𝐔𝐍𝐖𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐃 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘, 𝘥. 𝘮𝘢𝘭𝘧𝘰𝘺

| 15 |

(gif is coming later tonight, struggling to resize it)

▬▬ fifteen; the truth.
⋆.｡.:* ☆:**:. 

BEING THE THIRD WHEEL WAS JUST AWKWARD. Harry and Cho walked just before her and seemed drowned in a conversation only they were a part of, Lauren could barely make out what they were saying because of the constant change in subject or whispering and blushing. Why were they acting like that? Draco was never like that with her, she thought. And then suddenly, like a cliche romantic movie she looked to her right and caught two blue eyes piercing into her soul. The girl quickly looked away and pretended to listen to the couple talking but she couldn't ignore the nerves that woke when she knew he was staring at her.

She swore she thought he'd come grab her arm and drag her in a scrub and confront her if it wasn't for Hermione and Ron running up to the three and blocking out Draco from Lauren's sight.

"Hagrid's back," Hermione said. Cho got the hint and returned back into the castle and a couple minutes later the four friends was sprinting down the hill towards Hagrid's simple living.

However, when they arrived they could hear the high-pitched voice that belonged to the pink lady they all had grown to despite, with every single bone in their bodies. Her sharp flower scent lingered around the cottage and embraced the teenagers hiding by the window like an unpleasant breeze.

"I will say this one last time," Umbridge voice spoke from the inside. "I'm ordering you to tell me where you've been."

A deep male voice responded with a familiar accent, "I told you. I've been away for me health."

"Your health?" The woman quickly repeated.

"Yeah. Bit of fresh air, you know."

"Oh, yes. As gamekeeper, fresh air must be difficult to come by," Umbridge said. Lauren grimaced at her friends at the rude lady's comment. "If I were you, I shouldn't get too used to being back. In fact, I mightn't bother unpacking at all." With a wide grin the short woman walked out and closed the wooden door behind her with a proud sigh.

Taking one sniff in the air she pulled out a pink little bottle and turned around to leave her perfume smell by the doorway. The four students waited until they saw the pink figure start walking up the path to the castle before they jumped through the cloud of Umbridge perfume and into the Hagrid's home. He looked at them with a surprised look before smiling widely.

"Does anyone want some tea?" He asked pouring water into a cup.

When the tea was finished Harry had the courage to speak up, but only to thank the half-giant for the drink. Instead, Lauren decided to break the ice, "Hagrid, where've you been?"

He dragged a hand through the beard before sighing, "This is top-secret, right?" They nodded silently. "Dumbledore sent me to parley with the giants."

"Giants?" Hermione exclaimed. Hagrid quickly hushed her and she lowered her voice, "You found them?"

"Well, they're not that hard to find, to be perfectly honest," he chuckled. "They're so big, see? I tried to convince them to join the cause. But I wasn't the only one that was trying to win them over."

"Death Eaters?" Ron cut in.

"Yes. Trying to persuade them to join You-Know-Who."

"Well, whose side they're on?" Lauren asked taking a nervous glance around at everyone in the room, including the big dog just drooling for the meat Hagrid was holding against his cuts.