NOVEL NEXT Chapter 23: Chapter 23: Siblings!
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"Like what?" Ron asks, furrowing his brows.
"I don't know, like, why would wizards allow goblins sole dominion over the entire British banking system after the last Goblin Rebellion? That doesn't make sense, especially if the goblins started it, as we claim. Wizards either screwed up big time at the negotiating table or weren't winning as handily as this book says they were."
All three look surprised by that, and I resist the urge to smile. It's not their fault they haven't read tens of millions of words that show off widely varying views of their world. Hermione recovers first. "Do you have non-goblin wizarding banks in the States?"
"I'm...not sure. I've never been to a bank before." A safe lie, given my apparent financial straits. "I only know of one particular Gringotts branch, but it's a big country."
As always, bringing up money is a good way to distract them from digging too deeply into my background. After a few moments, Hermione changes the subject again. "Anyway, let's push through this stuff, I'd like to finish up before dinner."
We, of course, did not, evoking groans all around when Hermione says we have to come back.
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At breakfast the next morning, Hermione and I look at each other, attempting to hold a silent conversation. My eyes flicker upward, and I think she understands I'm thinking about the Room of Requirement for continuing our studies, since today we're reviewing Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Potions.
Since we were already in the library after dinner last night, we knocked out Astronomy as well. Luckily I knew quite a bit about astronomy. It took a lot out of me to not reveal that Pluto won't be considered a planet fifteen years from now.
Her eyes flicker to Ron and then she pointedly turns her head toward the Ravenclaw table, then frowns. Yeah, I don't think Ron would appreciate our morning sky-gazing session with Luna either.
My head tilts slightly towards Harry and I raise my eyebrows.
She gives a slight shrug and a nod. I think it means probably.
"Okay, you guys are freaking me out," Harry says, dropping his fork.
"What? I'm hungry!" Ron says, bits of food falling into his lap.
"Not you, these two snog buddies over here," Harry clarifies with jerk of his head in our direction.
Hermione huffs. "You were with us most of the day yesterday, remember?"
"Well, you wouldn't snog in front of us, would you?"
She rolls her eyes then looks at me questioningly. I nod, and she takes a deep breath. "We have something to show you after breakfast."
Harry's eyebrows shoot up in surprise.
Ron looks disgusted. "You guys aren't really going to snog in front of us, are you?"
Hermione scoffs. "No, Ronald."
I'm about to make a joke, but I note with some discomfort that she isn't sputtering with indignation like I might expect. The witticism dies on my tongue.
"What is it?" Harry asks, intrigued.
"Something William found on Friday," Hermione says slowly, glancing at me.
"You mean when you went to the hospital wing?"
"Yes, but that's not why he had to go," Hermione says. Even Ron appears to be intrigued enough to stop eating.
"When should we go?" Harry asks.
"If you're done, we can go now," she says.
Harry and Ron share a glance and almost immediately nod, so within moments we are making our way out of the Great Hall and up the stairs. When we reach the seventh floor, I am partially relieved and partially disappointed to not see Luna.
A glance at Hermione tells me she feels the same. By unspoken consent we stop at the window anyway.
A few moments pass in silence, but Ron shifts with impatience. "So, is this it?"
I frown, and so does Hermione.
"It is a beautiful view," Harry says, gazing out the window.
"Yeah, I guess," Ron says. The silence is fleeting, too often broken by his uncomfortable shuffles and throat-clearing.
Hermione sighs. "This isn't really what we wanted to show you."
Ron lets out a relieved breath. "Oh good, that was getting uncomfortable."
She glares at him.
"Go easy on him, Hermione," I say. "He's got lots of siblings, right?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ron asks in a defensive tone.
Hermione's face softens, then she chuckles. "With Fred and George as your brothers, I imagine silence in your house means you're about to become the victim of a prank." Ron looks confused, but Hermione changes the subject.
"Anyway, come on, what we really wanted to show you is over here." She turns to me when we reach the corner with the moving tapestry. "Shall I?"
"Be my guest," I say with a playful bow and a smirk.
She smiles back, and I can tell she's enjoying showing off a bit. After a pause to gather her thoughts, she walks back and forth in front of the wall. I hold my hand up to stave off the inevitable question from the other two boys, and watch for their reaction when the door appears. I'm not disappointed.
Harry looks thoroughly surprised, and Ron takes a step back, looking a little scared. Hermione tugs the door open to reveal a smaller library, a larger sitting area, as well as an open space with a practice dummy. "Come on, we don't want anybody else to find out about this accidentally," she says.
I usher the two newbies in and Hermione closes the door behind us, which melts into the wall with the usual grinding and groaning.
"Welcome to the Room of Requirement," Hermione says with a beaming smile.
"This is brilliant!" Harry exclaims.
"What is it?" Ron asks.
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