Chapter Five

The Great Hall was decorated with the usual Halloween decoration, containing pumpkin-lanterns and living bats flying across the enchanted ceiling.

The feast was more than just opulent and Harry soon regretted that he had eaten the lot of sweets handed out by the twins. After everybody had eaten and the puddings had vanished, leaving nothing but empty, clean plates, Dumbledore rose from his seat.

"Alas, another Halloween feast at Hogwarts and that after such an extremely entertaining Quidditch match. I will soon leave you with the more enjoyable part of the feast, but before that I will use the opportunity that everybody is assembled here to make a few further announcements.

I have told you that possibly the restrictions laid on you could be loosened farther into this year. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I must remind you that nobody is allowed sneaking around in the house after curfew. Quidditch practices will be overseen by at least two teachers.

Now that the first Hogsmeade weekend has come close, I have to announce that the students will be guided to the village and on their way home. Inside of the village you will be under the protection of the wizards living there, but your way has to be guided by the teachers. First years will be led by Professor McGonagall, Second by Professor Sprout, Third by Professor Lupin, Fourth by Professor Flitwick, Fifth by Professor Snape, Sixth by Madam Hooch and Seventh by Professor Vector. The teachers will tell you when your group will be leaving during the last lesson before the Hogsmeade visit.

Nobody is allowed to leave the village without a teacher, not matter for what reason. This is not a mean to control, but to protect you.

Now, let's leave it with announcements and enjoy some more Butterbeers before we call it a day."

Dumbledore sat down again and murmurs rose all around the Great Hall.

"Snape? Why does it have to be Snape…"

"I'd rather be guided by the giant squib than by Snape, believe me…"

"That'll ruin the entire weekend…"

"Why did the third years get Lupin and not us?"

None of the Fifth-years at Gryffindor table was happy with the decision that Snape should guide them to Hogsmeade, only Harry's mind drifted off towards something else. He pulled Ron's sleeve and whispered to him.

"I have to write an owl to Sirius about this. We agreed not to meet in Lupin's house in case somebody sees me and asks why I visit a teacher's house in my spare time, so we decided to meet at the Shrieking Shack. But it's out of Hogsmeade, I could not go there without anybody noticing."

"The Invisibility Cloak?" Ron suggested.

Harry shook his head.

"I think it's too risky. If anybody realizes we're missing and tells Snape, we have a serious problem. And Hermione would not come with us, let alone allow us to go. She would hardly have done last year, and now as a Prefect…"

Ron nodded. "You're right. Let's write to Sirius, maybe he and Lupin can find a solution."

Both rose and headed off towards the owlery.

Having written Sirius about his problem, Harry suddenly realized how tired he was and both boys headed back towards Gryffindor tower, falling asleep at the very moment their heads touched their pillows.

Their last lesson before the Hogsmeade trip on Saturday was a single Potions lesson Snape normally used not to brew potions, but to question his class about ingredients, receipts and intended effects of potions. This meant he normally used it to bully Harry and Neville with complicated questions just to take points from them while he left the easiest question to his own house members and gave them more points for their answers than would have been adequate. And he always ignored Hermione.

Despite Snape's obvious dislike for Samantha, in this single lesson he rarely found a possibility to criticize her like he did in the practical lessons. Whenever he asked her a question, she knew the right answer and gave it to Snape in a manner showing that his lesson didn't interest her at all. Snape never gave her house points for her right answers though.

This Friday afternoon however, he ended the lesson ten minutes earlier than usual.

"Class, as you've heard the headmaster tell at the Halloween feast, I will guide into town tomorrow. I have already given out the instructions to the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff fifth-years and I ask you to remind them for I will not repeat myself.

We will meet in the Entrance Hall at three p.m. sharp tomorrow afternoon. If I were you, I'd make sure to be there because I will not wait for anybody who is still not able to read the clock at the age of fifteen. Who's not in the Hall at three p.m. will have to stay at the castle. We will then walk into the village where you will be left to do whatever it is you little rays of sunshine do when you get there." He smirked and Harry knew that he didn't approve having to guide them at all. Snape continued.

"At seven-thirty we will meet again in front of The Three Broomsticks and I will guide you back to the castle. Keep in mind that if you're late when we leave for the village, you will only be left behind. If you're late when we leave for the castle again, you will be in serious trouble, I'll see to that. That's it, class dismissed."

They all rose and headed back for their houses. On their way to Gryffindor tower, Harry and Ron met Professor Lupin on the corridor. Harry remembered that he hadn't received an answer from Sirius yet and waited a moment so that the other Gryffindors could pass him and Ron.

"Professor, could I have a quick word with you please?"

Lupin turned around and when he saw Harry he hit his forehead with his palm and gestured Harry and Ron into the next room.

"Good that you've addressed me, he would have killed me if I had forgotten." He turned around towards the door as if to check whether it was really closed and then sat down on the table next to him.

"Sirius told me days ago to deliver a message from him, but I totally forgot. I'm sorry. Of course you won't be able to meet at the Shrieking Shack, not after the rules Dumbledore has established. We've thought about a possible place for you to meet for it would not be wise to meet at my place. We've finally found something, I think. I've remembered that the Three Broomsticks has a small back room. I asked Madam Rosmerta whether we could have it this weekend and she agreed. I'll bring Sirius along in dog-shape for everybody in the village knows I own a dog and nobody will be suspicious about it. He'll have to cope with crossing a pub full of people who want to stroke him and pat his head, nobody said being an animagus was only fun. When we're in the back room, he can change back and we will lock the door. I thought it would be a good idea, because that way our supply of Butterbeer won't be interrupted."

Harry smiled.

"Sounds good Professor. Snape's just told us that we'll leave at three p.m., so I think we will be in the village around three thirty. Let's meet at five thirty, then we can go to Zonko's and Honeydukes before and still have two hours left before we leave again."

Lupin nodded.

"Five thirty then. Just as Madam Rosmerta for the back room, she'll lead you there. I'll tell Sirius."

He nodded again and got up.

Harry and Ron rose late the next morning and decided to skip breakfast. If Halloween had taught them a lesson then that it was wise to remain hungry if you have a big feast to look forward to. And a visit to Honeydukes definitely was a feast.

They spent what was left of that morning in the Common Room together with Hermione and a huge pile of homework. While Hermione was doing revision in advanced Arithmacy, Harry and Ron had to make star charts for their Divination lesson with Professor Trelawney. Hermione had skipped Divination in their third year saying that it was nothing but imprecise rubbish, but the two boys had kept it. Though Professor Trelawney predicted Harry's death nearly every lesson, both considered it to be a lot of fun, especially since they made up most of their predictions.

They were sitting in front of the fire and giggled as they thought about the most cruel and unreal predictions for their near future.

At noon the two boys were nearly finished and left the Common Room for a quick dinner in the Great Hall, which was unusually empty. Only a couple of Gryffindor first and second years were sitting on their table, five or six Ravenclaws, no Hufflepuffs and only Draco Malfoy representing the Slytherins.

"Hey Harry, what may have made Crabbe and Goyle leave Malfoy alone? Surely the single brain cell they share doesn't allow them to make an own decision."

Harry laughed.

"I really don't know, but as long as they are not there he'll surely leave us alone. He's not courageous enough to stand up on his own."

As there were no teachers present, and the chance was just too seductive, Ron turned around towards the Slytherin table.

Harry sighed. "Ron, just leave him. He's not worth bothering about."

But Ron didn't listen.

"Hey Malfoy! Did Crabbe and Goyle finally figure out that your company sucks? I had not expected them to realize before the end of sixth year! Did I really under-estimate their intellect?"

Malfoy looked up from his untouched plate.

"Shove off Weasley!"

Ron could not hold himself back.

"Oh Malfoy, that's what I've always admired: your unbelievable wit and eloquence!"

"Shut up and leave!"

"Well Malfoy, why should I do that? This is the Great Hall, I can be here as long as I want to. Why don't you just leave, go back to your little dungeon and plan the end of the world or what it is you and your father are up to in your spare time!"

"Stop talking about things you don't understand!"

Malfoy rose and stepped towards Harry and Ron, pulling out his wand. His eyes, which normally showed not a single trace of emotion now were shining with fury. He pointed the wand at Ron's chest.

"I could curse you, Weasel, any time I wanted to. So if I tell you to leave me alone, just do it or I won't hesitate to use what I've been taught. I won't repeat it anymore. Leave. Me. Alone!"

Harry wanted to pull Ron back but his friend had obviously just gotten started.

"Want to try ay new-learned illegal curse? Which one is it? Doesn't your father supply you with enough guinea pigs to train on?"

"Ron, stop that." Harry made a last attempt to stop his friend from provoking Malfoy, but four years of being insulted were too much for Ron to let this chance pass unused.

Malfoy's chin had started trembling with fury and at Ron's last statement he exploded. It happened so fast, neither Ron nor Harry could do anything to prevent it.

Malfoy shouted "Stop talking about my father!", pointed his wand at Ron's chest once more and yelled "Calidei!"

The curse hit Ron so hard, he flew back through the air wand hit hard onto the wall. He lay on the floor and didn't move, blood oozing out of a wound at the back of his head where he had hit the wall.

"Ron!" Harry ran over towards his friend. "Malfoy, what the hell have you done to him?" But Malfoy just stood there and trembled, his wand still in his hand which pointed at the spot Ron had been standing at only a minute ago. His hand shook like mad.

The few students that had been having lunch hat gotten up and stared at the scene in disbelief.

At that moment, Snape entered the Great Hall and saw the scene. He stepped over towards the motionless Ron, bent down next to him and examined the wound.

"Potter, what has happened here?"

"Malfoy has cursed Ron."

"With which curse?"
"I don't know Professor."

Snape turned around towards Malfoy who still had not moved.

"Mr. Malfoy, what have you cursed Mr. Weasley with?"

Malfoy didn't move but after a short moment he opened his mouth and spoke. "…Calideius…"

Snape's eyes widened and for a moment he appeared to be shocked. But Snape quickly turned around towards Ron, pulled out his wand and muttered "Removare Calidei". Then he conjured a stretcher and addressed Harry.

"Potter, take Mr. Weasley to the Hospital wing. Just wave your wand, the stretcher will follow your movement. Tell Madam Pomfrey what happened here, she will know what to do. I have something to talk about with Mr. Malfoy and the headmaster."

He turned around again.

"Students, the show is over, please continue with your lunch. Mr. Malfoy, follow me!" Malfoy shook his head as if to free himself from his paralysis and then followed Snape out of the Great Hall like a prisoner who was led to his execution.

Harry pointed his wand at the stretcher and carefully moved Ron up the stairs towards the hospital wing. Fortunately he didn't meet anybody on his way there whom he needed to explain what had just happened.

Harry was deeply concerned about Ron but also fuming about Malfoy's behaviour. Of course, Ron had provoked him, but Malfoy couldn't just curse him like that.

He opened the door and waved Ron into the room.

Madam Pomfrey came out of her office the moment she saw them arriving.

"Mr. Potter, what has happened?" She moved Ron over towards one of the beds and then looked at Harry.

"Malfoy has cursed him with the…what was it called…Calideius curse. He hit the wall with his head. Then Professor Snape had done a spell called "Removare Calidei" and told me to bring him to you. Will he be okay?"

Madam Pomfrey nodded. "Yes he will. The Professor has already performed the counter curse. I'll look after the wound on his head and check whether the spell has had any side effects on him. He'll have to stay here for the rest of the day, but I think he'll be just fine by tomorrow. But no Hogsmeade for him this weekend, I'm afraid. Now, if you don't mind, leave so that I can look after him. You can come back after your Hogsmeade visit if you want to, he should be awake by then."

Harry nodded and left the Hospital wing hearing Madam Pomfrey mutter something about illegal curses behind his back. He nearly collided with Professor McGonagall who was about to enter the hospital.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, I was looking out for you. The headmaster has just informed me. How is Mr. Weasley doing?"

"Madam Pomfrey says that he will recover."

She nodded.

"That's a relief. Mr. Potter, the headmaster send me for you. He wants to see you in his office to tell him what has happened in the Great Hall."

Harry followed her through the corridors until they stopped in front of the stone gargoyle that marked the entrance to Professor Dumbledore's office.

"Liquorice", said Professor McGonagall, the gargoyle slid aside and they climbed up the staircase until they reached the wooden door of Dumbledore's office. McGonagall knocked and stepped in.

Dumbledore sat behind his desk, his expression was very worried but angry at the same time. Malfoy was sitting in a chair in front of him and looked at his boots while Snape leaned at the wall to his right and seemed fuming.

"Ah, Mr. Potter, take a seat. Maybe you can bring some light into this issue for Mr. Malfoy refuses to say anything. What has happened in the Great Hall?

Harry sat down in the chair next to Malfoy and started to tell, trying not to look at Malfoy.

"Well, Ron and I went into the Great Hall to have a quick lunch and there we saw Malfoy sitting alone at the Slytherin table. Well, I think Ron saw it as some kind of possibility to pay Malfoy back a little of what he's done to him in the past, so he provoked him and didn't stop as Malfoy told him to leave. I tried to finish this, but Ron didn't listen to me. Then Malfoy said that he could curse Ron any time he wanted to and as Ron said something about Mr. Malfoy teaching his son how to perform illegal curses he just flipped out and cursed Ron with this Calideius curse. Ron flew back and hit the wall, and then Professor Snape arrived, performed a counter curse and told me to take Ron to the hospital wing."

Dumbledore nodded and addressed Draco.

"Mr. Malfoy, this is a very serious situation. What you've just done was performing a dark curse on one of your fellow students. A curse you should not even know about let alone use on another human being or anything else! Where did you learn that curse?"

Malfoy didn't respond.

"Mr. Malfoy, look at me when I'm talking to you!"

Dumbledore yelled really angry. Harry had never seen him like this before, let alone heard him shouting at a student. Malfoy raised his head and looked at Dumbledore, but still said nothing.

"Mr. Malfoy, I will ask you just once more. Where did you learn that curse?"

Malfoy still remained silent. Dumbledore sighed.

"Well, we won't reach anything with this I suppose. Mr. Malfoy, one hundred points will be taken from Slytherin house for this act. Even if Mr. Weasley provoked you, this is not a way to react, not matter what he has said to you. You will serve detention three times a week until the end of this term. Detentions will be arranged by Professors Snape and McGonagall as well as by Mr. Filch. There will be no Hogsmeade weekends for you this year. I even think about excluding you from Quidditch, but it would not be fair for your team. But I will tell your father about this, be sure. Professor Snape will now bring you to your dormitory."

Malfoy's eyes had widened a moment as Dumbledore mentioned his father, but then he simply got up and followed Snape out of the room.

"Mr. Potter, I will also take twenty points from Gryffindor for the provocation. This is not adult behaviour and I surely will have another word with Mr. Weasley about it."

Harry nodded guiltily. 'I should have make Ron stop', he thought.

"Professor, what is the Calideius curse?"

"It's a dark curse that can do a lot of harm if the counter curse is not performed immediately. It sends the person who is cursed into a sleep-like state and if the counter curse is not performed in time, he remains like that. It's not a matter of seconds or even a few minutes to perform the counter curse, but it was very lucky that Professor Snape was there to do it. The longer the curse is put onto a person, the longer it takes for him to recover. But Mr. Weasley will be fine by tomorrow, I'm sure about that."
"But why didn't you expel Malfoy? He cannot walk around school and curse people like that! If he has been taught that curse, maybe he can perform even worse ones. His father is a Death Eater, I'm sure he has taught him enough to kill one of us if he wants to!"

"This Mr. Potter, is my decision and I surely have my reasons for it. It's none of your business how I punish my students. Now, maybe you should get into the Great Hall, I think you have a Hogsmeade visit about to come and Professor Snape surely would not approve if you were late."

He nodded and Harry got up and left.

When he checked his watch he realized that it was already five minutes to three and he hurried to get down into the Entrance Hall. All the fifth years were already assembled there, and Hermione came walking towards him.

"Harry, where have you been? And where's Ron? I heard a second year talking about Malfoy cursing someone in the Great Hall, what has happened?"

Harry sighed.

"Malfoy has cursed Ron and he's in the hospital wing now. He'll be fine, don't worry, he has just bumped his head on the wall. I'll fill you in on the details later, I don't want to talk about it in front of the entire class. Let's just go and get him some sweets and then wait for Lupin and Snuffles."

Hermione nodded but still looked extremely worried. Harry lay a comforting arm around her shoulder. "He'll be fine, believe me."

The other students were waiting for Snape impatiently.

"…telling us we should not be late…"

"…it's already ten minutes past three…"

"…maybe we should leave him because he was too late…"

That moment, Snape stormed out of the dungeons.

"It's late, let's leave immediately."

"Professor, Draco Malfoy has not turned up yet." Pansy Parkinson smiled at Snape, knowing that he would not leave his favourite student behind.

"Mr. Malfoy will not attend this Hogsmeade visit Ms. Parkinson. We leave now."

"But what's wrong with Draco? Is he ill?"

"That, Ms. Parkinson, is absolutely none of your business. And if the whole of you won't start moving immediately, I will cancel your visit."

He strode off out of the doors, the students following him.

"Ain't that great? A Hogsmeade visit without Malfoy!" Neville joined Hermione and Harry who just nodded at him and tried to smile.
"Yeah Neville, just great."

They didn't talk very much on their way into town and got away from Neville as fast as possible. First, they went into Honeydukes and bought a large amount of chocolate frogs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans and other sweets as presents for Ron. They also made a short visit to Zonko's the joke shop where they purchased a get-well-soon-card which told recovery wishes in seven different goblin dialects. Ron surely would approve that, for it didn't finish speaking once started until the one whom it was given to repeated each sentence it said correctly.

It was quarter to five when they entered the Three Broomsticks. Fortunately, most of the students were still off shopping and nobody who knew them was in sight.

Harry and Hermione went over towards the bar.

"What can I do for you?" Madam Rosmerta stood behind the bar and smiled at them.

"We want to go to the back room. We have an appointment there."

She smiled and then nodded.

"So you're the ones Remus wanted to meet here. Why all this secrecy? He won't tell you about his final exams, will he?" She laughed as if she had made a very good joke and then turned around.

"Well, it seems to be none of my business. He's not here yet, but I'll bring you into the back room so that you can wait for him. Do you want anything to drink?"
"Yeah, a Butterbeer would be fine." Harry looked at Hermione who nodded. "Two Butterbeers."

Madam Rosmerta handed two bottles at Harry and Hermione and then went into a corridor behind the bar. The doors in that corridor led into the kitchen and storage rooms but the last door on the left side led into a small room. It was lit by two torches on the wall and its furniture consisted only of a table and six chairs. Thick curtains hung in front of the window and blocked the outside from sight.

Madam Rosmerta gestured them to sit down.

"I'll lead Remus in here as soon as he comes. If you need something, just come up to the bar. I won't be able to look after you very often once all the students come running in here."

She smiled and closed the door and Harry and Hermione sat down.

"Please Harry, what has happened to Ron?" Hermione still looked concerned above all else. He quickly told her everything that had happened at lunch and in Dumbledore's office.
"He didn't expel him??? What…but why…he could have KILLED RON!!!"

"Who could have killed Ron? Has something happened?"

In their excitement, neither Harry nor Hermione had heard Lupin enter the room, carrying five bottles of Butterbeer on a tablet. Sirius was at his side, still dog shaped. Lupin closed the door and turned around the key, then stepped over towards the table and sat down. Sirius changed into human shape and did the same. He looked concernedly at Harry.

"What has happened? Where is Ron?"

"At lunch in the Great Hall, Ron provoked Malfoy. Malfoy was alone and I could not talk Ron out of it. Malfoy threatened to curse Ron and as Ron said something about Malfoy's father teaching him illegal curses, he hit him with the Calideius curse."

"What???" Lupin and Sirius gasped at the same time. Both looked horrified. Sirius was the first to regain speech.

"How is Ron doing?"

"Madam Pomfrey said he should be fine again by tomorrow. Snape was there at the right time and performed the counter curse."

"That's a relief. I don't want to imagine what would have happened to Ron if there had been no teacher present, the Calideius curse can have serious consequences."

"Yeah, I know. Dumbledore told me about it."

"But where did he learn that curse?"

Lupin laughed harshly.

"Sirius, don't be naïve. You know what Lucius Malfoy is like. Calideius is surely not the worst curse he has taught his son. I wonder what Dumbledore is going to do about him."

"Nothing!"

"What do you mean with nothing, Harry?"

"Well, he's taken hundred points from Slytherin and Malfoy has to do detentions and is not allowed into Hogsmeade this year. But that's all. He didn't expel him!"

"I can't believe that. Dumbledore surely doesn't want a student who knows illegal curses and is ready to use them at his school. Especially not in times like these."

"That's what I thought as well Sirius. But he didn't expel him."

Both Sirius and Lupin shook their heads in disbelief. Finally, Lupin spoke again.

"Well, I've learned that Dumbledore never makes a decision without a reason. But I can't see any reason why he should keep Malfoy at Hogwarts after that. I'll ask him about it when I find a possibility. Are you going to visit Ron tonight?"

Harry nodded. "Sure, Madam Pomfrey told me I could come after the Hogsmeade visit."

"Well, send him greetings from me."

"As well as from me", Sirius added.

Harry suddenly grinned evilly. "Well, we have bought him a get-well-soon-card, maybe you would want to sign it." He pulled out the goblin card and Sirius broke into a laughing fit at the sight of it.

"Moony, I can distantly remember that James, Peter and I once sent you one of those after you had a little accident in potions. Madam Pomfrey threatened to kill us because it took you hours to figure the goblin greetings out. Harry, give me that card, it's a pleasure for me to sign it."

Lupin just shook his head.

"I thought they had given up making them by now. Evil little things. The last goblin phrase is especially complicated, I think those goblins hardly ever use vowels when they speak. Hand me that pen Sirius, I want to sign as well." He looked at Harry and Hermione as if he wanted to excuse himself. "Well, this time it's not me who has to figure out the delicate details of goblin dialects." He grinned, signed the card and handed it back to Harry.

Talking about the card had brought their minds away from Malfoy and Ron and soon they were engaged in a conversation about everything that had happened since they had last met. They also talked about the upcoming holidays and Sirius ensured Harry that depending on who would stay over Christmas, there would be better possibilities for them to meet.

Too soon it was quarter past seven and Harry and Hermione rose.

"We have to go. Snape's not in a very good mood today and he'd surely get us expelled if we were late for the meeting."

Sirius nodded.

"We'll wait another couple of minutes before we leave. Good bye, and don't forget to greet Ron! If anything else happens, send me an owl."
"Sure. Bye Sirius. See you in lessons, Professor."

"Yeah, Bye Sirius, Professor."

And Harry and Hermione left.

Snape was already waiting in front of the pub. He seemed to have calmed down a little since they had left the castle. All the fifth years arrived at least ten minutes before scheduled for nobody wanted to annoy Snape even more. Though nobody except from Hermione and Ron knew why he was so angry, everybody could guess that this was not the right day to disobey one of Snape's orders.

When they arrived at the castle, Harry and Hermione ran up the stairs and stormed into the hospital wing.

"You two! This is a hospital and no track-and-field contest! Slow down or I won't let you visit Mr. Weasley."

Madam Pomfrey was standing next to a bed, changing the sheets with her wand.

"Sorry. How is Ron doing? Can we see him? We brought presents from Hogsmeade for him."

"Mr. Weasley has woken up an hour ago and is doing quite fine. He needs rest now, but as I promised you already that you could visit him, I'll let you stay. Ten minutes, not more."

Harry pulled out the bag of sweets and the get-well-soon card from his pocket and approached Ron's bed.

"Mr. Potter! What kind of card is this?"

Harry turned around towards the nurse and reddened.

"Oh,…just a get-well-soon card for Ron. We bought it in Hogsmeade."

"Mr. Potter, don't try to fool me! I know those cards. Your father and his gang already considered them to be funny and they were not the last students who brought them up here, but I won't have those nasty goblin voices keeping my patients from resting. Give it to me, I will hand it out to Mr. Weasley when he leaves tomorrow morning. He can figure it out in your Common Room."

She took the card out of Harry's hands and left for her office. Harry sighed and he and Hermione stepped over towards Ron's bed.

Ron was sitting in his bed and smiled at them.

"Hey Ron, how are you doing? I was so shocked when Harry told me what had happened." Hermione sat down on Ron's bed and hugged him.

"I'm fine, only my head feels as if it's going to explode any minute. Madam Pomfrey told me that I hit the wall after Malfoy cursed me."

"You should not have provoked him Ron. I told you he wasn't worth bothering."

"Do you blame me now Harry? I simply did the same he always does to us. I could not have guessed that he would overreact like that. By the way, what did he curse me with?"

"I don't blame you for what Malfoy has done, but still I don't think it was such a good idea to provoke him. He put a dark spell on you which would have left you in a coma if Professor Snape had not been there to perform the counter curse."

"What??? Now he's totally out of mind! What's next? Avada Kedavra? Surely Dumbledore expelled him, didn't he?"

Harry shook his head. "No. Though I don't understand why not. Nobody does, neither me and Hermione nor Lupin and Sirius. Dumbledore simply took points off Slytherin and gave Malfoy detention until the end of term."

Ron stared at him in disbelief.

"He didn't expel him? Shit! Getting Malfoy expelled would have been worth paying the prize of lying here, but detention? Instead, I have to thank Snape for saving me. Not a good day, definitely not."

"Well Ron, I agree with Harry if he says that you shouldn't have provoked him, but now try to forget about it. You'll be fine again and that's all that matters. Sirius and Professor Lupin told us to send their greetings to you. Oh, and we brought you something from Hogsmeade."

She pulled the bag onto Ron's bed who opened it with great delight.

"Oh, Chocolate Frogs, and Every Flavour Beans and Honeydukes Milk Bars,…thanks so much. That will keep me alive until tomorrow morning!"

"We've also had a get-well-soon card from us which was signed by us, Lupin and Sirius, but unfortunately Madam Pomfrey confiscated it."

"Why should she do something like this?"

"Well, you'll find out soon enough. She'll hand it out to you tomorrow."

At that moment, Madam Pomfrey came out of her office and gestured them to leave.

"Enough for today, Mr. Weasley needs rest now. I'll send him back to Gryffindor Tower tomorrow morning after breakfast."

"Okay. Bye Ron."

Hermione and Harry got up and nodded at their friend.

"Yeah bye. Thanks for your visit. Tell Fred, George and Ginny that I'm okay if they realize that I'm missing."

"We will. Good night."

"Good night."