𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗿𝗯𝗲𝗹𝗹, draco malfoy

˗ˋ 19

CHAPTER NINETEEN
✧
-: third year :-

── IN WHICH THEY CAN FINALLY PRACTISE PROPERLY

. . .

Harry and Marlie were in between it all. They had all only just made up, but now it seemed that Hermione and Ron's friendship was over. Each was so angry with the other that the twins couldn't see how they'd ever make up.

Ron was enraged that Hermione had never taken Crookshanks's attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadn't bothered to keep a close enough watch on him, and was still trying to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look for Scabbers under all the boys' beds. Hermione, meanwhile, maintained fiercely that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger hairs might have been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudiced against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on Ron's head in the Magical Menagerie.

Personally, both Marlie and Harry believed that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers. In Marlie's case, it seemed to be, in accordance to the rat's condition goodbye and good ridance. However Harry had a bit more compassion towards Ron and wouldn't say his opinion.

Both Marlie and Harry attempted to point out that all evidence did point to Crookshanks being the problem, she turned on them.

"Okay, side with Ron, I knew you would - both of you!" she said shrilly. "First the Firebolts, now Scabbers, everything's my fault, isn't it! Just leave me alone, I've got a lot of work to do!"

"Merlin, just trying to clear things up here seeing as you can't admit that it was-" Marlie began, but both Harry and Dean, who could tell the warning signs of Mount Marlie about to erupt, dragged her away.

Ron had taken the loss of his rat very hard indeed. "Come on, Ron, you were always saying how boring Scabbers was," said Fred bracingly. "And he's been off-color for ages, he was wasting away. It was probably better for him to snuff it quickly - one swallow - he probably didn't feel a thing."

Marlie stiffled a laugh, as cruel as it was - Fred winked in her direction. "Fred!" said Ginny indignantly. The older brother only shrugged, smirking in Marlie's direction.

"All he did was eat and sleep, Ron, you said it yourself," said George.

"He bit Goyle for us once!" Ron said miserably. "Remember, Harry?"

"Yeah, that's true," said Harry.

"His finest hour," said Fred, unable to keep a straight face. "Let the scar on Goyle's finger stand as a lasting tribute to his memory. Oh, come on, Ron, get yourself down to Hogsmeade and buy a new rat, what's the point of moaning?"

In a last-ditch attempt to cheer Ron up, Marlie and Harry persuaded him to come along to the Gryffindor team's final practice before the Ravenclaw match, so that he could have a ride on a Firebolt after they'd finished. This did seem to take Ron's mind off Scabbers for a moment ("Great! Can I try and shoot a few goals on it?") so they set off for the Quidditch field together.

Madam Hooch, who was still overseeing Gryffindor practices to keep an eye on the Potter twins, was just as impressed with the Firebolts as everyone else had been. She took one in her hands before take off and gave them the benefit of her professional opinion.