A/N
Wow, ten pages of madness. Guys, I'm sorry! I don't know what happened, the time just vanished. If you're feeling like a brave little Gryffindor, you can always visit my Tumblr, sunsdawndream, thanks. I hope you enjoy.
Anima Perdita
"Ah, yes," said Ollivander, his eyes widening in excitement as he stroked his white hair. He turned his back on the trembling eleven year old, who was holding boxes of several different Wands in her arms that had already not worked for her. "I wonder," he was saying.
The girl's mother, a woman with long, wavy auburn hair and blue-green eyes, around her mid thirties, wearing simple Muggle attire, consisting of jeans and a white blouse, stood by her side smiling as though she'd been waiting for this day since she had found out she was having a second daughter.
"Aha!" Ollivander said, he spun back to face them, holding a different Wand box in his hands, this one slightly longer than the others. As he made his way to the girl, he waved his hand, causing the boxes to fly from her arms and float over to a chair where they stacked dangerously high.
"Holly wood with a dragon heartstring core, 12 3 fourths and slightly springy. Here, here. Give it a wave," he said holding it out to her.
The girl only hesitated for a moment before her mother gave her a smile and an encouraging nod. She reached out, wrapping her fingers around the handle of the Wand, she gave it a brief look already feeling a strange sourt of connection with it before giving it a wave, red and gold sparks ignited from the tip, lighting the shop up like Christmas.
Ollivander clapped and beamed, saying, "well done. Well done Miss Everest." And her mother crushed her in a hug, telling her she was already proud of her.
Ollivander finally took the Wand from her and placed it back in its box, "As a rule, dragon heartstrings produce wands with the most power, and which are capable of the most flamboyant spells.
Dragon wands tend to learn more quickly than other types.
While they can change allegiance if won from their original master, they always bond strongly with the current owner. The dragon wand tends to be easiest to turn to the Dark Arts, though it will not incline that way of its own accord. It is also the most prone of the three cores to accidents, being somewhat temperamental."
She would always wonder just how much her wand had predicted her path.
The soft, warm glow of the early rays of the golden sun was shining through the curtains, cascading a gentle creamy yellow to fall across the dark, mahogany surface of the bedroom floor. And even through closed lids, Jade could see that the soft beams of light had made their way throughout the majority of the room.
With a groan, not ready to face the bright July morning on her day off, the witch rolled over, burying her face in the pillows. No, it was a day for rest, something she once took for granted.
No work, no catastrophes for her today. The Ministry would manage. The Wizarding World would manage without her for one day. Of course, her brain was screaming at her in reality, she was needed, the world would fall apart without her.
Jade sighed, wrapping her arms around a pillow. It was soft, and warm, and comfortable to hug. Had she always smelled like lavender and honey? She couldn't remember, but the pillow smelled wonderful.
This was peace, hiding from the sun, not working, burying her face in pillows that smelled amazing.
She was glad she had never been one for breakfast, she would get up later.
Tap, tap.
Jade moaned, it was just the Daily Profit. The owl would leave if ignored long enough.
Tap, tap.
It almost seemed as persistent as her sister was about having brunch.
Tap, tap.
Maybe it was the Ministry asking her to come in.
Tap, tap.
They had told her she could have the day off. She was one of the best in the Department so she didn't see why they would change their mind.
Tap, tap.
With a sigh of frustration, Jade pushed herself out of bed, her slender feet landing on the wood floor loudly.
Knocking her hair from her face with a furious gesture of her hand, Jade crossed the bedroom in four long strides flinging the window open. Standing back with her arms crossed as the Barn Owl swooped in, dropping the letter on the table just below the windowsill she glared at it.
The owl looked up at her, its amber eyes unblinking.
Jade aloud her eyes to slide from the owl to rest on the letter, which was sealed in the unmistakable parchment of Hogwarts and Dumbledore's neat handwriting scrawled across the front; Jade C. Everest. Number 6, Lakeview Drive, London.
Jade spluttered at the owl. "This is a student envelope! Is he trying to insult me?" She flung her hands up in the air in exasperation, irritation lacing her voice.
The owl only blinked in response at her.
Really, she felt like it was actually glaring at her, like the gargoyle up to the Headmaster's office.
It had been a few years ago in the dead of December, Dumbledore had requested to see her so he could continue to try and get her to work at the school. When she had received the summons from him, thinking they were going to talk about Potter, the Ministry, Potter, and Potter: he had forgotten to tell her the password, supposedly. Jade had paste back and forth for 20 minutes cursing at the stone.
First it had glared at her. Secondly, it had made snarling faces. Then it heard Peeves, the castle poltergeist and started cackling. Oh, Peeves," it had given her a wicked smile.
Jade had spun, hands on her hips. "Let me up. Now," she had growled, a snarl twisting on her lips.
"No password, no entry," it had said, and if it had had eyebrows she would have thought it would have been waggling them at her by the expression she had received.
"Oh, Evea Evee Everest!" Peeves had cried rounding the corner.
He had proceeded to float just above her head, flipped upside down, staring at her in weird angles that shouldn't have been physically possible, waving an orange hat around, which, somehow made whistling sounds as it whizzed through the air.
"Leave me be, Peeves," Jade had hist under her breath.
"Oh no," the poltergeist had flipped upside right, crossing his legs and leaning on his hands as though he were sitting at a table . . . or desk. "Don't be mad, das sad," he had cocked his head to the side, clearly impressed with his rime.
Jade had rolled her eyes, ready to curse him.
"You look like your dear old mummy and daddy, but you are all snarl and no heart."
Jade had breathed a sigh when Peeves whizzed down the corridor, banging on the suits of armor and singing a terrible rearrangement of Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire.
"Jade? Is that gargoyle making faces at you?"
Jade had spun around to find Professors McGonagall and Snape watching her.
"Probably," she had whispered.
"Only you," Severus had said rolling his eyes at her.
"Only me," she agreed five years later in the quiet of her home with only an owl for company.
Jade glared at the owl, trying to match its stare before giving up. And with trembling hands, which she would never admit to if you were to ask her, she picked the letter up and shook it open and began reading the message from her former Headmaster. She read the letter once, twice, three times before letting it drop from her fingers to the floor.
Jade looked out the window at the sunny sky, then at the owl, her blue eyes narrowed. "Harry," she whispered.
That was a name she had tried to avoid saying for years.
A loud knock rang from the door downstairs jolting her from the moment.
Jade froze, who could that be? She looked over her shoulder to peer back at the Barn Owl, who seemed to be waiting. Waiting for what? She wondered. With a string of curses that would have made her mother blush from embarrassment, Jade spun around making her way through the rest of her home.
The house was dark, apart from the sun streaming in to stretch from under the curtains and fall across the floor. The floor was all dark wood, except the kitchen, stone slabs cold to the touch covered the foundation, as in many wizarding homes. The curtains were made with a medium material of emerald, until you got to the kitchen, they were light and breezy.
Jade stood in the middle of her kitchen with her arms crossed, looking around irritably. It was here that you could see a fireplace on the far wall, a round table that could sit four nearby, and a door in the corner across from where she stood now, properly.
Jade brushed past the counter and yanked the door to the outside world open. She immediately regretted it as beams of harsh sunlight pierced her behind the retinas.
Jade hist.
"A good morning to you, as well," said the unmistakable voice of Lucius Malfoy.
Jade moaned, forcing her eyes to focus on the tall figure in front of her. The sun trying to render you blind doesn't help in identifying just (who) may stand on your doorstep. And you can't always rely on your ears to be honest, it could be a Charm or something. After much blinking and hissing, her eyes focused on the pale face of Lucius Malfoy, his grey eyes watching her.
Jade shifted uncomfortably under his steely gaze. "Um, how . . . uh, w-what— how may I help you?" She stammered out, wringing her hands nervously.
Lucius sighed, roaming his eyes up and down her body. From her messy hair, which she was trying to flatten, to her patterned bathrobe, of shades of blue and white. Jade was still stammering.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know you were coming Mr. Malfoy. If I had I would've made— tea, I would have made tea. Would you like some tea? What brings you by this Tuesday morning? Oh, I haven't invited you in," Jade finally finished ranting long enough to look mortified and wave Lucius in without waiting for a response.
Soon following the head of the Malfoy family inside the cool, much darker and more pleasant kitchen, Jade shut the door behind her before turning to face him.
"How are you, Jade?" Lucius finally asked her, not cutting to the chase of why he was there.
Jade gave him a puzzled expression before quickly hiding it, though she was sure he saw it. She weighed his question, as though she were back at Hogwarts weighing the ingredients for her potions in class. "I am," she paused for a brief second before continuing, "I'd be better if Dumbledore would stop sending me . . ." she paused again, deciding not to emphasize letter with another word, "letters and such."
Lucius hummed in thought as he walked around the counter, his fingers brushing along the hard surface. Once he came back around to face her, he Crossed his arms, his grey eyes still piercing straight through her.
"What was the letter today?" He asked this as though they always spoke about the Headmaster sending her owls all the time. As though this were their way of casual conversation.
Jade glanced away from him to peer at the clock, 8:23. "A Halloween invitation," she grumbled under her breath, "and Halloween is exactly three months from today."
"Well . . . doesn't Mr. Potter attend Hogwarts this year?"
Jade wanted to say no, she wanted to lie, but she couldn't. With another sigh, probably, she nodded.
Lucius rubbed his hands together and smirked at her. "It seems Miss Everest," he began, stepping toward her and lifting her chin with a long finger, "that you are going to Hogwarts for Halloween."
Jade swallowed thickly, their faces only inches apart. She could feel his warm breath fanning across her face. She nodded, forcing the lump in her throat back down.
Lucius nodded, letting go of her and stepping back.
Jade stayed rooted to the spot, refusing to move. She knew why he did that . . . why he would tempt her, to remind her who was in charge. She did, however, let her gaze fall to the stone floor beneath her bare feet.
"I am not a man of small . . . what's the word? Ah, talk," Lucius said after he had decided they had been quiet long enough.
Jade wanted to snort at his words, but knew better than to.
"The reason I am here. Today Narcissa and I are taking Draco to get his things for Hogwarts and I need a . . . favour," his eyes were on her again.
Jade couldn't decide if she wanted to melt or vanish.
"I don't think I should," Lucius then waved his hand dismissively, "you don't need to know. I need you to take a little trip for me to Knockturn Alley. Can you do this?" He may have sounded genuine but Jade knew better.
She opened her mouth before closing it, then opened it again. "Can't Sev," she started to say, but stopped when his eyes darkened.
Lucius shook his head. "I asked you, not Severus," he hist.
Jade stepped back, a shiver running down her spine. "I could always go with Narcissa and Draco?" Her voice had gone up an octave.
Lucius approached her, forcing her gaze back on him, his grip not like earlier. "Jade, this is your last chance before serious consequences befall you," he said, his voice in her ear.
Jade didn't turn to get a look at his face, she didn't need too. He had said her name, saying a name can give one power over that individual.
Jade nodded, "I'll go."
"Good," Lucius passed her a folded piece of parchment before turning for the door.
"And Jade? Do put on appropriate clothing," and he was gone.
Coming back to her senses, Jade looked around her kitchen, wrapping her robe tighter about her frame as her cheeks burned hot.
Jade stumbled into the Leaky Cauldron like she had just gotten from her bed. Which, if you had been harassed by an Owl, then Lucius Malfoy showed up on your doorstep unannounced, you would feel the same, probably.
Of course, there was the usual bustling of witches and wizards, a group of hags in one corner, one drinking something Jade couldn't make out, and the other puffing on a pipe. There were even a few warlocks at the bar and . . . was that Hagrid? The gamekeeper at Hogwarts.
Jade's eyes narrowed.
"Can I get you anything Hagrid? The bar-keeper, Tom asked.
"No, not today," Hagrid said cheerfully, which made Jade's head hurt. How could people be so optimistic? She wondered.
"I'm off to take young Harry Potter here to get his Hogwarts books."
Jade zeroed in on Hagrid at those words. She gave a quick glance around before her eyes fell on a scrawny boy with messy jet black hair, glasses that looked like they'd been broken several times, and eyes of piercing emerald green.
The small pub fell silent before whispers filled the air and chairs scraped across the floor. Witches and wizards began coming forward and shaking the boy's hand, telling him what a pleasure it was to meet him at last and how honored they were. Some people Jade recognized, and some she didn't.
After Harry got done shaking Professor Quirrell's hand and speaking with him, Jade finally came from the shadows, her hand extended to him. "Hello Mr. Potter. It is an honor to meet you," she said with a pleasant smile gracing her lips, not telling him, or anyone how she had known him when he was a baby. Jade immediately shoved that thought back, with that thought came the unwanted thoughts of (him.)
"Hey!" Harry beamed up at her, his green eyes full of so much excitement, "you waved to me once at a park."
To be honest with herself, Jade had completely forgotten about that. It had been about three years ago and for some reason she had found herself in the Muggle world. She could still remember his Aunt yelling at him for interacting with strangers.
Jade gave his hand a small squeeze. "I did," she said with another rare smile.
"What's your name?" He asked gazing up into her face with a curious smile.
Not thinking much about his question because she was more focused on how malnourished he looked, she replied, "Jade Everest."
Harry beamed, he seemed to whisper her name before shaking his head and grinning widely. "It was so nice to meet you Miss Everest!" He exclaimed, not meeting her eyes, but still seeming ecstatic about being there.
Jade withdrew her hand. "You, too, Harry," and much like Lucius earlier, she swept through the back door and was gone.
Jade couldn't help but shift from foot to foot nervously, her gaze sweeping over the dusty shop several dozen times. The air had a creepy aura to it, causing her to feel uneasy in unfamiliar territory.
She didn't come to Knockturn Alley much anymore, and never alone.
Jade rang the bell on the counter for a second time before crossing her arms and straightening, she needed to act how Lucius always told her to, this was just a job. Act casual.
"Hold on a bloody minute," a voice called from the back.
Jade tried thinking, what would Lucius do? If he wasn't busy he would probably wait patiently at the counter, but Jade was not Lucius Malfoy.
She swept around the front of the shop three times, peering inside of strange things. An odd black wooden cabinet rested against one wall, the door ajar. And a rather eerily beautiful necklace lay on a velvet sheet inside a glass case, the jewels reflecting off the little sunlight coming through the grimy window, looking wicked in the way they glinted at her.
Jade huffed, marching over to the counter, she rang the bell even louder. "I'm here for Mr. Malfoy," she called out, irritation evident in her tone.
"Bloody hell," the man grumbled coming to stand behind the counter. The owner of Borgin and Burkes fixed Jade Everest with the nastiest glare he could muster.
"I bet all you lot wish you knew what you were saying."
"I'll be sure to tell Lucius that you don't respect his time," Jade smirked as horror of Lucius Malfoy's first name being used by her crossed the man's ugly face.
"You aren't Mrs. Malfoy. I mean, I've never met her but we all know what she looks like," he narrowed his beady little eyes on her face.
"I'm a family friend. Order for Mr. Malfoy," said Jade holding out the piece of parchment Lucius had given her. He had hinted that it wasn't her business what she was getting for him, but she had still tried reading the parchment anyway, which had resulted in a nasty headache.
The man grumbled under his breath before snatching the folded parchment from her. "Be right back," he muttered then stalked off into the shadows.
Jade stood there, waiting, and tapping her foot impatiently.
"Here you are," the man said shoving a small brown bag in her hand.
Jade left Borgin and Burkes never intending to return.
As Jade swept down the dark streets of Knockturn Alley, passing by a witch who was buying what looked like eyeballs. Yes, eyes. And passed a wizard who had clearly spilled Butter Beer all down his front, who started waving at her.
"Hey!" He called, clearly drunk.
Jade's hand went to her wand, resting in the pocket of her robes on instinct, but she ignored him and kept walking.
She continued down different streets, each one freakier than the last.
Jade stepped around cracks in the cobblestone and brushed cobwebs from her hair. The lights had dimmed, the witches and wizards were fewer than before. Jade could feel her panic climbing as she turned this way and that, looking around frantically. Maybe if she traced her way back to Borgin and Burkes? She started down a different alley than before, thinking it was the one she had come from.
Jade tried tracing her footsteps before coming to a halt, she finally looked up at the sign above the shop door, giving off a green glow.
Cobb and Webb's.
Jade frowned at the sign as though it had offended her.
From one glance through the dirty windows she saw different books related to the Dark Arts and other bizarre artifacts.
This wasn't the place where you could walk up to someone and ask for directions back to Diagon Alley.
Jade forced her panick attack down, and passed by a shop called the Coffin House. A shiver ran down her spine, the art of necromancy. Jade could remember being intrigued by the art when she was 16. That had been her first time in Knockturn Alley, dragging a complaining Severus in tow. She had once sourt of had the place memorized, but stuff happens, she supposed.
Jade hesitated for a split second before climbing the crumbling sidewalk.
Ignoring that she overlooked the shop signs and that Borgin and Burkes was right down the street, which meant she could easily find her way back to Diagon Alley, she gave the door a gentle push and stepped inside the Coffin House.
The first thing that greeted her was the musty smell of decay, then, the Wizard in all black giving her a strange smile.
It was almost dark when Jade got home, appearing on her porch with a (pop.)
The wizard she had ended up talking to for a rather long while had been kind enough to remind her she had a wand and could Apparate from Knockturn Alley. "For how could you know you could trust me?" She had thanked him before heading out and Apparating to Diagon Alley.
Sometimes, even though she came from a family of mostly Pure-Bloods, she felt like her airhead sister. Her Muggle-Born mother remembered magic more than her.
Jade scoffed in disgust as she let herself inside.
With a wave of her wand a fire began roaring in the fireplace, and with another wave the kettle was on to boil. Jade flung her coat over the back of a nearby chair, then she turned, setting a box of books and Lucius' package down on the table.
When she was done she waved her wand again, the kitchen cleaning itself from last night. She ignored the growl of her stomach as she poured the tea from the kettle into a mug that had wizzed from a cabinet above the small bar area.
"Are you going to eat?" A voice asked from the shadows behind her.
Jade screamed, her wand falling from her hand and clattering to the stone floor. She whipped around, her heart pounding hard against her ribs. All she could think about was the wizard from the Coffin House raping and murdering her. She kept her eyes closed very tightly, that hadn't been the voice of Lucius, had it?
"Jade, you reek of dark magic."
Jade proceeded to stumble backwards muttering under her breath.
"What has gotten into you?" The voice was following her, the person was coming closer.
"No. No. No. N-no," she said tripping and falling on the floor.
"Jade?"
"Please, don't hurt me," she began crying.
"Why would— I'm not going to hurt you," they were kneeling by her now.
"Sirius, Lucius, Severus," Jade screamed scooting back away from the intruder.
"I don't believe any of those names go together. Jade, it's Lucius," said the voice, "open your eyes."
Jade did as she was told, and the pale face, grey eyes, and blond hair of Lucius Malfoy swam into focus, sharp features and all.
"What has gotten into you, Woman?" He demanded, a blond eyebrow raised higher than the other.
Jade looked away from him, biting her lip, clearly embarrassed. She had recognized his voice just this morning and she had more nerve to not react like she had. She made up her mind while studying the legs of the table, she wouldn't tell him about the Coffin House.
Jade turned her sky gaze back to his steely stare and shrugged. "I figured I would get my Halloween spirit on," she quirked her head to the side, giving him a creepy smile.
Lucius didn't look like he believed her.
"You reek of dark magic," he said, repeating his statement from earlier.
Jade rolled her eyes, "why wouldn't I?"
Lucius shook his head climbing to his feet, he extended a hand down to her.
Jade gestured toward the table, "your package is on that box."
Lucius went to get the bag before stopping, peering at the box, he turned his back to her.
Jade couldn't see what he was doing, but she felt a pang of panic as one of his hands came up to touch the box.
"They're just books," she told him truthfully, she just didn't say from where, or what for.
"I see," was all he said.
When Lucius turned, Jade couldn't read the expression of stone he wore.
October had come fast and soon, Jade found herself at Hogwarts because none of her excuses had worked on Lucius. She'd tried everything, from Severus works there, to faking a cold.
Lucius had appeared on her porch telling her she was going. And now, here she was, wondering why the hell she was there in the first place.
Dumbledore had been glad to see her, not noticing how she had changed, the darkness that had started hovering around her. And if he did, which he probably had, he didn't say anything about it.
She knew without a doubt, that Severus had. He watched her, keeping an eye on her from where he sat at the staff table.
Jade approached the Slytherin table, giving Draco a light tap on the shoulder. "Hey, Draco," she said quietly in his ear, "may I sit here?"
Draco smirked up at her, when he saw who it was. "I suppose so," he said with a slight shrug.
Nodding, Jade sat down.
After Professor Dumbledore stood to give a few words and wish them all a very scary Halloween, he clapped his hands together and the plates and goblets began filling.
Jade nodded in approval as she dug in.
Lucius had sent her so he could get better and more accurate information on what was going on at Hogwarts, she couldn't get him to understand that Severus or Draco would've been better than her. She almost thought it was an excuse to see her. Almost. She was still a Half-Blood, placing her beneath him, and he would never do that.
"What's going through that head of yours?" Asked Draco, nudging her under the table with his shoe.
Jade shook her head, amused by him, "oh, nothing."
Jade was just turning her gaze to Harry, who was picking at his potatoes with a fork when a loud clap of thunder boomed throughout the Great Hall. Every table went silent as the enchanted ceiling reflected the lightning flashing off the dining wear below. Then, the doors flew open and Professor Quirrell ran in.
"Troll. Troll in the dungeons," he cried before gasping and fainting by the Headmaster's chair.
"Prefects, escourt the students back to their respective Common Rooms."
Jade had darted up from the table, this was her cue to leave. She had almost made it to the doors when Severus stopped her.
"I need you to follow," he gestured with his chin toward Harry and a red headed boy.
Jade nodded. "Yes, You and Lucius have forgotten I don't like children," she mumbled as she stepped around him.
Severus gave her an odd look before brushing past her and out of the Great Hall, his dark robes billowing behind him.
Jade counted to ten before darting out after him. She had seen Potter and the other boy get up to follow the Prefect, her brain couldn't take the kids any longer.
Jade followed Severus up several flights of stairs, or at least it felt that way. A moving staircase had appeared in her path and she had to jump it getting thrown off track slightly. Jade reappeared somewhere on the third floor and traced the steps back to the third floor corridor that was off limits to anyone.
Soon, she rounded the corner and looked around. Odd, she had thought— Jade turned at the sound of voices, one was—
"Jade," Severus was stalking toward her, his scowl in place. "What are you doing?" He hist grabbing her wrist, his grip like iron.
"I was following you," she replied raising an eyebrow at him.
"Obviously," he growled, his grip tightening.
Jade thought if he tightened his hold on her arm anymore that he would cut off her blood circulation.
"Why did Lucius send you?" Severus had moved closer, he was towering over her at this point.
Jade swallowed heavily. "I don't know. Really, I don't," she gulped in air, it might be her last.
Severus stepped closer, twisting her arm behind her back. "You reek of dark magic," he said right by her ear.
Jade forced herself not to flinch back as his breath ghosted across her neck.
They stood like that for another minute before Snape let her go and spun away.
Jade hesitated before following him.
"Where are we going?" She finally asked, her voice more timid than she would have liked.
"Potter," he snarled.
And that was the only talking they did.
"What in Merlin's name!"
Severus stopped and looked over his shoulder at her.
Jade could hear the distinct sound of crashing and banging, and something very heavy hit the floor with a loud moan.
"Come," said Severus quickening his pace.
Professors Snape and McGonagall and Jade all three burst through the door of the girls bathroom to find Harry and Ron Weasley kneeling over a fully grown Mountain Troll. Jade glanced at the broken sink before her eyes fell on a girl with bushy brown hair cowering in a corner.
Jade looked back over at Severus who wasn't paying attention to her.
"Harry, did you kill this?" She finally asked.
Harry beamed up at her, he was looking better than when she had met him in the Leaky Cauldron apart from his glasses dangling by one ear. "Well, no. Ron did," he seemed to glow.
"Here, let me see those," she said holding a hand out.
Harry only hesitated for the briefest of seconds before placing his broken glasses in her out stretched hand.
Jade nodded pulling her wand from her pocket. "Reparo," she muttered tapping the glasses, and with a snap they mended back together.
Harry smiled. "You didn't— thank you," he placed the repaired glasses on his face and turned to his best friend.
"Nerd," said Ron rolling his eyes.
Jade repressed a snort as she turned to an unhappy McGonagall.
"Now get back to your Common Room before I take more points."
Ron looked horrified.
"Yes Professor. We're going," said Harry, "come on, Hermione," he turned to the girl that had come out of the corner.
Maybe Jade shouldn't have looked past her at the Weasley boy, his wand was covered in troll snot and. Jade looked away, sure she was turning green.
"Be sure to clean your wand Mr. Weasley," said Severus before sweeping from the bathroom.
The last thing Jade saw before she followed him was an embarrassed Ron and Harry lifting his hand mouthing, "bye."