The Unexpected Task [H.P.]

Chapter 7 - The Secret

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On Monday morning, I rose as early as ever, downing a cup of tea and two pieces of toast as I waited for Harry. I watched as the hands of my watch ticked towards his usual time, but there was no sign of him. The tables around me steadily filled, and I apprehensively looked between my book and the doors, expecting to see him walking through them with his firebolt at any moment.

Almost ten minutes to when Ron and Hermione normally slumped into the Great Hall for breakfast, Harry finally showed. Without his Firebolt slung against his shoulder, he looked a little strange.

After he slumped into his seat, I watched as he poured himself a cup of tea. I picked mine up, though it was long cold, before he could serve me as well.

"Feeling alright, Harry?" I ask, slightly concerned.

Harry shrugged, looking down the table to where Neville sat, reading a large, very old looking book.

I had no time to press him before the rustling of wings overhead interrupted us. Harry didn't even bother to look up, as he had the past few days. I returned to my half-eaten porridge, not expecting any post today either, as I had yet to send out another letter.

A rustle of wings next to my face shook me out of my reverie, and I gasped. A beautiful Snowy Owl sat regally before us on the table, clicking its beak at Harry impatiently.

Harry lifted his head from where he had it hung over his breakfast, and his eyes widened for a moment before he broke out in a grin.

"Hedwig! It's about damn time!" Harry said hastily, and I grew ever more curious as he reached forward and untied the letter on her leg. While he reads, I stare at the owl named Hedwig. I reach a hand out to stroke her forehead, and in return, she nips my fingers kindly, hooting softly.

Harry looks up from the letter, apparently finished reading it. His eyebrows are furrowed in the middle, and he looks extremely concerned.

"Everything alright?" I ask, continuing to pet Hedwig's soft head. I didn't even know Harry had an owl.

"Umm," Harry started awkwardly, folding the letter back down and stuffing it in his bag. "Yeah. It's all right. I'll see you around." And with that, he swept off the bunch and nearly ran towards the Entrance Hall, leaving Hedwig and I behind.

The owl looked at me with her bright amber eyes and hooted softly, almost seeming to say, "Was that as weird as I thought it was?"

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"He's coming back?" Hermione whispers, in a sort of strangled voice.

"Dumbledore is reading what signs?" Ron whispers, and I look around quizzically. Ron doesn't even notice that I've heard.

They're being incredibly obvious with their whispering behind me. Because of the rain over the weekend, Care of Magical Creatures had turned into a study period in the Library, and they've already been shushed twice by Madam Pince, who looks an awful lot like something else is being pinched. I guess whatever letter Harry got today had to wait until right now to talk about.

"I shouldn't have told him... he's putting himself in danger now, all because of my stupid scar!" Harry's voice is getting louder with each word, and even Dean beside me turns to stare at the three of them, his brown eyes wide.

Hermione shushes him with an apologetic look towards us. Dean shrugs and returns to the parchment before us, where we've not even begun to sketch out the properties of an antidote to common poisons.

I can't focus on anything now, as I'm straining with every breath to hear what Harry, Hermione and Ron are talking about. It's none of my business, but hearing now that whatever it is has to do with his scar? That's insane.