Chapter 2: Puzzled
"It's here!! Harry, come down! It's here!" Ron was yelling up the staircase to Harry, who was contently reading his new Quidditch book in the
boys' dormitory.
"I'm coming!!" he screamed back down to Ron. He had been avoiding Ron as much as possible, because Hermione would be returning home
in a few days and Ron was hysterical.
"Hurry! I want you to see it!"
"Okay! I said I'm coming!" Harry stood up, laid his book on his bed, and joined Ron in the common room. "What is it?" he asked, once he had
caught sight of his friend.
"The letter!!" Ron exclaimed.
"Oh no. Not another letter?" Harry said exasperatedly, sitting down onto the soft, red sofa.
"Harry! Sheesh, you're so encouraging," Ron replied, unfolding the letter he held in his hand.
"Sorry, Ron. It's just -"
"Shhh! I'm going to read it now! You'll take away the magnificence if you talk." Ron stared longingly at the beautiful handwriting on the
parchment.
"My Darling Ron,
I am more than greatly pleased to tell you that I will be returning to Hogwarts the day after tomorrow, so do not fret, my love, I will soon be in your arms again. I'm terribly sorry this is so short, but I must end this. I will see you when I return. Give Harry my regards.
Love Always,
Hermione"
"That was nice. Let's go see Hagrid," Harry said quickly, so that Ron wouldn't start yet another one of his tantrums.
"Harry! How could you suggest such a thing in a such a time of sorrow?!" Ron had silent tears streaming down his face.
"Ron, how is this sorrowful? Hermione just told us she'd be home in two days! I would think you'd be happy," Harry exclaimed, apparently
flabbergasted.
"Yes, I know. But two days is too far away! I only wish she'd return today."
Harry guessed Ron would probably continue moping the rest of the two days until Hermione came back. Thus, he decided to visit Hagrid alone.
He left Ron alone in the common room and made his way across the Hogwarts grounds towards Hagrid's hut. Once he got there, he pounded on the door.
He could hear Fang the boarhound howling inside, and then "It's alrigh', Fang. Jus' someone at the door." Hagrid swung open the gigantic wooden door
and smiled at the sight of Harry. Fang stuck his head out from under Hagrid's arm and let out a loud bark.
"Hiya, Harry. Why don' ya come in fer some tea?"
"Thanks, Hagrid," Harry replied, stepping inside Hagrid's small hut. He sat down at the table as Fang laid his head upon Harry's knee.
"Everythin' alrigh'?" Hagrid asked, taking the kettle of tea off the fire and setting it down on the table.
"I think so." Harry took a sip of the tea Hagrid had just poured for him and scrunched up his face soon after. He had forgotten not to eat or drink
anything Hagrid made, especially the rock cakes.
"Ya sure?"
"Well...now that you mention it, there is something that's bothering me," Harry answered hesitantly. He bit his lip, unsure whether or not he should
continue this conversation. Though Hagrid, no matter how large, was always trustworthy, so Harry decided it wouldn't hurt anything to tell him.
"Er...well, you know how much in love Ron and Hermione are, right?"
Hagrid grunted in reply and joined Harry at the table. His face was contorted in a weird expression and it looked as if he were holding back a
painful laugh.
"Okay...well, despite the fact that Hermione's coming home in two days, Ron is still obsessively moping around like she's never coming back. I've
tried talking to him about it, but he won't snap out of it! What do I do, Hagrid?"
Hagrid cleared his throat before answering in an unusually high voice, "Well, Harry, I dunno wha' ter tell ya. 'Specially considerin' I've never been
in love like tha'. You'll have ter talk ter someone with more experience in tha' field. Sorry." His voice returned to its natural pitch and he took another sip of
his tea.
Harry sighed loudly and stood up to leave. "Thanks, Hagrid. I'd better get back up to the castle, though. I'll talk to you later," he said, patting
Fang lightly on the head. He pushed his chair back up to the table and pulled the door open.
When he stepped outside, he closed the door behind him, and took a deep breath of the afternoon air. He decided that despite Hagrid's helpful
intentions, his advice had just returned him to ground zero. He wasn't making any progress in the operation to help Ron and his obvious obsession, and
Hagrid couldn't offer anything other than what he'd already heard. He slowly made his way back up to the castle, taking his time as he was not in any
hurry to return to his annoying friend.
As he was shuffling up the lawn, staring at the grass, he wasn't aware of the extra pair of feet walking toward him until he stepped on them.
"What the -? Potter! What are you doing here?" It was the drawling voice of none other than Draco Malfoy himself.
"Malfoy!" Harry replied. He jumped back startled and stared into the blonde's face with a puzzled expression.
"Yeah, it's me. Why'd you step on my foot? Did I frighten you, Potter?" Malfoy sneered at Harry with a glint of hatred in his eyes.
"No!" Harry spat, "I'm just...er...I mean, just taking a walk. Why?"
"No reason," Malfoy said, as he stepped past, brushing his shoulder against Harry's.
Harry turned his head to see the back of Malfoy's head slipping away from him, and for some strange reason, he longed to stroke it...
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