Bella turned back to Draco with a look of sheer panic on her face and Draco stood stock still staring after her as Emily hurried her down the corridor and out of sight. Bella's mind went to every horrible scenario that could have possibly happened to Ron. She was mentally kicking herself, if she had been there she could have protected her brother.
"There's no point in blaming yourself." Emily said. "He didn't mean to attack Ron. He was trying to go for Pettigrew?"
"Pettigrew?" Bella said, hurrying after her. "He's dead, isn't he."
"No. He's an animagus and became Scabbers." Emily said.
"I don't understand what's going on." Bella cried.
"I'll explain everything later, I promise." Emily said.
They ran as fast as their feet would carry them to the Hospital Wing. Professor Snape stood outside, conversing with Cornelius Fudge.
"And just where do you think you're going?" Snape drawled.
"Please, Professor -" Bella said, voice shaking. "My brother's in there."
There was a yell from inside the Hospital Wing and Bella pushed through the two adults and into the Hospital Wing. Harry and Hermione were both stading by their bedsides, looks of utter fury on their faces. Bella searched the rest of the beds and found Ron lying in the bed furthest away, his face peaceful, as if in a deep sleep. His leg was strapped up, held up gently by a soft sling, suspended in the air. She hurried over to him and began looking him over, ignoring the ensuing argument behind her.
"YOU'VE GOT THE WRONG MAN!" Harry yelled louder than she'd ever heard him yell and this startled Bella.
With her hand still holding Ron's tightly, she listened, hoping to find out what in Merlin's name had happened.
"Minister, listen, please." Hermione pleaded. "I saw him, too. It was Ron's rat, he's an Animagus, Pettigrew, I mean, and -"
"You see, Minister?" Snape said. "Confunded, both of them - Black's done a very good job on them."
"WE'RE NOT CONFUNDED!" Harry roared.
"Minister! Professor!" Madam Pomfrey said angrily. "I must insist that you leave. Potter is my patient, and he should not be distressed!"
"We seen him! We cannot all be lying!" Emily seethed.
"I am not distressed, I'm just trying to tell them what happened!" Harry said furiously. "If they'd just listen -"
Madam Pomfrey suddenly shoved a lump of chocolate into Harry's mouth and he choked, giving Madam Pomfrey the opportunity to force him back into bed.
"You're going to be okay, Ron." Bella whispered, brushing his fringe from his face.
"Now, please, Minister, these children need care. Please leave -"
The door opened again and Dumbledore strode into the Hospital Wing.
"Professor Dumbledore, Sirius Black -"
"For heaven's sake!" Madam Pomfrey said hysterically. "Is this a hospital wing or not? Headmaster, I must insist -"
"My apologies, Poppy, but I need a word with Mr Potter, Miss Granger and Miss Anderson." Dumbledore said calmly. "I have just been talking to Sirius Black -"
"I suppose he;s told tou the same fairy tale he's planted in Potter's mind?" Snape spat. "Something about a rat, and Pettigrew being alive -"
"That, indeed, is Black's story." Dumbledore said.
Bella could feel her hatred for Snape deepening the more he opened his smarmy mouth.
"And does my evidence count for nothing?" Snape snarled. "Peter Pettigrew was not in the Shrieking Shack, nor did I see any sign of him in the grounds."
"That was because you were knocked out, Porfessor!" Hermione said sincerly. "You didn't arrive in time to hear -"
"Miss Granger, HOLD YOUR TONGUE!"
Hermione shrank back from the venom in his tone and Bella made to stand but stopped abruptly when she felt Ron's fingers move underneath her own. She looked from their intertwined hands to his face, scrunched in a grimace, and pulled her hand from his, hurrying over to Madam Pomfrey.
"they need rest -" Madam Pomfrey said aghast, as Bella reached her.
"Madam Pomfrey." Bella said hurriedly. "It's Ron, I think he's waking up."
Madam Pomfrey took one look at her worried face and rushed over to Ron's bedside. Bella held back as she tended to her brother, fixing him and helping him to sit. When she stepped back, Bella took her seat on the bed beside him again. Professor Dumbledore was speaking quietly to Harry, Hermione and Emily. Madam Pomfrey had disappeared into her office per Dumbledore's request and Fudge and Snape had, too, disappeared.
"Is it true?" Bella said softly. "About Scabbers?"
"Being Peter Pettigrew?" Ron sighed. "Yeah, it's true."
Bella's eyes widened; "Peter Pettigrew has been living in our house for twelve years?"
"Seems like it." Ron said.
Dumbledore left the Hospital Wing and just as Bella went to speak to them, Harry, Emily and Hermione disappeared. Bella and Ron looked to each other in shock and Bella jumped when the door to the Hospital Wing opened again. Thw twins turned their heads and Bella gasped when she saw Harry, Emily and Hermione, panting, leaning against the wall.
"How did you do that?" Ron asked, confused. "You were there -" he pointed to where they had been standing before they disappeared. "and now you're there."
The three of them chuckled; "I don't know what you're talking about, Ron." Harry said.
The twins looked to each other and back to their laughing friends.
"Did I hear the Headmaster leaving? Am I allowed to look after my patients now?"
Madam Pomfrey was in a very bad mood. Harry, Hermione and Emily climbed back into bed and took her chocolate without complaint. She had yet to ask Bella to leave and Bella sat as still as she could, holding Ron in her arms, hoping the matron would forget about her.
Just as Madam Pomfrey offered Harry, Hermione and Emily their fourth piece of chocolate, there was a distant roar of fury echoing somewhere above the Hospital Wing.
"What was that?" Madam Pomfrey said, alarmed.
There were angry voices - growing louder by the second. Madam Pomfrey stared at the door.
"Really - they'll wake the entire castle! What do they think they're doing?"
"HE DIDN'T DISAPPARATE!" Bella heard Snape roar, clear as day. "YOU CAN'T APPARATE OR DISAPPARATE WITHIN THIS CASTLE! THIS - HAS - SOMETHING - TO - DO - WITH - POTTER!"
The doors of the hospital wing flew open. Dumbledore, Fudge and Snape strode into the hospital wing, again. Dumbledore had a calm demeanor but looked to be enjoying the spectacle Snape was making of himself. Fudge appeared angry but Snape was positively shaking with fury.
"OUT WITH IT, POTTER!" Snape bellowed. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"
"Professor Snape!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked. "Control yourself!"
"This door has been locked, Snape." Fudge said. "We just saw -"
"THEY HELPED HIM ESCAPE, I KNOW IT!" Snape yelled at the top of his lungs. His face contoreted in anger, spit flying from his mouth.
"Calm down, man!" Fudge howled. "You're talking nonsense!"
"YOU DON'T KNOW POTTER!" Snape shrieked. "HE DID IT, I KNOW HE DID IT -"
"That will do, Severus." Dumbledore said calmly. "Think about what you are saying. This door has been locked since I left the ward ten minutes ago. Madam Pomfrey, have these children left their beds?"
"Of course not!" Madam Pomfrey cried. "I've been with them ever since you left!"
"Well, there you have it, Severus." Dumbledore said. "Unless you are suggesting that Harry, Hermione and Emily are able to be in two places at once, I'm afraid I don't see any need in troubling them further."
Snape stood, panting, staring from Fudge to Dumbledore. When no one said a word Snape whirled, robes swishing behind him, and stormed from the word. Dumbledore apologised to Madam Pomfrey for the trouble and left he ward, accompanied by Fudge. Madam Pomfrey hurried to the door, locking it tightly. Muttering angrily to herself, she headed back to her office.
"Poor woman's forgot I'm here." Bella chuckled.
"Can you blame her?" Harry replied. "She's probably away to cry in her office after that."
"So, is anyone going to tell me what happened tonight?" Bella asked.
Harry, Hermione and Emily looked at each other.
"You explain." Harry said to Hermione, helping himself to come more chocolate.
