Not Again//Harry Potter [2]

19

Hermione stayed in the hospital wing for a few weeks. By the time break was over, a rumor of Hermione's disappearance grew. Mainly, people had thought that she had been attacked. People were so curious, that they'd visit the Hospital Wing. Luckily, Madam Pomfrey knew, and got curtains to cover Hermione's bed so no one would embarrass her.

Every night, the three would walk to the Hospital Wing and give Hermione her homework.

"If I'd sprouted whiskers, I'd take a break from work."

"Don't be silly, Ron, I've got to keep up," Hermione replied to Ron.

"I don't suppose you've got any new leads?" she added in a whisper, so that Madam Pomfrey couldn't hear her.

"Nothing," Autumn answered.

"I was so sure it was Malfoy," Ron said.

"What's that?" asked Harry.

He was pointing to something gold sticking out from under Hermione's pillow. Autumn hadn't noticed it until Harry pointed it out.

"Just a get well card." Hermione tried to poke it back under her pillow, but Ron grabbed it.

"To Miss Granger, wishing you a speedy recovery, from your concerned teacher, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and five time winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award."

Ron looked up at Hermione, disgusted. "You sleep with this under your pillow?"

"Let the girl do what she wants, Ronald." Autumn said to Ron handing the card back to Hermione. "Even if I don't understand it myself," she muttered.

The three left Hermione to do her work, also because Madam Pomfrey kicked them all out. But, the three were walking back to the common room, all talking about how bad Lockhart was at teaching, when they heard a noise from above.

"It must be Filch," Harry said.

"Let's go check it out," Autumn said as they ran upstairs as quietly as possible.

"Do you think someone else has been attacked?" Ron asked.

"I don't know, Ron. I don't know." Autumn said as they hid behind the nearest wall.

"—even more work for me! Mopping all night, like I haven't got enough to do! No, this is the final straw, I'm going to Dumbledore—" Filch exited quite loudly, slamming the door and leaving his post in front of Myrtle's bathroom.

"Let's go check on Myrtle. Maybe she knows what happened," Autumn suggested as they all her her wail about.

The three walked inside to see the grounds all covered in water.

"What's up, Myrtle?" said Harry.

"Who's that?" glugged Myrtle miserably. "Come to throw something else at me?"

"Why would someone throw something at you?" Autumn asked.

"Don't ask me. Here I am, minding my own business, and someone thinks it's funny to throw a book at me. . ."

"But it can't hurt you if someone throws something at you," said Harry, trying to reason with her. "I mean, it'd just go right through you, wouldn't it?"

Autumn glared at Harry.

"Let's all throw books at Myrtle, because she can't feel it! Ten points if you can get it through her stomach! Fifty points if it goes through her head! Well, ha, ha, ha! What a lovely game, I don't think!" Myrtle shrieked.