Chapter 54: Malfoy's Scheme
Harry withdrew his finger and gently pressed it against the woman's hand in the photograph. His voice trembled as he said, "I used to think I was a child no one wanted. I used to blame them for abandoning me. That was so shameful." His voice broke.
Hermione reached out and softly squeezed his shoulder. "Harry…"
Harry struggled to steady his emotions. It took him a long moment before he could continue. "She never left me. She never left. The love she left behind is still inside me, engraved deep in my soul. It has always protected me."
Hermione tightened her grip slightly. "She would be proud of you."
"I've always been her pride," Harry said quietly. "Her protective charm still flows in my blood."
Gradually, he calmed himself. "And she's my pride too. She'll always protect me."
He pointed again at the pictures in the booklet, explaining each one to Hermione.
"This is my dad. The Invisibility Cloak was his. Dumbledore said he liked sneaking into the kitchen with it to steal food. We're a lot alike—I use it to sneak around school too."
"But it was in George's hands that it played its most important role. George used it to save me… to defeat Voldemort."
"This was sent to me by Hagrid. He apologized. He feels guilty, but it wasn't his fault. I wanted to face Voldemort—I had to face him. But I love this album. He asked my parents' old classmates for so many photographs."
It was as if Harry had been holding these feelings in for a very long time. Now, he poured them out in one breath. He spoke endlessly; Hermione listened, responding softly, encouraging him.
…
That evening, in the Great Hall at Hogwarts.
Ron chewed on a sausage and muttered through a mouthful, "There's definitely a scheme. Definitely."
Harry lifted a slice of pizza and glanced up. For a fleeting moment, his eyes met Hermione's. Her ears suddenly burned, and she quickly turned her head away in flustered embarrassment.
Harry's gaze had struck her like a startled rabbit's. Her heart began to race, and she quickly focused on her cup instead.
That afternoon, Harry had talked endlessly—almost like someone possessed. From his family and childhood to his worries and embarrassments; from his joys and troubles to his confusion and hopes.
He had spoken without stopping. Hermione had listened without interruption, always responding, always encouraging. Time seemed to stand still for them. Before they knew it, it was dinner. They hurried to the Great Hall and happened to run into Ron on the way.
After spending the entire afternoon in deep conversation, the sudden silence between them now felt… different.
"Ron, what do you mean by a scheme?" Harry asked, his eyes flickering.
"Malfoy. He's definitely plotting something," Ron said irritably, stabbing another pie with his fork as if venting his frustration.
"What's Malfoy up to? I haven't seen much of him lately," Harry said, finally coming back to his senses. Ever since Malfoy had been injured in the Forbidden Forest, he'd barely appeared around school. It had been noticeably quieter.
"That's exactly why I'm sure he's scheming," Ron replied, sawing aggressively at a piece of bacon with his knife and fork.
"Honestly, without Malfoy causing trouble, school's been much nicer," Hermione interjected, deliberately avoiding Harry's gaze.
"But if his scheme succeeds, our lives will be miserable," Ron insisted, banging his cutlery against his plate.
"Stop dragging it out—just say it," Harry urged, sensing Ron was hesitating.
Ron put down his knife and fork. He opened his mouth, then closed it again, unsure. Finally, after taking a sip from his cup and hesitating for a long moment, he said, "I heard Malfoy's been asking about George's preferences. He's even gathered some rare books from Slytherin to give him."
"What is Malfoy trying to do? Split us apart?" Hermione had grown used to Malfoy's arrogance and mockery. This sudden change in behavior unsettled her.
"Malfoy's not just a nuisance—he might actually be scheming?" Harry wasn't sure how to interpret the news. A simple bully was annoying enough, but a calculating one was far worse.
Ron shot them both a frustrated look. "Malfoy's trying to win George over. George accepted the books—though he returned them after reading."
George loved books. It would be hard for him to refuse one offered to him. Hermione, who loved reading just as much, could understand that—though the situation still felt strange.
"George won't be swayed by Malfoy," Harry said firmly.
"I know that. Even Malfoy probably knows that," Ron admitted helplessly. "But he's still trying to improve their relationship."
At first, Ron hadn't believed the rumors. Then he'd grown suspicious. The more he learned about Malfoy's recent behavior, the more uneasy he felt. With five older brothers, Ron was no stranger to complicated dynamics and subtle power plays.
"If Malfoy knows George won't like him, then why is he trying?" Hermione asked, though she sensed the answer was more complex than her question.
Ron knew exactly what she meant—that was what he had been trying to explain all along. After taking another sip of soup to steady himself, he continued, "I know George won't side with Malfoy. But if Malfoy builds a decent relationship with him, George might stay neutral."
"Malfoy is unbelievable," Hermione said, unable to comprehend how he could possibly form a good relationship with George.
"Think about it," Harry said slowly. "George and Malfoy hardly interact. George is in Ravenclaw and spends most of his time in the library."
"And when Malfoy's around George, he doesn't act nearly as arrogant or annoying," Ron added.
"In that case," Hermione said thoughtfully, "George's impression of Malfoy would be completely different from ours."
She was very smart—truly smart.
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