Chapter 12: 5-3

"What on earth is this school keeping as pets?"

At the complaint that tumbled out of his elegant mouth the moment he opened it, I clutched my stomach and doubled over with laughter. Draco glared, as if to say it was no laughing matter, but perhaps caught by my infectious mood, his expression remained surprisingly calm.

"There’s a Basilisk living in the Chamber of Secrets, and an Aragog—what species was it again? A massive spider, anyway—in the Forbidden Forest. Come to think of it, this school is truly outrageous, isn't it?"

"……"

"Oh, did I not mention him? Aragog. Hagrid is keeping him. Back in second year, Harry, Ron, and I (as Harry) were nearly eaten by him."

"……I believe I need to have a very long, serious talk with that Gamekeeper."

"Go easy on him, please."

Especially since your father is already trying to have Buckbeak executed.

"So? What about that dog?"

"He’s guarding the Philosopher’s Stone. I told you about the Stone, didn't I? His name is Fluffy. He’s another one of Hagrid’s pets."

"That half-giant…!"

"Don’t call him that."

Reflexively, I glared at my friend to defend the honor of my larger friend. However, my Pure-blood companion simply gave a petulant, aristocratic sniff and turned his head away childishly. Honestly, in moments like these, he is still very much the spiteful Malfoy. (Well, he is the same person, so I suppose that’s only natural.)

Now, back to business. At the edge of the Black Lake—which had become our usual meeting spot—I flicked my wand (which was still being temperamental) toward something that looked like a tentacle of the Giant Squid and spoke up.

"Are you... are you really okay with this? Knowing that He is attached to the back of Quirrell’s head?"

"It’s a bit late to ask that, isn't it?"

"Also, Harry is getting suspicious of you."

"That is exactly according to plan."

"I figured. You’re quite a piece of work, you know, acting like a villain after you were the one who tried to initiate a friendship with him."

"…At that time, I thought 'Harry' was you. Even so, what needs to be done hasn't changed."

"…Hmph."

So, because he thought Harry was me, he went through such an awkward attempt at confirmation. …What an idiot.

"Well, whatever. Now that we’ve discussed our future plans, let’s head back inside before the others find us. After all, it’s almost time for Harry’s Nimbus to arrive. I have to be there to see it."

"…The claim that McGonagall is 'fair' is a total lie."

"She’s better than Snape, at least."

Even Draco had to nod in agreement at that.

About a week later, just as expected, a large parcel 'attacked' the breakfast table. Thanks to that, Harry’s bacon went flying, and so did my soup. Incidentally, the bacon was gracefully snatched up mid-air by Hedwig, who had come for her morning treat.

"S-Sorry, Maria!"

"It’s… it’s fine. Just go put that in the dormitory. Ron, go with him."

"Right!" they both chirped.

They must have guessed the contents from the shape of the parcel. The two mischievous boys leaped from their seats, eyes sparkling with excitement. As they left, Professor Snape, who happened to be passing by, cleared the pumpkin soup from my hair with a single flick of his wand. ……Was he really just passing by?

"This is why I hate boys! They cause Maria all this trouble and then only think about themselves!"

"Hahaha…"

A girl’s scolding always makes my ears burn a little.

Before long, Harry’s Quidditch practice sessions with his Nimbus 2000 began. This meant that the fated night of Halloween was drawing near.

Ron was constantly at Harry’s side, and Hermione was perpetually huffing at the two of them. Apparently, it looked to her as though I was being neglected by those two selfish boys. In reality, it just gave me more time for secret consultations with Draco, so it wasn't a problem for me at all… but Hermione really does care for her friends.

However, I couldn't just stand by forever, thinking children’s squabbles were merely children's problems. Ever since the incident with the three-headed dog at midnight, the arguments between Hermione and Ron had grown significantly more heated.

Now, what to do?

Perhaps because we are twins, Harry and I were always treated as a set by those around us, and that applied to our two best friends as well. Ron wanted to be with Harry, and Hermione wanted to talk to me. But since Harry and I rarely left each other’s side unless we had personal errands, it was inevitable that Ron and Hermione would be forced face-to-face. This created a troubled cycle where the metaphorical boxing gong would ring between them indiscriminately. As a result, we Potter twins—the neutral party—were constantly busy trying to pacify our best friends.

"It must be tough, being the Potter twins."

On a day when I had separated from the trio for a minor errand, I found myself walking through the Clock Tower Courtyard with a certain Ravenclaw student I’d bumped into before. I still didn't know his name.

"It is tough. I don't mind it so much, but Harry worries about it."

"Wouldn't it be solved if you twins just acted separately? Boys with boys, girls with girls. Simple, isn't it?"

"Why would I leave the side of the person I love just to deal with a friend's argument? Isn't that a bit ridiculous?"

"……I think I’m beginning to understand your personality."

"And?"

"It’s remarkably… gallant."

He laughed heartily, and I couldn't help but join in.

"You’re quite the oddball yourself. Is it really fun talking to me?"

"I don't want to hear that from an eccentric like you, Maria. And yes, it’s very fun."

"Wait, really? Am I considered an eccentric?"

"The fact that you aren't aware of it… Oops, I’d better disappear before your 'scary knight' arrives."

Just as he declared, Draco appeared out of nowhere and slid an arm around my waist. The Ravenclaw boy, meanwhile, was already a step ahead, making his exit. These two… it was always like this. Like a cat and a mouse, or perhaps an Eagle and a Serpent.

I watched the blue robes flutter away as the green ones took their place, then looked up at Draco.

"Apparently, you’re my knight?"

"It’s quite a lot of work protecting a 'tomboy princess' who is stronger than I am."

"I do apologize for the trouble, Sir."

"Anything for My Lady."

I playfully nudged him as he engaged in this utterly ridiculous skit. After letting off some stress by messing around with Draco, I headed toward the Great Hall, where the bickering between Harry and our friends awaited.

Halloween was tomorrow.

—Oh, for heaven’s sake!

As Hermione burst into tears and ran off, I turned to a pale, fumbling Ron and threw a single "You went too far!" at him before chasing after her.

It all started in Charms. Until then, we had carefully rotated pairs or included Neville to ensure Ron and Hermione wouldn't be matched together. But by a cruel twist of fate, today was different.

"No, stop, stop. It’s Win-gar-dium Levi-o-sa, make the 'gar' nice and long. Your pronunciation is all wrong. Didn't you hear Professor Flitwick? It’s very important."

"If you're so clever, you do it then!"

And, predictably, Hermione proved her point by perfectly executing the Levitation Charm. "Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron was left completely sulking.

Up until that point, it was just the usual scene. None of us could compete with Hermione when it came to spells or studying, and both Harry and I were used to their bickering. We had let our guard down.

But this time, it was different. All of Ron's pent-up frustration finally exploded—

"It’s the way you say things! You're so bossy! So arrogant! It’s infuriating! That’s why you don't have any friends besides us! Can you even name one? Is there any other weirdo besides Maria, Harry, and me who’d call you a friend? I’m embarrassed even to be seen with you!"

"Ron!"

By the time Harry sharply rebuked him, Hermione had bitten her lip and sprinted away.

Oh, no! I thought they’d be fine because they’ve finally acknowledged each other as friends!

I caught Harry’s eye and gave him a quick signal. Harry nodded reliably, letting me know he’d handle the frozen Ron. As I ran, I scribbled a messy note onto my Communication Parchment.

[Girls' Bathroom] [If the Troll comes] [Bring them both]

It lacked subjects and proper grammar, but Draco would understand.

To be honest, I would have preferred to leave the children to the professors or Draco, take Hermione, and make a run for it before the Troll arrived. But it was a fact that this incident was what solidified the friendship between the three of them. If it couldn't be avoided, I had to let history take its course without interfering too much.

"—Are you in there? Hermione?"

"……Maria? Did you come here to laugh at me?"

"Did you really think I was that kind of person?"

"No… I know you're kind. ……Unlike me."

Just as I knew she would be. From inside the Girls’ Bathroom, I heard a muffled, sniffling voice through the cubicle door. I leaned my back against the wood.

"You’re kind too."

"That’s a lie."

"It’s not. Have you noticed? Whenever you get angry, it’s always for someone else’s sake."

"……I hadn't noticed."

"I figured."

I let out a small laugh. I felt as though Hermione might have offered a small smile on the other side of the door.

"Ron is right. I know… I know what everyone says about me behind my back. That I’m a bossy, know-it-all, nagging nightmare. And they're right."

"And Ron is tactless, has no delicacy, a foul mouth, and gets carried away far too easily."

"That’s…"

"Harry is indecisive. He tries to be a 'good boy,' but he hates Snape for being mean to him. He talks behind his back and cheers with Ron whenever something bad happens to Snape. He’s a bit of a spoiled brat and surprisingly bad at trusting people."

"……"

"And I—"

"You are kind, but you're kind to everyone equally, and it makes us… quite anxious. The only one who is truly special to you is Harry, and while that’s natural, it makes me feel lonely. Even now, I wish you’d get angry at Ron with me, and cry with me. You just stand there with that adult look on your face, watching from a distance… it’s unfair. ……But I still love you, Maria."

Hermione’s voice as she finished my sentence was gentle.

Hermione is kind, lonely, and easily hurt—just a normal girl.

"I love you too, Hermione—bossy, nagging, and capable of getting angry for the sake of others."

"I like Ron, too, even though he says horrible things. I just can't leave him alone. …Even if he hates me for it."

"There are plenty of things we dislike about each other. But we still like each other. —Don't you think Ron feels the same?"

A brief silence. When Hermione finally spoke, her voice was trembling.

"……Do you really think so?"

"I know so. Because that idiot—he fully intends to be your friend."

"—!"

"Do you know what he said? He said your friends were Maria, Harry, and him. He included himself without a second thought. It’s almost funny, isn't it? After saying all those awful things, he still takes it for granted that he’s your friend."

I had seen Ron’s worst traits for a long time. There were times I hated them. During the Triwizard Tournament, for the first time, I had braced myself for the end of our friendship. That was how much it hurt when he didn't believe me.

There were times Hermione’s self-righteousness was suffocating. It was infuriating when she used 'correctness' as a weapon to beat others down without trying to understand their feelings, smiling triumphantly. There were even times I felt glad when she was wrong.

—Even so, I love them. I believe both of them will be my eternal friends until the day I die.

As Sirius once said, I would rather die than betray my friends—that is something 'I' can say to those two.

"It’s okay to get angry for your own sake, Hermione. Go on, give Ron a good punch in the face. ……As his friend, of course."

"Fufu… I like the sound of that."

"……Will you open the door?"

The answer was on the other side of the opening door. Hermione’s face was a mess of tears. She clearly hadn't reached for a handkerchief in time; her sleeves were damp and crumpled. Her small nose was bright red, making her look like she had matching freckles to Ron.

"Oh no… you too—"

As she laughed, another tear fell.

"Why are you crying, Maria? Is it because I said I wanted you to cry with me?"

"Maybe."

I reached out and pulled Hermione into a hug. She felt so small. Hugging Hermione was something we did every time we met; she’d jump at me even when she was exhausted from work, so it had become a habit—a habit from our school days. That’s how it was supposed to be. There was no reason for me to feel 'nostalgic'—

"Maria, Maria, don't cry. It’s alright, Maria—"

—Ah. 'My' best friend isn't here.