Hermione Granger was able to blink her eyes with a gasp. She jolted up, panicked, heart beating rapidly as she tried to jerk her hand with the mirror toward the older girl in time.
"Penelope looks away, it's the-," she said, high-pitched and scared, only to see Madame Pomfrey, smiling gently down at her.
"It's alright Miss Granger," she said softly, gently, "Miss Clearwater is quite safe, and is being attended by someone else."
"It was a basilis-"
"A basilisk. Indeed," the older woman sniffed in disapproval, "I believe Mr. Potter, Mr. Ron Weasley, Percy Weasley, Mr. Diggory, and Mr. Summers have taken 'care' of it. Five boys who aren't even of age, killing a basilisk, last year it was going through that ridiculous set of obstacles, this year it is petrification, and attacking a magical creature the size of the train!"
Hermione blinked in sheer surprise, and Madame Pomfrey cleared her throat, face flushing slightly, even if she kept her affronted face.
"Pardon me, Miss Granger. I have just administered the restorative drought. You, I am afraid will be needing to take quite a stricter regime of potions than everyone else because of your mishap with the poly-juice earlier this year."
Hermione flushed and gave a stiff nod.
"So no one was… Killed?"
At this, Madame Promfrey's face softened. She reached for Hermione's hand and gently held it, and squeezed.
"No, Miss Granger. We were very fortunate."
Hermione blinked back tears. Is being new to magic so horrible? Does that really warrant the need to attack, to hurt us over something that should be considered a gift? Madame Pomfrey squeezed her hand again.
"I believe it was because of your blatant destruction of school library property that your friends were able to figure out the creature and combat it as safely as they could. We are very blessed to have you here, Miss Granger."
Hermione couldn't hold back her tears then.