Through The Veil「 The Veil Trilogy Part Ⅱ 」✔

[26] Spooking Out The Ferret

When I gained consciousness, I was in the Hospital Wing.

No surprise, really. I think I have spent more time in the infirmary than in any other part of the school, all thanks to the fact that I keep ending up in trouble.

Apparently, Professor McGonagall had been furious that Umbridge took advantage of the fact that the Headmaster wasn't in school and used an Unforgiveable curse. I heard from the friends that they had gotten into quite an argument with McGonagall threatening to report Umbridge.

Good. But the bad thing is that even if she gets reported, she is still here on the Ministry's orders so it would be of no use.

I had made the twins leave so that they could attend their classes while Madam Pomfrey had refused to even let me take a step out of bed. She had been furious at Umbridge too and kept checking up on me to make sure no permanent damage had been done.

A while later, Professor McGonagall herself came to the Hospital Wing to see me. I straightened and sat up, propping the pillows behind me.

"How are you feeling now, Miss Weasley?" The professor asked, taking the seat beside my bed.

"I'm fine. Please ask Madam Pomfrey not to worry too much and let me return to the common room. My siblings will be worried."

"They have been notified that you are awake and will come to see you soon," as expected her tone was serious and her eyes were focused on me, "but before that I wish to have a word with you and I require you to listen attentively."

If Professor McGonagall wanted to speak to me then it was surely something very important. So I sat alert, listening to her attentively just as she had asked me to.

"You are aware that Dolores is from the Ministry and there is nothing we can do against her in the current circumstances," she spoke up in her serious no nonsense tone but it was very evident that she was just as annoyed by Umbridge as I was. "What happened today must never happen again."

"I'm sorry, Professor, I think I got carried away too." I apologized thinking that perhaps she would lecture me about it but surprisingly she didn't.

She resumed, her voice lowering even more in caution, "using Unforgivable curses within the school premises only shows how much power the Minister has vested in her. I'm not rebuking you for standing up for what is right, Miss Weasley, I am just asking you to be careful."

On the other hand, I felt slightly more confident in knowing that there was possibly no other means Umbridge would use that could rank above the Cruciatus curse. Our Minister might have a fudge cake for a brain but he was still not stupid enough to allow her to use the killing curse too.

What could possibly be worse than that? 

"Professor, I will be careful, I promise," I spoke up to reassure Professor McGonagall because I knew she was looking at me skeptically, as if judging what I could be thinking, "but I really want to go back to the common room."

"I will talk to Poppy and see to it that you are let off early," she nodded, standing up to leave, "but pay heed to my words, child, I do not want you to get hurt further."

"I know. Thank you."

She had left to talk to Madam Pomfrey so I expected I would be released from the infirmary soon. However, that soon was still a while away as Madam Pomfrey came and told me that I still had to wait there for an hour until she was sure that I was doing alright.

I mean to me it was just a Cruciatus curse that was no longer being casted but to her it was an Unforgivable that could have permanent damaging effects.

No one could possibly argue against her so I didn't either, waiting for that one hour to lapse.

I might have dozed off again until I heard the sound of footsteps and sat up, thinking it would be the twins or Ron coming there to check on me.

But much to my disappointment, it was Draco Malfoy instead.

Probably the last person I would expect to see here.

I don't know why but somehow whenever I had gotten hurt while at school, I coincidentally met Draco in the infirmary. It was to the point it didn't even feel like a coincidence anymore. Almost as if he intentionally came to the infirmary to check up on me each time I ended up there.

But why would he do that? It's not like we're best friends or anything.

I despise that spoiled little brat.

Okay maybe despise is a strong word but we certainly are not on that good terms with each other for him to come all the way to the infirmary.

"Hey," he spoke up awkwardly, standing beside the bed, "I hope you don't mind me coming here..."

Of course I mind.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, observing that he looked as if he had no answer for that.

"I... I'm sorry for what happened," he replied but it was clear that he was hesitant, "Professor Umbridge shouldn't have used an Unforgivable."

So he meant that otherwise her punishing me for speaking up was justified? Hell no.

"If you're here to pity talk then please leave," I replied a bit coldly, "also I have not forgotten about all your prefect duties that you've neglected due to your association with the Inquisitorial Squad so if you really don't have anything else to look after for Professor Umbridge then you better focus on the tasks assigned to you in the last perfect meeting."

He paused, still seeming like he wanted to say something. There were times when I felt perhaps I got a little too harsh on him but then he too gave me enough reasons to be annoyed by him.

Currently, the reason of annoyance was that silver Inquisitorial Squad badge on his robes that reminded me of Umbridge.

"I'll go to my tasks then," he spoke up and seeing my gaze lingering in disgust at the badge, he quickly unpinned it, putting it in his pocket.

"Oh and Mister Malfoy, next time Professor Umbridge decides to use an Unforgivable curse on a student, I trust you'll prioritize your duty as a prefect first and put a stop to it," I remarked, my eyes warningly piercing through his, "you may leave now."

He nodded, his usually pale features even greyer from either fear or nervousness. I don't know why but for some reason I had the upper hand on him to spook him out like that.

Plus I was still the Head Girl and he was a prefect I could order about rightfully. And by becoming part of the Inquisitorial Squad, he was neglecting his duties for which I had full right to reprimand him about.

"I understand," he nodded, stepping back, "take care of yourself."

I felt like I didn't quite catch his last sentence right but before I could ask, he left immediately.

Sometimes it felt as if Draco Malfoy was hiding a secret and it made me curious to know what that could be.

***