Chapter 12: Hospital Wing and Poison

Neville was walking in from the greenhouses.

"Neville!"

He turned to see Harry.

"What's up, Harry?"

"Susan told me that, that Delaney's in the Hospital Wing."

"She is?" He asked worry obvious in his voice.

Harry nodded and said, "I know she's been avoiding you but I thought you would like to know anyway. I know you still care about her very much and besides you can't hide the fact that you fancy her from me."

Neville blushed as he ran off towards the Hospital Wing.

"Looking for Ms. Romero?"

Neville nodded his blush deepening as Madam Pomfrey pointed him over to her bed. He rushed over.

"Neville?" Delaney asked.

"Hey Laney."

"I didn't think you would be here," Delaney said weakly.

Neville looked at her and you could practically hear his heart shatter from a mile away and all his anger that was left fade away into nothingness.

She was quite pale and her usual sparkling hazel eyes seemed to be almost lifeless. Her eyes were his favorite physical feature of hers despite them being usually covered by glasses. It vaguely reminded him of what Ginny looked like when she was possessed by the diary.

Madame Pomfrey bustled over to the pair and asked. "Have you being eating and drinking normal things?"

Delaney nodded and said. "Yes, I have."

The matron frowned and said. "The pumpkin juice seemed to be laced with some sort of avoidance potion. One more dose you would've been poisoned."

"Poisoned?"

Madame Pomfrey nodded and said. "It's a very strong avoidance potion."

"I wonder who would do this," Neville said sitting down on her bed.

"Me too," Delaney sighed, leaning against her best friend.

Neville put his arm around her to comfort her. She melted into his hug. They haven't been this close for a while.

"Visiting hours are over, Mr. Longbottom," the matron told Neville a few hours later.

Neville sighed and said. "Okay, I'll be back tomorrow." he kissed Delaney's forehead.

He does this every once in a while so it wasn't weird for Delaney to feel his lips on her forehead.

"Bye, Nev."

Neville smiled and left the Hospital Wing. He was lost in his thoughts and worries about Delaney as he walked to the Gryffindor common room.

"Password?" The Fat Lady asked.

Neville suddenly forgot the password. He hasn't forgot the password since second year. The Fat Lady stared intently at him waiting for the password. He sat down outside the common room and waited for someone to along that actually remembered the password.

"Forgot the password, Neville?" Ginny asked.

He looked up at the ginger girl and said, "Yes, I did."

Ginny nodded, recited the password and the pair walked in.

"Thanks for that, Gin."

She smiled at him as he walked up to his dorm.

He threw himself dramatically on his four-poster bed once up in his dorm. Everyone looked to be asleep and he soon let sleep take over his body.

The next morning he woke up slightly disorientated. He had almost forgotten that he had came back late last night after staying in the Hospital Wing with Delaney.

"Top of the morning!" Seamus exclaimed, cheerily.

Neville groaned and pulled his pillow over his face.

"Somebody woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning and why are you still wearing yesterday's clothes?" Dean asked.

"That's none of your business!" Neville snapped, cantankerously.

Dean and Seamus looked taken aback at the outburst from their usual amiable dorm- mate and friend so they decided to leave him alone.

Neville felt a weight on his bed a few minutes later. He looked up to see Harry waiting to be acknowledged.

"I don't really want to talk about it, Harry," he sighed.

Harry shook his head and inquired. "It's Delaney, isn't it?"

"Yes, she was nearly poisoned. I stayed with her until Madame Pomfrey kicked me out last night. I'm just really worried," Neville admitted.

Harry looked shocked at the revelation.

"I was shocked too, Delaney is one of the nicest people I know I don't understand who would do this to her."

Harry smirked at him and said. "Not to mention you fancy her something fierce."

"And have since I was twelve."

Harry nodded. Neville got up and apologized to Seamus and Dean for his outburst. He took a shower and changed into different clothes.

"You coming to breakfast, Neville?" Harry asked.

He shook his head and said."Not just yet, I'll go see Delaney and then I'll be there."

He realized he had missed dinner last night and he was absolutely famished. Harry nodded.

Who do you think poisoned Delaney?