Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter Fifty-Seven

Allison's Point of View.

Time Skip.

Another week passed, and Hagrid still hadn't returned. By now, everyone in Gryffindor Tower had noticed his absence. Even the younger students had stopped asking where he was.

Malfoy, on the other hand, seemed delighted by it. Every chance he got, he made some smug comment about Hagrid finally getting what he deserved. Though I noticed that whenever I was nearby, he kept those comments a lot quieter.

After what happened in Care of Magical Creatures, Malfoy had become noticeably cautious around me. Not that I minded.

A Hogsmeade weekend was coming up, and for once, Harry actually planned on going. Hermione seemed genuinely shocked when he mentioned it one evening in the common room.

"I just thought you'd want to take advantage of the common room being quiet," Hermione said, looking up from the essay she was writing. Harry looked confused. "Why?"

"So you can work on finding out the next clue from the egg," Hermione explained. "She's got a point," I admitted sheepishly from where I sat curled up in one of the armchairs near the fire.

Harry rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "Oh, uh, I reckon I've got a pretty good idea what it's about now." I immediately looked up from my book.

Hermione, however, smiled brightly at him, relieved. "Really?" Ron grinned from beside the chessboard. "Nice one, mate." I narrowed my eyes slightly. Harry was lying.

After four years of knowing him, I could tell almost instantly whenever he was trying to fake confidence. Hermione still wanted to believe him, but I noticed the way his shoulders tensed and how he avoided looking directly at either of us.

"Well done," Hermione praised proudly before turning back toward Ron and the chessboard. The second she sat down across from him, Ron immediately started setting up the pieces with far too much enthusiasm. Hermione was still determined to beat him at Wizard's Chess at least once before the year ended.

While they got distracted arguing over rules, I stayed behind beside Harry. "Tell me the truth," I said quietly once the others were occupied. "Have you actually figured out the clue?"

Harry hesitated. I smiled reassuringly before taking his hand gently. "Harry," I said softly, "it's okay. I'm not going to judge you."

His eyes dropped briefly to where our hands were joined before he sighed quietly. "No," he admitted finally. "I haven't got a clue what it means."

I nodded slowly. "You've still got five weeks," I reminded him gently. "But Harry, you really need to start focusing on it properly."

"I know," he muttered tiredly. "I'll help you with your homework," I offered. "That way you can get it done quicker and spend more time trying to work out the egg."

Harry looked up at me in surprise before smiling softly. "Thanks, Allison." I smiled back and squeezed his hand lightly. Before I could answer, Ron shouted dramatically across the room.

"Oi! Are you two coming over here or what?" I rolled my eyes immediately. "Merlin, he's impatient." Harry laughed quietly as I tugged him over toward the fire, where Ron and Hermione had already started bickering over the chessboard.

Time Skip: Saturday Morning:

By the time Saturday arrived, the castle had become even colder. When I woke up that morning, pale winter light filtered through the dormitory windows while snow continued falling softly outside.