[169] The Fractured Oath

"Are we eating among a bunch of Slytherins?"

"Why are Gryffindors coming over?"

Ron and Draco looked at Hall simultaneously.

Hall held up the tart knife. "Who wants the biggest piece?"

Predictably, their attention shifted.

"The tart's on the Slytherin table — the biggest piece is ours! Giving Gryffindors a scrap is mercy already!" Draco raised his chin.

Ron jumped up. "Hall made this for me! The biggest is mine! Harry, don't you agree?"

Ron dragged Harry in. Harry looked troubled. "I think what Ron said — "

"Potter's irrelevant." Draco cut him off with a disdainful look.

"You're all in cahoots!"

Ron and Harry looked to Hermione. Almighty Hermione! You can do it!

Hermione rolled her eyes at the childish boys. "Anyone who didn't know better would think the three of you combined weren't even eleven."

Draco felt he'd won — the Gryffindors were fighting among themselves.

Harry and Ron felt they'd won — Draco had stopped talking.

They all raised their chins, celebrating inwardly.

Hermione was speechless. Why had she gotten involved in this argument?

While they argued, Hall had divided the tart into five portions.

Hermione took hers first. A bite of the soft, sweet pudding softened her expression. "Thank you, Hall. Delicious. My brain feels sharper."

Hall winked. "Sweets help brain function."

Ron nodded frantically as he ate. He absolutely adored sweets.

Draco chuckled. After tasting the pudding, he decided sharing a table with Gryffindors wasn't so bad.

Everyone looked like they wanted more.

"The Hogwarts elves are skilled, especially the honey-roasted lamb — but their desserts fall short." Ron licked his spoon. "Hall, which elf made this? Can I have them make it again?"

Hall gave a noncommittal smile. "We'll see. Ron — it's February. Exams are in less than four months."

Ron clutched his head. "Hall! Don't bring that up when I'm happy! Besides, there's almost four months — no rush! I've always crammed in the last month!"

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Hall gave him a look. "I hope to see my brother get Outstanding marks this year. That shouldn't be too difficult, right?"

Ron's face paled.

Hermione nodded. "Hall's right. Not just Ron — Harry can start preparing too."

Harry pointed at himself with his spoon. What did this have to do with him?

"Is getting good marks really that difficult?" Hermione asked earnestly. "Three years — only three years until our O.W.L.s. If we don't start now, it'll be too late."

Draco was silent. He leaned toward Harry. "Has she always been this intense?"

"Yes." Harry didn't care about their mutual dislike right now.

Draco gave him a sympathetic look.

"Malfoy, would you like to join our study group?" Hermione asked seriously.

Draco looked shocked. "Are you talking to me?"

"Yes." Hermione felt perfectly calm. So what if he was a Malfoy? When she became Minister for Magic, she'd have to deal with people like him. She might as well start now — observe their behavior, lay a foundation for her future appointment.

Draco was unaware of her thoughts. "My grades are already fine! I'm ranked near the top!"

"But I'm only second in the year." Hermione said calmly. "Hall is first. You're third."

Draco's expression soured.

Despite his frustration, Draco succumbed to the allure of top academic achievement and joined Hermione's study group.

Harry and Ron stared. Malfoy. Slytherin. Joining their group?

They'd finished eating. "Library now," Hermione said decisively. She'd formed a study group — they'd do what study groups did.

Hall didn't object.

The other three's opinions were unimportant.

They marched to the library, drawing curious stares. Three Gryffindors and two Slytherin — how did they end up together? Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff were curious. Ravenclaw followed.

Inside, Hermione and Hall had clear goals. Draco looked around and found his books. Only Harry and Ron looked like chicks who'd wandered into a wolf's den.

"Harry, try Potions books," Hall suggested, holding a book on spell origins. "Unless you want to keep failing."

Professor Snape was strict with Gryffindors, strictest with Harry. And Harry's potion-making wasn't great. Losing points in Potions class was routine.

Harry's face changed. Potions — his source of suffering. He found a Potions compendium, hoping to lose fewer points next time.

Ron blinked at Hall pitifully.

Hall turned to Hermione. "Suggestions?"

Hermione looked at Ron seriously. "I think Ron could close his eyes and pick any book. Whatever he grabs will help him."

Ron's eye twitched. "Don't think I didn't hear you calling me stupid!"

"Quiet!" Madam Pince's voice rang out.

Ron shut up. Annoyed, he grabbed a book at random.

The Hundred Little Secrets of Ravenclaw.

He muttered the title. "Does the library have books this frivolous? Looks interesting though."

He decided — this one. Hermione said any book would help.

He sat by the bookshelf and read with great interest. Ravenclaw was a super what? Wait — which Ravenclaw? Ravenclaw's favourite books were romance novels? Ravenclaw thought her husband hindered her pursuit of knowledge, became single, changed her daughter's surname?

Daughter?

Ron's rusty brain finally engaged. Something felt off.

He stood to find Hall.

He was alone in the entire library.

"Where's Ron?"

Despite teasing him, Hall had found a suitable book: Spell Usage Tips. If raw power wasn't enough, learning tricks helped. Unconventional methods weren't shameful — effectiveness was the only criterion.

But he'd searched thoroughly. No Ron.

Hall frowned.

"Maybe he sneaked out." Draco shrugged. "That Weasley — never one to sit still. Gryffindor, huh."

"No." Hall shook his head. "Ron lacks self-control, but he wouldn't sneak out without Harry. And he'd definitely try to drag Harry along."

But Harry sat nearby, reading his Potions book.

Ron was nowhere.

Hermione walked over. "Ron's gone?"

Hall nodded.

"This isn't right. Something must have happened to Ron."

Harry jumped up. "Something happened to Ron? What happened?"

"GET OUT IF YOU CAN'T CALM DOWN!" Madam Pince roared.