Poisoned Youth | ✓

45- Won-Won

I don't think I'd ever run as fast as I did that evening. Hermione, Ginny, and I made our way down the corridor and up the stairs as soon as Professor McGonagall told us Ron was in the Hospital Wing. We didn't wait for her, no hesitation. My vision blurred as we ran, I willed myself to not cry. Pushing the doors of the ward open, I saw Harry and Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, Slughorn, and Snape standing around a bed.

"Miss Weasley, Miss Granger, Miss Kemper, no running," Madam Pomfrey said sternly.

"S-Sorry Madam Pomfrey," I said and went over to Harry. "What happened?"

"He ate the chocolates Romilda Vane gave me and I had to get the antidote from Slughorn. After he took it, Slughorn wanted a birthday toast for Ron, but the mead was poisoned," Harry said.

Hermione paid no mind to Harry and ran over to Ron's bed, sitting down, and grabbed his hand. Ginny sat in the chair next to Hermione while I only looked over to Ron and frowned, but I felt slight happiness in my chest at the sight of their conjoined hands.

"Quick thinking on your part, Harry," Dumbledore said. "Using a Bezoar. You must be very proud of your student, eh, Horace?"

"Hm? Oh. Yes," Slughorn said distractedly, "very proud."

"I think we all agree that Mr.Potter's actions were heroic," McGonagall said grimly. "The question is: Why were they necessary?"

"Why indeed," Dumbledore said, grabbing the half-empty bottle from Slughorn's hands and smelled it. "This appears to be a gift, Horace. You don't by chance remember who gave you this bottle, do you — which by the way possesses remarkably subtle hints of liquorice and cherry when not polluted with poison."

"Actually," Slughorn sighed heavily, "I had intended to give it as a gift myself."

"To whom might I ask?"

"You, Headmaster."

My eyes widened and I looked up at Harry in surprise. But just then, the doors burst open to reveal Lavender Brown. Great.

"Where is he?" she shrieked. "Where's my Won-Won! Has he been asking for me —?"

Her shrieks stopped at the sight of Hermione holding Ron's hands. She flickered her gaze to me but decided to send daggers to Hermione instead.

"What's she doing here?" Lavender asked bitterly.

I stepped towards her, but Harry only grabbed my arm to restrain me.

"I might ask you the same thing," Hermione said, looking up from Ron to Lavender.

"I happen to be his girlfriend," scoffed Lavender.

"I happen to be his... friend," Hermione's voice was unsure, but she stood up to her full height in means of threatening Lavender.

"Don't make me laugh. You haven't spoken in weeks. I suppose you want to make up with him now that he's suddenly all interesting."

"Lavender," I growled and she only shot me a look.

"He's been poisoned, you daft bimbo!" Hermione seethed. "And for the record, I've always found him interesting."

At her little confession, Hermione frowned slightly as though she were a bit embarrassed. Ron snorted slightly and stirred. I gasped and pulled my arm out of Harry's grip and went over to Ron's side, next to Hermione. Lavender followed on the other side.

"Ha! See? He senses my presence. I'm here, Won-Won. I'm here—"

But Lavender was cut off my Ron's dreamlike mumbling: