10 The Broom (1/2)

For the next few days, Arth didn't speak to Ron and Harry. He would use the secret passageways to avoid meeting Harry and Ron when he had to go to class and try his best to stay hidden from them when at the dining hall.

However, after a week had passed, Arth started to feel a bit suspicious. He saw that Harry and Ron were actively searching for him to apologize yet they could never seem to find him.

Even when he once walked pass them in the corridor, for some reason, he hadn't been seen.

In fact, it was only durning Professor Bin's class where Arth finally received a letter written by Harry which only simply read.

I'm sorry.

Arth sighed before writing down 'shut up' in small and neat handwriting before throwing it back towards Harry.

The letter came back to Arth almost immediately.

I am really sorry, it was our mistake for not listening to you.

I'm sorry too- Ron.

Arth scribbled downanother sentence before passing it back once more.

Don't want to hear it.

Arth heard the furious scribble of pen before the paper was once more returned to Arth.

We have something very important to say, can you please meet us after class ends?

Arth sighed before turning around to glare at Ron and Harry.

When their eyes met, Ron put on an awkward smile and was waving cautiously while Harry put on a pleading face.

Arth could only sigh before turning around to listen to Professor Bin.

When the bell rang, Arth packed up his bag slowly, waiting for the duo to appear. Sure enough, they did.

”You guys better have a good reason why you're making me stay and wait for you guys.”

”It is, I swear,” said Harry. ”But before that, I just want to say that we're really sorry.”

”Yeah. Very sorry, we've been repenting.”

”Don't want to hear it, so what is it that you want to tell me?” Said Arth with a stoic face.

”Did you see what the dog was sitting on?” Asked Harry while getting a gradually more exited.

Arth raised his eyebrows.

”Are you talking about the trapdoor? Is this about what the dog is guarding?”

”...wow, geniuses sure do think alike.” Sighed Ron in amazement. ”To think it took us that long to realize it too...”

”Well,” said Harry, ”a thing Hagrid told me came to mind when I realized that the dog was guarding something. Hagrid said that Gringotts was the safest place in the world for something you wanted to hide - except perhaps Hogwarts.”

Arth narrowed his eyes.

”Are you saying what I think your saying?”

”Yes, what if it was vault seven hundred and thirteen was the one that got broken into and the package that Hagrid took out of vault seven hundred and thirteen is now in the trapdoor under the dog?”

Arth stared at Harry in amazement.

”I'm going to take back all the thoughts of me thinking that you were an idiot, you are a genius Harry.”

”What about me? I helped a bit.”

”Shut it Ron, you are still not in the clear.”

Arth sighed.

”It's amazing and all, but honestly, I don't see a point in finding out. The headmaster probably knows what he is doing.”

Ron was flabbergasted.

”Don't you want to find out what is in there?”

Arth had finally finished packing up his stuff.

”Well I presume that if there is a giant three headed dog standing guard, it's not meant forchildren like us to put our head into, you know? I almost lost my head last time I did.”

Ron went silent.

”However, I won't stop you guys, in fact. I'll even help you guys. As long as you don't do anything stupid like going back into that room.”

”Why are you going to help us?”

”Because, I'm curious to what it is.”

Harry let our a hesitant grin.

”Does this mean we're in the clear now?”

Arth blankly glanced at the somewhat pitiful faces of Harry and Ron.

”Fine,” Arth sighed. ”Your crimes are forgiven.”