In the corridor outside the Hospital Wing, Justin Finch-Fletchley's head was still smoking, a side effect of the potion according to Madam Pomfrey, who assured him it would clear up soon. But Justin hardly cared about the smoke; his attention was fixated on the people inside the Hospital Wing. He'd seen Professor McGonagall and Snape enter, then Professor McGonagall had hurried out. Justin desperately wanted to eavesdrop on their conversation, but Madam Pomfrey's watchful eye kept him rooted to the spot in the corridor, simply staring blankly.
Finally, the Hospital Wing door opened, and Dumbledore emerged first. Justin immediately perked his ears, straining to catch their words. Dumbledore's voice drifted out: "Poppy, I apologize for taking up your time... Severus, would you mind escorting Mr. Finch-Fletchley back to Hufflepuff... Harry, I'll take you back to Gryffindor."
Justin felt his world crumble. Could he really survive the journey back to the common room with Snape? he wondered.
"It's quite alright, Headmaster," Madam Pomfrey replied before heading back into the Hospital Wing.
Justin opened his mouth as if to say something, but no one present noticed him. In the end, he lowered his head and silently walked behind Snape. Why couldn't I be a Gryffindor instead of a Hufflepuff? Justin thought to himself, a hint of self-mockery.
Just as Snape and Justin were about to leave, Dumbledore suddenly called out to them. Justin's head shot up in excitement, but to his disappointment, Dumbledore was talking about something else entirely.
"Severus, I almost forgot to tell you, tomorrow evening you'll pick Harry up from the Gryffindor common room for his lessons, and then escort him back."
Snape's mouth twitched a few times, and he shot Harry a withering glare before turning to leave. Justin felt Snape's robes hit him hard, but he didn't dare complain, hurriedly following after him.
After watching the two depart, Dumbledore led Harry upstairs. Along the way, Harry tried to ask about the connection between Slytherin and the Basilisk, but Dumbledore reverted to his irritating, enigmatic self.
"Harry, as your teacher, I trust you can solve this problem yourself," Dumbledore said with a smile.
Harry could only close his mouth, walking glumly towards Gryffindor Tower.
The Fat Lady was dozing off, as usual.
"Lionheart."
Harry spoke the password, and the Fat Lady, still with her eyes closed, swung open the portrait hole leading to the common room.
"Good night, Professor Dumbledore."
"Good night, Harry. Remember to keep tonight's events a secret."
Harry nodded, then crawled through the portrait hole. Behind him, he heard the Fat Lady's panicked apologies. "I'm sorry, Headmaster, I didn't mean to doze off..."
Once Harry was out of sight, Dumbledore decided to visit Ravenclaw Tower again to speak with Helena.
Meanwhile, at the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room, Snape was telling Justin the same thing.
"Mr. Finch-Fletchley, unless your brain has been stuffed with chicken legs, you should know to keep tonight's events a secret, unless you fancy dealing with slug slime," Snape threatened.
Seeing Justin nod frantically in agreement, Snape finally departed, satisfied.
Harry entered the common room. Unsurprisingly, Hermione was still awake, or rather, most of the Gryffindors were still in the common room.
"Potter, do you know what's going on out there? Why were we suddenly herded back to the common room?" Percy called out.
"I'm not sure myself," Harry replied loudly.
"Harry, the Quidditch match is back on tomorrow! Gryffindor versus Slytherin!" Wood approached, looking serious. "I hope you can come over later; we need to discuss new tactics—" Wood hadn't even finished his sentence before George and Fred clapped their hands over his mouth. They definitely weren't keen on an all-night Quidditch strategy session with Wood.
Harry nodded at them, then walked over and plopped down next to Hermione, who handed him a glass of orange juice. Harry took a sip, leaning close to Hermione, and quietly recounted the events of the evening. Ginny, meanwhile, pretended to be casually looking away, secretly watching them from a distance.
"Harry, won't that be too dangerous?" Hermione asked worriedly after hearing Harry's story.
"At this point, we can only trust Dumbledore. Besides, more than a potential attacker, I'm worried about how Snape's going to torment me tomorrow," Harry said with a shrug.
Just then, Fred walked over and greeted them. Hermione had to push down her worry and quickly changed the subject. "I thought you'd be worried about tomorrow's Quidditch match."
"Why would you say that? Do you think I'll lose?" Harry asked curiously.
"Because the entire Slytherin team is equipped with Nimbus 2001s," Fred said gloomily.
"Malfoy paid for them?"
"Yep. Apparently, Draco Malfoy's quite good at flying, so Wood's in a right panic..."
Harry looked thoughtful after hearing this. He suddenly stood up and went back to his dormitory, opening his trunk and calling for Hedwig. Since the petrification attacks began in the castle, Harry hadn't taken Humphrey for a stroll in the Forbidden Forest. To give Humphrey company, and for his own convenience with mail-order, Harry had moved Hedwig from the Owlery to his trunk, even specially planting a pine tree inside for her to perch on.
Hedwig, hearing her master's call, yawned and slowly flew out of the trunk. Harry stroked the owl's fluffy feathers, then handed Hedwig the letter to order a Nimbus 2001. Watching Hedwig disappear into the night, Harry returned to the common room.
"You just mail-ordered a Nimbus 2001?" Hermione asked incredulously.
Seeing Harry nod nonchalantly, Hermione was about to remind him to be more frugal with his money, but then she thought better of it. This wasn't the time for spoilsport remarks, so she closed her mouth. Harry didn't notice Hermione's internal struggle, because Wood had approached again.
"Harry, I think I just heard you bought a Nimbus 2001?" Wood asked excitedly.
Harry was truly exasperated with this Quidditch fanatic. With so many people talking in the common room, Wood still managed to zero in on anything related to Quidditch.
Harry said helplessly, "That's right, I just mail-ordered it. It should arrive tomorrow morning."
"Fantastic! Tomorrow we'll definitely thrash Slytherin—" Seeing Wood launch into another unending speech, Harry quickly cut him off.
"Wood, I think what we need most right now is plenty of rest."
Wood stopped his speech, patted Harry's shoulder in agreement, then loudly urged the rest of the Quidditch team to get some rest. "Fred, George, go to sleep! And you too, Angelina..."
While Wood was busy bothering others, Harry took the opportunity to say to Hermione, "When the Nimbus 2001 arrives, you can have my old Nimbus 2000."
"Oh, that's too valuable, I can't accept it," Hermione said, shaking her head.
"Then how about I buy you a new flying broomstick?" Harry said, raising an eyebrow.
Hermione playfully smacked Harry, feigning anger.
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