That day at lunchtime, he asked Professor McGonagall for permission to visit Marisa, expecting to be denied immediately. To his surprise, however, Professor McGonagall granted his request immediately, adding only that he should make sure to get to class on time.
Feeling slightly less awful and enjoying the chance to finally be alone, he wolfed down his lunch and ran nearly all of the way to the hospital wing. After a minute wasted persuading Madam Pomfrey to let him in, he was finally allowed to enter the room.
He sat down on the bed beside Marisa, who hadn't moved a single millimetre since he'd last seen her. "Marisa," he said quietly. "I know this is probably a waste of time and you won't be able to hear me, but I need to talk to you anyway. Things have been awful ever since you've been gone. I miss my partner in crime. The others are nice, but they're just not… you."
He sighed, and stared at her for a long moment. "I can't investigate. I know I promised you I'd find them, but I don't see how I can when I can barely even get out of the common room. None of the others would help me, Theo was furious when I asked them and Tracey's upset because – "
He hesitated. Did he really want to tell her this, even if she couldn't hear him? Wouldn't giving it words make it real? "Because she thinks that – that you and me are – a couple. That we – love each other." There. He'd said it now. It was out in the open.
"And… Daphne seems to agree. I denied it, but I get the feeling she's just humouring me because she doesn't want to make me angry. It feels like everyone except me is convinced we're together. It's making me wonder…"
A thought suddenly struck him. "Sorry, I just had this horrible feeling you're actually awake all this time and just pretending to be Petrified so you can find out how I really feel about you. I know it's ridiculous and implausible, but I could definitely imagine you doing that."
He rolled his eyes at the thought of that happening. "Can Petrified people hear anything, anyway?" he asked. "I've always assumed they can't, but what if they can? Can you hear me? If you can, and you have any way of moving or signalling that you can, do something."
Marisa didn't do anything, not unsurprisingly.
"But… anyway, I don't want to talk about that kind of thing. I'd much rather talk about something interesting. Except there's nothing interesting to talk about, because there's nothing happening. Well, there's lessons, of course, but I can't imagine even you would be that interested in my latest Charms essay."
He lapsed into silence, and stared at Marisa, and wished that she would wake up.