Drabble 21: Guilt
"Ron." Harry sat down next to the redhead by the lake. He was ignored. Ron fiddled with the grass and tore them into neat, methodical strips. "Ron."
"What?" Ron sighed.
"What's going on between you and Hermione?"
"Nothing. Why?" Ron shrugged but wouldn't meet Harry's eyes.
"You've been a bit distant since…that." Harry bent down to force Ron meet his eyes. Ron flinched. Harry clenched his fists and stared. "Are you avoiding her? Are you avoiding our best friend for almost six years?"
"I…" Ron's voice was hoarse. "I don't know what to do. I don't know how to make it better. She's always so sad now and I can't even-" He tore out a large chunk of grass and tossed it into the lake. "No matter how much I think I can't seem to come up with-" He pulled up his legs and hid his face in his knees.
Drabble 22: Beneath
"Open." Riddle hissed. The sink gave way. He cast a simple charm and floated down the pipe. Small animal bones and old snakeskin shedding littered the area. The sound of his boots echoed and almost covered up the sound of Nagini slithering somewhere behind him. He stopped in front of the door to the Chamber and hissed once more. It gave way and he walked inside.
Unusually, the basilisk was curled in the middle of the room. Her eyes were closed though her head faced his direction, cocked to the side and listening. Her tongue tested the air. He approached her.
"Hello Regina." His offered hand trembled, even if his voice did not.
"It's been a while, young one." Her tongue flickered over his palm.
"Too long." Riddle admitted, gently touching her head.
"You left. You didn't say goodbye. Did I do something wrong? Did I displease you?"
"No, Regina…Never."
Drabble 23: Pride
"Granger!" Draco sneered. "You're a minus, right? Move your mop so that everyone can see it!" Hermione's lips trembled; Ron and Harry looked murderous when she noticed Professor Riddle. He was nearly hidden by the walls of the corridors he had been about to emerge from. Instead of interfering in the situation, the professor watched them with a blank face.
"I…" Hermione swallowed when his dark eyes finally met hers. He stayed still. He was not going to interfere. A strange feeling burned in her chest, one that she would later identify as righteous outrage. Hermione straightened her back and tossed her hair over her shoulder to reveal her armband. With her head high and somehow staring down her nose at Malfoy, she told him, "I am a Minus, I am magic minus ignorance. Maybe someday Malfoy you'll earn the right to wear this too."
Hermione turned and walked away.