分卷阅读12（2 / 2）

Harry almost turns around in anger, but Hermione tightens her grip on the sweater on his back.

“Zach,” Hermione’s voice, altered into a high-pitched squeak, sounds from beside him, and she turns green eyes to him, a smile plastered on her thick lips. “I reckon we should hurry it up, don’t you? We don’t want to miss the train.”

Harry grumbles, but allows her to lead him away.

As soon as they enter the compartment where Ron’s waiting for them, they collapse on the bench and immediately take off their Glamours. They sigh loudly as they sag on their seats.

“It’s crazy,” Ginny says in disbelief, peeling one edge of the closed curtain away from the window to peek at the mess of people outside.

“They’re bonkers, that’s what they are.” Ron shakes his head, a stricken look on his face. “They were selling Ginger Quills! ‘Show your love for Ron Weasley’ and all that shite! Ginger Quills!”

Brushing her hair away from her face, Hermione says seriously, “Their nibs are actually really comfortable to use.”

Ron turns his horrified expression her way. “You bought a Ginger Quill?”

Hermione smiles, her eyes twinkling. “I passed by a shop selling them in Diagon Alley. Show your love for Ron Weasley and all that shite.”

And Ginny bursts into laughter and Harry laughs along with her as Ron’s face turns as red as his hair, and it’s definitely new, this dynamic among them.

He and Ginny had come to an understanding that they weren’t ready for a relationship, with both of them still mourning all they’ve lost. Ron and Hermione had bravely taken on the challenge, and Harry had been cautious at first, thinking that it was one more thing that had to change. But at the end of the day, he loves his friends, is immensely proud of them and their relationship, and—lately—have been thinking that maybe it won’t be so different between all of them after all.

The Hogwarts Express this year is, as predicted, sparsely occupied.

“Parents wouldn’t really want to bring their children back, after everything that’s happened last year with the Carrows,” Ginny says quietly, frowning at her hands on her lap as she recalls the things that happened last school year. As the train’s horn sounds and it lurches into a start, she looks at Harry with a worried expression. “And, I overheard some people talking in Diagon Alley. Word’s gotten around that Malfoy’s also coming back.”

Harry’s lips press together thinly. He can imagine it, mothers whispering to each other, convincing each other not to send their sons and daughters to Hogwarts because of an ex- Death Eater. He can’t really blame them, but it still sours his mood.

“It’s just us and Malfoy then,” Ron says, frowning. “Goyle and Nott’s still in Azkaban. They’re doing six months, right?”

Hermione nods. “Malfoy’s sentence was reduced only because of Harry’s petition.”

“Do you reckon they’ll take NEWTs this year?” Ron asks.