Chapter Eight - Time to grovel
Harry remained in Ron's room for quite some time, pondering about the new school year and how things might change. Peering outside into the garden, Harry could see Ron and Hermione sweating profusely as they chased and threw gnomes out of the Weasley garden. Still watching his friends, almost gleefully, Harry didn't hear someone come up the stairs, open Ron's door and sit on his bed.
"Why aren't you with them?" Ginny asked.
"Oh!" Harry swung around. "I'm a bit tired, Ginny."
"Well, you're not asleep," Ginny stated.
This was true. Harry glared at her for pointing out his mistake.
"Don't glare at me like that," Ginny said, looking a tad irked. "Why are you avoiding Ron and 'Mione?"
'Mione? What? "I'm not avoiding Ron and Hermione, Ginny. I'm tired! I was just about to go to sleep, but I heard the ruckus outside and I was just curious. Leave me alone," Harry spat.
With that, he jumped back into the camp bed and turned away from Ginny, blushing furiously. He heard her breathe steadily for a few minutes, before the bed creaked as her weight lifted. Pausing at the door, Ginny turned to look at Harry.
"You're not fooling me, Harry," she said softly. "There's something different about you, and I intend to find out."
Harry was on the brink of insanity the next few days. Hedwig hadn't arrived yet, so Malfoy's letter remained in the sock. He had to help de-gnome the garden, which was a tough job, plus the sun continued to glare down on them, causing Harry's neck to burn severely. Ron's snoring in the night meant that Harry got little or no sleep at all, so he had resorted to sighing heavily and muttering for Ron to shut up, hoping that he would hear. He never did. Ginny was constantly watching Harry, making loud noises of disapproval whenever he snapped at someone. The gnomes were continuously biting Harry's fingers, leaving Harry with bloody hands while Ron and Hermione always escaped unscathed. Hermione had started nagging earlier than usual, quizzing Harry and Ron about their NEWTs and panicking about the new school year.
"Harry, we have to go de-gnome the garden again-"
"No Harry, stay with me and do some NEWTs practise papers-"
"I know what you're up to, Harry-"
"Oh Harry, dear, here's some Murtlap juice for your bites, you shouldn't be so vicious with the gnomes-"
Harry fought the urge to scream very loud. Deciding that it would be best to bottle up his feelings rather than yell at everyone for their ramblings, Harry just smiled and didn't say a word. The Murtlap juice was making his fingers feel a lot better, and he didn't want to spoil the mood. Ron passed them all a drink, Harry's an unusual pink colour. He took a sip nonetheless.
"You haven't said much, Harry," Hermione mumbled.
"I don't need to, I just want to listen to you," Harry said cheerily. What? No he didn't.
"Oh," Hermione said, brightening up.
"This is a fantastic place, I never want to leave," Harry grinned. What was in this juice? It was making him incredibly happy.
Hermione glared at Ron. Oblivious to the fact Harry sat right there, she thumped Ron and slurped her own juice.
"You gave him that new kind of Veritaserum that George and Fred made, haven't you? The one that makes the user compliment everyone and everything?" she hissed.
"Yeah, so? It makes him act happy. He's been really sulky for far too long," Ron murmured back.
What? How could he? "Ron, what are you doing? ... because you look fantastic! I love what you've done with your ears!" Merlin's beard.
Despite being angry at Ron a minute ago, Hermione laughed, snorting her juice all over her jeans. Ron merely glared at her, flattening his ears self-consciously.
"And Hermione! Such beautiful hair! I bet plenty of equally beautiful birds can find a home in such a place," Harry giggled. That was an insult, wasn't it?
This time Ron laughed, pointing at Hermione's head. She batted his hand away furiously, running her hands through her hair... and getting them caught up in it. Her hands were sticky from her juice from when she had snorted in laughter, and had now been semi-glued to her head. This made Ron laugh harder, while Harry sat, starting to feel the potion wear off.
"These aren't compliments, they're hidden insults! So much for those galleons I spent!" Ron cried, in between giggles.
Fred and George walked in to see the commotion, although they were too late as everyone had finally calmed down. They sighed impatiently and turned to leave. Harry thought it would be funny to play around with them all for a while.
"Nice ass, George. You too, Fred," he tittered. Score one for Harry Potter.
Fred and George froze, slowly turning around to face Harry. Ron and Hermione laughed nervously, realising that what Ron had done was a big mistake. Fred glanced at Ron suspiciously while George glanced at the pink juice. As they left, the trio could hear them roar with laughter as they descended the stairs. Harry turned back to Ron and Hermione.
"Ron, Hermione, you two should date! You make such a lovely couple," he chuckled. Ron's jaw dropped and Hermione blushed angrily.
"No we don't! RON!" Hermione squeaked.
"The potion should wear off soon," Ron said nervously.
But Harry decided to continue his escapade. Bouncing up suddenly, he made for the door, skipping merrily. Ron grabbed the back of his jumped and flung Harry onto his camp bed. It hurt a lot.
"Oi! What was that for?" Harry yelled.
"You can't see my family while you're like this," Ron explained.
"S'your fault," Harry slurred.
He rolled around on his bed, acting drunk, all the while continuously pointing at Ron and crying "S'your fault, Ronald!", Hermione gasped and, hoping he hadn't secretly been sick or passed out, Harry stopped messing around and turned to face her.
"Harry! Hedwig's here!" Hermione cried.
Harry sprung up and opened the window for her. She looked weak and her wing was bloody.
"What happened to her? Why, when the last place she was sent to was here, did she disappear?" Harry asked.
"Well, she gave me the letter, then she turned around and flew back out of the window. I thought you told her to go back to you," Ron muttered, gazing at the wing. "Look, I'll take her down to mum, see what she can do..."
"Thanks," Harry replied. Why had Hedwig gone off like that?
"Wait, look at this..." Ron said, bewildered. "There's a mark on her wing!"
Harry and Hermione leaned in closer. Sure enough, there were four black letters painted across her left wing: "D.M. M.M.".
"D.M., M.M," Ron read aloud, confused. "Well, I'll ask mum about it."
He tramped downstairs, along with Hermione who loved a good puzzle. Harry knew full well who had done this. Draco Malfoy, Malfoy Manor. The question was, why had he done it?
A few minutes later, Ron and Hermione came back in with a fully healed Hedwig. Hermione was moody because she hadn't been able to figure it out, throwing herself onto the bed and sighing loudly every two minutes. Ron still looked the same - clueless.
"Mum didn't know either. Hey, do you think 'D.M.' stands for Dark Mark?" Ron asked, excited that he might crack the code.
"Then what does 'M.M.' mean?" Hermione snapped.
"Are you really this stupid?" Harry spat, causing them to frown at him. "Draco Malfoy, Malfoy Manor! D.M. M.M.!"
"Oh!" Hermione squealed. Ron looked considerably crestfallen.
Harry grabbed the piece of parchment from his sock in the trunk, careful not to show Ron and Hermione he had already written something, and added to the letter.
P.S. Why did you hurt Hedwig? What's with the initials anyway?
Quickly rolling it up, Harry beckoned Hedwig over, gave her an owl treat and went to tie up the letter to her leg. She took one look at the parchment and hooted angrily, then proceeded to nip Harry's finger hard, flying to the top of the wardrobe.
"She's scared," Hermione said, trying to call her down.
"Use Pig, he's pretty dumb," Ron suggested.
Harry tied the letter to the over-eager owl, whispered 'Malfoy Manor' and opened the window for him. When Pig had flown out of sight, Harry flopped down onto his camp bed, Ron on his own bed, and Hermione still tried to beckon Hedwig down from the wardrobe.
"Why do you think he did that?" Ron asked.
"Beats me," Harry said, swallowing hard. Was it out of spite?
The sun was slowly setting, filling the sky with shades of pink and amber, illuminating the faces of the trio as they sat, Harry on his camp bed, the other two on Ron's bed, as they discussed Malfoy long into the evening.
"He's probably surrounded by all the other Malfoy's, getting the Dark Mark tattooed onto his arm," Ron growled.
"Actually no, he's had to keep to himself. I saw no dark mark, either," Harry said suddenly.
"What? When did he show you his forearms?" Ron asked.
"Er.. he was wearing a funny top. I could see up to his shoulders," Harry lied.
"Malfoy wouldn't wear clothes like that. He has to be top to toe in silver, black or green - you know that, Harry," Hermione sighed.
Sitting in silence once again, Harry pondered crawling into bed and going to sleep early. He could get some peace then.
"How many days until the new term starts?" Harry demanded.
"Three. Why? Blimey Harry, you're desperate to leave, aren't you?" Ron mumbled, highly affronted.
Yes I am. Get me away from here. "Nah, I want to have a go at Malfoy," Harry lied, grinning as he did so. Well, it wasn't a lie. He did want a shot at Malfoy, although not the fighting kind.
Harry finally got around to sleeping, while Ron and Hermione disappeared for a while. It was still early, but Harry had made up an excuse that he was feeling weird from the potion he took earlier on today. This worked extremely well, plus Harry had the added bonus of seeing Ron's guilt plagued face. Harry must have been asleep for no more than ten minutes when there was a sharp tapping on the window. Pig was back. Hedwig was fast asleep in her cage, so Harry clamped a hand around Pig's beak before he could hoot noisily.
Potter,
I don't want your help anymore. I offered you the chance to help me, you blew it up in my face. Even though we are past apologizing, I still dislike you immensely.
Time to grovel, eh Potter?
As for your owl... she was attacked by my raven when she arrived at my Manor. Why did you send her when you had no letter? I marked her because, well, she's the next best thing, and since I couldn't hurt you physically, I decided to do that.
Draco Malfoy.
Harry's mind was on hold. He re-read the letter several times, speechless. So many questions swam in front of his eyes, each one significant. Why had Hedwig gone to Malfoy Manor? Why did Malfoy want to hurt Harry now?
Sighing heavily, Harry collapsed down onto his bed, removed his glasses and rubbed his eyes wearily. He would never take advice from someone so evil, but Malfoy's suggestion was the only one that could patch things up between them.
It was time to grovel.