Chapter eight- Things are not always what they seem

Harry opened his eyes and blinked. Hermione's anxious face was peering over him, her eyes very red.

"He is awake," Hermione said in a soft voice and Harry saw Luna, Neville and Ron standing beside him.

"Where am I?" Harry croaked. His head was aching badly, and he blinked again, seeing everyone clearly.

"You're in St. Mungo's," Luna said. "You arrived last night."

Harry sat on his bed slowly and groaned. "What happened?"

"Remarque fled," Neville said, a tone of disgust in his voice. "We have no trace of them. A witch that was in Knockturn Alley owled the Ministry and said that there were three bodies lying in a corner and asked if we wanted to do something with them."

"That if we didn't want to, she had twenty cats to feed," Luna added.

"What about Kat? And Malfoy?" Harry asked.

"Well, Kat's fine," Ron said. "She should be coming up to visit you in any minute, but Malfoy…"

"He is in mortal peril," Neville interrupted. "The Healers are giving him a lot of potions and everything but… He probably won't make it."

"It seems that after you went unconscious, he tried to fight them all," Luna said uneasily. "But there were too many."

"Kat won't say anything about it," Luna protested. "I wonder why."

"Because I have to tell my boss first, Luna." Kat was standing in the doorway, her arm heavily bandaged and a nasty scar across her cheek.

"We should better go," Ron mumbled. Everyone nodded and Hermione kissed Harry on the forehead.

"I'll see you later," she whispered so nobody but Harry could hear her.

The room emptied and Kat closed the door. She walked over to Harry's bed and conjured a chair out of thin air and sat down.

"That scar…" Harry started.

"It's cursed," Kat said dryly. "Nothing they could do about it."

They remained silent and Kat sighed loudly. "Malfoy was really brave, you know," Kat said. "After you fell, Remarque attacked me. I was lying in the floor, unable to move… My arm and face hurt so much… Malfoy was fighting the others and didn't notice that Remarque was about to finish me off. Suddenly, Malfoy ran over where I was lying, and stood in front of me. Remarque told him to move and he refused… All of them pointed their wands at Malfoy and…"

Kat started sobbing and Harry felt his stomach clench. "Those cowards…" he said angrily.

"He's going to die, Harry," Kat sobbed. "And he will die without ever knowing that I-"

"Hello there," a Healer said as he entered the room. "How are you feeling, Mr. Potter?"

"I'm fine," Harry said as he took the robe that was hanging next to his bed. "How's Malfoy?"

"He'll survive," the Healer said. "Another minute of delay and… Well, what it's important is that the three of you are alive."

"Can we go and see him?" Kat asked.

"Sure, but one at a time," the Healer agreed. "And Mr. Potter, stand up carefully. You might feel a bit dizzy at first."

Harry stood up slowly and felt his head throbbing. "Let's go."

Later

"I can't believe that Malfoy actually stood up for you," Hermione said as all of them stood outside of Malfoy's room, Kat pacing around nervously.

"You may come in," the Healer said as Malfoy's door opened. Kat looked at Harry, who nodded at her and Kat went in. The door closed and the Healer waved at them as he walked away.

"I'm going for some coffee," Ron yawned. "Let's go, Hermione." Hermione looked helplessly at Harry, and walked away with Ron.

Harry grimaced at Neville and Luna, who were sitting across the hallway, deep in talk. Harry was sitting very close to the door, and he noticed that he could hear everything that was going on inside. (A/N: I know that you must be thinking that Harry should mind his own business, but he just couldn't help it. Would you help it? And I know you want to know what will happen between Kat and Malfoy)

"You look terrible," Kat said.

"The same for you." Malfoy's voice was very weak, and Harry felt pity toward him.

"Er, well, I kind of wanted to tell you something," Kat said, and Harry noticed a note of nervousness in Kat's voice.

"What?"

"I…well…I…Um, I guess I wanted to…Er, thank you. Thanks for saving my life," Kat mumbled.

Harry heard Kat walking to the door and he saw the doorknob move. "Wait," Malfoy called. The doorknob stopped moving.

"I protected you, not because you are a colleague," Malfoy said weakly. "I protected you because..."

"You shouldn't be listening to other people's conversations," Luna said as she sat next to Harry.

"Where's Neville?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

"Oh, he went to get some coffee," Luna said, quite upset.

"What's wrong?" Harry asked.

"Well… the idiot asked me to be his girlfriend," Luna pouted. "Can you believe him?"

"I can't," Harry said sarcastically. "Come on, Luna, you fancy him!"

"It's not the fact that he asked," Luna protested. "It's just that it's not the time! I was worried sick about you, and we are in St. Mungo's!"

"And what did you tell him?" Harry smirked.

"That it wasn't the time," Luna said miserably and suddenly the door opened. Kat emerged from it, her face glowing.

"Your turn," she said absently. She sat next to Luna, her eyes glazed.

"What happened to you?" Luna asked. Kat seem to ignore her as she continued with her glazed look and Luna looked over at Harry, who stood up and shrugged.

He entered the room and saw Malfoy lying on the bed, his face paler than usual and his arms scarred.

"Hooray, it's Potty," Malfoy said in a cold tone. "Some leader, Potter. Cracking your head open at first opportunity."

"That's my area, Malfoy," Harry said sarcastically. "I crack my head open at the most convenient time. "

Malfoy sneered and stared at the ceiling. "When I get out of this bed the first thing I'm going to do is give you a good kick in the-"

"Thanks, Malfoy." The words had escaped Harry's mouth before he could help it. He had never thought that one day he would be thanking Malfoy.

"For what?" Malfoy frowned.

"For saving Kat's life," Harry said. "And for endangering yourself like that. I really appreciate it."

Malfoy shrugged and Harry walked to the door. "Could you send Pansy an owl?" Malfoy said after him. "Tell her that I must talk to her."

"Sure, anything for our number one hero," Harry mocked.

"Hurts to no longer be England's brave man, eh?" Malfoy smirked.

"Eat dung, Malfoy," Harry said before closing the door.

"Nice way to say goodbye to Malfoy," Ron said as Harry turned around.

Harry said nothing as he looked over at Hermione. She looked very tired and she was biting her nails nervously.

"Ron, can I have a word?" Harry asked. Ron nodded and he and Harry walked down the hallway.

"I know what you are going to ask," Ron said. "And the answer is no."

"When are you going to tell her?" Harry said angrily as they entered Harry's room. "You can't play with her like this."

"Watch me," Ron said coldly and Harry stared at him. Ron sighed and stared at the floor. "You have no right to judge me like that. After all, we all know that you cheated on Ginny."

"I didn't cheat on Ginny!" Harry said angrily.

"Oh, yeah? And what about Raven?" Ron blurted. "Cheating is natural these days! You only didn't cheat on Raven because she's dead!"

Harry went red and pointed his finger menacingly at Ron. "That was low, Ron," Harry snapped. "Keep Raven out of this. I didn't cheat on Ginny. I swear I didn't. But it doesn't matter, because I'll tell Hermione everything."

"Harry," Ron pleaded, his voice softening. "I don't want to lose her."

"That's your problem," Harry snarled. "I'm telling Hermione."

"Tell me what, Harry?" Hermione was standing in the doorway, glancing sideways at Ron. "What are you going to tell me?"

"Er…" Harry didn't know what to say.

"It's a surprise, honey," Ron said as he walked over to Hermione and put an arm around her shoulder. "But as usual, Harry wants to spoil the surprise. Right, Harry?"

Harry bit his lip, trying to keep himself from hitting Ron.

"Yeah, that's me," Harry said sourly. "The surprise spoiler."