Chapter 4
Who Sent It?
"Who sent it, Harry?" Hermione asked, now looking at Harry. "I…I can't say" he said at last, after a long silence, he didn't know what else to say. "What? What do you mean?" Ron asked, frowning and looking at Harry too. Harry was now annoyed, can't they let the matter go? He thought. "I can't really tell you…it is kind of secret, so…" he said, as Ron and Hermione looked annoyed. They don't like it when Harry keeps secrets from them. They both sat looking at him, and he returned their look. "Well…alright then, you could keep it" Hermione said, looking defeated, but Ron was still determined to take the information out of Harry. "I saw you last night" he suddenly said, "I saw you putting something on your hand, but I couldn't see what it was…I thought that you'll tell us today…but…" he stopped and looked down at the floor. "That's why you're hiding your hand" Hermione said, looking angry at Harry. "No…I really felt pain in it" Harry said, defensively. "Why? Did you really have that accident that told me about?" she asked, frowning. "I…well…I didn't have the accident" he said, looking at her and Ron in the eye, "I didn't want to tell you about it…but I…I guess that I don't really have another choice" Harry said it, defeated. He took a deep sigh and said, "I was trying to hide a ring" he said, taking the clothing off his hand. "I wanted to hide it because I didn't think that you two are going to let me keep it..." he looked at them, both were shocked at the sight of the ring on Harry's hand. "Why did you think that?" Ron said to him, frowning. "Because" Harry began, "I…I don't even know who sent it" he finished, puzzled. "You what?" Hermione said, looking frightened, "how could you accept a gift without knowing who sent it?" she looked so scared and worried. "Don't worry…the ring is safe…except when it burned my hand…" he laughed sarcastically. "What? You mean the pain you had was from the ring" Hermione looked angry again. Now that she mentioned that, he felt the pain again and he moaned. "What?" Ron said, worried. "I…I felt the pain again" Harry moaned, as his fingers throbbed. "I have to go" he said, and he ran towards the door in pain. "Harry wait" Hermione said, running after him, Ron followed her. Harry looked from up the stairs and saw the kitchen empty. He then ran to the sink and after seconds he felt the cold water pouring down his hand and he felt better. "Harry…" Hermione and Ron arrived to him, "are you ok?" she asked. "I'm…I'm better" he said, looking down at his red hand, and sighed. "What happened mate?" Ron asked, looking at Harry's hand. "I…Hermione don't mention anything about the ring…ok?" he said, looking threateningly at Hermione. "I won't" she said, frowning. "What happened?" she asked. "The ring has…well, it has some kind of protection, so I think I did something wrong and it protected itself against me" Harry said, looking up at Ron, "I thought that it might be opened by a password…or spell maybe, and I just don't know how". "Open it?" Hermione asked, "How could you open a ring?" she said, frowning and looking more closely at the ring. And then as she looked at it, she knew what Harry meant. "so, how are you going to open it?" Ron asked. "Well, I'll think about it tonight" Harry replied, smiling. "Alright, but don't make any loud noises" Hermione said, and with that she left them and went upstairs again. The day passed, Harry didn't feel any pain as long as Ron and Hermione never mention it. They all helped Mrs. Weasley make dinner; they played chess from now and then. Harry felt more relaxed now, he didn't feel nervous or so longing for the ring like before, maybe because he got a grip on himself, or maybe…maybe because he's wearing the ring. Night came, and Harry, Ron and Hermione felt tired from the day, they have just been cleaning the hall for Mrs. Weasley, it was so tiring. Hermione said goodnight and went after Ginny into their room, Ron and Harry went into their room too. "So…" Ron said, as he entered and sat on his bed, "are you going to check the ring more tonight?" he asked, looking at Harry. "Yeah…I should" Harry said, changing into something clean. Ron was silent then, Harry thought that he won't speak, but then he whispered before he slept, "Good luck". Harry wished that he'll have more luck with the ring tonight.
The girl sat on her bed and watched the birds sitting in their nests above each tree. The sky was pure and blue; she looked at the huge sea that was making a cold breeze rush through her long hair and whisper in her ears. Everything is going well, she thought, nothing could disturb this night. The air was so cold in here, it never changed. She spent her life in here, but she never felt that it was her home, her real home…after all it isn't. She wondered if Harry had got the letter, and got her gift, and she hoped from all her heart that he would like it. She knew that he won't recognize the initials, he didn't even meet her, but she hopes that it would be soon…once she got a chance.