"Oh! It looks like it says, 'Dear Diary'..." He deliberately mimicked an affected girlish voice, drawing hoarse laughter from Crabbe and Goyle beside him. Some nearby Slytherins and curious Ravenclaw students snickered as well, their gazes darting between Harry and the diary, full of gossiping interest.
Malfoy watched with satisfaction as Harry's face went from white to red, then green. Feeling the moment was ripe, he suddenly turned his gaze toward Ron Weasley, whose finger was currently entangled with a Pygmy Puff.
His voice abruptly rose, full of incitement and malicious provocation. "Hey! Weasley!" Malfoy's voice lashed out like a whip. "Come take a look! Look at what your 'good brother' Potter has been hiding!"
Ron froze at the shout and instinctively looked over. When he saw the diary in Malfoy's hand, confusion appeared on his face. But seeing the strange smile on Malfoy's face, a sense of foreboding rose in his heart.
Malfoy gave him no time to think. With a teasing smile, he waved the diary before Ron and the growing crowd of onlookers, then loudly declared in an exaggerated tone dripping with the implication of your brother stole your girl:
"Weasley! You treat him like a brother, give him your whole heart! But Potter wants to court your sister and become your brother-in-law!"
Those words were like a drop of cold water in boiling oil!
"Whoa—!" A louder wave of gasps and incredulous murmurs instantly erupted from the crowd.
Many students' eyes widened as their gazes frantically shifted between Harry, Ron, and the diary in Malfoy's hand. A romantic scandal! And one involving the Savior and his best friend's sister! This was far more exciting than any Petrification Incident!
"What the hell are you talking about, Malfoy?!" Harry trembled with rage as he roared, trying to rush