Chapter 111: 3-2
It was a windy day. Looking around the members gathered at the Hog's Head, two faces in particular made my heart skip a beat—Anthony Goldstein and Cho Chang. They were people who threw me into a confusion that felt different yet meant the same thing. ...Lately, my partner Draco had been included in this as well.
Old man Aberforth poked his head out from behind the counter. The witch sitting by the wall was probably Mundungus in disguise. Besides them, the pub was full of nothing but shady, suspicious figures wearing veils. In other words—for better or worse, word of this meeting was leaking out everywhere. That would lead to the massive failure later on. I know exactly what triggered it.
However, Dumbledore needed to know about this plan we were organizing. ...Hermione and the others would just have to accept it as an expensive lesson learned.
"Er—ahem. Well then—hello."
Hermione let out a squeaky voice, sounding unaccustomed to this. She somehow managed to fulfill her duty of explaining the gathering. We wouldn't gain anything from Umbridge's classes. We needed to have a way to protect ourselves—because Lord Voldemort had returned. When she concluded with that, the eyes of several curious students lit up.
"So, you're going to tell us what really happened that day?"
Harry grimaced. Ron glared at the student—Zacharias Smith. Hermione turned pale, realizing things were going south. I knew this was coming, but—it still didn't feel good.
"If that's all you want to know, you can leave. Hermione just explained the reason we gathered today."
At Harry's sharp words, Zacharias fell silent, brimming with dissatisfaction. Everyone nervously looked back and forth between the two of them.
"Well—right. Anyway, that's the plan."
Although clumsy, she somehow managed to get to the point of signing the parchment, but sure enough, Zacharias and Ernie Macmillan hesitated to fill it in. For the first time, I spoke up.
"What we're about to do isn't studying for our exams. —We are going to learn how to survive from here on out. ...Well, exams won't matter if we're dead, will they?"
Ernie timidly added his name near the bottom of the parchment. Zacharias glared at me even more overtly than he had at Harry (and Harry was glaring back at him) before signing in small letters. After all, nothing could move forward unless we got them to write their names here.
"Well then, er... dismissed."
With Hermione's lackluster closing remark, the crowd of students filed out of the Hog's Head, disappearing one by one. Leaving only a few behind. Those who remained were Ginny, Neville, Cho, and Anthony.
"Maria, are you—"
The moment Cho spoke to me, tension ran through the room, with the exception of Neville. Everyone else knew about the circumstances between Cho and me. As an information broker of sorts, Anthony didn't find it strange at this point. Cho faltered, looking awkward.
"...Shall we change locations?"
"No, it's fine. I just wanted to ask. —Are you going to teach us, too?"
"Huh?"
I thought I had misheard her. After all—I am 'Maria'. Not Harry Potter.
"Harry wasn't the only one who survived. You came back alive from that night, too. I—if I'm going to be taught—I want you to be the one."
Those were shocking words. From her perspective, I should be the enemy who cost her the one she loved.
"...Why?"
By now, Cho and I were the only ones exchanging words in the room.
"—To convince myself."
The wind was strong today. A gust blew in through the flimsy door, sweeping up Cho's black hair like a painting. —She looked beautiful, with determination resting in her eyes.
"Alright."
I found myself answering. It was a strange sensation. Even though I was somewhat dazed, my heart was clearly nodding in agreement.
"I look forward to it, Maria."
"Likewise, Cho."
Cho smiled at Harry and the rest of us before leaving the pub. For a few seconds, overwhelmed by her presence, we completely forgot to speak and just stood there stunned.
"I misunderstood her. She's surprisingly—"
"...Yeah. She's strong."
She was a girl who reminded me of the faint crush I had back when I was Harry.
"Well then, is it okay if I borrow Maria next?"
Anthony stood up as if he had been waiting for this moment. For some reason, Harry tried to stand up too, but Hermione stopped him with an exasperated look.
"Go ahead while you still can."
"Hermione! That guy fancies Maria! We can't leave them alone together!"
"Most boys fall for Maria at least once. Based on her looks, anyway. And they all get rejected without fail. Are you planning to go around intimidating every guy who gets close to her?"
"That's—but—I, I—"
With Harry's voice at my back, I briskly left the Hog's Head, bringing Anthony along. Behind me, Anthony was visibly holding back an amused laugh.
"You're well-loved, Maria. So Malfoy is okay, but I'm not?"
"I'd be worried too if any girl other than Ginny got close to Harry, so maybe this is just the nature of siblings."
I laughed lightly at Anthony, who was walking beside me. Even Ron cared a lot about his siblings' romantic issues, especially when it came to his little sister Ginny. That must be what siblings are like.
"I see. I'm an only child, so I wouldn't know."
"Me too."
"Hm?"
"Never mind. Just thinking out loud."
I placed my hand on a fence away from the village, stopped walking, and turned around. This was the place where 'I' had once met up with Sirius.
—A place of memories known only to me.
"This place has a bit too much atmosphere for a date."
"I'm not used to planning these things."
"I think it's fine. I like that about you."
"............"
His straightforward expression caught me completely off guard. My cheeks slowly grew hot. In this mildly chilly season, I couldn't exactly play off my blushing cheeks as frostbite. Anthony leaned his back against the fence, idly playing with his fingertips.
"...Are you wearing the brooch?"
"Ah—yeah—sometimes—it works as a hair clip."
The beautiful amber brooch I had received from Anthony had both a pin for clothes and a clip on the back. It was a more practical design for everyday use than the hair clip Draco had given me, so it was very handy. It also helped a lot that Harry and Hermione had praised it, saying it matched the color of Maria's eyes.
Anthony smiled warmly.
"I'm glad. Let me see you wearing it again sometime."
"Yeah. Sometime."
"............"
"............"
The conversation died down. However, it was a silence quite different from an awkward one. It felt like trying to hold back a laugh—
Anthony is a good guy. He—tries to be a friend to me.
"...About Malfoy,"
"Yeah?"
—That was why I had anticipated that Anthony, of all people, would ask about 'him'.
"The reason he didn't come today—is it because he's avoiding you?"
"That might be it."
"But you're not fighting, right?"
"You think so?"
Anthony nodded without hesitation.
"If you two were fighting—there would be a lot more room for me to slip in."
"............"
That actually made sense. I was almost inadvertently convinced by Anthony's serious expression, and hurriedly shook my head. Seeing me like that, Anthony gave a wicked grin.
"But he is a bit strange. He was always somewhat of a lone wolf, but especially lately..."
"...Yeah."
A part of my heart ached with a pang of guilt. Draco is no lone wolf. The little Malfoy who used to drag Crabbe and Goyle around easily came to mind. He actually loves to flock together. Because he is a timid coward and highly vain, he can only stand tall when he has lackeys around him. He loves playing king of the hill. That is exactly why, when someone like him chooses to be alone—it means he has a significant purpose.
"Anyway, you should be careful."
"Hm?"
"If you let your guard down, an eagle will swoop in and snatch you away from the side."
"............"
Finding no other outlet for my hands, I gave Anthony a firm smack on the back for teasing me with that mischievous look.
"—What do you think about all this, Maria?"
Harry murmured quietly while stroking Hedwig, who carried no letter, in front of the Owlery.
"Because────it's dangerous."
He was right. This Harry didn't know, but I—as Harry—had the experience of nearly being framed by the Ministry of Magic. I know how recklessly narrow-minded people will attack. If we were caught, it wouldn't end with a warning or expulsion. —Even so.
"I think—we should proceed with the plan."
Maria's voice rang out quite clearly.
When we infiltrated the Department of Mysteries, when Hogwarts was attacked by Death Eaters under 'his' guidance, and during the final battle—I pride myself on the fact that the survival rate of us mere students was raised because of our training as Dumbledore's Army—commonly known as the DA. This is a tightrope walk for survival.
"There's going to be a terrible battle from here on out. A lot of people are going to die."
The Creevey brothers and our classmates. Ultimately, even underclassmen whose names and faces I didn't know. People who absolutely should not have died. —If this can serve as a way for even one more person to survive.
"If we can prevent that even a little bit—I think it's a risk worth taking."
Harry was smiling as he tickled Hedwig's beak.
"I knew it," —he replied gently.
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