Brighter Than the Sun

Chapter Seventy-Three

"You and Harry are having a bit of a rough year, aren't you?" asked Lavender the next day at breakfast. I'd decided to tell her, Parvati, and Hermione about how I'd helped Harry with the clue, and how I'd sacrificed myself so he wouldn't get in trouble with Snape.

"Yeah," I said. "We just got over the last argument we had, and now we're diving into another one. I don't even know why he's mad."

"Well, to be fair, you did tell him that he had a big head," Parvati said. "But I don't think that's the only thing that's on his mind."

"Maybe he was also stressed about the egg," Hermione said. She frowned. "He told me he'd worked it out."

"I'm pretty sure he wanted to get you off his back for a while," I said.

"Oh, Merlin," Lavender muttered. "Look who's coming."

Walking into the Great Hall was Harry himself. He scanned the room, and when he spotted me, he started making his way over.

"I swear to Merlin if he acts like nothing happened and starts talking about that stupid egg," I said, "I might just give You-Know-Who a hand and murder him on the spot."

"Wow, Ash, that was dark," Parvati said. "I'm impressed."

"Thanks," I replied, smiling. Harry sat down next to me a few moments later, and I looked away from him, ready to give him another dose of the silent treatment.

"Ash, look, I'm really sorry for being a git last night," Harry said. "You're right, I did get big-headed because Moody told me I'd make a good Auror and I didn't listen to you even though you covered for me and helped me work out the egg clue, and... yeah. I was a git."

I didn't say anything, too surprised that he'd apologized right away.

"Er... I wasn't lying last night, either," Harry added, probably under the impression that I was still mad at him. "I really do think you would make a brilliant Auror."

Hermione kicked me in the shin under the table, and I looked up at her and the girls, who were all staring wide-eyed at me and jerking their heads at Harry, like, well? Tell him something!

"I... um... thanks, Harry." I struggled to find something else to say. Why was everything so awkward now? "You know, I actually don't want to be an Auror."

"Oh, really?"

"Yeah, I'd rather be a Healer."

"That's great," Harry said. I could tell he meant it. "You'd make an even better Healer."

"Thanks."

An awkward silence followed.

"So, did you get any farther on your egg clue?" I asked. Harry glanced uneasily over at Hermione. "Oh, I already told her that you didn't actually solve it."

"She did." Hermione raised an eyebrow. "We will have words later. Oh, yes. We will."

I almost felt bad for Harry, but he'd procrastinated. He'd made his decision, and now he had to deal with something even more dangerous than a dragon: Hermione. Parvati and Lavender exchanged devilish smirks at Harry's nervous expression.

"So..." I waved my hand, prompting Harry to answer my question. "Did you..."

"Oh." Harry started spreading butter on his toast. "I was going to wait until Ron got here. I want to tell him about Moody and Snape last night — er, did Ash already tell you, Hermione?"

Hermione, whose mouth was now full of toast, simply nodded.

"She also told us that she stuck her neck out for you," Parvati told Harry. "I'd be extra nice to her today if I were you."