It was winter when Mike showed up again. Harry saw him coming to Care of Magical Creatures from his place near the woods.
"Hey." Mike said softly. Mike was wearing his Bonnie shirt once more. He was pale and there were dark circles under his eyes. His right hand was still covered in bandages.
"Are you alright? I don't think you're going to believe this, but Snape was worried about you." Harry said. Mike flashed Harry a small, sleepy smile.
"Can't imagine why that'd happen. I always befriend the weirdest people. No offense." Mike slurred his words slightly.
Hagrid led the class to a sheltered clearing in the forest. Harry was confused and concerned about what they might be learning about, with the dead cow and all. Hagrid asked who could see the dragon-like beasts. Harry raised his hand and beside him Mike did as well. Everything was going smoothly until Umbridge arrived.
She interrogated and demeaned Hagrid, and questioned the students. Harry didn't put much stock in the truth of the answers until Umbridge asked Mike who he had seen die, that he could see thestrals.
"It was an accident.." Mike whispered, "I- No. No, it wasn't. I killed a man. I wasn't thinking and he was going to hurt them and then I threw the knife and the sprinklers went off and there was blood everywhere…" Mike spoke faster and faster and began hyperventilating. Harry began to panic. Mike had just gotten back and already he was catatonic. Hermione grabbed Mike's hand and announced that she and Harry were going to take Mike to the hospital wing.
Madam Pomfrey took one look at Mike and swept him into a hospital bed. Madam Pomfrey got Mike to drink a milky-white potion. The matron then dismissed both Harry and Hermione.
A few weeks before Christmas, Snape took Harry aside and informed him that Mike had been transferred to Saint Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Not a week and a half after that news Harry inadvertently saved Mr. Weasley's life. Harry made sure to grab both Mike's large, black box and his music box, with the intention of bringing them to his friend in the hospital. The Weasley family, Harry and Hermione in tow, went to visit Mr. Weasley. After a conversation, Harry led his friends back down to the front desk. When Harry got to the front of the line, he asked where he could find Mike.
Mike looked downright ghostly against the white hospital bedsheets. He was half-sitting up against a pillow as a rather well endowed trainee healer spoon fed him pudding. Mike glared at Ron when the redhead snickered.
"Sorry, I'm not very good company at the moment. I haven't been sleeping." Mike's voice was hoarse and raspy.
"I though you'd prefer having these with you" Harry said pulling both items out of a bag Hermione had put an extension charm on. Mike's face lit up when he saw the music box.
"Put the music box on the nightstand and the big box on that chair" Mike directed.
"I'm sorry you keep getting hurt" Hermione said. Mike shrugged and took another bite of pudding.
"If you don't mind my asking, why is your voice messed up if your hand is the only thing injured?" She asked. Mike ate more pudding.
"Treatment hurts like hell. I'm not religious, but thank God they reattached my tongue." Mike continued enjoying his pudding. Ron expressed his desire for a cup of tea. On their way to the tea shop they got waylaid by Gilderoy Lockheart. After dodging that unpleasant experience, the Weasley's and company returned to Grimmauld place.