Mysterious Circumstances
Ronald Weasley burst into the Hospital Wing, nearly tearing off the stout doors, panting as if he had just run a marathon, and a wild look upon his face. Madam Pomfrey frowned but didn't say anything as he tore across the beds and collapsed at Hermione's bedside. She had been anticipating such a scene since Hermione had been brought in only ten minutes ago. Word it seemed traveled very quickly in Hogwarts.
Trailing behind him were several others, Pomfrey frowned again. She understood the need to see how a friend was doing, worry did that to people, but the Hospital Wing was not a social area. She scanned the faces of the people entering the Hospital Wing, many she realized had passed through her infirmary more than once and not all of them for minor injuries. She also knew that she'd see plenty of their faces in the days to come, if the last few weeks were any indication.
Pomfrey covered the small laugh that nearly escaped her with a cough. Sometimes gallows humor was the only one available, especially when it was that or cry. Pomfrey calmed her face and looked sternly at Ron who was babbling to himself as he clutched Hermione's pale hands. She bit down on a remark and continued with her quick examination.
No physical wounds, nothing to show that she has been physically attacked. But of course with magic, the deepest wounds usually didn't leave any scars on the surface. Also the most dangerous spells usually never left any indication as to what they had damaged. Pomfrey sighed, the noise of people talking was making it hard to concentrate.
Pomfrey loudly cleared her throat. She scanned the gathered faces. "Everyone out." She said simply. The students looked about and began shuffling out. Ronald didn't move, with a moment's hesitation Ginevra Weasley and Neville Longbottom joined him at Hermione's side. Pomfrey frowned; she had to respect their loyalty to their friend, but she had hoped they would all leave.
Sighing, Pomfrey set down her clipboard and prepared instruments to see if there were any long lasting damage to Hermione, normally it was done without spectators, but she knew the only way they were leaving was by Imperius Curse, and she wasn't up to using an Unforgivable Curse today.
Neville folded his arms, then shoved them into his pockets, then refolded them, finally he sat down upon the chair beside Hermione's bed, leaning forward, elbows upon knees and fingers interlocked. He looked around the Hospital Wing, almost making out Harry through the white curtain surrounding his bed. He looked at Ginny, she had her arms folding and stared down at Hermione, her lips moving as she muttered something. Ron was on his knees, his eyes locked upon Hermione's expressionless face, and his mutters audible, mainly frantic prayers that Hermione be okay with an occasional oath of revenge, which brought glares from Pomfrey.
Neville didn't know why he stayed behind. He had been leaving when Pomfrey told everyone to get out, but something had made him stay. He was never good in these sorts of situations, he didn't know how to comfort someone without making them feel more horrible, soothing words tumbled out of his mouth, with no form or structure, making him seem incapable to making a sentence. And, as horrible as it sounded, waiting upon a person was boring.
Hermione could be out for days and he couldn't see the logic in sitting by her side for those days while he could be accomplishing something else. Something like finding out who had done this to her. He looked up to Ginny who glanced back at him, then both looked to Ron who was near tears still clutching Hermione's hand.
It took him a moment to realize that Ron was gripping Hermione's hand awfully hard and that his reaction to the news that she had been attacked was more than a friend's reaction. There was something more to it, something more than friendship. Neville shook his head. That couldn't be. Ron and Hermione were at each other's throat all the time, always yelling, always arguing, never agreeing on anything. He laughed to himself, receiving a glare from both Pomfrey and Ginny. He remembered where he was and stayed quiet. Now was not the time for laughing or thinking about Ron and Hermione's relationship, if even such a thing was possible. Didn't Hermione go with Harry to Hogsmeade? Were they dating?
"What happened to her?" Ron asked hoarsely.
"That's what I'm trying to figure out." Pomfrey replied shortly. Neville knew enough to know she was not angry, just a little annoyed that someone was bothering her while she was doing her job.
"It was Draco." Ron said, his face contorting into rage. "I know it was him, who else could it be?"
Neville shot a questioning look to Ginny, but she was still staring down at Hermione, he could see her mouthing the name "Malfoy". Could it be possible? Neville knew that Ron despised Draco, but was he always the enemy? It would seem a little foolish, not to mention stupid, to retaliate only hours after he had left the Hospital Wing himself. Beyond being arrogant, cruel, cowardly, a bigot, rude, and an all around ass, Draco could not be called stupid. Sure, he did some foolish things, but Neville knew he was intelligent. Not Hermione smart, that was a whole other level, but one of the upper tier students in grades and not all of it was sucking up to the professors also.
Could he have plotted and executed an attack upon Hermione only hours after leaving the Hospital Wing? It seemed possible and Draco was the emotional sort. When insulted or made a fool of the only recourse he could think of was revenge. Neville had also seen that plenty of times. It was a reasonable action on Draco's part, especially after what had happened in the Great Hall.
If it really was Draco, what could they do now? Would Ron want to storm the Slytherin House and fight Draco? Neville didn't think that Hermione's attack would get as much popular support as Harry's did. Was it not Hermione who had been against retaliating against Draco the first time around.
Neville sighed. He still remembered that night. He'd never felt so much rage, so much anger. It was as if the common room had pulsed with it. He had been so sure that Draco had been the one who attacked Harry. That had faded over time, enough so that he began to doubt what they were doing. For a moment there he actually felt sorry for Draco, Crabbe, and Goyle. They were being laughed at by everyone and people had been throwing their food at them and laughing even harder. It had made him feel sickened to his stomach and horrified at what they had done.
If it was him...
McGonagall suddenly entered the Hospital Wing, followed by Dumbledore. The Headmaster glanced at Neville and Ginny, nodding slightly as McGonagall pushed her way to Hermione's bedside.
"What happened here?" She demanded.
Neville saw Pomfrey wince and take a slow breath. "that's what I'm trying to find out. It would be a great help if I were not constantly interrupted."
McGonagall looked at the three students. "You three. Come with me." Ron looked up for the first time, the tone in the professor's voice brooked no refusal. He got to his feet and the three walked to an empty bed and sat down. Neville folded his hands upon his lap and waited.
"Where were you three?" McGonagall demanded. Neville watched as Dumbledore spoke softly with Pomfrey, there was a stiffness between the two, but Neville could see her nodding.
"We were on the lawns." Ginny answered.
"Do you have any idea who could have done this?" McGonagall asked.
"It was Draco." Ron suddenly said savagely. "It was that bastard, I know it."
McGonagall looked at Ron carefully. "I'm afraid to say that Draco Malfoy was in the Great Hall at the time that Hermione was attacked. I was there to see him, he and his friends were at the Slytherin table from the moment Hermione left the Great Hall to the time I got the message that Hermione was attacked."
Ron stared at her speechless. His mouth moved soundlessly and he looked to Ginny and Neville for support. McGonagall sighed and sat down upon a chair.
"Does Hermione have any enemies?"
Neville didn't look at Ginny, but out of the corner of his eye he saw her duck her head. He had heard about the incident with Myrtle, she was still not allowed to leave the restroom and the last he heard there was a hearing scheduled to see what could be done about her.
Ron was silent, his number one and only suspect was proven not to have been there. He stared down at the floor and shook his head slightly, still trying to come to grips that Draco was no apart of the attack.
Who could have done it? Neville had heard that there had been other students that had been caught in the attack also, but as he looked around he didn't see any other students. The only beds occupied were by Hermione and Harry. Where were the others?
Dumbledore walked to the small group. "I think it would be best if you all headed back to your House. Pomfrey will do what she can to see that Hermione's taken care of and we'll begin investigating who caused this attack."
"Just like you've been investigating Harry's attack?" Neville asked, he jerked back in surprise. He hadn't been meaning to say anything, the words it seemed just popped out of him.
McGonagall's face harden at the words and Dumbledore took a minute step back in surprise. The two looked at one another and back at Neville. "We are doing the best that we can." Dumbledore said.
Neville nodded, suddenly feeling very foolish.
"I-I'll stay here, if it's okay." Ron said softly.
Dumbledore and McGonagall looked to Pomfrey, who frowned but nodded. "One person I can stand." She said.
Neville and Ginny got up and headed for the door, McGonagall, Dumbledore, and Ron all returned to Hermione's bedside. Neville took a glance back and followed Ginny out of the Hospital Wing.
"We need to find out who did this." Ginny suddenly said, turning on him.
Neville stopped and nearly collided into her. There was an expression on her face, one that Ron had worn earlier, it was a mixture of determination, outrage, and stubbornness all rolled into one look. It must be a Weasley expression.
"I agree." Neville said.