Order?"

I hushed her sharply, pressing forward to catch more words.

Out of the blue, George started making sharp noises, gesturing to something below.

I glanced down to see Crookshanks reaching for the ear.

"Crookshanks! Down!" Hermione quickly whisper-yelled at her ginger cat.

Fred was making shooing movements with his hands.

"Pull it up!" I hissed at George, who fumbled with the other ear, desperately trying to pull it, but careful not to break the thread.

"Get off, you bloody cat!" Ron snapped at the cat.

Crookshanks was oblivious to our presence.

A minute later, we watched in dismay as Crookshanks broke the ear off the thin thread connecting us and it, and left with the ear.

"Well, that was eventful." Ginny remarked, shooting us looks.

I rolled my eyes, retreating back into my room.

♚

I prodded at my food.

The room was quiet, tense.

Opposite me, Fred and George were exchanging looks.

"Aria, dear," Mum walked over, breaking the tension. "You have a letter."

She handed me an envelope.

Before I could grab it, it was snatched by the twins.

"I'm betting a sickle that's from Malfoy!" George sang, reading the envelope.

Fred scoffed, snatching it from him, "I'm betting two sickles it's from Malfoy!"

"That's not how it works!" I exclaimed, reaching over to try and grab my letter back.

"It is from Malfoy!" Fred yelled, standing up.

Around the room, chaos broke out.

The twins were teasing and laughing, Ron was sulking, Hermione and Ginny were pointing out how childish the twins were being, while the adults laughed.

"The both of you!" I shrieked, chasing after the two boys.

"When's the wedding?" George mocked, running from me.

"Don't forget to invite us, little sis!" Fred exclaimed, earning a chuckle from his brother.

He stopped, opening the letter.

"To Aria," He announced. "I'm sorry I haven't written over the holidays."

"Please do know," George continued. "I absolutely miss you! I love you to the moon and back!"

They were dancing around the dining table now, letter folded in George's hand, while spouting bullshit from their mouths.

"Malfoy would never say that." Ron grumbled, crossing his arms.

I tackled George to the ground, and ripped the letter from his clutches.

"You're a bloody nightmare," I snapped. "Both of you."

I walked out of the room, opening the letter.

"Dear Aria,

I haven't heard from you in a while.

You must be terribly busy. So am I.

It's been torture, being held up in this Manor. Being away from Hogwarts, without Flint, or Zabini, or you.

How's your family? Is Weaselbee still being as obnoxious as he always is? Has your idiotic twin brothers torn the house down?

Sometimes I wished I had siblings. Home wouldn't seem so lonely, then.

But it's okay, because I get to write to you.

My father has been driving me insane. I hope you're having a better summer than I am. In all honesty, I can't wait to get back to Hogwarts.

I'll see you soon.

Draco"

A small smile flitted across my face.

Draco's letters were one of the few amazing things summer promised. Although, I'm pretty sure when we get back to Hogwarts, we'd be fighting constantly again, like we always do.

Our personalities clashed. He was too pompous, too rude. But he was my friend.

I didn't bother writing back, we were going back to Hogwarts in a few days.

I quickly stuffed the letter into my pocket, making a silent reminder to keep the letter in my drawer when I got home, along with the rest of the letters. They dated all the way back to five years ago.

I left my room, entering the dining room again.

Fred raised his eyebrows at me suggestively, while George "ooh"ed softly.

I rolled my eyes.

As dinner progressed, my mind kept wandering back Draco.

I missed Hogwarts terribly.