By His Side

"You should be in bed." Pomfrey said.

Hermione looked up from where she was sitting, her eyes red from crying. "Sorry?"

Pomfrey shook her head.

"Is he going to be alright?" She asked.

Pomfrey nodded. "Hopefully. The physical wounds have been treated, the cuts, the broken bones, though he'll be bruised for a couple of days, but he should be fine. The healing took a lot out of him, he'll be out for a day or two." She said gently.

Hermione nodded. "Who would do such a thing?" She asked.

Pomfrey shook her head again. "I don't know."

Hermione sat there silently; Pomfrey did a few quick examinations and then scribbled upon her clipboard. Then she headed back to her office, shaking her head in sadness.

Ron suddenly hurried into the Hospital Wing.

"Oh, man. What'd they do to him?" Ron asked, softly.

Hermione shook her head. 'I don't know. They brought him in over an hour ago. Pomfrey fixed up the easy wounds, but he still hasn't woken up." She said.

Ron clenched his hands into fist. 'Damn it. Its probably that bastard Malfoy." He said.

Hermione looked up at him. "Why?"

"You know that prat. It would be just like him to jump Harry when he was alone." Ron growled.

"Nobody knows anything yet." Hermione said. "We can't be jumping to conclusions."

Ron stared at her. "Are you defending that ass?"

"No." Hermione said firmly. "Its just that jumping to conclusions while you're mind's clouded by hate, anger, and rage doesn't lead anywhere good."

Ron shook his head. "Well, its gotta be Malfoy." Ron said.

Hermione sighed, she didn't want to argue. Maybe Ron was right too. "Dumbledore said he'd be looking into this attack. He'll find out what's going on." Hermione said.

Ron frowned. "Yeah. We'll see."

"What are you planning?" Hermione demanded. He had that tone in his voice.

"Nothing." Ron said. "Nothing at all." He definitely was planning something.

Before Hermione could say anything else, Ginny came racing into the Hospital wing. She has panting heavily and stared at Harry in the bed. "I just heard." She gasped. "What happened?"

Ron shook his head. 'We don't know. A first year just found him lying in a broom closet, half beaten to death." He replied, his face hardening. "I tell you it was the bastard Malfoy and his cronies. They're the only ones who hate Harry this much."

Hermione sighed as Ginny began nodding along with Ron.

"Dumbledore's on it." Hermione said. "He'll find out who did this."

Ginny looked startled for a moment, just noticing that Hermione was there. She smiled shyly. "Hi, Hermione."

Hermione returned the greeting, feeling a little relieved. It had been a long four days since they hadn't spoken to one another. It was good to have her speaking with her, even if it did take being nearly killed by Myrtle to set things right.

"How are you doing?" Ginny asked slowly.

Hermione smiled brightly. "I'm Fine. Nothing damaged and nothing hurt. Just a little shaken by the whole thing." She replied.

Ginny looked relieved and then another emotion flashed across her face. "I'm sorry about what happened." She said.

Hermione laughed. "It wasn't your fault, it was Myrtle's. She's the one who went crazy and attacked me." She said.

Ginny cast her eyes down, and stared intently at the floor tiles. "I was the one who told Myrtle that you and Harry were dating." She said softly.

Hermione stared at her in shock. "What?" She felt her anger rising.

"I'm sorry. I thought she'd only get mad at you. I didn't know she was going to attack you!" Ginny cried, tears running down her face.

Hermione could only stare. "She nearly killed me!" Hermione shouted. "And it was your fault?"

Ginny burst into more tears, Ron stepped back, eyes wide.

"Get out!" Hermione yelled, feeling tears running down her own face. She felt betrayed and furious. Her own best friend!

Ginny went running out of the Hospital Wing. Ron watching her. he glanced back at Hermione, who managed to dry her eyes.

"You didn't have to yell at her like that." Ron said.

Hermione glared at him. "After what she did?"

"She said she was sorry. Doesn't that count for anything?"

"She finally told me now! She could have told me earlier, but she didn't." Hermione snapped.

Ron shook his head, frowning at her. "Still. She's my sister, what she may have done was wrong, but she apologized. You should have at least accepted it. She's not out to cause you harm. She was worried about you, to the point of crying and not sleeping." With that he walked off.

Hermione just glared after them. She knew that Ginny was sorry for what she did, but a part of her still raged with the act of betrayal, and that part won out.

"Things seem to get interesting when I'm knocked out." Harry croaked from the bed.