'Terry Boot is missing?' Blaise asked.

'Yeah. And so is Tracey Davis.' Neville said.

The four of them were sitting in couches in a coffeehouse.

'Tracey's missing?' Blaise asked, concern crossing his face.

'Yeah, you know her?' Harry asked.

'You could say so. How long has she been missing?

'Last two months.' Harry said.

'What the hell, and what has the auror department been doing all this while?'

'We have a lot of cases to handl—' Neville began.

'And this was somehow unimportant? Not finding clues, so leave it aside.' Blaise said.

'You sound like you knew her well.' Harry said.

'Dude, she was in our year. Yeah, she was a Slytherin. How can you not recognize her name?'

Harry couldn't reply. Blaise was right. If she had been in their year, he should have at least known about her.

'Wait, before you storm out on us- can you at least tell if this is Parkinson?' Neville said bringing out a photo.

'Parkinson, yes. Not pansy though. That's her cousin.' Blaise said. 'And I am not storming out. Someone has to help you dumb morons.'

'Ouch.' Ron said.
Blaise glared at him.
'Sorry.' He said.
×××
'Hermione. Hermione.'

'Oh, Ginny. Didn't see you. What are you doing here?'

'Just wanted to see how you are doing.'
'I am doing fine.' Hermione said with a smile.

'Hermione. We need to talk.' Ginny said.

'Now's not a great time, actually. I have a lot of work to do—'

'That's what you say everytime.'

'That's because being the minister of magic is exhausting. And I am always busy with one thing or another.'

'Or maybe you just don't want to talk to me. It's okay. I will leave.' Ginny turned to leave.

'No. Ginny, wait.' Hermione sighed.

Ginny looked behind.

'Sit here.' Hermione pointed to the seat facing her across the table.

'What do you want to talk about?'
'You.'
'Ah. My favourite topic.' Hermione grinned weakly.
×××
'Wait, outside. Let me go talk to her.' Blaise said.

'Absolutely not.' Neville said. 'We are all coming.'

'No. That will feel too much like an interrogation.'

'Let me come at least.' Harry said.
'Why because you don't trust me?' Blaise said.

'Do you trust me?' Harry asked.
'No, not really.' Blaise said.

'There, you got your answer.' Harry said.

'I have a reason not to trust any of you. You all are the reason my best friend died and I am never going to forgive either one of you for that.'

'You trust Hermione. She trusts me.' Harry said.

Blaise didn't reply for a while.
Then replied. 'Fine, but you just stay there. Nothing else. And I still don't trust you.'

'Courtesies graciously returned.' Harry smiled.
×××
'Hermione, I know you probably don't want anything to do with me because of what Ron did but I don't agree with what he did. And within time, I forgave him because he has truly felt sorry for his deeds.'

'That doesn't bring him back.' Hermione said. She couldn't even say the word Draco without thinking about what had happened.

'Yeah, and I don't expect you to forgive him. Not now. Not ever. But you can count on our friendship. You really need to let people in and let the pain buried inside you out. Or else it will kill you.'

Hermione didn't reply, the truth of Ginny's words defining the boundary of reality.

'Atleast then I will be able to meet him once again.'
×××
'Okay, her name's Katherine. Kat for short. Let me do the talking. If you shut up for a while, I will be proud of you.' Blaise said.

'Yeah, because that's my highest priority in life. To make you proud of me.'

'Potter. Okay, sarcasm time is done. Shut up now.'

'Can I make faces?' Harry asked.
'No.'
'Can I—'
'No, just shut up.' Blaise said. 'God, what is it with you potters. The knack for irritating people is tremendous.'
×××

'Blaise. What are you doing— is that Harry Potter?'

Harry gave a smile and waved at her.

'Yeah, unfortunately.' Blaise said. 'Can we come in?'

'Yeah sure. What's the occasion?'

'I will explain after we get inside.'

Blaise mouthed Harry to shut up before entering. Harry sighed, then followed him.
×××

'Ron. Uh, is Neville here?' Luna asked.

'No, he left a while ago.' Ron said, looking up from his laptop.

'Oh, okay.'

'Luna, are you alright' Ron said.
'Yeah, why?' She asked.
'Nothing.' Ron said.

Luna left the office.
Neville stepped aside from the cupboard.

'Thanks for doing that. The last part wasn't necessary.' Neville said.

'She doesn't look alright. Why don't you two just talk things out?'

'You don't know anything about love, so why don't you stay out?' Neville said.

'But I know a lot about heartbreak.' Ron said.
×××

Her talk with Ginny was playing in her head.
She knew Ginny was right.

Suddenly the window cracked into pieces, and with a swish of wind, a sheet of paper landed at her feet.
There was something scribbled in it. Before she could pick it, it burst into a mixture of dust and ash.

She looked at her side. There was no glass around her.
She looked up to see the window was as new as ever.
Not a single scratch glazed it.

But there was a chill in the air suggesting that the cold air outside had somehow entered into the room.
That what she had witnessed could have been real.
×××
*Sorry for not being active. I have been really busy.
*Comment what you think about the story till now :)

MadzieDover Rakshyadoll