It was actually a lot quicker to get Dumbledore back to Hogwarts then Ron thought. A lot less work, too. Harry and Ron were instructed to stay in Dumbledore's office until McGonagall returned with the Headmaster.
How is she getting Dumbledore?
I don't know, but I hope it won't be long.
About five minutes later the two most important Hogwarts instructors returned.
Wow, that was quick!
Yup. Yay! Let's go save Hermione's life!
You got it, genius!
Wow. I'm finally appreciated…
Okay, don't push your limits.
Dumbledore's face was concerned as they all walked briskly to the Hospital Wing. McGonagall and the Headmaster whispered in low, worried tones; the Transfiguration teacher was informing him of Harry's research. Dumbledore glanced over at Harry as Ron heard a soft, "bipatens limus...Harry said…"
Finally they arrived. Madam Pomfrey didn't notice the two professors at first, so she opened her mouth angrily to comment upon their sudden arrival. When she noticed Dumbledore, however, the expression suddenly became cheerful. She allowed them to pass and visit Hermione, however when Dumbledore and McGonagall weren't looking she glared at the two boys who promptly smirked and stuck their tongues out. Glaring and furious, she walked away to attend to the other patients.
Once again, Harry and Ron found themselves waiting idly for the Headmaster and Transfiguration teacher. The two adults were inspecting Hermione again, no doubt looking for signs of the Dark Magic and wondering how it could have been inflicted upon her. After half an hour had passed Ron coughed accidentally and Dumbledore, startled, looked up at them.
"Oh! Boys, you may leave. Return to your classes."
Ron and Harry exchanged disappointed glances.
"Um…it's the middle of the period, though…" Ron protested hopefully.
"You boys may then study...or do homework…"
The two exchanged exuberant glances; they skipped out of there as quickly as possible.
Wandering around aimlessly outside, they talked about homework, teachers, girls, Voldemort, Aurors, job careers, girls, Hermione, Harry's discovery of the book, and girls. It was pretty neat. Then they finally went inside, grabbed their brooms and a few tennis balls of Harry's (they were supposed to be really good Quidditch practice) and went into the sunlight.
They practiced for a while, just having fun and fooling around. Sure Ron almost fell off his broom at about 155 feet because Harry tried a new maneuver on him. (Clearly it worked well) And so what if Harry almost went out of control and smashed into the Whomping Willow? They had fun and that was what counted. It took their minds off of Hermione, bipatens limus, the Binns essay, and everything else. Ron was flying well because he wasn't under pressure, so that made it all the better competition-wise.
This was what friendship was. Just lazing around together, having fun, being careless, taking your mind off reality and enjoying the moment with the people who understand you best.
You SHOULD be doing the essay.
Shut up.
You SHOULD be working on the essay.
Which one?
The Binns one. The essay you did about half of.
Oh, shut up.
As the day grew darker they went inside. The air was chilly but they were perfectly content. Eating dinner with their indignant friends who were annoyed that they got to skip class, Ron and Harry went to sleep completely restful with no doubt in their minds whatsoever that Hermione would get better and everything would get better. Ron's only wish was that another day like this would come where it might be Hermione by his side instead of Harry.
(A/N: Okay, I KNOW it's short! Silence, complaining mortals! But I don't know another way to introduce the next happenings! Besides, what's wrong with short and sweet?)
