𓏲 . THE BOY WHO LIVED . .៹♡
                                                  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
                            ─── STORMING OUT & ROAMING ABOUT

Ron and Hermione had argument right after that, and it was even more serious. It seemed to be the end of their friendship. Each was so angry with the other that Charlie, Harry and Alistair couldn't see how they'd ever make up.

Ron was enraged that Hermione had never taken Crookshanks's attempts to eat Scabbers seriously, hadn't bothered to keep a close enough watch on him, and was still trying to pretend that Crookshanks was innocent by suggesting that Ron look for Scabbers under all the boys' beds.

Hermione, meanwhile, maintained fiercely that Ron had no proof that Crookshanks had eaten Scabbers, that the ginger hairs might have been there since Christmas, and that Ron had been prejudiced against her cat ever since Crookshanks had landed on his head in the Leaky Cauldron.

Hogwarts was changing by the day, everywhere they went they saw signs of tighter security; Professor Flitwick could be seen teaching the front doors to recognize a large picture of Sirius Black and Daniel White-Riddle; Filch was suddenly bustling up and down the corridors, boarding up everything from tiny cracks in the walls to mouse holes. Sir Cadogan had been fired. His portrait had been taken back to its lonely landing on the seventh floor, and the Fat Lady was back. She had been expertly restored, but was still extremely nervous, and had agreed to return to her job only on condition that she was given extra protection. A bunch of security trolls had been hired to guard her. They paced the corridor in a menacing group, talking in grunts and comparing the size of their clubs.

As for Harry , he managed to avoid his friends bickering for a while, as he was pretty focused on the Quidditch match against Ravenclaw. Gryffindor ended up winning, of course, now that Harry had the best broom in the world to catch to Snitch.

But, Charlus took notice that Harry didn't celebrate the win quite like he was expected to. Instead, he was enamoured by the Ravenclaw Seeker, Cho Chang. She was shorter than Harry by about a head, but still, the boy couldn't help noticing, as nervous as he was, that she was extremely pretty.

Charlus couldn't help but laugh at his brother's new, undeniable crush. Rolling his eyes, Harry didn't realize that the school owls swooped into the Great Hall, carrying the post as usual.

Hedwig had landed on the table with an envelope clasped in her talons. "You've got mail, Harry," Alistair said, taking another toast.

"Thanks, Hedwig," Harry said and gave her a small pet, before tearing open the letter. Charlus looked over his brother's shoulder and read the note aloud:

"Dear Charlus, Harry, Alistair and Ron,

How about having tea with me this afternoon 'round six? I'll come collect you from the castle.

WAIT FOR ME IN THE ENTRANCE HALL; YOU'RE NOT ALLOWED OUT ON YOUR OWN.

Cheers,
Hagrid"

So at six o'clock that afternoon, Charlus and Alistair met up with Harry and Ron, the two waiting for them in the common room. The four left the Gryffindor Tower, passed the security trolls at a run, and headed down to the Entrance Hall where Hagrid was already waiting for them.

"All right, Hagrid!" Ron said. "S'pose you want to hear about Saturday night, Sirius Black and Daniel White-Riddle, do you?" "I've already heard all abou' it," Hagrid said, opening the front doors and leading them outside.

"Oh," Ron said, looking slightly put out.

The first thing Charlus saw as they approached Hagrid's cabin was Buckbeak, who was stretched out in the middle of Hagrid's pumpkin patch, his enormous wings folded tight to his body, enjoying a large plate of dead ferrets. The light brown-haired boy laughed slightly at the fantastic beast before a frown appeared on his face; he suddenly remembered Buckbeak's inevitable fate - Malfoy just had to ruin everything, didn't he?

Charlus averted his eyes from the hippogriff as they walked inside Hagrid's small hut. The half-giant instantly poured them some tea, as they sat themselves down by the fire, and offered them a plate of scones but they knew better than to accept; they had had too much experience with Hagrid's "cooking".

"I got somethin' ter discuss with you four" Hagrid said, sitting himself between them and looking uncharacteristically serious. "What?" Harry said simply. "Hermione," Hagrid replied. "What about her?" Charlus asked, perking up at her name.

"She's in a righ' state, that's what. She's bin comin' down ter visit me a lot since Chris'mas. Bin feelin' lonely. Firs' yeh weren' talking to her because o' the Firebolts, now yer not talkin' to her because her cat -"

"— ate Scabbers!" Ron interjected angrily. Charlus turned his head to Ron and glared at him, earning a glare back.

"Because her cat acted like all cats do," Hagrid continued doggedly. "She's cried a fair few times, yeh know. Goin' through a rough time at the moment. Bitten off more'n she can chew, if yeh ask me, all the work she's tryin' ter do - and Charlus,I know you've been helping Hermione - but I gotta tell yeh, Harry,Alistair, Ron, I thought you three'd value yer friend more'n broomsticks or rats. Tha's all."

"Wait then why am I here?" Charlus asked, confusion written on his face. "She's been talking about me too?" "It's not my place to say -" Hagrid said. "But she's my best friend! -" Charlus exclaimed.

"It's best if you talk to her yourself, Charlus," Hagrid sighed before turning to Ron. "Really upset, she was, when Black and White-Riddle nearly stabbed yeh, Ron. She's got her heart in the right place, Hermione has, an' You three not talkin' to her -"

"If she'd just get rid of that cat, I'd speak to her again!" Ron said angrily. "But she's still sticking up for it! It's a maniac, and she won't hear a word against it!"

"Ah, well, people can be a bit stupid abou' their pets," Hagrid said wisely. Behind him, Buckbeak spat a few ferret bones onto Hagrid's pillow.

They spent the rest of their visit discussing who would win the Quidditch cup, Gryffindor or Slytherin. At around nine o'clock, Hagrid walked them back up to the castle.

                                ────────⊹⊱🐍⊰⊹────────

That night, Charlus observed  the Marauder's Map that had been given to him by Fred and George so he could join his friends at Hogsmeade. All of a sudden, something caught his eyes. "What the fuck?" he mumbled as he rubbed his eyes.

There on the map, was Peter Pettigrew's ink self walking down one of the many corridors. Surely it had to be mistaken? Wasn't Peter Pettigrew supposed to be dead? Hadn't he been one of Sirius Black and Daniel White-Riddle's victims?

Without thinking twice, Charlus woke Alistair up. Alistair groaned as his eyes focused on his friend, "You better have a good bloody reason for waking me up right now."

Charlus laughed slightly before pointing towards the Marauder's Map in his hands, "Take a look at this."

The black-haired boy quickly sat up as Charlus shoved the map in front of him. As Alistair looked down, he furrowed his brows at the name.

"I though he was dead." Alistair said in the utmost confusion as he looked back up at Charlus, who held his wand in his hand. It was lit so he was able to read the parchment. "So did I."

The two shared a confused glance before they looked down at the map once again. "I think we should follow him," Charlus said before he moved to his bed and threw on a slightly oversized grey hoodie that seemed warm and soft. Then he went to the door .

Alistair sighed before he threw off the covers, slipped on a pair of shoes and pulled a dark blue hoodie  over the white T-shirt he was wearing,since it was still slightly cold. Reluctantly, he followed Charlus out of the dormitory, through the common room and towards the name on the map

As they walked, their own names drew closer and closer to Pettigrew's. They turned a corner into a dark, cold corridor, that Alistair couldn't recognize with the lights out. He immediately took out his wand and  said, "Lumos."

The now illuminated paintings were snoring soundly as they continued to move forward. Charlus kept his gaze firmly on the map while Alistair squinted down the corridor for any signs of the tiny rat. Pettigrew appeared to move quickly down the adjoining corridor. By the looks of it, he was about twenty yards away from them. Then, ten - only seconds away now.

His wand trembling in his hand, Charlus looked up from the map to the dark corridor ahead. Alistair walked beside him without saying a word. Then, as the three names on the map were about to collide, the two boys turned the corner slowly, only to be met with nothing in front of them.

Alistair blinked in confusion. How was that possible? The black-haired boy didn't even hesitate to look back down at the map. Charlus looked down as well to see Peter Pettigrew's name pass by them. Alistair furrowed his brows as he looked up once more and casted his wand along the walls.

"Watch it there, boy!"

Both, Charlus and Alistair jumped instantly. But the voice only came from an old, grumpy-looking man staring back at them in one of the portraits. "Sorry,"Alistair said softly as he lowered his wand.

Charlus moved to follow Pettigrew again before coming to an abrupt halt , which caused Alistair to look at him curiously. "Shit," Charlus muttered before he showed Alistair the map once again.

The light emitting for Alistair's wand illuminated across the parchment and almost instantly found a name approaching them that caused the boy to curse under his breath; Severus Snape.

"Mischief Managed." Charlus muttered hurriedly before he folded up the map and stashed it away as Alistair extinguished his light before it would betray them. However, much to their disappointment, Snape had already spotted them.

Soon enough, they were met with with Snape's harsh glare as his own wand illuminated the hallway. "Potter! Black!" he spat, "What are you two doing wandering the corridors at night?"

"I was sleepwalking." Charlus replied as quickly as if it had come from a gun, challenging Snape's gaze. Hastily, Alistair nodded and innocently agreed with him, "Yeah, and I tried to stop him."

"How surprisingly unlike your father you are, Black," Snape said with a twisted smile before he turned to Charlus, "You, Potter, on the other hand, are exceptionally like your father. He, too, was exceedingly arrogant, strutting about the castle."

"My dad didn't strut," Charlus said angrily before he could stop himself. "And nor do I." "And if you don't mind, Professor," Alistair said insolently, "we'd both appreciate it if you lowered your wand."

Snape eyed the two boys with a cold glare, trying to contain himself. Nonetheless, he lowered his wand. "Turn out your pockets,"

Charlus and Alistair looked at one another, but didn't move. "Why?" "Because I say so,"Snape said, his voice raising slightly, "Turn out your pockets."

Reluctantly, the two boys obliged. Alistair didn't have anything, but Charlus did. He pulled the map from his hoodie. Snape eyed the mape with a newfound sparkle in his eyes. Then he took it from Charlus' hand and said, "And this. What could this be?"

Charlus joked, "Alright, fine you caught us! Lock us up for a spare bit of parchment..."

But Snape wasn't amused quite like Alistair was, judging by the looks plastered on both of their faces. Alistair was beaming, while Snape's face scowled even more, if that was even possible.

"Really..." Snape dragged before he looked at the map and pointed his wand to it, "Reveal your secrets!"

The two boys watched in horror as words began to appear on the smooth surface of the parchment. Snape studied their facial expressions, a sadistic, half-smile formed on his lips as he pushed the parchment into Charlus' chest, "Read it. "

The light brown-haired boy shook his head in disbelief as he read the parchment out loud, much to Alistair 's look of terror, "Messrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, Shade, Prongs and Miss. Shadow offer their compliments to Professor Snape and..."

"Go on," Snape sneered. Charlus glanced up at him with a huge smirk on his face as he continued to read, "and request that he keep his abnormally large nose out of other people's business."

Snape's smiled dropped as Alistair broke out into a fit of laughter - he was nearly rolling around on the floor. Severus wasn't pleased, "Why you insolent, little-" "Professor...?" a familiar voice  called from behind him.

From the shadows, Professor Lupin had arrived and looked at the scene before him with a slight brow raised. Snape sighed as he turned to meet Remus' gaze, "Well, well, Lupin. Out for a little walk in the moonlight, are we?"

Lupin ignored the comment as he looked to the two boys, "Charlus? Alistair? Are you two alright?"

Before either of them could reply, Snape spoke up again, "That remains to be seen. I've just  now confiscated  a rather curious artifact from Mr. Potter and Mr. Black, here -" he reclaimed the map from Charlus' hands before handing it to Lupin, "- Take a look, Lupin. It's supposed to be your area of expertise. It's clearly full of dark magic."

Lupin took the parchment in his hands, and Charlus witnessed a small smile creep up on his lips. It was almost as if he realized what he was holding.

"I seriously doubt that, Severus." Lupin addressed as he looked up, "It looks as though it's a parchment designed to insult whoever tries to read it. I suspect it's a Zonko product. "

Snape extended an arm, in an attempt to take it back, but Lupin took it out of his reach with a quick movement. "Nevertheless, I shall investigate any hidden qualities it might possess. It is, after all, as you say, my area of expertise. Charlus, Alistair, would you both come with me, please? Professor, goodnight."

The boys didn't dare look at Snape as they left the corridor. They walked with Lupin all the way back into his office before speaking. Then Alistair opened his mouth to begin to plead for some sort of understanding, "Professor, we -"

"I don't want to hear explanations," Lupin said shortly. He glanced around the empty office and lowered his voice. "I happen to know that this map was confiscated by Mr. Filch many years ago. Yes, I know it's a map,"

Charlus and Alistair looked amazed.

"Now I haven't the faintest idea of how this map came to be in your possesion," Lupin said to the two of them, "but quite frankly, I am astounded that you didn't hand it in. Did it never occur to you that this, in the hands of Sirius Black and Daniel White-Riddle, is a map to you?!"

The two Slytherins shared a nervous glance before slowly shaking their heads simultaneously. "No." "No,sir."

Lupin stepped towards them, "You know, Charlus, your father never set much store by the rules, either. But he and your mother gave their lives to save yours and your brother's. And gambling their sacrifice by wandering around the castle unprotected,  with killers on the loose seems to me a poor way to repay them."

Remus turned to Alistair, "And you should know better than follow Charlus around like that. Your uncles are killers and you'd just agree with wandering around the castle, giving them a valuable time to strike at you two."

Charlus cowered under Lupin's gaze after that while Alistair looked in disbelief out of the window. Remus sighed, "I won't cover for the two of you again. Let's not make a habit out of this, shall we?"

Lupin then tossed the map on his desk, and began to sort through some papers. Charlus and Alistair shared a glance as they lingered in the room for a moment before they turned to walk towards the door.

All of a sudden, Alistair stopped causing Charlus to look at him in confusion. "Professor," Alistair said softly, which caused Lupin to turn around with a hum, "Just so you know, we don't think that map always works. Earlier on, it showed someone in the castle. Someone who we know to be dead."

Lupin's ears had perked up, "Oh, really? And who might that have been?"

The black-haired boy looked to his friend for some help. A little hesitant to share the information, Charlus took a deep breath before he said, "Peter Pettigrew."

Lupin hesitated ever so slightly to which Charlus noticed. Then, the Professor returned to his papers. "Very well," he said slowly, "I want you two to return to your dormitory and stay there. And don't take any detours." Charlus watched as Lupin tapped the map with a smile on his face, "If you do, I shall know."

With that, the two boys headed straight for Slytherin Dungeon once again, neither of them being able to shake off the curiosity as to why Pettigrew appeared on the map in first place.

                                       ────────⊹⊱🐍⊰⊹────────

The next morning, Charlus,Harry,Alistair and Ron had just finished their breakfast in the Great Hall before heading off towards the Charms classroom. As they walked, they spotted Hermione walking ahead of them. She turned around, surprised to see the four.

The ginger gave her a small, guilty smile going to say something but was cut off by Hermione talking first, "Ron, I'm really, really sorry about Scabbers."

"Oh - well - he was old," Ron said, looking around nervously. "And he was a bit useless. You never know, mum and dad might get me an owl now."

"As much as I am happy we're all friends again, if we don't get going now, we are going to be late," Charlus said, smiling at his brother and his friends, glad that they were back to how they were.

The five of them hurried up the marble staircase towards Professor Flitwick's classroom where he was already waiting to start the lesson.

"You're late, your four!" Professor Flitwick said reprovingly, as Harry opened the classroom door. "Come along, quickly, wands out, we're experimeting with Cheering Charms today. We've already divided into pairs —"

Charlus,Harry,Alistair and Ron hurried to a desk at the back and opened their bags, ready for the instructions from Professor Flitwick. Charlus turned to his side and noticed a certain bushy-haired girl was no longer with him,

"Where's Hermione gone?" Charlus asked, peering around the classroom. Harry,Alistair and Ron looked around, too. Hermione hadn't entered the classroom, yet Charlus knew he had been right next to him when Harry had opened the door.

"That's weird," Harry said, staring at Charlus. "Maybe - maybe she went to the bathroom or something?"

Hermione didn't turn up for the whole lesson.

"She could've done with a Cheering Charm on her, too," Ron said, as the class left for lunch, all grinning broadly - the Cheering Charms had left them with a feeling of great contentment.

Hermione wasn't at lunch either.  By the time they had finished their apple pie, the after-effects of the Cheering Charms were wearing off, and the four of them had started to get slightly worried.

"You don't think Malfoy did something to her?" Ron said anxiously, as they hurried upstairs towards Gryffindor Tower. "I would break every single bone in his body if he did," Charlus said, no trace of humour in his tone.

They passed the security trolls, gave the Fat Lady the password, and scrambled through the portrait hole into the common room. Hermione was sitting at a table, fast asleep, her head resting on an open Arithmancy book.

They went to sit down on either side of her. Charlus reached a hand out and gently prodded her awake."Wh-what?" Hermione said, waking with a start, and staring wildly around. "Is it time to go? W-which lesson have we got now?"

"Divination, but it's not for another twenty minutes," Charlus said to the girl in front of him. "Hermione, why didn't you come to Charms?" Alistair asked.  "What? Oh no!" Hermione squeaked. "I forgot to go to Charms!" 

"But how could you forget?" Harry said. "You were with us till we were right outside the classroom!" "I don't believe it," Hermione wailed. "Was Professor Flitwick angry? Oh - I lost track of things!"

"You know what, Hermione?" Ron said, looking down at the enormous Arithmancy book Hermione had been using as a pillow. "I reckon you're cracking up. You're trying to do too much."

"No, I'm not!" Hermione said, brushing her hair out of her eyes and staring hopelessly around for her bag. "I just made a mistake, that's all! I'd better go and see Professor Flitwick and say sorry . . . I'll see you in Divination!"

"Mione, wait -" Charlus called out, but it was no use, she was already gone.

Charlus turned to Harry,Alistair and Ron, the three looking extremely confused by the bushy-haired girl's behaviour. They each shrugged it off, making their way to Professor Trelawney's classroom.

Hermione joined the four boys at the foot of the ladder twenty minutes later, looking extremely harassed. "I can't believe I missed Cheering Charms! And I bet they come up in our exams. Professor Flitwick hinted they might!"

Together they climbed the ladder into the dim, stifling tower room. Glowing on every little table was a crystal ball full of pearly white mist. Charlus, Harry, Alistair, Ron and Hermione sat down together at the same rickety table.

"I thought we weren't starting crystal balls until next term," Ron muttered, casting a wary eye around for Professor Trelawney, in case she was lurking nearby.

"Don't complain, this means we've finished palmistry," Harry muttered back. "Yeah," Charlus added, "I was getting sick of her flinching every time she looked at my and Harry's hands."

"Good day to you!" the familiar, misty voice said, and Professor Trelawney made her usual dramatic entrance out of the shadows. Parvati and Lavender quievered with excitement, their faces lit by the milky glow of their crystal ball.

"I have decided to introduce the crystal ball a little earlier than I had planned," Professor Trelawney said, seating herself with her back to the fire and gazing around. "The fates have informed me that your examination in June will concern the Orb, and I am anxious to give you sufficient practice."

Hermione snorted. "Well, honestly...'the fates have informed her'. Who sets the exam? She does! What an amazing prediction!" she said, not troubling to keep her voice low. Harry, Charlie and Ron had all choked back laughs.

It was hard to tell whether Professor Trelawney had heard them as her face was hidden in a shadow. She continued, however, as though she had not.

"Crystal gazing is a particularly refined art," she said dreamily. "I do not expect any of you to see when first you peer into the Orb's infinite depths. We shall start by practicing relaxing the conscious mind and external eyes -" Ron began to snigger uncontrollably and had to stuff his fist in his mouth to stifle the noise "- so as to clear the Inner Eye and the superconscious. Perhaps, if we are lucky, some of you will see before the end of the class."

And so they began.

Charlus felt extremely foolish, staring blankly at the crystal ball, trying to keep his mind empty when thoughts such as "this is stupid" kept drifting across it.

 Harry seemed to be feeling the same and they exchanged annoyed expressions. It didn't help that Ron kept breaking into silent giggles, Alistair kept yawning, and Hermione kept tutting.

So the twins began a little game of thumb fighting. Charlus won every time, and that made his mood much better as he gloated to Harry about his victories.

"Seen anything yet?" Harry asked them after finishing the sixth thump fight with his brother. "Yeah, there's a burn on this table," Ron said, pointing. "Someone's spilled their candle."

"Probably because they fell asleep," Alistair muttered, trying to keep himself awake. "This is such a waste of time," Hermione hissed. "I could be practising something useful. I could be catching up on Cheering Charms -"

Professor Trelawney rustled past. "Would anyone like me to help them interpret the shadowy portents within their Orb?" she murmured over the clinking of her bangles."I don't need help," Ron whispered. "It's obvious what this means. There's going to be loads of fog tonight."

At Ron's sarcastic comment, his four friends burst out laughing.

 "Now, really!" Professor Trelawney said, as everyone's heads turned in their direction. Parvati and Lavender were looking scandalized. "You are disturbing the clairvoyant vibrations!" 

She approached their table and peered into their crystal ball. Charlus groaned. He was sure he knew what was coming. "Oh god, here we go."

"There is something here!" Professor Trelawney whispered, lowering her face to the ball, so that it was reflected twice in her huge glasses. "Something moving... but what is it?"

Harry was prepared to bet everything he owned, including his Firebolt, that it wasn't good news, whatever it was. And sure enough -

"My dears..." Professor Trelawney breathed, gazing up at Charlus and Harry. " They are here, plainer than ever before... my dears, stalking towards you both, growing ever closer... the Gr-"

"Oh, for goodness' sake!" Hermione said loudly, which caused Charlus' head to snap in her direction. "Not those ridiculous Grims again!"

Professor Trelawney raised her enormous eyes to Hermione's face. Parvati whispered something to Lavender, and they both glared at Hermione too. Professor Trelawney stood up, surveying Hermione with unmistakable anger.

"I am sorry to say that from the moment you have arrived in this class, my dear, it has been apparent that you do not have what the noble art of Divination requires," Professor Trelawney said. "Indeed, I don't remember ever meeting a student whose mind was so hopelessly Mundane!"

There was a moment's silence. Then -

"Fine!" Hermione said suddenly, getting up and cramming her books back into her bag. "Fine!" she repeated, swinging the bag over her shoulder and almost knocking Alistair off his chair. "I give up! I'm leaving!"

And to the whole class's amazement, Hermione knocked the crystal ball off of the stand. She then strode over to the trapdoor, kicked it open, and climbed down the ladder out of sight.

Charlus watched in amazement as she left. He genuinely didn't think she had it in her. "Woah," he muttered, stunned. "That girl is bloody brilliant."

It took a few minutes for the class to settle down again. Professor Trelawney seemed to have forgotten all about the Grims. She turned abruptly from Charlus,Harry,Alistair and Ron's table, breathing rather heavily as she tugged her gauzy shawl more closely to her.

"Ooooo!" Lavender said suddenly, making everyone start. "Ooooo, Professor Trelawney, I've just remembered! You saw her leaving, didn't you? Didn't you, Professor? 'Around Easter, one of our number will leave us forever!' You said it ages ago, Professor!"

Professor Trelawney gave her a dewy smile. "Yes, my dear, I did indeed know that Miss Granger would be leaving us. One hopes, however, that one might have mistaken the Signs...The Inner Eye can be a burden, you know..."

Lavender and Parvati looked deeply impressed, and moved over so that Professor Trelawney could join their table instead. Charlus, however, couldn't help but roll his eyes in disbelief.  He was completely astonished as to how these naive minds actually believed this garbage. Maybe Hermione was right to leave the class early. 

"Actually," he said, rising to his feet with his books in hand, "I think I'll be leaving too, but I'm sure you saw that coming, didn't you, Professor?"

With one last smirk, the light brown-haired boy walked out of the classroom as the entire classroom watched him in awe. When the boy finally shut the trapdoor behind him, he climbed down the ladder and walked down the hall, hoping to find Hermione.

Finally, he spotted her sitting in a window alcove not far from the classroom. She had her back to him and her head was buried in a thick book.

So, naturally, he saw an opportunity for some mischief. He crept up behind her as quietly as he could before he shook her shoulder vigorously and shouted loudly, "AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"

The girl jumped instantly and turned quickly to meet his gaze. She tried to fight the smile that was tugging on her lips. "Bloody hell, Charlus!" she shouted and playfully hit him on the shoulder with her books. "That was not funny! "

It took a moment for Charlus to come down from his laughter before he breathed out, " No, it was absolutely hilarious! You should have seen your face!"

Hermione eventually gave in and and began to laugh with him.  After a moment of laughter, Hermione raised her eyebrows and looked at the boy questioningly, "What are you doing here anyway? Shouldn't you be in class?" "I figured you might get bored without my company," he replied with a playful smile, as he climbed up on the window to sit next to her, "You are brilliant, you know."

Hermione felt herself blushing slightly at his compliment, "What do you mean?" "You should have seen the look on Trelawney's face when you stormed out of class. It was priceless ," Charlus joked with her, "And knocking over the crystal ball? That was a nice touch. I have to say I'm impressed, Granger."

The bushy haired girl gave him a teasing glance, "Did I surprise you, Potter?"  

Charlus challenged her smile "Of course not. Impressed, yes. Surprised, not in the slightest. I had a feeling you were going to get back at her sooner or later. And I'm just glad I was there to see it firsthand. "

Hermione laughed again before looking into his green eyes and smiling widely, "I can't believe you walked out after me." "Did I surprise you, Granger?" he teased, using her own words against her.

Hermione giggled lightly with a playful roll of her brown eyes, "Hmm, perhaps." "Well," Charlus said genuinely, "Anything for you."

A flush of bright pink appeared on Hermione's cheeks.  Charlus smirked victoriously as he realized the effect of his words.

It wasn't long before the bell had rung, and Alistair and Ron came pouring out of the classroom with the other students. Alistair looked as if he was close to falling asleep, but Ron mentioned that Harry had taken back the crystal ball that Hermione had knocked away.

When Harry finally came down, the corridor was deserted, only Charlus, Alistair,Ron and Hermione sitting in the window alcove. Ron and Alistair quickly jumped up off of the windowsill. Charlus soon followed  before he helped Hermione down gracefully.

 As the four of them walked towards him, the light brown-haired boy noticed a far off look appearing in Harry's eyes. "You look startled, are you alright?" he inquired with a curious tone.

"No," Harry said sincerely, which made the ears of his brother and his friends perk up, "Trelawney - Trelawney just told me that the - the Dark Lord's going to rise again... that his servant's going to go back to him."

Shit.

━━ AUTHORS NOTE

Both Charlus and Alistair are just so chaotic. Also, you could say they are like brothers.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please, don't forget to vote and share If you did, and if you want, comment too ! I'd really appreciate it <3

Thank you for reading this far.

Until next time, much love to you all!