On Friday, Harry finally spoke to Renata again. "Listen, I know you want to help but I want you to stay out of this. I'll figure it out on my own. You have to stay out of this. You could get hurt."
They were walking down the hallway.
"No. And you should at least clue Ron and Hermione in."
"And why's that? They'll be happier not knowing."
"And would you be happier not knowing?"
"No. If someone wants to kill me I should know about it."
"Exactly. So why can't Ron and Hermione know when someone wants to kill them?"
Harry couldn't answer.
"Harry, when they find out they are going to be furious that you didn't tell them sooner."
"But I'm not going to tell them."
"Oh, right. Well, they are going to be even madder because you knew and they didn't hear it from you."
"You said you wouldn't tell."
"Desperate times call for desperate measures. I have to break that promise." She walked away.
Harry stood there and heard footsteps behind him.
"Shouldn't you be getting back to your house, boy? Not wise to be out and about these days at night. People get hurt."
"What are you talking about? There haven't been any attacks since September."
"You never know, they didn't catch whoever it was that caused the attacks. So my advice to you is to be careful. G'night."
"'Night." The man walked away and when he was out of earshot Harry said, "That was weird." The man was the caretaker they'd hired to help out Filch. Strange, a cat was following him. Not Mrs. Norris, Filch's cat, but another one, one Harry didn't recognize.
When Harry went to his dorm room that night, Ron asked quietly, "Why didn't you tell us, Harry? Did you think we couldn't handle it?"
"I didn't think that. I just didn't want you to worry."
"Harry! You get a note saying someone wants to kill us all and you 'don't want us to worry'! You're crazy. Honestly. What is wrong with you? Did someone drop you on your head when you were a baby or something? I can't believe this!"
"Come on, you were depressed enough that night. You want me to have added to your misery?"
"Harry, this is more important than that. If I died before I found out, what would you have thought?"
"I would have blamed myself."
"Exactly. And why?"
"Because you didn't know there was a threat."
"What if Hermione had died?"
"I don't want to think about this!" He was angry, and he found a few hot tears running down his face. He seldom cried. He was glad the room was dark. He was mad but who was he mad at? The person that wrote the note? Renata for telling Ron and Hermione about the note? No. He was mad at himself for not telling them himself.
"So what do you have to say, Harry? Anything? Anything at all?"
"I'm SORRY! Okay! I'm SORRY," he said this bitterly.
"That won't be good enough when we're all dead you know," Ron told him. He left, slamming the door behind him.
Harry didn't care. He threw himself on his bed bitterly and began to finish crying, something he hardly ever did.

An announcement was made that morning at breakfast, "Today will be a Hogsmeade day! Everyone third year and above who has a guardian signed permission slip may go into the village today. Have fun!" Harry didn't want to go into the village. He felt awful. His stomach and his head hurt, he was dizzy.
"This'll be great!" Ron said. "They canceled every other time this year. I really have to get to Zonkos. Whaddaya think? First stop, Harry?"
"I'm not going."
Ron lowered his voice, "Listen, Harry, if this is about last night, forget it. I'm not mad about that."
"It's not that." In the morning when Harry got down to the common room Hermione gave him a speech that reminded him of the one Ron gave the night before. He felt awful. He had a throbbing headache.
Hermione looked at him, concerned. "Is it about what I said?"
"No. I just really don't feel well."
"Well, if you want to stay we can't make you come. Is there anything we can get for you?" asked Hermione.
Harry thought about it and wrote a quick list and handed it and some money to Hermione. "Thanks. I'm going back to my room now. 'Kay?" He left and headed back up to Gryffindor Tower. Harry was still in bed when Ron and the others came back from Hogsmeade. He'd spent most of the day there. His stomach still hurt and he'd spent half the time asleep.
"Harry?" Ron opened the door. "Here's the bag of stuff you asked Hermione for." He dropped it at the end of Harry's bed. "Are you okay?"
"Not really."
Ron stuck his hand out and felt Harry's head. "You're burning up. Let's get you out of here."
"Why?" He didn't want to move anywhere. Ever.
"Why? You're going to get all of us sick if you stay. Besides, I bet Madam Pomfrey will have something to make you feel better."
Harry didn't really pay attention as Ron led him to the infirmary. "Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes? What is it? That boy looks awful. Bring him here."
"I think he's got the flu."
"Yes, yes, he's burning up. Come lie down on the bed so I can take your temperature. That will be all, Mr. Weasley. This should just be a twenty-four hour bug if I'm not mistaken."
"Good."
"Here. Take some tonic." She gave him a goblet purple liquid. "I'll be back in here to check on you in a bit. Get some rest. You'll be good as new in the morning."
Harry fell asleep and didn't wake up until Madam Pomfrey brought him some dinner.
"Eat. You need your strength."
"I'm not hungry."
"I'll tell you what. When that plate is empty, I'll let your friends in. Deal?"
"Okay." Harry started eating and twenty minutes later Ron, Hermione, and Renata were in the room.
"What took so long?"
"Listen, we can't stay. We just wanted to stop by and say goodnight."
"Wait, don't leave."
"Why?"

"I'm feeling better. I'm bored. I need someone to talk to."
"You need rest. We are leaving."
"But you're all staying for Christmas break, aren't you?"
"Yes, we are, Harry. Now get some rest. We don't want you back until you aren't going to infect the whole Tower. Comprende?"
"Huh?"
She sighed. "Do you understand?"
"Yeah. Goodbye." * * * * * * * * * * * * * ********************************** The next morning Harry left the hospital. It was only a few days until Christmas and he still had to wrap the presents Hermione had picked up for him.