Hermione's POV
The greatest enemy of knowledge is not ignorance, it is the illusion of knowledge. - Daniel J. Boorstin
"I don't remember anything," Ron stated, looking at me with a frown. "I.. don't know what happened." He shook his head, as though that might conjure up something to aid us in our query.
"How- since when?" Harry inquired, his tone grave and slightly panic-stricken.
Ron frowned again, staring at his hands in his lap, thinking, before he answered slowly, "Start of the term.. I think.. I'm really not sure.. I just remember sneaking into the potions lab one night to brew a sleeping potion and then.. someone hit me with the curse and everything blacked out."
"Is that all you remember?" Harry urged.
"That's all.." Ron shrugged.
My mind raced as everything he said sunk in, someone had used an Unforgivable curse on Ron. In the dead of the night, at that. But who? And why? Was it an outsider? Was it someone inside the school? If it were a student, were they still in school? Or if an outsider, then how did they break into the school premises? It was a heck load to take in.
"Ron.." I began, my brain working a mile a minute. "Do you remember the voice that uttered the curse?"
I didn't know why, but something just didn't feel right to me. It felt like I was missing a major point here. Then again, how coincidental it was that Ron got cursed, and then Pansy dies as well, that too in the premises of Hogwarts.. I just felt like the two were somehow related..
While Ron tried to remember the person's voice, I went over the past few months in my head. Was there anything suspicious I knew of? Yes. There was. Several things in the past month alone had baffled me. My eyes widened as I remembered Pansy's murder.. Someone had broken in that night too. Was it possible they were the same person? I remembered how quickly that person had uttered the killing curse.. as if they had been doing it all their lives.. and the fact that they knew Pansy was there..
"I can't say for sure... It was too dark and everything happened so fast.. I don't think it was anyone that I could recognise. " he groaned, rubbing his temples.
"It's okay mate, don't stress too much. The healer said you can't over work yourself.. 'mione.." Harry turned to me. I gazed into his eyes, frustration seeping into my bones yet again. There were so many things happening, with no certain explanations.. and it was beginning to drive me up the wall. At last, I nodded with a deep sigh.
"Alright then, we better make a move on, Ginny will be waiting. We'll come again, you take care mate."
"Are you guys leaving me here all alone, again?" Ron pouted, which made me laugh.
"You need to rest Ronald," I smiled, shaking my head at his childish antics. "Besides, I have to meet up with Draco and look over some stuff. But I'll come again tomorrow, we both will, yeah Harry?"
I looked over at Harry who was gaping at me like I had just uttered Chinese out of the blue.
"Draco? As in Draco Malfoy right?" Ron inquired,
I rolled my eyes, "Do we know any other Draco than him?"
"B-but- but you called him Draco." He deadpanned.
"Umm.. because that's his name?" I wasn't really getting his bewilderment.
"Since when have you been on first name basis with that ferret, eh? Mione?" He grumbled, staring at me questioningly. His ears were slowly turning red.
"Since we were forced to work together in close proximity every day, Ronald. And to tell you the truth, it's not as bad as it seems. Draco has grown up quite some from the little snarky child he was."
"Did you just hear that Harry? It's straight up bullshit.. heck, I think I'm going back into a coma.."
"Oh grow up now, Ron, will you?" I sighed, rolling my eyes at him. He just shook his head in bewilderment but thankfully decided to let go of the topic.. for now.
"Alright then, we best be off now. See you later Ron, take care." I said, before making my way to the door.
"Whatever, off you go then.." he flopped down again and covered his head with the sheet, waving at us to shoo. I rolled my eyes at Harry who just shook his head. In that moment, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Despite everything, Ron was alright, he was safe, and that was enough for me.
****
"Mione.. wait!" Harry called out. I stopped in my way across the hospital corridor and turned around to face him.
"Yes?" He flinched at my serious tone. Well, serves him right.
"I-I, um.. actually-"
"If you want to argue over Ginny again, I'm sorry Harry, but neither do I have the energy nor will. I understand your predicament, and so I'm saying, just let it be."
"Don't say that.. please Hermione.. you know her.. she's got a temper, but trust me.. she didn't mean anything she said that night." He fumbled with his explanation, which made my heart ache for my best friend. I could tell this was pure torture for him. But there was nothing I could do for him either. This was something between me and Ginny, and I didn't want him to play advocate for either of us.
"You and I both know she meant every word she said that night. I don't know where she got such ridiculous ideas about us, but I've been tolerating her cryptic remarks and looks for a long time now.. and honestly? I'm tired. I don't want to create anymore misunderstandings.."
Harry stared at me as if I had grown another head. He shook his head at me before stalking over and taking me by the shoulders.
"Are you bloody out of your mind? You really think I would ignore you because of Ginny? She's my girlfriend, yes. But you- you're like a sister to me. And it's been hell of week, not having Ron by my side, and then being forced to ignore you as well. And well, I can't do it anymore. I've been trying so hard to get Ginny to understand that we're just friends.. and you know what? She knows it too, deep down in her heart.. she knows she's wrong, but she won't stop being ridiculous right now. Cause that would mean admitting defeat... and you know the damn Weasley pride she has."
"So? What do you want me to do then? Apologise instead? Harry.. I have feelings too.. I have been hurt by her accusations too. If it wasn't for Draco-"
"Malfoy? What does he have to do with anything?" Harry frowned at me. For a moment, my mind drifted to the peaceful and gentle aura that was always present whenever I was around Draco. Truth be told, I felt more at ease with him than I did with my best friend at the moment. And that alone, was enough to reinforce my resolve.
"It was Draco, who stopped Ginny, and defended me. While you just stood there and let your girlfriend spit lies left and right. I don't know Harry, but the more I think about it, it hurts." My gaze dropped to the floor as I tried not to look Harry in the eyes. I could tell my words were hurting him, but I needed him to realise just how betrayed and insulted I felt as well. And maybe, if he could keep his distance for a while and focus on his relationship with Ginny, she would come to her senses as well.
"You know I can't stand you being upset with me 'mione. I know I pulled a dick move, not stopping Ginny when I could have, but I was too caught up in things that it just took me off guard."
I sighed. "It's alright Harry, there's no point arguing over the past now."
"No Hermione, for real. I'm not sure if you'll even believe me... but.. something happened that night that really took me by surprise. I was going to tell you this sooner, but then, you know.." he said, glancing around the empty corridor before leaning a little closer to whisper.
"I- I saw someone show up.. on the Marauder's map.. someone, who I thought had died in the war. At first I thought the map was making a mistake, but then I remembered Pettigrew and it just kind of clicked. So I followed this person around but there was no one. They'd put a strong disillusionment charm on them, and no matter what spell I tried, it just flew right past them." He explained, his expressions darkening.
I frowned, listening to him attentively, "But who did you see on the map?" I asked.
He paused for a moment, before mumbling out a name that had me frozen in my place. "Prescott Parkinson."
My eyes widened as I looked at him, my heart speeding up all of a sudden.
"What?"
"I know right? The name just randomly showed up.. I don't understand what's going on.. but something is off. I just have this feeling."
At that moment, a thought occurred to me. Taking Harry's hand, I began running, dragging him along with me.
"Hey, wait- Hermione.." he tried to stop, but I tugged at his hand stubbornly, not halting my steps. We raced all the way to the Janus Thickey ward, only stopping outside door.
"What's going-" Harry panted, clutching his side, his glasses askew as he tried to catch his breathe next to me.
"There's.. uhh.. something.. I-I need to check," I stammered, through my heavy breathing. I could feel my legs burning in protest for running so much. Harry calmed down a little and stood up, frowning.
"Here?" He asked. I nodded, huffing.
I walked to the door and twisted the knob. Harry followed behind, trying to figure out what I was doing, as I could tell, by the brooding look on his face. As we stepped in, Lockhart was the first one to notice us.
"Visitors!" He exclaimed, jumping up in his seat, startling the healer tending to the patient lying next to him.
"Mr. Lockhart, how many times do I have to tell you not to--" she turned around, and halted in the middle of her rant, as her eyes landed on us.
"Can I help you Miss?" She started after a moment, as Lockhart began to get out of bed. She turned to pin him with a stern look, at which, he whimpered, and flopped down- hard, back onto his bed and began mumbling grumpily.
I walked over to her, trying to discreetly look around the ward. She noticed my fidgeting hands and cast her gaze around the ward once.
"Are you looking for someone, dear?"
"What- oh yes. I-we.."
"We're here to see Professor Lockhart." Harry jumped in. The healer looked surprised at first, but then, looked over at Lockhart who had by now, procured his fresh stack of fan mail and was busy scribbling messily on it, and said,
"Mr. Lockhart, look whose here to see you?" But Lockhart childishly ignored her, huffing loudly. I felt rather than heard Harry snort quietly next to me, and I nudged him slightly in the ribs.
"Well, look at that.. he's become so moody now that his mental age has slightly improved."
I pinched Harry's arm slightly from behind me, making him jump somewhat. As he looked over at me, I nodded for him to keep the healer engaged. Having caught on, he dragged her over to Lockhart casually, and began talking. I waited for a few minutes until the both of them were engrossed completely into their conversation before slowly tiptoeing towards the last bed, which had curtains drawn around it.
Looking back at the still talking healer, I slightly pushed the curtains aside and peeked in.
A small gasp escaped my lips. Prescott Parkinson's bed was empty.