" Ooof!" Harry fell out of his bed, causing his head to spin. He felt as if he were drunk. Standing up, he tried to make sense of what had happened. But before he could conclude to anything, Madam Pomfrey walked in. She had obviously heard him fall and come to help him. He was obviously incorrect.
" What in the world were you thinking trying to get up? You should know better! What if you had fallen and gotten knocked out again? Then what would happen? In your state, I should have you tied to your bed!"
" I was trying to get my glasses so I could look around and figure out where I was, but the bed side stand is gone, and so are my glasses! I fell because the stand wasn't there!" Harry snapped back at Madam Pomfrey.
" Well, why didn't you just ask for your glasses? Hm? Good Lord child. You're a hopeless case, you are. You've been through the mill. Now, enough silly talk. You get back in bed, I will fetch you your glasses, and the elves will be up in a minute with your dinner," And with that, Madam Pomfrey left for her office. Harry sat back in bed, and slouched.
" She thinks she knows everything! Ney, mey, ney!" Harry mumbled under his breath.
Madam Pomfrey was back two minutes later with Harry's glasses and a house elf, carrying a tray of what looked like hot chicken sandwiches, pumpkin juice, and some sort of sparkly substance. Harry put on his glasses and looked across the room. There was someone else in the room. In fact there were two other people in the wing. They were sleeping at the moment, but he knew those faces oh so well…
"Ron! Hermione! What are they doing in here?!" Harry looked at Madam Pomfrey, and then the elf, who's eyes had widened to a certain extent, then quickly ran off. He looked back at Madam Pomfrey. She sighed.
" You are all hopeless cases, the lot of you, you know that? Well, because they are your friends, I will tell you. But mind, they will both be just fine and dandy this time tomorrow. Mr. Weasley was also hit with a broomstick upside the head. Mr. Malfoy's in fact. But Ms. Granger, she can go pretty long without her rope snapping, but after Mr. Weasley's…er…accident she decided to try cursing Mr. Malfoy. Apparently, it reflected off of a broomstick and backfired at her. She tried to hex him with the bashing curse, and well, you see what happened. She was knocked out. They will be waking up any moment, and I will leave you to them. But I must warn you, that they know something that you do not. I have told them not to inform you of it, Mr. Potter. So-"
Madam Pomfrey looked over at the beds. Ron was waking up. He sat up and rubbed the back of his very red head. He looked around and spotted Harry. Ron gave him a small wave and plundered back into his pillow with an " Ow!" when he hit it. Harry laughed quietly and went to his food. He took a bite of one of the small chicken sandwiches and noticed the sparkling substance again.
It shone like emerald dragon scales, and looked like it was made for artwork. He poked it with his fork. It powdered up and sent tiny glittering particles into the air, as if it were made of ash. Harry looked over at Madam Pomfrey attending to Ron, whom was being served sandwiches as well. Harry quietly spoke.
" Madam Pomfrey, what is this…er…glitter stuff?"
Madam Pomfrey looked up from Ron. Her eyes welled up with tears, but quickly blinked them away.
" That is your medication, Mr. Potter. It helps you in ways that I cannot, but it will not help you…you…" her voice trailed off. Harry took a sip of Pumpkin juice and said, " Will not help me what?"
Just at that very moment, at the far side of the room, all three of them heard a sneeze. It had come from Hermione, who was sitting in bed rubbing her head. She spoke in a hoarse whisper, " Hullo everyone, how's doin?"
" I would be just great, but the fact that I got hit with Malfoy's idiotic hell of a Nimbus 2001 broomstick just makes me to spare," Ron mumbled hotly. He looked at Hermione. " How'd you get in here?"
" Um, lets see. Bashing curse, backfire, knockout, ouch?" Hermione answered. She quickly thanked the elf that had just apparated with a tray of food for her, and started eating. Harry laughed.
" That bashing curse must have knocked you pretty hard, cuz this isn't the Hermione with perfect vocabulary that I know," he said. Harry went back to his sandwiches, hoping that he would figure out what had happened to him, and he had a strong feeling that both Ron and Hermione knew what it was, but were both forbidden by Madam Pomfrey, to tell him. He couldn't restrain himself from asking.
" Madam Pomfrey, could you please tell me what is wrong with me?" Harry asked in the most polite, most innocent voice he could manage. She looked at him and without any consideration at all; she said the five most horrible words in the wizard language.
" Harry, you are going to die," And with that, she went to her office. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione, whom both had become very interested in their chicken sandwiches. Harry spoke.
" You…you…you two knew, didn't you? Didn't you?!"
Hermione looked up from her
sandwiches and let her tears fall down her front. Ron just sat in complete
silence, no statement on his face whatsoever. Harry flopped back down on
his pillow and just stared at the marble ceiling, not making any gestures
or expressions of any sort towards anyone. He sighed, and settled in. The
three friends lapsed into a deafening silence for the rest of the night.