Chapter 21:
When I woke up I saw George sitting by my bed, looking tired and worn out. "Hey." I said my voice scratchy. "Your up!" George said a smile coming on his lips. "Yeah thanks to you. You saved my life thank you." I said sincerely. "Oh it was nothing, I mean you'd do it for me." He said the last part not as sure as he was before though so I said, "Of course I would. George I don't hate you, quite the opposite really. I love you I do, but I love you so much that I couldn't ever hurt you, and if we ever-" "Arrington stop" he said cutting me off because I had started getting upset, "I don't care if-" "Arrington your up!" Harry said walking in with Ron and Hermione after him. I quickly wiped my face and said "Yeah." "Oh no did I interrupt?" Harry asked looking worried, we both just shook our head.
Madam Pomfrey than walked in and said "Oh good, your up. How are you feeling?" "Pretty good." I said. "Ok you are free to go now than." She said in reply after looking me up and down to check if I was lying. "Thank you." I said. I had actually been lying my ribs were still killing me, but I needed to get out of here, I was falling for George hard, and it was getting harder and harder to stop it. Madam Pomfrey left and when I got out of bed I couldn't hide the wince. "Arrington does it still hurt?" George asked worried. "No, no I'm fine." I gasped. He came over and helped me out of bed, and when I stood up I said, "See all better." They might have believed except every time I moved I kept wincing. "Maybe you should stay here." Hermione said softly to me. "No, I can't I need to get out of here fast please just help me get passed Madam Pomfrey." I whispered back to her. She nodded her head. "George could you just talk to Madam Pomfrey please?" Hermione asked. "Sure but-" "Just think of something." She said pushing him out. "You're telling me what happened got it?" I nodded.
We finally got out of the hospital, and Hermione led us to the bathroom. I looked at her strange but she answered, "While your telling us what happened I can start making the potion." I just shrugged and nodded. Harry who had been helping me walk led me over to a bench in the bathroom, next to where the old cauldron was sitting. I winced when I sat down but the minute I stopped moving I felt a lot better. At least it didn't hurt to talk anymore I thought, thinking about yesterday. "So?" Hermione prompted. I sighed and told them our conversation.
"Wait so I interrupted right when George was convincing you to get together with him?" Harry asked shocked. I nodded, "Thanks by the way." "Can't believe our luck." Ron said grimly, yet weirdly Hermione was just smiling. "Uh oh." was all I said looking at her. "What?" Ron asked looking at Hermione, "Oh nothing I just have an idea is all." She responded still smiling. "Whatever it is it won't work." I said but deep down I knew it might especially if they did it soon because I was already starting to break.
"Why did I see Colin in the hospital what happened to him?" I asked to move the conversation away from me. "He was petrified. Also remember Dobby from over the summer?" I nodded and responded, "It'd be hard to forget him." "True, but anyway he visited me last night in the hospital. He said the Chamber of Secrets had been opened 50 years ago." "What?" I said aghast. "Yeah, so Malfoy's dad opened it when he went here, and this year Malfoy has opened it." Ron said getting excited. "We don't know yet for sure. This will tell us for sure." Hermione said reminding us that we still don't know if it was Malfoy or not. "Oh yeah I almost forgot to tell you, it was Dobby who stopped the barrier and sent the bludgers after us to try and save our life to send us home." I looked at Harry in disbelief. "Well if Dobby doesn't stop trying to save you guys he's going to end up killing you." Ron said ominously.
When news spread around the school of Colin's state, panic started setting in. Unknown to the teachers an illegal trade was going on of talismans, amulets, and other items to keep a person safe or protected. All of it was fake of course but the poor younger years didn't know that, including many people in my year sadly to say. Neville had bought many items himself in fact, and wasn't listening to anyone telling him that he was safe since he was a pure blood. I was partly worried myself, not for myself but for all of the people that me and Hermione making the potion correctly depended on.
Finally it came time for the potions class where we needed to get the items. Hermione had decided she would be the one going into the closet to steal the ingredients since if Harry or Ron got caught they would probably be expelled. My job was to provide the distraction. I was excited because Snape, never got mad at me, so I just needed to provide a good distraction where it was obviously my fault and nobody else would get in trouble. We were making swelling solutions today, so I borrowed some of Fred, and George's fireworks. Although they were also half mine because I had help fixed them up.
In the class after my potion was finished, I put the firework in it, and it exploded. Hermione knowing it was going to go off had moved away from the station so she wouldn't get hit. I saw her slip off and Snape didn't notice since he was attending to all the Gryffindors who got hit. I got hit with the worst of it since it was in my potion, my entire body was basically swelling up and it was hard to move. Snape moved to me first and gave me the antidote, "Better?" He asked. I nodded and said "Thanks." He nodded and moved off distributing it to everyone else. Hermione's hand was swelling because she had some of her potion hidden with her and had put it on herself as part of the plan so he would think she was there the whole time. After giving it to everyone, Snape strode over to cauldron and picked up the firework.
"Who did this?" Snape asked coldly. The whole classroom had frozen and nobody was moving or breathing. "If I ever find out who did this I will make sure they are expelled understand? Class dismissed." Everyone quickly filed out of the classroom after that. "Did you get it?" I whispered to Hermione on our way out. She nodded and a smile broke out across my face, "Yes!" I said. We quickly went to the bathroom and Hermione put in all of the ingredients, and know it was a game of waiting for the potion to be ready. We quickly hurried out of the bathroom and to our next class.
One day when we were walking past the notice board we saw a sign up sheet for a dueling club. "Cool, we should all join it." Harry commented. Hermione nodded and said, "It might be a good idea." Remembering that tonight was the deadline I promised for myself for telling George how I felt, I shook my head and said, "I have other things to do." "What?" Harry and Ron protested. Hermione looking around hissed, "C'mon Arrington not tonight!" "No it's the deadline I'm doing it." I whispered back. Harry's and Ron's eyes lit up in understanding than. "Well good luck I guess." Ron muttered. "You'll be fine." Harry said. Hermione was kind of smiling and I just shook my head. Obviously she was hoping to speed up whatever thing she had planned for me.