Chapter 8: Draco's Return
"Mr. Weasley get up. Good heavens child get up!" Madame Pomfrey was shaking the heavily sleeping Ron. Ron opened his eyes and saw an impatient Madame Pomfrey.
"What's going on?" asked Ron sleepily, forgetting that he was getting out of the hospital wing.
"Get dressed, your checking out today." Replied Madame Pomfrey who was growing very impatient. Ron was extremely thrilled. He no longer had to be afraid for Hermione when she came to visit, which was everyday, he didn't have to eat the awful food anymore, and best of all, he didn't have to watch Hermione give Malfoy her usual dreamy-eyed stare.
Ron got dressed and rushed out of the hospital wing only looking back once to get one last look at Malfoy in his beauty mask, laughing as he rushed down the hall to the Gryffindor tower. To Ron's surprise, mainly because it was 7:30 in the morning, Harry and Hermione were in the common room waiting for him.
"Welcome back Ron!" exclaimed Hermione and Harry in unison.
"Bloody hell, what are you guys doing here? I thought for sure you'd be in bed or down at breakfast at the least." Said a very confused Ron.
"Well, we wanted to give you the homework you missed since you've been in the hospital wing and also let you study the notes in transfiguration and charms because we are having a test on Monday." Replied Hermione.
"What she said," Harry said with a grin. Typical Hermione, always wanting to study, but the good thing was, she seemed like she was over whatever spell it was that Malfoy put on the fifth year girls. Or so that's what Ron thought. The three of them did some homework for what seemed like to Harry and Ron for three or five hours but really was only an hour.
"Hey, can we go to breakfast now? Its 8:30 and I'm starving for some real food." Said Ron while his stomach growled of hunger.
As Ron said this people started coming down the steps and going out of the portrait hole to go to breakfast.
"Alright, alright Ron stop whimpering we will go to breakfast." Hermione said impatiently. The truth of the matter was she had two essays to do plus three different summaries to write for Defense Against the Dark Arts. Of course, she was still doing the Slytherins' homework, but Ron didn't know that.
The three of them packed up their book bags and headed down to breakfast. They plopped down next to Fred, George, and Ginny. Right away Ron started piling his plate with food. Hermione got her normal subscription of the Daily Prophet and buried her nose in it; barely eating.
"'Mione, is it just me or are Crabbe and Goyle watching you?" Ron said poking the paper to get Hermione's attention.
"Huh? Oh, no, I erm- don't think so." Hermione suddenly jumped up.
"I have to go get some other homework done so I'll see you in Herbology." With that said Hermione didn't wait for anyone to answer back she hurriedly walked out of the Great Hall. Crabbe and Goyle were not too far behind.
"Hermione sure is acting odd." Said Ron before gulping down his glass of orange juice.
" Well we're off to go and find, er-Lee, and um, go test some new skiving snack boxes on some second years." George said while grabbing Fred by the collar and whisking him off out of the Great Hall.
Ginny and Harry looked at each other and decided to tell Ron everything that had happened in the past few days that he had been in the hospital wing.
"Let me get this straight," Ron said slowly after Ginny and Harry finished their story. "Basically, that toad Umbridge has let the Inquisitorial Squad go crazy and the girls are getting jumpier?"
"Pretty much." Said Harry.
"Haven't you done anything? Haven't you tried to stop them!" asked Ron excitedly.
"What can we do? If we try the Inquisitorial Squad will just take points from our house." Said Ginny impatiently. Ginny, Ron and Harry got up and started to exit the Great Hall.
"Oh, right." Said Ron apologetically.
I should have clobbered Malfoy and his entourage when I had the chance. Thought Ron. He was feeling guilty that he couldn't do anything for the only girl he loved. Harry and Ron exited the Entrance Hall down to Herbology while Ginny went to potions. The rest of the day was pretty much dull for them. Hermione almost always either had her nose in a book, or was writing something on a piece of parchment.
TWO DAYS LATER…
Classes were going well for Harry, Ron and Hermione until before Defense Against The Dark Arts. There was a big bunch of Slytherins huddled around someone or something. They all looked really happy too. Hermione started panicking a bit but was also excited as well.
"Let's go see what all the excitement is about" Suggested Harry. The three of them pushed their way into the center of the circle and found themselves face to face with Malfoy.
"Well, well. If it isn't Potter, Weasley, and Granger." Said Malfoy coolly and eyeing Hermione particularly. Hermione looked a bit anxious but handed him a couple of sheets of parchment. Ron's ears reddened some at the sight of Malfoy.
"Mind your temper Weasly or I'll have to take a few points from Gryffindor." Malfoy said as he noticed Ron's ears.
The circling Slytherins slowly turned and went into the classroom. The only ones left in the hall were them.
"Ron don't do anything stupid. Let's just go to class." Hissed Hermione her voice slighty shaking . Ron nodded. Him and Harry, before following Hermione,glared at Malfoy. A look of triumph was forming on Malfoy's face.
Chapter 9 soon to come.