Not Again//Harry Potter [2]

23

Autumn could still barely walk. Her foot was majorly contorted. Luckily, Autumn wrapped a thin shirt around her ankle and used it as a makeshift cast. She knew if she went to the hospital wing, she wouldn't have time to help Ron and Harry. No offence to them, but they could barely get by with Hermione. And she didn't want to trouble Madam Pomfrey any more than she already was.

Madam Pomfrey said that the Mandrakes were almost ready to be cut, and that the petrified people would be okay in no time.

Lockhart led the group to their History of Magic class. "Mark my words," he said, ushering them around a corner. "The first words out of those poor Petrified people's mouths will be 'It was Hagrid.' Frankly, I'm astounded Professor McGonagall thinks all these security measures are necessary."

"I agree, sir," said Harry, making Ron drop his books in surprise.

Autumn almost choked on her spit.

"Thank you, Harry," said Lockhart graciously while they waited for a long line of Hufflepuffs to pass. "I mean, we teachers have quite enough to be getting on with, without walking students to classes and standing guard all night. . ." 

"That's right," said Ron, catching on. "Why don't you leave us here, sir, we've only got one more corridor to go."

"You know, Weasley, I think I will," said Lockhart. "I really should go and prepare my next class—" And he hurried off.

"Prepare his class," Ron sneered after him. "Gone to curl his hair, more like."

They let the rest of the Gryffindors draw ahead of them, then darted down a side passage and hurried off toward Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. But just as they were congratulating each other on their brilliant scheme when—

"Potter! Grey! Weasley! What are you doing?"

It was Professor McGonagall.

"We were -- we were—" Ron stammered. "We were going to -- to go and see—"

"Hermione," said Autumn quickly.

Ron and Professor McGonagall both looked at him.

"We haven't seen her for ages, Professor," Autumn dragged on. "and we thought we'd sneak into the hospital wing, you know, and tell her the Mandrakes are nearly ready and, er, not to worry—"

Professor McGonagall was still staring at him, and for a moment, Autumn thought she was going to explode, but when she spoke, it was in a strangely croaky voice. "Of course," she said. "Of course, I realize this has all been hardest on the friends of those who have been. . . I quite understand. Yes, Potter, Grey, Weasley, of course you may visit Miss Granger. I will inform Professor Binns where you've gone. Tell Madam Pomfrey I have given my permission."

The three walked away, hardly daring to believe that they'd avoided detention. As they turned the corner, they distinctly heard Professor McGonagall blow her nose.

"That," said Ron fervently, "was the best story you've ever come up with."

Autumn smiled.

They had no choice now but to go to the hospital wing and tell Madam Pomfrey that they had Professor McGonagall's permission to visit Hermione.

Madam Pomfrey let them in, but reluctantly.

"There's just no point talking to a Petrified person," she said.

"Wonder if she did see the attacker, though?" said Ron, looking sadly at Hermione's rigid face. "Because if he sneaked up on them all, no one'll ever know. . ."