DISCLAIMER: I don't own anything to do with Harry Potter
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Harry Potter's point of view
It was like old times again.
I can't remember how long it had been since we had this many friends from Hogwarts over, together. Laughter filled the whole apartment as we recalled stories of school and poked fun at each other, reliving the best times of our lives.
Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas (invited immediately after he called me saying he was in town) were animatedly recounting one of the countless pranks they had pulled on one of our fellow Gryffindors. Seamus' heavy Irish accent carried easily over his talkative audience. We roared with laughter at his impression of Neville's face when he found a Blast-Ended Skrewt at the bottom of his bed. Neville Longbottom chuckled sheepishly, his face going slightly red. Susan Bones stood silently next to him, hearing most of these stories for the first time and grinning broadly.
Susan was an unexpected member of our group, being so shy and soft-spoken. Despite not spending a great deal of time with her at school (except during classes), she was one of the few who always kept in touch after our last year. She was, without a doubt, the sweetest and most thoughtful woman any of us had ever met. We always welcomed her enthusiastically to any group gathering. I could see her still sending me Christmas and birthday cards 20 years from now.
Ginny did not come, to Draco's delight. With one less Weasly in our small apartment, he was less likely to cause a scene. He was sitting on the edge of one of our armchairs next to Seamus, listening intently and laughing along with the rest of them as another story came to a close. It almost fooled me, the way he acted, and I could swear he was having a great time. I had been watching him though, and he hadn't stopped slowly wringing his hands since the first guest rang the doorbell. He'd hardly said anything all night, besides the laughter and occasional comment. When he thought no one was looking, his smile turned down slightly, fixing itself when the attention was brought back in his direction. This had me worried and my stomach was doing flips in anticipation for our last two guests…
"…butcha healed pretty quickly in th' end, right Harry?"
My name jerked me back into the conversation. The smile on Seamus' face was huge.
"Yeah, considering I was in the hospital wing for two days." I answered sarcastically.
He snickered and rolled his eyes. "Aw, c'mon Harry, it was all in good fun!"
I slapped his arm jokingly. "Eating exploding gum wasn't fun at all! I spent two days in the hospital wing while Madame Pomfrey reattached three of my teeth!"
They howled in amusement and even Draco stepped out of his controlled demeanor for a moment to lean back in his chair, shaking with laughter. I couldn't help but join them. It felt so right to have everyone around again. Well, almost everyone.
I took out my phone and flipped it open, checking for any messages from Hermione. They were half an hour late. I could feel Draco's eyes on me, watching my every move. I met his eyes and briefly shook my head. His tensed posture relaxed slightly and turned his attention back to the conversation.
This was getting ridiculous. Why was I so on edge about seeing Ron again? It's not like he had meant to hurt me, right?
I started feeling warm, like someone had just turned on the heat. Just my nerves I told myself. What did I have to be nervous about anyway? It's been almost a year since the incident, so why…
I wasn't warm anymore. I was unbelievably hot. My back felt like I was lying on top of a stove. I could feel myself starting to sweat. I turned to walk to the bathroom, thinking I was becoming ill, when a scorching, fiery pain shot up from the start of my burn scar on my right hip to my left shoulder. I gasped sharply, dropping my phone in alarm. It felt like someone had taken a branding iron and dragged it along my skin. Draco was at my side immediately putting my face in his hands, questioning me with his eyes and a worried look on his face.
"My back," I whimpered, "it feels like it's on fire."
He nimbly slid his hand up the back of my shirt, feeling around my skin. His hand felt like ice the first time he touched my back, but it quickly felt just as hot as the rest of me. My body was shaking. I felt like I had lost control.
"It feels fine to me, love." He answered, an edge of panic in his voice. His eyes were shifting all over my face, his own creased with worry. I could tell he was trying to figure out how to help, but nothing was coming to mind. He didn't know what to do.
Then, out of nowhere, the pain was gone. Unfortunately, so was all of my strength. I fell forward into Draco's arms with a sigh of relief and exhaustion.
Several people's voices called out at once. "Harry?!"
I tried to answer them all, but I couldn't get my voice loud enough for anyone but Draco to hear. "It's ok. I'm fine. It's gone."
Draco stood me up carefully, his hands out and ready to catch me again. I gained my control back quickly and walked over to one of the chairs, sitting down heavily. Everyone stared at me looking just as confused as I was.
What just happened?
Like an answer to my thought, the doorbell rang. Everyone froze while I made to stand up and answer it. Draco's hand was suddenly at my shoulder, trying to push me back down.
"Harry…" he started to protest, but I held up a hand to stop him.
He did not need to be the first person Ron saw. I shuddered at the thought of what might happen once the two of them are in the room together, but I quickly shoved it aside and walked toward the door. It felt like my heart was in my throat.
I had barely opened the door when I heard a girlish squeal and was blinded by an attack hug. I embraced the woman warmly, giggling along with her.
"Hermione!"
I kissed my best friend on the cheek and greeted her with a huge smile, which I got in return.
"I've missed you so much, Harry! It's been so long!"
It really had been a long time since we had seen each other. I felt bad about it. Ok, I promised myself, if everyone walks away from this night alive, I'll try to spend more time with Hermione, and everyone else too.
I looked over Hermione's beaming face before glancing quickly over her shoulder.
"Is…?"
"By the car," she answered quietly, knowing what I was going to ask. "He refuses to come inside."
I nodded and stepped around her, squeezing her hand briefly. She put a hand on my shoulder for a second before entering the apartment, greeted excitedly by everyone inside. Then the door was shut. I couldn't see much, except what was lit by one of the street lights. It was enough so I could make out the slouched silhouette of Ron leaning against Hermione's silver Sedan.
My back started getting warm.
Oh god, not again!
I gripped the iron banister in preparation. I could see Ron's head lift up to look at me. The heat vanished almost as fast as it had started.
…what the hell?
This made no sense. Why did my scar start burning? Why just today? Wait a minute…this situation was all too familiar to me.
You've got to be kidding me…
It was just like the scar on my forehead. My burn scar started getting hot right before Ron and Hermione showed up. It started burning again out here with him in front of me. I was being warned of his closeness, just like I had been with the lightning scar on my forehead when Voldemort got close.
I was a walking danger radar.
I scowled. Was this going to happen every time Ron got close to me? A short clearing of his throat brought my attention back to the shadowed figure in front of me. I moved hesitantly down the steps, stopping after my feet hit the sidewalk. I could see Ron's face more clearly, and I didn't really feel the need to get much closer. His gaze fell back down to his feet.
"Hey"
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