The others were elated when they heard the news, and Harry thought that even Malfoy looked a bit relieved. After breakfast, they tried to visit Luna, but were told that she hadn't woken up yet.
Harry was anxious all during class. He couldn't help worrying that Luna would wake up and accidentally say something about Dumbledore's Army or the Forbidden Forest or their fight with the centaurs. As soon as his last class for the day finished, he and the others practically sprinted to the medical wing.
Luna was awake and appeared to be in high spirits. She had a vanilla pudding cup in her hand and a stack of unopened ones on a tray beside her. "Hello everyone," she greeted them serenely. "It was nice of you to come and visit." If it weren't for the unusual paleness of her skin and the bandage around her head, Harry would have never known that she had been seriously injured the night before.
"I hear that I had a terrible fall last night," she continued, "though I don't remember any of it."
Harry and the others exchanged worried glances. Was it possible that she had actually lost her memory when she hit her head?
Luna looked thoughtful. "I don't remember falling, but I do have a strange memory of being attacked by centaurs…"
All of them froze in place.
"Nonsense, dear." Madam Pomfrey whisked by holding a tray filled with medicinal potions. "It was just a dream, I can assure you."
"I suppose so…," Luna said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. She lowered her voice as she continued. "But I would certainly like to hear the rest of the dream later on from you all."
Harry and the others gave a collective sigh of relief. She remembered.
"Luna…" Harry wondered what he should say to her. Although he didn't regret using her reputation to protect the group, he still felt guilty about it.
"Don't worry, Harry," she said in a conspiratorial whisper. "I haven't told anyone. I figured out almost immediately what your plan was—it was quite brilliant, really."
"You're not upset?" he asked with some surprise.
"Of course not," she smiled. "I would've told you to do the same thing if I hadn't been unconscious at the time."
At this, poor Neville stepped forward, looking as if he was about to cry. "Luna…" He wrung his hands together nervously. "I'm so sorry! It's all my fault…"
She touched his hand lightly. "Don't be silly, Neville. You've done nothing to apologize for."
"Of course, I have!" he burst out. Madam Pomfrey looked at them sharply, and he lowered his voice before continuing. "It's because of me that you got hurt. It's because of me that you're in here right now."
"It's true that my head aches a bit," she replied airily, "but I'd imagine that it's much better than being trampled by centaurs. I mean, it's true that I've never gotten the chance to be trampled by centaurs, so I guess that I can't be sure, but…in any case Neville, you saved my life. You don't need to be sorry about that, unless you really hate me, I suppose."
"I don't hate you at all!" he exclaimed. "I…I like you a lot!"
Harry saw Madam Pomfrey's head turn in their direction. She looked at them warningly, and he knew that they would be thrown out if they disturbed the other patients again.
"That's nice," Luna smiled at Neville, whose cheeks had turned bright red. "I happen to like you quite a bit, too. Now that that's settled," she glanced at her supply of pudding, "would you all like some?"
Three days passed, and Harry felt as if he was finally able to breathe easy again. Luna had been released from the medical ward the day before, and Malfoy had just returned from a weekend trip with his parents. Harry had put a temporary stop to their practices until he was sure it was safe, but now that some time had gone by, and all of their members were back, they were ready to start training again.
They agreed to meet after class in the west corridor, but when the promised hour came, they found none other than Dolores Umbridge waiting for them.
Harry could tell from her squinting eyes and her flared nostrils that she was furious. "All of you, come with me this instant!"
The entire group, with the exception of Malfoy, who hadn't shown up, obeyed without a word. Harry thought that the other boy had been acting a bit odd since he returned from his trip, and now he knew why. He had betrayed them.