Redamancy (d.m)

Chapter forty-back to hogwarts

It wasn't difficult to avoid Harry in the next few days before Hogwarts started, I was always preoccupied with work. I left Grimmauld place before Harry had woken and returned well after he had gone to bed. I was growing increasingly frustrated that I had not yet found out what Voldemort was planning, and my return to school marked my temporary suspension from the order. I returned from the Malfoy Manor in the late afternoon, heading to my room immediately. When I pushed open the heavy wooden door, I found Hermione standing unmoving in the middle of our shared room, the hogwarts letter held tightly in her hands

"I...Ive been made Gryffindor Prefect!" She stuttered, shoving the shiny badge in my hands, and I grinned
"Of course you have, 'Mione, Dumbledore'd be mad not to" she laughed before gasping, taking my arm and leading me out the door
"We have to tell the boys, oh I bet Harry's got one too!" I reluctantly followed, disgruntled that I couldn't prolong my distance from Harry any longer. Hermione burst into the room and I walked in after her, arms crossed in light annoyance
"Did you-did you" she said, catching sight of the badge in Harry's hand, "I knew it!"
"No, it's Ron" Harry said quickly, handing the badge back to Ron, and Hermione faltered, "Ron's prefect, not me"
"I-are you sure?" Hermione asked
"Didn't see that one coming" i commented, determinedly avoiding Harry's gaze, "Molly's going to die of joy"

And she practically did, letting out a shriek and peppering Ron's face with kisses. I made retching nosies to George and Fred behind her back, and they sniggered. Ron left quickly to request a clean sweep from Molly and Hermione went with me, leaving my alone with Harry. I stiffly moved to exit, but he shut the door with a flick of his wand

"Open the door" I spat
"We need to talk" He said
"Open. The. Door." I repeated, but he shook his head
"You don't really think you can avoid me all your life?"
"Well I dunno, Harry, I used to think you weren't an asshole either, but now I've learnt anything is possible" I said with a scowl and he moved to face me
"(Y/n), I'm really sorry" he whispered,
"Open the door, Harry"
"(Y/n) please, please listen to me, you're right I'm an asshole, it was really stupid of me to act that way, and I shouldn't have said those things about you" I paused, taking a deep breath and mulling over his words, "It's been a nightmare without you, truly, I really miss you, please don't be mad at me anymore"
"You're buying for me from the trolley" I said sternly, a faint smile tugging on my lips, and his face broke into a relieved grin
"I'll buy you twice of every single thing from the trolley" he said, swinging an arm around me and I snickered
"You trying to sugar-daddy me?" I teased, ruffling his raven hair and he laughed, turning the corner away from the staircase that led downstairs
"Where're you going?" I asked
"Mrs. Weasley wants me to sort out the boggart in the drawing cabinet" he said, pointing at the room at the end of the hall
"Oh I'll come with you, I have no more work for the order anyways" I said and walked with him into the drawing room, where the desk in the corner was rattling violently

Harry made his way to the desk, nodding at me before opening the latch, and out floated a dementor. His hand shook nervously, and he stumbled over the spell

"You need to say it clearly, Harry" I instructed, to no avail, the wand slipped from his sweaty hands and clattered onto the floor. I raised my wand and shouted defiantly, "Expecto Patronum!" A bright wisp of light shot out of the tip of my wand, running galiently towards the looming skeletal figure, which cowered against the shining white form before disappearing in a puff of smoke. I looked at Harry, handing him his wand from the floor

"Thanks" he muttered
"Don't worry about it" I said absentmindedly, staring at my patronus, which was gliding around the room
"Is that...?" Harry whispered, looking at the animal and I nodded
"A badger" I said with bitter amazement, thinking of the first time I had cast a patronus, two years ago at the lake. A galloping lion had charged at the dementors, driving them away. The transformation of my patronus form left a stinging reminder of what had happened at the maze last year.