The next morning, the Great Hall was packed. Everywhere you looked, people were talking about last night's "accident."
Ron Weasley was sitting at the Gryffindor table, gnawing on a potato with the skin still on—when a slender figure rushed toward him at astonishing speed.
"How's Harry?" Ginny leaned close to her brother's ear and demanded loudly.
Ron nearly choked in fright. He coughed hard a few times, hurriedly set down the potato, and replied,
"Madam Pomfrey said he's doing better than expected—at least his life isn't in danger. She's planning to send Harry to St. Mungo's Hospital this morning for further treatment."
"This morning…" Ginny clenched her fists, muttering, "We still have a Potions class later… I wonder if after class I'll make it in time… to see Harry one last time…"
"He's out of danger. Sit down already," Ron said, giving her shoulder a solid pat.
"What spell did Malfoy use?" Ginny pressed, her expression tightening.
Ron immediately glanced at Hermione Granger across the table.
"Madam Pomfrey didn't let us stay long," Hermione said seriously. "But judging from his condition… it might have been the Cruciatus Curse, or possibly the Reductor Curse. Both are dark spells strictly banned by the Ministry of Magic. They're not necessarily fatal, though…"
"Then why did Harry end up like this?" Ginny demanded, glaring at Hermione, her voice low and tight.
"Because the spell hit him in the head," Hermione explained. "Honestly, I don't think Malfoy did it on purpose. When I saw him, he looked like he was about to break down. He probably didn't realize how severe the spell's effects would be… It might even have been his first time casting it."
"You're actually speaking up for Malfoy? Harry's the one who got hurt!" Ron said, clearly annoyed.
"I'm only stating the facts," Hermione said calmly.
"Maybe Malfoy's involved in some twisted scheme—something to do with the Death Eaters," Ron said bitterly. "Harry stumbled onto it, so he tried to silence him."
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron. Malfoy's just a student," Hermione shook her head. "That's way too far-fetched."
"Will he be expelled?" Ginny asked, her voice trembling. "He hurt Harry this badly…"
"I went to ask Professor McGonagall," Hermione said. "She was clearly unhappy about it, but she said it's not up to her. Whether Malfoy is expelled depends on Professor Snape—he's the Head of Slytherin."
"Then that's hopeless," Ron sighed. "Snape would never expel Malfoy. He probably won't give him any real punishment at all… And if Malfoy really is involved with the Death Eaters, what if Snape's in on it too?"
"Stop getting carried away, Ron," Hermione snapped. "We suspected Snape for more than half a year back in first year. In the end, it turned out the real culprit was Quirrell."
"Can you stop defending them?" Ginny shouted, furious.
Her outburst drew the attention of quite a few people nearby.
Realizing it, Ginny lowered her voice.
"Harry is our friend. Isn't he?"
Hermione paused. After a moment, she looked at Ginny and said quietly,
"I'm sorry…"
"It's fine." Ginny steadied herself and stood up.
"Wait—Ginny, you haven't eaten breakfast yet!" Ron called after her.
"I'm not hungry. I'm going to Potions."
Ginny Weasley quickly disappeared from their sight.
"Potions… we've got it this afternoon too," Ron sighed. "We haven't heard anything about a new teacher. Looks like Snape will be covering the class."
"I don't think so," Hermione said, shaking her head. "Didn't you see the notice this morning? Starting today, Potions classes for each year will be combined—students from all four houses together. Professor Snape has never done anything like that."
"Then who's the new Potions teacher?" Ron asked curiously.
Hermione's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly shook her head.
"I don't know."
...
Ginny walked briskly down the corridor, head lowered.
She took a tissue from her pocket and dabbed at the corners of her eyes from time to time.
Following the familiar route, she headed toward the dungeon classroom—once Snape's domain, and during the first half of the term under Professor Slughorn's charge.
When she pushed open the door, the crowd inside was far thicker than she'd expected. Only then did she remember that this term's Potions classes had been combined across all four houses.
"I wonder who the new Potions teacher will be…" Ginny murmured to herself.
She sat down beside a group of Gryffindor fifth-years.
"Hi, Ginny!" a short boy beside her greeted.
"Hi, Colin."
More and more fifth-years filed into the room. The dungeon classroom, never very spacious, was soon nearly packed.
"Ginny!"
A Ravenclaw girl dressed in an odd assortment of clothes walked over with a bright smile and sat down beside her, completely ignoring the fact that she was surrounded by Gryffindors.
"Good morning, Luna," Ginny said, managing a small smile.
"Have you been crying?" Luna blinked and asked softly.
"I…" Ginny faltered.
"Is it because of Harry?" Luna said quietly. "I'm sad too, to be honest. But I believe he'll recover."
"Thank you, Luna."
"See that girl over there? The Slytherin—Greengrass, I think that's her name?"
Luna pointed toward the front right.
"She was absent the entire term due to illness. Everyone worried something serious had happened to her. But now she's completely fine."
"I hate Slytherin," Ginny muttered resentfully, not even glancing in that direction.
"Not all Slytherins are bad…" Luna said slowly.
But when she caught Ginny's look, she wisely didn't continue.
Before long, more than forty students from all four houses had gathered.
They settled into their seats, eyes fixed curiously on the doorway, waiting for their new Potions teacher to appear.