Chapter Forty Two: Reassembling

Harry, Ginny and Hermione raced to the hospital wing and burst through the door, nearly colliding with Madam Pomfrey.

'Potter!' said Pomfrey angrily. 'And Miss Granger and Miss Weasley! What is the meaning of this? You do not sprint into the hospital wing and go banging through doors.'

Harry ignored the lecture.

'What's wrong with Ron?' he demanded. 'Where is he?'

'Please, Madam Pomfrey,' Hermione begged tearfully. 'We have to see him!'

'Will you lot calm down?' Madam Pomfrey hissed. 'You're making a scene; you'll upset my patients.'

Ginny grabbed the wrists of both Harry and Hermione, and spoke in a tight but quiet voice.

'We're sorry, Madam Pomfrey,' she said. 'But we heard about Ron and we don't know what's going on. Won't you tell us?'

Pomfrey gave the three of them a stern look; Ginny poured some calming emotion into Harry and Hermione--Harry was alarmed to see her try this with two people at once--but she stubbornly clung to his and Hermione's wrists until their more hysterical feelings passed. Ginny bit her lip against the pain her powers caused, and let them go.

It was at that moment that Professor McGonagall strode into the room.

'Ah,' she said. 'Potter, Granger, Weasley. I need to see you in my office, right now.'

'But what about Ron?' Hermione asked, her eyes filling. 'What's wrong with him? Can't we see him?'

'Mr. Weasley needs his rest,' said Madam Pomfrey firmly. 'He's suffering from acute exhaustion and mild mental trauma and he is not to be disturbed.'

Harry blanched.

What did that mean, mild mental trauma? Good lord, what had Ron seen? What had happened to Fred and George?

Harry saw the color drain from both Ginny and Hermione's faces, and knew they were thinking the same thing.

'What happened?' Harry asked desperately.

'I'll explain everything in my office,' said McGonagall, in a firm but kind voice. 'Please, come with me. Madam Pomfrey is right. Mr. Weasley needs his rest, and what I have to tell you is not meant to be said here.'

Ginny swallowed and grabbed Harry's hand, fear spiking through her and into him.

Oh, god. Ron was too late. Fred and George...

Don't think that. Don't ever think that.

Harry forced himself to smile reassuringly at Ginny and squeeze her hand. Her fear eased, but only slightly.

'Come with me,' said McGonagall, and she started out of the hospital wing. Harry, Ginny and Hermione followed in her wake, all three of them dreading what they were about to hear.

'Mr. Weasley came to my office a short while ago with news that he had located his brothers,' said McGonagall, sitting at her desk as Harry, Ginny and Hermione took chairs across it. 'When I let him in, he could hardly stand, he looked so weak. He was able to tell me where Fred and George were, but almost the minute the information was out of his mouth, he collapsed.'

Hermione put a hand over her mouth and tears began to fall down her cheeks. Ginny's eyes shone with unshed tears, and Harry again took her hand.

'Will he be okay?' he asked.

'Eventually,' said McGonagall. 'I won't lie to you. His condition is serious. I had just come from a consultation with Professor Firenze when I went to the hospital wing in search of you three. Based on Mr. Weasley's appearance and behavior, his collapse, and on Firenze's observations, it appears Ron pushed himself far too hard in his meditations, and it took a toll on him, physically and mentally.'

'Mentally?' said Ginny, horrified.

'There is a possibility--a minor possibility but a possibility nonetheless-that Ron might have suffered...brain damage as a result of his overworking himself,' said McGonagall, and just now, she sounded very upset.

'Oh, god,' Hermione whispered, and she put her face in her hands.

Harry felt sick. 'But there's a chance he's okay, right? That he'll be okay?'

'Of course there is,' said McGonagall. 'He's young and very healthy otherwise, and Firenze informs me that he is quite strong in all respects; he could make a full recovery. But we won't know that until he wakes up, and that won't be for hours. Madam Pomfrey must keep him unconscious in order to do a full examination, and it may come down to it that Mr. Weasley needs to go to St. Mungo's.'

'Hours,' Hermione repeated dully.

By now, Ginny was crying softly. 'He did that...he put himself through that just to find Fred and George,' she whispered.

'Yes, he did,' said McGonagall. 'Which brings me to my second piece of news. Not only was Mr. Weasley able to locate your brothers, but an Auror team dispatched by Kingsley Shacklebolt has found them.'

Ginny gasped and sat up. 'Where?'

'In Knockturn Alley,' said McGonagall. 'Off the main road, in the basement of an abandoned building.'

'They're alive?' said Harry hopefully.

'Yes,' said McGonagall, 'They're at St. Mungo's right now.'

'Do my mum and dad know?' Ginny asked.

'Yes, they do,' said McGonagall. 'I imagine your parents are at the hospital right now.'

'I have to go there,' said Ginny, leaping up from her chair. 'If I can't see Ron, I...I need to see Fred and George...'

'And you will,' said McGonagall, standing up. 'Just stay calm. I've prepared an Emergency Portkey for all three of you. Nymphadora Tonks and Professor Lupin will meet you in the lobby of the hospital. She and Remus will explain everything. Once you're there, don't go wandering off, and above all try to stay calm, for the sake of your parents. You can stay for no longer than two hours--the Portkey will go off automatically at noon and I expect all of you back in my office by then. You will go about your day as you normally would, and say nothing of this.'

'What about Ron?' said Hermione.

'You can see Ron after you get back,' said McGonagall kindly. 'Poppy will have been able to work out a prognosis for him by then, I imagine.'

'Th-thank you, Professor,' Ginny said weakly. Harry helped her stand up; she was trembling slightly. Hermione took a deep breath and stood as well, while McGonagall fetched an old ledger from her desk drawer.

'One more thing,' said McGonagall, holding out the ledger. 'I've told Molly and Arthur about Ron but...I haven't told them any details, just that he was feeling very badly this morning and went to the hospital wing for a rest. I'm not inclined to mention the seriousness of his condition to them just yet, until Madam Pomfrey can give me a better assessment of his prognosis, so I would ask you not to say anything about the specifics regarding Ron. They'll have enough of a time dealing with everything else. Now, go on. Take hold of this.'

One by one, Harry, Ginny and Hermione placed their fingers around the edges of the ledger.

'One, two, three...'

Harry felt the yanking behind his navel, and McGonagall's office spun away in a whirl.

The three of them landed in the very busy lobby of St. Mungo's Hospital. Harry opened his eyes and fought the dizziness and the light-headedness that was settling in; he only then remembered he hadn't eaten any breakfast.

'Harry!' a female voice shouted. He looked up to see Tonks and Remus Lupin hurrying towards him, Hermione and Ginny. They all hugged hard and fast, an all-too-brief respite from the madness of the past week.

'Hey,' said Harry weakly.

'Professor,' Ginny whispered, 'what's happening?'

'Come with us,' said Lupin.

Both girls looked slightly bewildered, and Harry put an arm round Ginny on one side, and Hermione on the other and gave them a gentle tug.

'Where are my parents?' Ginny asked fretfully, allowing Harry to steer her after Lupin and Tonks.

'They're in consultation with the medi-wizard working on Fred and George,' said Tonks briskly, leading them quickly out of the lobby and down a corridor.

After a few minutes they came to an unlocked, empty janitor's closet.

'This'll do,' said Tonks, and she gestured everyone to go inside.

'Lumos,' said Lupin, illuminating his wand. Then he lit a few sconces, and the closet was bathed in eerie, flickering light.

'Sorry for the location,' said Tonks, as she began to tap the walls of the room with her wand, 'but I don't want anyone listening in. Security's so tight right now...'

'Can you at least tell us if Fred and George are okay?' Ginny begged, as Lupin, too, took to tapping the walls with his own wand.

'They'll make it,' said Tonks, giving one wall a last series of taps. 'All clear.'

'Tell us what's going on, Remus,' said Harry, holding onto Ginny on one side, and Hermione on the other.

Lupin looked very grave in that moment; he also looked quite tired, and Harry remembered that it had been a full moon just a few nights ago.

'Fred and George will survive,' said Lupin. 'But I have to prepare you all. They suffered, quite horribly.'

Ginny gave a small whimper and snuggled closer to Harry.

'When we found them,' said Tonks, 'they'd been left for dead. We were lucky we got to them when we did.'

'They were tortured,' said Harry. It wasn't a question.

'Yes,' said Lupin. 'And it appears they both lost a lot of blood. There were puncture wounds on their arms, as if they'd had blood withdrawn. And...'

His voice trailed off. He took a deep breath, as if preparing himself to say what was next. Harry held his breath.

'They...cut Fred,' Lupin said heavily. 'His legs, and his arms. The wounds themselves were not all that deep or serious, though they caused some of the worst of his blood loss. But...they caused an infection, and it took hold in his right arm. Gangrene. It's likely the Healers will have to amputate the arm.'

'Oh, my god,' Ginny whispered, and she began to cry. Harry pushed back the urge to throw up, and Hermione stood, frozen and silent, her mouth slightly open in shocked horror.

'What about George?'

If Lupin looked stricken talking about Fred, his face became a mask of utter grief just now.

'As near as we can gather they used Cruciatus on both of them,' said Lupin hoarsely. 'But in George's case...'

Ginny gasped. 'No.'

'They broke his mind,' said Lupin. 'He's in the Spell Damage area. They're working on him now but...it doesn't look hopeful.'

'No,' Ginny sobbed. 'No, no, no...'

She buried her face in Harry's shoulder; he let go of Hermione to wrap his arms fully around Ginny and stroke her hair.

A mixture of anguish and fury raced through his body. He struggled to fight the anger, the urge to hit something, to hurt someone, to destroy something. Ginny was distraught, she needed him...

He took a deep breath and concentrated on Ginny's tangled hair. Hermione, meanwhile, spoke.

'They did all that,' she said, sounding horrified, 'even though they'd already gotten Fred and George's invention?'

Lupin nodded. 'I don't think...Fred and George were tortured for information. Just for...sport.'

Ginny looked up, her face livid despite her tears.

'The Death Eaters were proving a point, remember?' she said savagely. 'Take down the blood traitors. They could have killed Fred and George but...but no, that was too easy, wasn't it? Why not let Fred and George and the rest of us really suffer?' She gave another despairing sob and collapsed against Harry again.

'Is there nothing they can do for George?' said Hermione. 'He can't really be...insane now, can he?'

'He was babbling when we found him,' said Tonks. 'He didn't know where he was, or who he was, or who we were.'

Lupin closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. 'It's like Frank and Alice all over again,' he said, almost to himself.

At this, Harry's head snapped up.

'What did you say?' he asked. Ginny, startled, sniffled and backed away from Harry.

Lupin gazed at Harry in confusion. 'Frank and Alice Longbottom,' he said. 'You know, Neville's parents. The same thing happened to them all those years ago.'

Something clunked into Harry's brain so hard, he almost stumbled.

'I have to get to Hogwarts,' he said suddenly.

'What?' said Ginny, Hermione and Lupin together.

'Please, Prof--Remus,' Harry begged. 'There's something I have to do...somebody I have to talk to!'

'Harry, we can't take you back to Hogwarts now,' said Lupin. 'We're needed here. Tonks is on security detail and I...I have to be available for Molly and Arthur--'

'So make me a Portkey!' said Harry. 'Please!'

'Harry, what are you talking about?' Ginny asked.

'Or I'll Floo there!' said Harry, still focusing on Lupin.

'The Floo network's closed,' said Tonks.

'Remus, I have to get back...' Harry begged, but the look on Lupin's face, while sympathetic, was unwavering, and suddenly, Harry happened upon another idea.

'I've got to find Augustus Pye,' he said, and before anyone could stop him, he yanked open the door of the janitor's closet and dashed into the corridor.

He vaguely heard the shouts of the others behind him, and then their footsteps as they chased him, but Harry was too fast for them, and too agile; he leapt easily out of the way of the crowds of people moving back and forth through the hospital and shoved his way to the front desk. Several people waiting in line--a wizard whose nose hair had grown abnormally long and was attempting to strangle him; a girl whose arms were as long as a gorilla's; and a witch whose eyes seemed to be permanently crossed--protested angrily.

'Where's Augustus Pye?' Harry bellowed at the blonde witch sitting at the desk.

'Excuse me, sir,' said the witch irritably. 'There's a line, in case you didn't--'

Harry shoved his fringe up and revealed his scar, and with his right hand he yanked out his wand and pointed it right at the witch's face. The crowd gasped in horror and awe, and several people gawped at the lightning bolt on his forehead.

'Look, lady, I've faced down Lord Voldemort half a dozen times and if you think I'm gonna take any crap from you, you're wrong. Now tell me where Augustus Pye is or I'll be sending you to the Spell Damage ward!'

The witch blanched and backed up in her seat.

'Harry!' Lupin shouted, as he pushed his way into the lobby. Harry ignored him as the witch spoke.

'D-downstairs,' she stammered. 'Basement level, in the research laboratory. Take a left off the lift.'

'Thank you,' said Harry, and made a dash for the lift, not even looking back at Lupin and the others, who were still calling out to him.

Harry stepped off the old lift and took a left into a dimly lit, gloomy corridor. Straight ahead he saw double-doors that read Magical Medical Research Area, and without hesitation, he marched right up to the doors and shoved them.

Except they didn't open. He tried again, and was about to use his wand on the doors when suddenly a man's voice boomed over him.

'Name and employee number, please,' the voice said.

Harry groaned. In his haste he hadn't counted on having to pass through any sort of security. He felt rather like an idiot for not having thought of this.

But he cleared his throat anyway.

'Harry Potter,' he said. 'I'm not an employee, I'm a visitor.'

'All visitors must report to the front desk for a visitor badge,' said the voice.

'I just came from there!' Harry shouted. 'I need to see Augustus Pye right away.'

'All visitors must report to the front desk for a visitor badge,' said the voice again. Harry felt like punching a hole in the wall.

'Look, I'll wait out here, okay?' he begged. 'Can you please just find Augustus Pye for me? Augustus Pye! He's a Healer, and I need to speak with him! It's urgent!'

'All visitors must report to the front desk for a visitor badge.'

'DAMMIT!'

This time Harry raised his fist and really was about to punch the wall when a voice behind him stopped him in his tracks.

'Er...you're looking for Augustus Pye?'

Harry whirled round, wand in hand, and found himself face-to-face with a young, scrawny wizard with mousy brown hair and a prominent Adam's apple. Harry was surprised to see him dressed in gray Muggle hospital scrubs.

'Yeah,' said Harry. 'D'you know where he is?'

'I'm Augustus Pye,' said the wizard. 'You...would you mind lowering your wand?'

'Sorry,' said Harry. 'I need to speak with you. It's really important. I'm Harry Potter, by the way.'

'Yeah, I know,' said Augustus. He looked nervous, but very intrigued as well. 'What do you need to talk about?'

'It's about George Weasley,' said Harry. 'And Neville Longbottom.'

Fifteen minutes later, Harry and Augustus Pye made their way back to the lobby to find a very irritated looking group: Lupin, Tonks, Ginny and Hermione all regarded Harry with indignation.

'Dammit, Harry,' said Tonks angrily. 'You were told specifically not to wander off. This is a very sensitive security situation and I can't be running about a bloody hospital chasing you down.'

'Please, ma'am,' said Augustus quickly. 'Don't be angry. Harry's been with me, he was perfectly safe. I'm Augustus Pye. I'm glad he found me, actually. I think I can help.'

'Help with what?' said Ginny, staring daggers at Harry. Without her saying a word, Harry knew she was furious with him for running off like he had, leaving her worried and upset.

'He told me all about your brother George,' said Augustus. 'I think...I might be able to help him. But I have to speak with your mum and dad first. And it might be a good idea if Harry got back to the school and talked to Neville Longbottom.'

Harry stumbled into the common room ten minutes later and dashed up the stairs, bellowing Neville's name.

He burst into the seventh year boys' dormitory in time to see Neville pull back his bed curtains and climb off his bed, quite sheepishly, with Luna Lovegood. The disheveled state of their appearance told Harry all he needed to know, and he filed that away under the various memories he'd rather not have.

'Hello, Harry,' said Luna, smiling her dreamy smile. 'You look awfully agitated.'

Harry bit back a sarcastic retort and focused on Neville.

'You have to come with me,' he said. 'Right now, to St. Mungo's.'

'Er...what?' said Neville. He looked utterly lost. 'I don't understand.'

'They found Fred and George,' Harry said breathlessly.

'No kidding, really?' said Neville. 'So...what do you need me for?'

'I talked to Augustus Pye. You have to come with me. I've got McGonagall's permission.'

Neville's eyes widened in understanding. 'Let me just grab my notes,' he said, and he leapt from his bed and yanked open his trunk, pulling out a leather valise. He stood up and faced Harry.

'Let's go,' he said. He paused long enough to give Luna a quick peck on the lips, and hurried out of the dormitory ahead of Harry, straightening his clothes as he went. Harry nodded quickly to Luna.

'Er...'bye, Luna,' he said awkwardly. She seemed to be taking this all in stride, which told Harry that Neville must have told her about what he'd been doing.

'Be careful,' Luna called after them, as they hurtled down the stairs.

Harry stood outside the Spell Damage wing, his arm round Ginny, who'd stopped crying and was now worrying her hands.

Hermione was nearby, standing next to Percy, who leaned heavily on his cane. Mr. Weasley paced back and forth, as Charlie kept a firm arm around his mother's shoulder. She, too, was no longer crying, but her eyes were puffy and her nose red. Charlie, Harry realized, hadn't gone back to Romania. Harry vaguely wondered whether Charlie had gotten a Ministry job to be close to home.

They don't have a home anymore, remember? The Burrow was blown up.

Bill was there as well, looking tired, but his leg had fully healed. Fleur wasn't with him; she was still in the maternity ward, being monitored.

Harry ached for all of the Weasleys, to have gone through this much.

And they don't even know the whole story on Ron yet...

And what if Neville's potion stuff doesn't work on George?

And Fred...he's going to lose an arm...

Harry had been inside the Spell Damage wing long enough to get a look at George, and the sight of him made Harry's stomach churn.

George's face was gaunt and bruised; his eyes were open, but unseeing. His red hair was streaked everywhere with white, his skin was ashen, his lips were chapped. He had been sedated with some kind of potion and now lay on his side, but he was curled in the fetal position, his arms drawn up over his chest and his knees just below. But for the rise and fall of his shoulders and chest as he breathed, he was deathly still, and in the position he held himself, it was as if he were still under Cruciatus, as if the moment had been frozen in time.

Harry looked away after only a few seconds, and barely heard the droning voice of the medi-wizard as he gave his prognosis.

After that they had been shooed from the room, and the medi-wizard, a healer called Smethwyck, and Augustus and Neville were in there, in the words of Smethwyck, 'consulting.'

'And Ron...found them,' Mrs. Weasley whispered, as they took up places in the corridor to wait. And wait.

Nobody said anything as the waiting dragged on, and no more tears were shed; it was as if the whole family had cried themselves out. Tonks and Lupin had been called back to the scene where Fred and George had been dumped. The corridor contained only Harry, Hermione and the Weasleys, and the occasional passing healer.

At last, the doors to the Spell Damage wing mercifully opened and Smethwyck, Augustus and Neville all came out.

Everyone who was seated stood up, and they all started expectantly at the two healers and Neville.

'First, let me just say that I was not aware of Mr. Pye's...extracurricular research, nor was I aware that he was conducting said research with a Hogwarts' student,' said Healer Smethwyck gravely. 'Under normal circumstances Mr. Pye would have been suspended for allowing an unlicensed student access to certain substances that are not legally available to the general public. Under normal circumstances I would have contacted the appropriate authorities and pressed charges against Mr. Pye for using said substances without written permission from the hospital, and for encouraging their use by an unlicensed student.'

A collective gasp went up, as Smethwyck continued. 'Under normal circumstances, I would have contacted Hogwarts School and informed the Headmistress that a student had been playing about with certain illegal substances and conducting research and testing unauthorized by St. Mungo's or the Ministry of Magic and would have recommended his expulsion.'

'But--' Harry began.

'But,' said Healer Smethwyck, letting out a heavy sigh, 'these are not normal circumstances, or normal times. Mr. Pye and Mr. Longbottom have shown me the results of their research, and it is indeed very hopeful. In my professional opinion, I believe Mr. Weasley would benefit from a course of therapy with their potion.'

A collective sigh of relief filled the corridor.

'Arthur, I'll need your consent, and Molly's, to begin the treatment,' said Smethwyck.

'Of course,' said Mrs. Weasley at once. 'Of course you have our consent.'

'Yes, please,' said Mr. Weasley. 'Whatever you can do...'

'Very well,' said Smethwyck. 'I'll have Augustus draw up the forms for you to sign. Let's have at least one thing done properly and by the book.'

He glared, somewhat unconvincingly, at Augustus and Neville, both of whom flushed.

'As of today, Augustus, you're suspended without pay for two weeks,' said Smethwyck.

'Sir, you can't do that!' Harry protested. 'It's my fault--'

'That really isn't necessary,' said Mr. Weasley.

'It's okay,' said Augustus quickly. 'It's fine. Mr. Smethwyck's right. I did sort of break a lot of rules and...well, I s'pose I'm getting off easy.'

Healer Smethwyck nodded at Augustus and fixed his eyes on Neville.

'I suppose there's no real point in contacting Professor McGonagall,' said Smethwyck, 'given that you are here.'

'No, sir,' said Neville.

'She tells me you're interested in applying for the Healer training program,' said Smethwyck. 'Naturally I must take into consideration your law breaking when considering your application.'

'Yes, sir,' said Neville, looking down at his shoes.

'You two will come with me,' said Smethwyck. 'I'll need to consult with you on a treatment schedule. I'll arrange transportation for you, Mr. Longbottom, back to Hogwarts as soon as we're finished.'

Neville looked at Harry with sad eyes, and Harry bit his lip.

'I'm sorry,' he mouthed, feeling awful. In his rush to help George, he hadn't stopped to consider that enlisting Augustus and Neville would bring them so much trouble.

Neville might not get into the Healer training program because of me!

Neville shrugged and followed Smethwyck and Augustus down the corridor and out of sight.

'I really mucked things up for them,' Harry mumbled.

'No, you didn't,' said Mr. Weasley, and he looked at Harry with a film of tears on his eyes. 'Thank you for trying to help George.'

Harry nodded.

'Mr. and Mrs. Weasley?' said a pleasant female voice. They all turned to see another Healer, a handsome witch of around fifty years of age, smiling at them.

'Yes?' said Mr. Weasley apprehensively, as Mrs. Weasley clutched his arm.

'I'm Healer Dobbs. I have some news,' she said, 'about your son Fred.'

'What is it?'

'We were able to halt the spread of the gangrene,' said Dobbs. 'And we didn't have to amputate the arm after all.'

There was another collective sigh of relief, tempered by the look on the Healer's face.

'But...' said Bill.

'There's extensive nerve damage to the arm, and it's permanent,' said Dobbs. 'His wrist was also shattered; we were able to regrow the bones but it appears some sort of hex was applied that prevented them from growing back altogether properly. The arm will heal, but at best he'll have about twenty percent mobility and use from here on out.'

Mr. Weasley swallowed; Harry held onto Ginny's hand as her father nodded.

'Well, that's...I suppose it could be a lot worse,' he said, and he pursed his lips.

'I should tell you,' said Dobbs, 'that the...mental and emotional trauma your son suffered will be acute upon waking. We've kept him sedated for the time being and will do so for the next forty-eight hours, while we monitor his condition. But you should consider therapeutic counseling for him once he's released from the hospital.'

'Thank you,' said Mr. Weasley. Healer Dobbs nodded and left the corridor.

Mr. Weasley let out a breath and ran a hand through his hair.

'Well...this has been quite a week,' he said.

'They're going to be okay,' said Mrs. Weasley, her lower lip trembling. 'I know they're going to be okay.'

Harry, Hermione and Ginny returned to Hogwarts not long after that. It was late in the afternoon by now, and Harry was starving, light-headed, and he had a horrible headache, so it was with no small amount of relief that upon entering the common room, he found that not only was it empty--the warm spring-like weather had enticed most everyone outdoors--but that a plate of sandwiches, a huge bowl of crisps, and a pitcher of iced pumpkin juice were spread out on the common room table.

Hermione picked up a sandwich but ate fitfully; she was very agitated by now. The first thing they'd done since getting back from hospital was to try and see Ron again, but again, Madam Pomfrey had turned them away, without so much as a single word about Ron's condition.

'Hermione, sit down,' Ginny urged, 'or you won't digest your food properly.'

Hermione glared at Ginny for a moment, and then flopped into an armchair and took a petulant bite of her sandwich.

'We'll get to see him soon,' said Harry bracingly. 'I'm sure Ron's fine. He's too tough and too stubborn not to be.'

'He'd better be or I'll...' Hermione's voice trailed off and she poured herself a glass of pumpkin juice and took a swig.

There was a sound over by the portrait hole, and the three of them turned to see Neville enter. His eyes met theirs and he flushed. Harry threw down his sandwich and leapt up from the sofa.

'Neville, mate, I'm so sorry I got you in trouble, I didn't even think--'

Neville held up his hands. 'It's okay, Harry,' he said. 'I mean, I'm in trouble. I'm definitely in trouble. The Ministry's going to cite me with a misdemeanor for the unauthorized handling of class whatever non-tradable substances or something.'

'Shite,' said Harry.

'Hey, it's fine,' said Neville. 'It had to come out sometime, anyway. We knew what we were getting into, Harry. I talked to McGonagall just now; she says she'll still vouch for me when I have to do my interviews for the program. Of course, now my gran knows. I reckon I'll be getting a Howler anytime.'

'Oh, Neville,' said Ginny, shaking her head.

'I'm used to it,' said Neville, shrugging. 'In fact I'd be worried if my gran didn't bellow at me.'

They all chuckled, but Harry still felt guilty.

'Listen, Neville, I owe you one,' he said.

'Okay,' said Neville, grinning. 'Mind if I take your Firebolt out for a spin? I'm not much of a flyer, but--'

'It's yours, whenever you want it,' said Harry, marveling that Neville was risking his very career because of Harry, and would only ask for a ride on a broomstick in return.

Ginny, meanwhile, got up from the sofa and gave Neville a tight hug.

'Thank you so much,' she said.

'Oh, well,' said Neville, hugging her back awkwardly and blushing. 'You're welcome.'

His eyes met Harry's, and Harry grinned at him.

The day wore on with no word from Madam Pomfrey; Harry determined that the only thing to do was to get outside and enjoy the fresh air and pleasant weather. Neville did indeed take Harry's Firebolt for a fly, but he flew so poorly that he nearly unseated himself twice, and after a third attempt at a particularly sharp turn, he really did fall. Fortunately he was only a few feet from the ground, and all he suffered was the guffaws and pointing of some other students.

Neville thanked Harry for the loan of the Firebolt, declaring that that was quite enough flying for him for the next seven years, and went to join Luna Lovegood by the lake.

Harry, Ginny and Hermione sat beneath the beech tree. Hermione had brought her homework and was forcing herself to work through it, but Harry and Ginny played a leisurely game of chess, which Ginny won quite handily. They played two more games and Harry was just starting to relax more fully, to actually enjoy the day, in spite of everything that had happened, when Harry looked up to see Nott, Crabbe and Goyle sneering down at them.

'What?' said Harry belligerently. 'Your Junior Death Eater meeting let out early?'

'How're your brothers, Weasley?' Nott asked, fixing his eyes on Ginny and ignoring Harry.

'They're going to be just fine, Nott,' said Ginny defiantly, and she stood up.

Harry and Hermione got up slowly, already sliding their hands into their robes.

'I'll bet,' said Nott. 'Funny, I just realized something.'

'Oh?' said Ginny sweetly. 'And what's that? That you're a disgusting, slimy little worm?'

Harry bit back a chuckle. Nott, however, merely sneered.

'No,' he said, and he lowered his voice. 'I just realized that all the men in your family have nice mementoes of their visits from the Dark Lord, but you haven't. I guess that means you're next, Ginny.'

No mementoes from Voldemort? If that bastard only knew!

Harry yanked out his wand and was ready to curse Nott within an inch of his life, but he was interrupted.

'Back off, Nott,' said Blaise Zabini. He and Daphne Greengrass stood just behind them, their wands out and clutched in their hands, but at their sides.

Nott turned to Blaise. 'What, are you going to take points or something? From your own house?'

'Something like that,' said Blaise. 'And detention, too, just for the hell of it.'

'A week,' said Daphne, her hazel eyes glittering.

'Whatever,' said Nott, and he rolled his eyes as he gestured Crabbe and Goyle to follow him.

'Bastard,' Daphne muttered, as Nott stomped away. Blaise and Daphne watched them go, waiting until the three boys had entered the castle.

'You lot okay?' said Blaise at last, putting his wand away.

'Yeah,' said Harry, eyeing Blaise suspiciously.

'I suppose you want to know why we just defended you, is that it, Potter?' said Blaise.

'The thought did occur to me,' said Harry coolly.

'Sooner or later you're going to have to put away your anti-Slytherin bias,' said Blaise.

'We're here to help,' said Daphne simply.

'With what?' said Hermione.

'Let's take a walk, shall we?' suggested Blaise. 'Follow us.' He and Daphne started toward the castle without looking back.

Harry exchanged glances with Hermione and Ginny, but they all stood, gathered their things, and started after Blaise and Daphne.

They wound up in the greenhouses.

'Safest place,' said Blaise. 'Nobody comes in here on weekends, and it's less suspicious than us inviting you to the Slytherin common room.'

'Cut to the chase,' said Harry, pulling off his outer robes. It was stifling in the greenhouses. 'How do you intend to help us, and with what?'

'We've been keeping an eye on Nott ever since just before Christmas,' said Blaise. 'Granger asked us about Malfoy, but it was Nott she should have been asking about instead.'

'What about Nott?' Harry pressed.

'He's up to something,' said Blaise.

'You don't say?' said Harry sarcastically.

'No offense, Blaise,' said Ginny, trying to sound diplomatic, 'but...we know and we have a pretty good idea of what he's up to.'

Blaise glanced at Daphne, and then at Ginny, and then Harry.

'Do you?' he said, sounding both impressed and grudging at the same time.

'Yeah,' said Harry.

'You know he's sending information to Vol-Voldemort,' said Daphne.

'Yep,' said Harry.

'And that Goyle's acting as a messenger as well?' said Blaise.

'Yeah, knew that, too,' said Harry.

Daphne and Blaise exchanged looks.

'Is that all?' said Harry. 'Because if you don't mind...'

'Did you know that Goyle's been sneaking out of the castle?' said Blaise, fixing his gaze on Harry.

This information was, indeed, news to them all.

'Bullshit,' said Harry.

'It's true,' said Daphne. 'Blaise and I were on prefect duty one night and we saw Goyle skulking about the corridors. We decided to follow him.'

'Goyle knows how to skulk?' said Ginny.

'The dumb-as-a-troll thing looks to be an act,' said Blaise. 'At least, that's what Daphne and I think. By the way Goyle was moving about, it looked like he'd done this several times before. Well, we thought Goyle was dumb as rocks, too. We figured he'd trip over his own feet or accidentally hex himself. But he was sneaking about like some Auror on a covert mission, very stealthy and all. That piqued our interest.'

'Where did Goyle go?' said Hermione, any trace of hostility now gone.

'We're not sure,' said Daphne. 'What I mean is, it's a part of a castle that looks like nobody really uses anymore.'

'It's up on the fourth floor, in the far west wing,' said Blaise. 'There aren't any offices or classrooms up there, so far as we can tell.'

Harry's eyes narrowed. Something about this sounded vaguely familiar.

'Go on,' he said.

'Well, we had a hell of a time following him, as you can imagine,' said Blaise. 'He kept quiet but he was really nervous, kept checking over his shoulder and all. When he finally stopped we didn't know what the hell he was doing.'

'Where'd he stop?' Harry asked.

Fourth floor...fourth floor...what's on the fourth floor?

'In front of this huge old mirror,' said Daphne.

Harry's stomach did a flip.

'A mirror?' he repeated.

Of course!

'Yeah,' said Blaise. 'Just when we started to wonder if Goyle was admiring his reflection, he taps the mirror and it moves aside, and next thing you know, he goes in behind it and the mirror swung back.'

'We figured it was a secret passage,' said Daphne. 'We waited for a few minutes but Goyle didn't come back out, so we went over to the mirror and moved it out of the way.'

'Lo and behold,' said Blaise.

'Wait,' said Harry, 'isn't that passage caved in?'

'You know about that passage?' said Blaise.

Harry flushed.

'Never mind,' he said. 'So...the passage was there and you went in?'

'There was a passage,' said Daphne, 'and it was definitely not caved in.'

'But we didn't follow Goyle,' said Blaise. 'We couldn't.'

'Why not?'

'The passage is sealed,' said Daphne. 'An optical illusion. You go in about six feet and hit some kind of magical barrier. Blaise and I tried to get it undone but we couldn't.'

'How long d'you reckon Goyle's been sneaking around?' Harry asked.

'Not sure,' said Blaise. 'We only found that passage about a month ago.'

'A month?' Harry hissed. 'You knew about this for a month and you didn't say anything?'

'We didn't think anything of it at the time,' said Daphne. 'Honest. We figured Goyle was just, I dunno, sneaking out for a lark or something.'

'You know he's one of them,' Harry retorted. 'What else would he be sneaking out of the castle for?'

'This is Goyle we're talking about, Potter,' said Blaise. 'I mean, come on. We admit, we thought it was a bit weird at the time, but we just figured, maybe Goyle had a girl in the village and he was sneaking out for a bit of how's your father.'

'Are you serious?' said Harry incredulously.

'Harry, you have to admit, when the choices are Goyle being a criminal mastermind and Goyle going off grounds to shag some tart in the Hog's Head, option two is a bit more realistic,' said Ginny.

Harry started to protest, but then he remembered that he, Ginny and Hermione had all dismissed out of hand Ron's suggestion that there might be more to Gregory Goyle, that he might be the third party. Blaise and Daphne's revelation just confirmed it. Ron was right about Goyle after all.

Harry looked at Ginny and Hermione, and they both gave him looks of understanding. Then he turned back to Blaise and Daphne, and took a deep breath, trying for a friendlier tone.

'So what did you two do next?'

'Well, we followed him a couple more times,' said Daphne. 'That first time, we dismissed it, but a few days later Blaise went into the boys' loo and heard Nott and Goyle whispering about something or other.'

'Did you hear what they said?' said Hermione eagerly.

'Not much,' said Blaise, shaking his head. 'Just a few words here and there. But they were speaking German.'

'German?' said Hermione.

'Yeah, that caught my attention,' said Blaise. 'My grandmother on my mother's side is German, so I know a bit of the language. But I only heard Goyle telling Nott to hurry up.'

'Hurry up with what?' said Harry.

'No idea,' said Blaise. 'I wasn't too keen on getting caught eavesdropping, so I left. But after that Daphne and I started to notice Nott and Goyle talking more frequently.'

'They'd get in a huddle sometimes and sort of hiss at each other,' said Daphne. 'Goyle always looked sort of nervous.'

'We figured if Goyle was getting shagged he wouldn't be so uptight,' said Blaise dryly. 'So we followed him again, last week, when we were on patrols.'

'He snuck out,' said Daphne. 'And we tried to follow him but we ran into the barrier in the passage again.'

'We decided to wait for Goyle to come back,' said Blaise. 'Two hours later he did, and he didn't look so good.'

'He was shaking a bit, and sweating,' said Daphne. 'He almost like he'd been cursed or something.'

'Last week?' said Harry. 'You said you followed him last week?'

'Yeah, why?'

Harry looked at Hermione and Ginny, both of whom had caught on.

It was the same week that Ron had found Nott and Goyle whispering in the alcove; it might have even been the very same night.

'What?' said Daphne.

'Nothing,' said Harry quickly. He wasn't ready to discuss with two Slytherins--even two who were trying to help them--his discussions with Hermione, Ginny and Ron.

'I just thought of something,' said Hermione. 'If you and Blaise can't get through that barrier, but Goyle can, that means either he set up the barrier himself, or someone else knew about that passage and did it for him.'

'Even if we accept that Goyle isn't a complete idiot,' said Blaise, 'I can't picture him setting up a bunch of wards that powerful.'

'Could Nott do it?' Ginny suggested.

'Possibly,' said Daphne. 'Probably. Nott's very smart.'

'Yeah,' said Blaise. 'He could have done it.'

For a moment, there was an uncomfortable silence, and then Blaise cleared his throat and spoke again.

'Anyway, we thought you should know,' he said. 'We just wanted to help.'

'Why?' said Harry. 'I mean, why now? You had to know that Nott was with them all along, didn't you?'

'Yeah, we figured,' said Blaise. 'But back then wasn't the time. Now's the time.'

Harry shook his head. Typical Slytherins. Even if their information was undoubtedly useful, it was clear they had decided to come forward only now because there was some perceived benefit in it for them.

'Why is now the time?' Ginny asked.

'We heard about what they did to your family,' said Daphne. 'It got us thinking.'

'About what?' said Harry.

'About our own families,' said Daphne. 'My brother died last year, fighting to protect me. And all year I've been running scared because I thought the rest of my family would get hurt.'

Daphne's eyes filmed with tears and she looked at Ginny. 'Then I heard about your brothers, and I knew I couldn't hide anymore. And Blaise...'

'They killed my sister,' said Blaise. 'She was pregnant at the time. Living in London with her Muggle husband. She worked at Gringott's when it was attacked last year.'

'Blaise and I thought...if we just stayed neutral we'd be safe,' said Daphne. 'And then they got Pansy and we knew it was a joke.'

'We would have come to you sooner but we didn't want to play our hand too early,' said Blaise. 'We couldn't afford to tip off Nott. If he'd seen us talking to you sooner, we might not have found out anything.'

Harry realized he was gawping at them both. He didn't want to believe them. His own prejudices against Slytherin House were slamming up against what they were telling him, not just with their words but with their eyes.

He believed them. And he knew why they had done things the way they had. He had to admit, he was rather impressed.

'We believe you,' said Ginny.

'We'll continue to keep an eye on Nott,' said Blaise. 'Better us than you, we have easier access.'

'Not quite,' said Harry, amazed at himself that he was even considering what he was going to do. 'Nott knows you're hostile to him now. He'll monitor himself a lot more closely around you.'

'You have a better idea?' said Blaise.

'Yeah, I do,' said Harry. 'Come by Gryffindor tomorrow and I'll show you what I'm talking about.'

'Harry...' Ginny whispered, and she grabbed his arm. He gave her a look. It was mad, he knew, but they had to know what it was Nott and Goyle were up to. They had to know what Voldemort was looking for, and Nott and Goyle seemed to be the keys to that mystery.

'And why would we go to Gryffindor tower?' Blaise asked.

'I'll call a prefect meeting,' said Hermione, and Harry knew she understood what he was referring to. 'That way you'll have an excuse to be there and you can linger a bit afterwards.'

Blaise and Daphne exchanged looks, and then nodded.

'Right, then,' said Blaise. 'We'd best be off, we can't afford to be seen getting too cozy with you.'

'Yeah,' Harry agreed.

'We'll see you, Harry,' said Daphne, and she gave him a kind of wistful smile as she saw Harry and Ginny hold hands. She then followed Blaise out of the greenhouses, leaving Harry, Ginny and Hermione in a moment of stunned silence.

'Wow,' said Ginny. 'Hell of a week, indeed.'

'Do you trust them?' said Hermione.

'I think we have to,' said Harry. 'They're the only ones who can get close enough to Nott and Goyle.'

'But Harry, your Invisibility Cloak?' said Hermione. 'Are you sure?'

'No,' said Harry. 'But it's too late to try Polyjuice.'

'Well,' said Hermione, 'just give it to me before you hand it over. I'll...doctor it up a bit.'

Harry and Ginny looked at each other in unspoken understanding. Harry had a feeling that if Blaise or Daphne abused the cloak, the suffering they'd endure would make Marietta Edgecombe's acne seem like a mild itch.

'Let's go, it's sweltering in here,' said Harry, and the three of them left the greenhouses. Harry realized it was dinner time, so the three of them started toward the Great Hall, but halfway there, they were intercepted by Professor McGonagall.

'I've been looking for you everywhere,' she said, looking harried. 'Come with me. Mr. Weasley's awake.'

Harry, Hermione and Ginny burst into the hospital wing, with McGonagall following behind them, a bit breathlessly; Madam Pomfrey seemed to materialize out of nowhere to stand firmly in front of them.

'You may see him,' she said, her voice stern but soft, 'but not before I tell you how he is, and lay down a few simple rules.'

'Yes, ma'am,' said Harry, as Hermione and Ginny both nodded.

'He's a bit weak,' said Madam Pomfrey, 'so don't go flinging yourself on him.' She arched her brows at Hermione, who blushed. 'He's fine. He's exhausted, of course, and a bit groggy from his medicines, but there was no mental damage. He'll need a full week of rest from his Seer activities, and he'll be here through the weekend but if all goes well he'll be back in lessons on Monday morning.'

'Do my parents know?'

'I've already told them,' said McGonagall. 'They'll come tomorrow. Poppy, if you don't need me...'

'No, Minerva, everything's fine, you go on,' said Madam Pomfrey. McGonagall swept out of the hospital wing, and Harry, resisting the urge to run around the corner where Ron's bed was.

Pomfrey fixed her eyes on Harry and the girls.

'You have fifteen minutes,' she said, in a tone that brooked no argument.

She let them pass; the three of them walked as quickly and as calmly as they could without actually running, and turned past a pulled bed curtain, to find Ron sitting up in bed, looking exhausted and weak. He also looked rather drunk, but Harry guessed this was due to the medication.

'Hey,' he said, grinning his familiar, lopsided grin.

'Hey,' said Harry, feeling a wave of relief so palpable it nearly knocked him over.

He's going to be okay.

'Hi, shish,' said Ron, his voice slurred.

'Hey, Ron,' said Ginny, her eyes filling.

'Ron,' Hermione whimpered, and she walked over to him, her whole body trembling as she restrained from throwing herself at him. Instead she sat down next to him on his bed. She hugged him tentatively, and then he hugged her back, his arms wrapping about her clumsily. They held each other for several seconds before she pulled back.

'Hi, love,' he said, smiling dreamily at her. 'You're a...shore for sight...eyes I mean...eyes for shore...never mind.'

The four of them laughed, and Harry and Ginny pulled up chairs on either side of Ron's bed.

'How are you feeling, mate?' said Harry.

'Okay,' said Ron, smiling in a rather silly sort of way. 'Madam Pomfrey, she gave me shomething...good.'

'You scared us, Ron,' said Ginny. 'You shouldn't have worked yourself so hard.'

Ron's face slackened and he turned serious, or at least as serious as he could be, given his intoxicated state.

'Had to, Gin,' he said, and then for a moment, his blue eyes cleared and he looked fearful. 'Are they okay?'

'They're going to be fine,' said Ginny, in a voice that told Harry and Hermione all they needed to know.

We can't tell him about what happened to George, not until he's fully recovered.

'You saved them, Ron,' said Hermione, taking his hand. 'You did it.'

'Go me,' said Ron, and he giggled. He actually giggled. Harry laughed again, and soon they were all laughing once more. It went on for a good minute, and then Ron stopped suddenly. He looked very, very tired.

'We should let you sleep,' said Harry.

'Sleepy,' said Ron.

'We'll be back tomorrow,' said Hermione, and she kissed Ron on the forehead; he closed his eyes and sighed, leaning into her lips.

'G'night, Ron,' she said, and Ginny and Harry got up and bade Ron good night as well. He slumped his tall form back onto his pillows, but he clung to Hermione's hand for a moment and brought it to his lips, brushing them across her knuckles. Hermione sniffed as he let go of her hand.

'G'night,' he mumbled, his eyes drooping. He looked frail and very young in that moment, despite his otherwise haggard appearance. Harry felt a lump in his throat to see traces of the eleven year old boy in the man who now looked up at them with sleepy blue eyes.

'Ron,' said Harry.

'Wha', Harry?' said Ron.

'Take better care of yourself,' said Harry, his voice breaking slightly. 'I mean it.'

Ron's eyes opened more fully, and for another brief moment, he looked almost lucid.

'I promise,' he said. He smiled at all of them, and closed his eyes. Hermione sniffed again and wiped her face, and for a moment they all watched Ron sleep, as if afraid to leave him. It wasn't until his breathing evened out and his face slacked entirely that they pulled away, Hermione placing another soft kiss on his forehead.

Harry pulled Hermione and Ginny to him as they walked slowly from Ron's bedside. They were nearly around the corner when they heard Ron make a noise.

They turned and saw that Ron had opened his drooping blue eyes.

'Ron, go to sleep,' Hermione whispered.

'Tell Fred and George,' Ron mumbled, his eyes already closing, his body and voice surrendering to sleep, '...sorry...forgot to get them...birthday present...'

His eyes slid shut a second time, and he slept. Harry, Hermione and Ginny went back to Ron's bedside and sat in their previously abandoned chairs.

Madam Pomfrey did not end up kicking them out of the hospital wing that night.

A/N: Thanks to Buckbeaky for continuing to beta, and to lina as well.