𝐀𝐈𝐒𝐋𝐈𝐍𝐆 harry potter.

𝟑.𝟏𝟖 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬

"Shocking business... shocking... miracle none of them died... never heard the like... by thunder, it was lucky you were there, Snape..."

"Thank you, Minister."

"Order of Merlin, Second Class, I'd say. First Class, if I can wangle it!"

"Thank you very much indeed, Minister."

"Nasty cut you've got there... Black's work, I suppose?"

"As a matter of fact, it was Potter, McGonagall, Weasley, and Granger, Minister..."

"No!"

"Black had bewitched them, I saw it immediately. They seemed to think there was a possibility he was innocent. They weren't responsible for their actions. On the other hand, their interference might have permitted Black to escape... They obviously thought they were going to catch Black single-handed. They've got away with a great deal before now... I'm afraid it's given them a rather high opinion of themselves... and of course Potter has always been allowed an extraordinary amount of license by the headmaster —"

"Ah, well, Snape... Harry Potter, you know... we've all got a bit of a blind spot where he's concerned."

"And yet — is it good for him to be given so much special treatment? Personally, I try and treat him like any other student. And any other student would be suspended — at the very least — for leading his friends into such danger"

"Well, well... we shall see, Snape, we shall see... The boy has undoubtedly been foolish..."

Harry lay listening with his eyes tight shut. 

"What amazes me most is the behavior of the Dementors... you've really no idea what made them retreat, Snape?"

"No, Minister... by the time I had come 'round they were heading back to their positions at the entrances..."

"Extraordinary. And yet Black, and Harry, and the girls —"

"All unconscious by the time I reached them. I bound and gagged Black, naturally, conjured stretchers, and brought them all straight back to the castle."

There was a pause. Harry's brain seemed to be moving a little faster, and as it did, a gnawing sensation grew in the pit of his stomach...

He opened his eyes.

Everything was slightly blurred. 

Harry moved his head over on the pillow. In the bed to his right lay Hermione. Y/n was asleep peacefully on the bed to Harry's left. Moonlight was falling across her bed and she seemed quite a contrast as the last time Harry saw her she was crying her eyes out. He turned back to Hermione. Her eyes were open too. She looked petrified, and when she saw that Harry was awake, pressed a finger to her lips, then pointed to the hospital wing door. It was ajar, and the voices of Cornelius Fudge and Snape were coming through it from the corridor outside.

Madam Pomfrey now came walking briskly up the dark ward to Harry's bed. He turned to took at her. She was carrying the largest block of chocolate he had ever seen in his life. It looked like a small boulder.

"Ah, you're awake!" she said briskly. She placed the chocolate on Harry's bedside table and began breaking it apart with a small hammer.

"How's Ron and what about Y/n?" said Harry and Hermione together.

"They'll live," said Madam Pomfrey grimly. "Weasley's leg needs healing and Y/n's shoulder needs a few bandages and such" she paused. "As for you two, you'll be staying here until I'm satisfied you're — Potter, what do you think you're doing?"