As Ron and Hermione drew each other into a warm embrace, Harry decided to reveal himself before things got positively awkward.
Drawing his wand, he concentrated and wordlessly cast quietus on Ron and Hermione. Hermione’s head twitched as the spell took effect. He regretted casting spells on his friends, but time was of the essence. He would explain later, when everyone was safe.
Harry drew back the hood of his father’s invisibility cloak and spoke.
“Ron, Hermione, I apologize for what I’ve done, but you’ve got to come with me. It’s not safe here.” he whispered. Even then, he felt it was too loud. He had been careful, true, but it was a terrible risk to come for them. Harry felt that anyone could be listening, even now.
At the sound of Harry’s voice, Ron scrambled away from Hermione. As he watched Ron jump with fear, he was thankful that the quietus spell had worked. Ron was the very picture of fear, eyes wide open, mouth agape, fingers white from his grip on Hermione’s arm. Even with the spell, Harry swore that he could hear Ron’s scream, as though from a great distance.
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