Vaughn raised a hand. Wisps of white mist spilled from Harry's eyes, circled through the air in the hospital ward, then flowed back into his eyes.
Only after finishing did Vaughn continue, "When I taught you Occlumency, I left this in your mindscape. As long as it's there, it can at least keep Voldemort from controlling you."
"As for the basilisk and Draco-"
"Hermione was right. I was there the whole time, so no one was going to die."
"Did you really think the basilisk falling right in front of Draco was just a coincidence?"
"Sirius did that!" Ron finally found an opening to argue. "Sirius saved him!"
"Really?" Vaughn smiled. "But why haven't you wondered how Sirius came to be at Hogwarts-or even in the Chamber of Secrets?"
Ron froze. They all knew Vaughn had rescued Sirius, so the two of them must have been in close contact.
That meant Sirius's appearance at Hogwarts hadn't been a coincidence!
"But why didn't you tell me everything?" Ron still held his chin up stubbornly.
Vaughn raised an eyebrow, giving him an odd look that made Ron squirm. That toe-curling embarrassment washed over him again.
Vaughn hadn't expected that, after all Ron's buildup, this would turn out to be the real issue.
Tsk-how had I never noticed Little Ronny was so prickly about his feelings?
What kind of little brother gets jealous of his future sister-in-law?
"Ron, this isn't about me playing favorites-" Vaughn began by making his position perfectly clear.
"I didn't think that!" Ron's face instantly flushed red. "I'm just saying-even if you couldn't tell Harry, the rest of us at least had a right to know!"
Harry had a soul connection with Voldemort, but I didn't!
Vaughn shrugged. "I don't think you could have fooled Voldemort and the Death