Disclaimer: You want it? It's in Ch 1
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Harry woke up the next morning and groaned. Every inch of his upper arms and torso was sore. As he reached for his glasses, his pajama sleeve slid up. He winced, seeing the black and blue that covered most of his arm. Crabbe had a strong hug.

Harry glance around for Hermione. He saw a bed sectioned off by curtains, and his stomach clenched.

"Good, you're awake." Madame Pomfrey bustled over. "Drink this."

Harry took the goblet, but didn't drink. "Will she be alright?"

Madame Pomfrey hesitated, not wanting to depress her patient. She glanced at Harry's face, and her heart cracked at his pleading expression. "I don't know, Mr. Potter. I just don't know," she said quietly, then paused a moment, collecting herself. "Now, drink your potion. It'll relieve the pain, which I have no doubt you are feeling tremendously."

A bitter taste had filled Harry's mouth at Madame Pomfrey's prognosis. Compared to that taste, the potion was like pumpkin juice. When he had swallowed it all, he asked Madame Pomfrey, "May I - may I see her?"

Again Madame Pomfrey hesitated. "Yes," she replied, rather reluctantly.

Harry got out of bed, wobbling slightly on his journey to the other end of the room. Then he slipped behind the curtain.

Standing by Hermione's bed, he couldn't believe it was her. Hermione's eyes were squinted shut, like she was still fighting the pain. She had bruises from the stone floor of the Entrance Hall. And she was only barely breathing.

"Hermione?" he whispered. There was no response. He tried again, louder. Still no response.

"Mr. Potter, it's time to go back to your bed. You need your rest." Madame Pomfrey grabbed his arm, supporting Harry as he teetered back to his bed. He felt worse than he had upon waking.
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"They're my best friends! You have to let me see them!"

"Mr. Weasley, will you please be quiet?! You may not see your friends - they need their rest. Come back at a later time."

Ron tried to move past Madame Pomfrey, but it was impossible. He turned from the door dejectedly, shoving his hands into the pockets of his robes. His best friends were in the hospital wing, and he couldn't even see them.

Ron continued down the hall, moving in the general direction of Gryffindor tower, when he bumped into someone.

"Sorry."

"Next time, Mr. Weasley, you had better watch where you are going. Five points from Gryffindor."

Ron scowled at Snape's back, as the professor vanished down the hallway. This was just getting better and better.
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Ron hung around the common room the next morning, totally depressed. Once again, Madame Pomfrey had refused to let him see Harry and Hermione. He had to sit in the common room, alone, listening to the rumors flying around.

When the attack happened, everyone was stunned. And no one said anything yesterday because everyone knew Ron was upset. But it had been two days, and people felt free to express their views.

"I heard Malfoy tried to put the curse on Harry first, but Hermione got in the way." This was from Parvati.

"That's not true. Harry was next to me at the table." That came from Neville.

"Besides, Hermione would've gone to Dumbledore. You know that. When something happens, she always runs to him or the library." Ron leapt up at a third year's comment. He headed towards the boy, but Fred and George caught him.

"We'll take care of it, Ron. You'd better find out how Harry and Hermione are doing. It's been a few hours. Madame Pomfrey might let you visit now." Ron nodded and left.
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Ron left the closed door in a fury. He still couldn't see them! And he knew Harry was awake, because just before he'd knocked, he'd heard Madame Pomfrey tell Harry to drink his potion.

Ron moved down the hall. At least this time she'd taken the cards and things people had pressed on him when he left the common room. He thought about skipping Care of Magical Creatures to sneak into Hogsmeade and get his friends some Zonko's products or Honeydukes chocolate. But maybe Hagrid would know more, and if not, he wouldn't be spreading rumors. He headed to class.
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There was a momentary hush when he arrived, then the rumors flew again.

"Malfoy was jealous. That's why he did it. He found himself falling for her and didn't want Harry or Ron to get her first." Lavender had recently seen a Muggle soap opera and now turned every situation into one if she could.

"Draco? Fall for that Mudblood? You Gryffindors truly are stupid." Ron silently thanked Pansy for that one. Even he knew Malfoy wouldn't do a thing like that.

"Alright, now, stop yer talkin'. C'mon over 'ere." Hagrid waved them to the small paddock near his hut. "Today, we're goin' to talk with some o' the centaurs from the forest. This is Bane, and this is Ronan. Now, if any of yer 'ave Divination, yeh might wanna pay close attention to how centaurs make predictions."

The class mumbled in awe, for it was well known centaurs would rarely interact with humans. One by one they moved toward the paddock.
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A/N: I know I didn't put Harry and Hermione in this one, except in name, but we can't leave Ron out. However, I promise Harry and Hermione will show up in Ch 4.