You should be used to stuff like this happening by now. The Artifact Room is as dusty as ever, and the pygmypuff on the ground keeps sneezing. The pygmypuff is Merula, you are delighted.
"You're not at all scary like this you know?" You say, because Penny has only just left for potion ingredients and it's going to be a while. "You even kept the dumb little hair floof, it's adorable." You try to poke the hair floof to illustrate your point, but she just bites your finger. You can hardly feel it.
"Okay, your hair isn't stupid, it is very cute both as a puff and a human."
She seems to accept this, and settles with trying to glare at you.
"You know, I can't remember the last time we were in a room together without fighting, you're just such an angry little puff."
Merula chirps, which you think was supposed to be intimidating.
"Aww, are you mad because you did the thing everyone told you not to do and now you're facing the consequences? Did you turn yourself into a flobberworm? Did you become a little worm girl?"
You should really stop using this dumb baby voice on her, Slytherins are known to hold grudges, after all. But you are nothing if not foolhardy. "And now you're a little puffball? Having to rely on me for help so you don't get in trouble? Is that what you are?"
She turns her back on you, which is honestly fair. You feel just a little regret, this can't be fun for her. "Look, I'm sorry Murula. This is just a nice distraction from the vaults, you know?" She doesn't respond, but you feel like she's listening.
"A fun little adventure where your friend turns into a cute animal? It's light-hearted, it's harmless, it's…" you wave a hand, "Not cryptic notes and a missing brother."
She flinches at your use of the term 'friend', but has turned around.
"Sometimes I think he's dead. That I'm going to sacrifice my entire school career just to find…" you trail off, unable to voice the idea that's been plaguing you for years now. Something soft touches your hand, Merula is nudging you with her head. You sniff and stroke her dumb hair floof.
"Or what if he really did run away, and I'm just the dumb younger sibling who can't accept the truth."
You're properly crying now, which was not the plan.
"The only reason I remember what he sounds like is because he left me a howler right before he- The one thing I have left of my brother is him yelling at me for stealing his broom. It's pathetic"
You hear footsteps from outside, and wipe at your face. "Pygmypuff you is a very good listener, sure you don't want to stay like this?" She gives you a reproachful look, but doesn't move from your hand.
Penny takes you aside after, and asks if you're okay, because she's sweet and lovely and also saw you tearstained face For some reason you don't mention what happened. You blame eyeitching powder Tulip frd you, and she's kind enough to pretend to believe you. It's not that Penny doesn't know how you feel, but what happened felt personal, like a secret.
Merula doesn't mention your breakdown. She doesn't blackmail or tease you. And she still sends very nasty jinxes at you during duels.
But if she comes to you sometimes with a letter from her parents in shaking hands. Shows you a collection of newspaper clippings detailing their arrest and reaserch on what askaban does to the mind. Well you don't mention it either. And you take her to an empty classroom where you can smash things together.
It's nice, being sad and angry with someone, and in a weird way, you think this is Merulas attempt at friendship.
You can't wait for her go at an animagus though, you have a feeling it's not a thunderbird.