Deductions

Lavender had accepted Hermione's story quite quickly. She'd already heard some of the stories of the other girls giggling about trying to slip Harry something, and the idea that Ron was suddenly head over heels for another girl and prepared to proclaim his undying love despite having only met her twice seemed quite far-fetched.

Especially as it had taken him this long to even tell her that he liked her.

'Thanks Hermione. I appreciate you and Y/N looking out for him. And Harry, obviously.'

'Of course, Lav,' said Hermione, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. 'Y/N always does what he can for others. And I was hardly just going to leave you like that. He'll be back to normal shortly and will repeat my story, don't worry.'

Unfortunately, however, Ron didn't seem particularly keen to prove her story anytime soon. On and on the minutes stretched, with no word as to where he was. Or in fact, where any of them were.

Then, a feeling like ice, filled her stomach. A feeling so cold, so consuming that she placed a hand there instinctively, something was wrong. VERY wrong.

'Hermione? Are you okay?'

She heard Lavender's voice, but it was as though it was miles away.

But she couldn't shake this feeling, and at the centre of it all, she knew. It was him.

'Ginny!' she called over to the corner where she was sitting with Dean. 'Come on!'

Whether it was the look on her face or the tone in which she said it, Ginny did not question. She was on her feet at once, springing past Dean without even a goodbye and following Hermione out of the Common Room.

Lavender hurried after them.

'What's up?' asked Ginny, as the two drew alongside each other, hurrying down the staircase.

'I don't know, but something's wrong,' said Hermione. 'It's something with Y/N. It's just... I can feel it.'

'What the bloody hell has he gotten himself into this time?'

They descended into the Entrance Hall and were about to cross into the corridor to the dungeons, but just as they got there, Ron and Harry stepped out. Both were white as a sheet.

'Where's Y/N?' said Hermione at once.

Ron did not answer, stepping past her and pulling Lavender into a hug. Hermione could hear him muttering an apology to her, but she did not care. Her eyes locked onto Harry now instead.

'He... I... we saw Slughorn... and then he made the antidote for Ron. Ron got all upset and Slughorn said he needed a pick me-up. He opened an old bottle of mead, poured us all a glass. Y/N drank first... it was poisoned.'

Hermione's stomach dropped. She felt like she was going to be sick. She staggered backwards, hands leaping to her mouth.

'He's alive!' said Harry quickly. 'I gave him a Bezoar and he's alive, he's with Madam Pomfrey-'

He had barely finished this sentence before Hermione crossed the Entrance Hall, ripped open the door and sprinted up the corridor towards the Hospital Wing. She crashed through the door without even knocking and hurried over to where Madam Pomfrey stood next to a bedside.

'I'm surprised it took you this long,' said the Matron. 'Just you though, the others shall have to wait.'

Hermione nodded and slipped into the chair alongside the bed, staring up at his face.

Y/N always looked so peaceful when he lay here, but every time there was always that twinge to it. He'd ended up in here at least once a year so far for one injury or another. When would it stop?

Though admittedly, this time it was hardly his fault.

'Harry said it was a poison?'

'Mmmm, and a fast-acting one at that. He was lucky-'

But they were interrupted as the door opened again. This time, Professor McGonagall came sweeping up the ward towards them, nodding to Hermione.

'His other friends are outside, Poppy.'

'And I am already stretching the rules by allowing Miss Granger to stay,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'I have just learned it is better not to separate them. The others can wait.'

'What happened?' asked Minerva, now turning her eyes onto Y/N, her gaze softening.

'Poison,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'In a glass of mead that Horace owned. Y/N was the first to drink, it's both lucky and unlucky that it had acted so quickly. If it had have been any slower, we may not have been able to stop it. All four of them would have drank.'

'Four?'

'I believe he was there with Mr Potter, Mr Weasley and Professor Slughorn,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'Something about a love potion? Horace's explanation was very garbled.'

'Some girls tried to slip them to Harry for Slughorn's Christmas party,' said Hermione. 'Ron accidentally ate them today, it's his birthday and thought they were a present. Y/N and Harry took him to Professor Slughorn to get the cure and Professor Slughorn offered them a pick me-up, and... well.'

She felt her throat catch. No matter how peaceful he looked, the deeper meaning behind why he was even here hung low over her. He'd lost much of the colour in his face, and his breathing was slow and ragged.

'You can take pride in one thing,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'He's gone through worse now. The bezoar that Mr Potter gave him has done most of my job for me. He just needs rest, though that will not stop me from checking him over. Once I am happy there are no lingering effects, I shall allow his other friends to visit.'

'How likely are other lingering effects?' asked Minerva, sounding worried.

'Unlikely, but possible,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'At this point, it would be safe to say his run-in with the Troll was worse. However, that does not mean it is to be taken lightly. I should get started.'

'Yes... yes I have a few other matters to take care of. Keep me appraised of his health won't you?' Minerva asked Hermione, who nodded. 'I do, of course, excuse you from lessons for the next few days, but that cannot be a permanent standing.'

'Of course Professor, thank you.'

'I shall tell the others to wait patiently,' said Minerva. 'Look after him, Poppy.'

Madam Pomfrey nodded and then began busying herself with tending to Y/N. Hermione simply sat there, letting thoughts chase each other around in her mind.

Gone were the years or months of worrying about him, there wasn't much point anymore. He was going to get himself into trouble and going to cause havoc, that was just a given. And as long as he kept coming back from it, she couldn't really complain.

But no amount of training or practice would stop him from getting poisoned. The perk of his sense is that he was immune to most cursed items, such as the necklace that Katie had touched. It'd never crossed any of their minds that he could be poisoned.

But it also made no sense. If Slughorn had that bottle, what were the chances he'd give it to Y/N? Slughorn doted over Y/N. And besides, he'd risk poisoning Harry and Ron in the same room as well, potentially even himself, it was a big risk to attempt right in the middle of Hogwarts. Especially after showing no interest in Ron and having Harry and Y/N alone many times before.

This was an outside attack, aimed at someone, probably Slughorn. It didn't make sense to be targeted at Y/N, especially not now. He'd practically severed ties with Dumbledore. Though, she supposed the Death Eaters weren't aware of that.

Her mind whirred with ideas on and on as the day progressed. Eventually, she pulled out some of her textbooks and began trying to work, but she couldn't focus. Her eyes constantly being drawn back to his unconscious form.

Then, finally, at 8 o clock. Madam Pomfrey wandered over to the Hospital Wing doors and opened them, allowing the others to filter inside.

Ginny, Harry and Ron all walked over, taking seats around the bed.

'How is he?' asked Ginny.

'As fine as he can be,' said Madam Pomfrey. 'He needs rest, the rest of the things I need to check for won't have appeared yet. I'll need to keep him for at least a week, and he'll need to keep taking essence of Rue. You are okay to stay, but DO NOT disturb him.'

The four of them nodded and Madam Pomfrey swept off.

They all sat there in silence for a few moments before Ginny opened her mouth to speak. They were interrupted however, as the Hospital Wing doors opened and Fred and George entered, moving up the ward towards them.

'McGonagall just told us,' said Fred, as the twins drew in line with them and glanced over at Y/N.

'Feels a bit rubbish to give you this now,' said George, holding out a wrapped package for Ron.

Ron took it with a small smile but simply rested on it, still staring at Y/N.

'Yeah, when we pictured the scene, you were all there and conscious,' said Fred.

'There we were in Hogsmeade, waiting to surprise you-' said George.

'You were in Hogsmeade?' asked Ginny, looking up.

'We were thinking of buying Zonko's,' said Fred gloomily. 'A Hogsmeade branch, you know, but a fat lot of good it'll do us if you lot aren't allowed out at weekends to buy our stuff anymore. But never mind that now.'

The two of them drew up chairs and sat down.

'How exactly did it happen, Harry?'

Harry recounted the story. From Ron eating the love potioned Cauldron Cakes, attempting to attack Y/N when he felt he'd been belittled. The trip down to Slughorn's office, the antidote, the bottle, the toast, and the bezoar.

'...and then I got the bezoar down his throat and his breathing eased up a bit, Slughorn ran for help and Madam Pomfrey turned up, and they brought Y/N up here. They reckon he'll be all right. Madam Pomfrey says he'll have to stay here a week or so, keep taking essence of Rue.'

'Blimey, it was lucky you thought of a bezoar,' said George in a low voice.

'Lucky there was one in the room,' said Harry, and Hermione felt a chill course through her bones, not unlike the one from earlier, thinking about what would have happened if the Bezoar wasn't there.

'It's weird to see isn't it?' asked Fred. 'I mean... he's always so tough. I've seen him in here but not like this...'

'Who else knows?' asked George.

'Dumbledore does,' said Ginny, 'and I think he said he'd tell the other Order Members as well, Remus and so on, they have a right to know.'

'What about mum and dad? Mum would throw a fit if she knew,' said Fred.

'I imagine they were included, but we've not heard anything on it,' said Ginny.

There was a small pause. Hermione reached out and wrapped both her hands around Y/N's. She'd been desperate for the company the entire time she'd been alone, not wanting her brain to run rampant on her. But now that they were here, she felt mildly annoyed. But she knew it was just stress related.

'So the poison was in the drink?' said Fred quietly.

'Yes,' said Harry at once; seemingly keen for the opportunity to start discussing it again. 'Slughorn poured it out-'

'Would he have been able to slip something into Y/N's glass without you seeing?'

'Probably,' said Harry, 'but why would Slughorn want to poison Y/N?'

'I mean, he is one of the biggest threats to You-Know-Who at the moment,' said Fred. 'Or, you don't think he could have mixed up the glasses by mistake? Meaning to get you?'

'Why would Slughorn want to poison Harry?' asked Ginny.

'Same reason,' said Fred, 'there must be loads of people who'd like to poison Harry or Y/N, mustn't there? "The Chosen One" and "Rising Phoenix" and all that?'

'So you think Slughorn's a Death Eater?' said Ginny.

'Anything's possible,' said Fred darkly.

'He could be under the Imperius Curse,' said George.

'Y/N can sense that!' said Ginny. 'The poison could have been in the bottle; in which case it was probably meant for Slughorn himself.'

'Who'd want to kill Slughorn?'

'Dumbledore reckons Voldemort wanted Slughorn on his side,' said Harry. 'Slughorn was in hiding for a year before he came to Hogwarts. And maybe Voldemort wants him out of the way, maybe he thinks he could be valuable to Dumbledore.'

'But you said Slughorn had been planning to give that bottle to Dumbledore for Christmas,' Ginny reminded him. 'So the poisoner could just as easily have been after Dumbledore.'

'Then the poisoner didn't know Slughorn very well,' said Hermione, speaking for the first time since the others had arrived and sounding as though she had a bad head cold. 'Anyone who knew Slughorn would have known there was a good chance he'd keep something that tasty for himself.'

'Er-my-nee,' croaked Y/N unexpectedly from between them.

She felt her heart pang as she stood up, running her free hand gently along his cheek and squeezing the one she was holding with her other.

'It's me love... I'm right here.'

The dormitory doors flew open, making them all jump: Hagrid came striding toward them, his hair rain-flecked, his bearskin coat flapping behind him, a crossbow in his hand, leaving a trail of muddy dolphin-sized footprints all over the floor.

'Bin in the forest all day!' he panted. 'Aragog's worse, I bin readin' to him, didn' get up ter dinner till jus' now an' then Professor Sprout told me abou' Y/N! How is he?'

'Not bad,' said Harry. 'They say he'll be okay.'

'No more than seven visitors at a time!' said Madam Pomfrey, hurrying out of her office.

'Hagrid makes seven,' George pointed out.

'Oh... yes,' said Madam Pomfrey, who seemed to have been counting Hagrid as several people due to his vastness. To cover her confusion, she hurried off to clear up his muddy footprints with her wand.

'I don' believe this,' said Hagrid hoarsely, shaking his great shaggy head as he stared down at Y/N. 'Jus' don' believe it. Look at him lyin' there. Who'd want ter hurt him, eh?'

'That's just what we were discussing,' said Harry. 'Lots of people, but we don't know specifics.'

'Someone couldn' have a grudge against the Gryffindor Quidditch team, could they?' said Hagrid anxiously. 'Firs' Katie, now Y/N.'

'I can't see anyone trying to bump off a Quidditch team,' said George.

'Wood might've done the Slytherins if he could've got away with it,' said Fred fairly.

'Well, I don't think it's Quidditch, but I think there's a connection between the attacks,' said Hermione quietly.

'How d'you work that out?' asked Fred.

'Well, for one thing, they both ought to have been fatal and weren't, although that was pure luck. And for another, neither the poison nor the necklace seems to have reached the person who was supposed to be killed. Of course,' she added broodingly, 'that makes the person behind this even more dangerous in a way, because they don't seem to care how many people they finish off before they actually reach their victim.'

'Could the poison have been targeted at Y/N because he helped reverse the curse from the necklace?' asked Ron.

'Still probably not,' said Ginny. 'It still leads back to who was meant to receive that bottle from Slughorn. Did they know Slughorn was intending to give it to Dumbledore? Was it aimed at Slughorn? Or were they hoping for someone else?'

Before anybody could respond to this ominous pronouncement, the dormitory doors opened again, and Maria came striding up the ward towards them.

It wasn't difficult to see where the look in Y/N's eyes whenever he was mad came from. Maria was practically bristling as she arrived alongside the other visitors. The smile she threw them seeming almost plastic, despite the genuine appreciation beneath it.

'I owe you my thanks, Harry,' she said, nodding to him, 'for saving my son.'

'Don't be daft,' said Harry. 'He's done it enough times for me. For all of us.'

'I'm glad to know that he's got such good friends. I came as soon as I heard, but I knew he'd have all of you. How are you doing?' she added this part looking towards Hermione.

Hermione opened her mouth to reply, but the words wouldn't come. After a short pause, she managed.

'Not well.'

Madam Pomfrey came sweeping over, reminding them all about the visitor limit. Harry, Ron, Fred, George and Hagrid all stood. Ginny made to follow suit but Hermione shook her head across at her. And with a small nod, Ginny sat again.

'We'll see you two later, yeah?' said Harry, and the five of them left.

Maria took one of the vacated seats, staring at Y/N.

'What do we know?'

Ginny recounted all that had happened and been discussed. By the end of it, Maria was leaning backwards, her chin resting in her hand.

'What do you think?' asked Ginny eagerly.

'I don't know,' said Maria. 'I'm of a mind with Hermione. These two attacks HAVE to be linked, there's no way they aren't. But the only connection that Y/N and Miss Bell share is Quidditch. I don't believe the two have even spoken outside of that. He's certainly never mentioned her. So that begs the question, what's the common link? And if there isn't one, who is meant to be the link?'

'We never found out who the necklace was meant for,' said Hermione, 'but Harry and Y/N were fairly sure it wasn't them, or Katie would have just turned around and passed it to them.'

'And I'd give credit Ginny's idea of Y/N getting targeted following saving Katie,' said Maria. 'But to try and pass it along through Slughorn is foolish. As you say, he would have kept that for himself. This means the target must have been either Horace or Albus. And if it is Albus, how did the killer know that that's who the gift was intended for?'

'It's a lot of unknowns, I don't like it,' said Ginny. 'He's usually the brains who sorts all this stuff out, I remember hearing his deductions back when the Chamber was being opened.'

Hermione remembered it fondly too. Being in the bathroom with Harry and Ron, waiting patiently by the door for Y/N to come in, then when he didn't, she stepped outside, wandering up to him.

His careful explanation of how the paint was about the width of a finger, and at a height where only a smaller student could reach.

'He's always been so good with things like this...' she said softly.

'He'll be alright girls, my boys tough, he's come back from much worse than this. And recently as well.'

'The last time he ended up somewhere like here, he ran off to the tomb within a few weeks,' said Ginny.

'Speaking of,' said Maria, turning to face Hermione. 'I wanted to ask you. I promised to go with him for the trial of wits, but quite frankly the only reason I can be here now is because given the circumstances I wouldn't miss it, but I don't know if I can spare the time. Would you be willing to accompany him?'

Hermione felt her heart soar a little.

Ever since their battle together in the Ministry she'd wanted to accompany him again. The way Dolohov had taken her out ate away at her. She was supposed to stand with him, and yet she hadn't been able to. Now was her chance to do it again, even if it was just to solve some riddles or puzzles.

'Yes, of course I will, you can count on me,' said Hermione.

'I know I can, or I wouldn't have asked,' said Maria.

With a sigh, Maria stood.

'I hate to leave so soon but duty calls and... well, it's not like he's awake to appreciate my being here anyway.'

'We'll tell him you dropped by,' said Hermione.

'Thank you, I shall see you both soon I imagine.'

And she swept from the Hospital Wing.

Hermione settled herself back, already resigned to spending the night in the chair alongside Y/N as Ginny got to her feet.

'It feels like the other year all over again,' said Ginny. 'So much going on and there's just nothing we can do. No way to predict it or see what's coming. We just need to wait.'

'It's becoming second nature now,' said Hermione. 'At least it hasn't stopped us yet. We keep going, we keep surviving, and we will continue to. You know that.'

'Yeah, yeah of course I do,' said Ginny. 'Sleep well, Hermione.'

'And you, Gin.'

Ginny left, leaving Hermione alone to glance into Y/N's face.

Her heart had ached when he'd said her name. But knowing that the first time she'd said a word, aside from when she'd first arrived, he'd noticed and called out to her, meant the world to her. The two of them regularly went back and forth on who was defending who. But between the feeling she'd gotten when he'd been injured and how quickly it could have ended, she was glad she could at least be here with him. Even if she hadn't been the one to save him as such, she was just happy he was alive.

'I love you,' she breathed, smiling up at him.

'Love-you...' the unconscious Y/N breathed back.

Once more, that heart flutter. The same one she'd gotten all those years ago when meeting him in Flourish and Blotts. The ones that he said he'd gotten too the day they'd met. She loved him with all of her heart, and together, they could beat anything.

()()()()()()

Y/N couldn't believe that the sun had the absolute audacity to stab into his eyes the following morning. After all he'd been through, it thought it had the right to wake him up so suddenly?

Stirring, he opened his eyes, glancing around at the medical room surrounding him.

Ah yes, the Hospital Wing. To be fair, this one made sense. Being poisoned, especially on Hogwarts grounds was cause for concern. Bezoar or not.

Y/N knew what had been stuffed into his mouth now. He'd seen Bezoars before and quite frankly the only other option was an antidote, something that couldn't have been brewed in time.

He'd call himself foolish, but to be honest, who'd have expected that bottle to be poisoned? It made no sense. And yet here he was. Maybe he'd have to get a hip-flask...

He heard movement next to him and turned his head. As always, there she was, lying quietly next to him. He always wondered how much strain he'd put her through on nights like this. That chair hardly looked comfortable.

Though she never complained the following morning. Maybe there was something about them that made them easier to relax or sleep on in case of overnight visitors.

Y/N settled himself back, his mind racing. It had to be the same person. Had to be, there was no way that it wasn't. And he already knew where his elements would align.

The Three Broomsticks.

There, Katie had gotten the necklace, and the oak-matured mead was a speciality of that place. Something was going on in that pub, and Y/N would find out what it was. Just as soon as he'd recovered.

But what would he discover, and how would he even get out there? There were no more Hogsmeade visits, especially not now. Perhaps a quiet trip with Eternus was in order...

He heard Hermione shift next to him again, but this time her eyes were open. They widened as they saw his own meet hers and then a look of relief and happiness washed through them.

'Morning love,' breathed Y/N. His voice rather hoarse. 'Sorry, I promised I'd be okay.'

'Well, I don't think either of us expected you to get poisoned in Slughorn's office, so I think I can forgive this one. How are you?'

'Good, all things considered. Just been thinking.'

'About what happened?'

'Yeah... and I think I have investigating to do.'

'You've got something already?' asked Hermione, surprised.

'What do you mean?'

'Well, we were theorising yesterday obviously. Ron, Harry, Ginny and the twins were here and Hagrid arrived for a bit as well.'

'Fred and George came to see me?' asked Y/N.

'Well, yes and no. They came to give Ron his birthday present, waiting in Hogsmeade, but then they came up to the castle to see him, heard about you, and came to see you.'

'Nice of them,' said Y/N. 'I'll have to send them exploding flowers or something.'

'And then Maria arrived, me and Ginny chatted with her a bit. She believes it was the same person both times, and that neither you or Katie were the target.'

'No, the target is Dumbledore or Slughorn, it can't be anyone else,' said Y/N.

'How do you know?'

'Katie got that necklace from in the Three Broomsticks. Her only instruction, get it to whoever it needed to go to. Slughorn got that bottle from Madam Rosmerta, I can almost guarantee it. It was oak-matured mead, her and the Three Broomsticks are well known for it. But a whole barrel wouldn't be poisoned, it's too risky.'

Hermione nodded along, looking lost in thought.

'So, either the killer knew that was for Dumbledore and spiked it with the poison, or believed it would be for Slughorn and spiked it with poison. Either way-'

But Y/N trailed off.

Malfoy hadn't been in Hogsmeade that day in the Three Broomsticks... but someone else had...

Slughorn had bought the bottle... directly from the source.

'Rosmerta,' said Y/N.

'What?' said Hermione.

'Rosmerta did it. Poisoning a lone bottle or ambushing a girl in the women's bathroom would be easy for her, it's her pub. And no one else works there, she makes a point of it. It has to be Rosmerta.'

Y/N moved to get out of bed, but Hermione pushed him down.

'No! Heal first! Then we'll look into her. But Madam Rosmerta is no Death Eater.'

'No, but she owns a pub, a big one at that. It wouldn't be difficult to pull off an Imperius curse if done subtly enough.'

'But you haven't felt anything, and you can sense the Imperius curse.'

'Only in close proximity,' said Y/N. 'I wasn't close to Rosmerta in the pub. I only helped you carry the drinks; she served you whilst I'd been outside with Tonks. And I guarantee she's been told to keep a safe distance away from me. The Death Eaters know I can do that too.'

He'd sat up now, his fingers drumming lightly on the bed sheets.

It all made sense. Rosmerta was the only common factor between the two attacks, and he hadn't been near her to check. Besides, it wouldn't be difficult to find out.

'I could check easily. My illusions can work as a disguise now. I can go in pretending to be someone else, she'd never notice it was me, then I can check to see if I can feel the Imperius curse.'

'It's risky...' began Hermione.

'Everything we do is risky,' said Y/N. 'Besides, if I don't and something like this happens again, that'll be on me then, that'll be my fault for not looking into this.'

'Okay,' said Hermione, 'but rest first, Madam Pomfrey will kill you if you leave her before your stay is up, you know that. One week.'

Y/N groaned.

'I'll miss the Quidditch match. We lost our reserve with Demelza playing after Katie got injured as well... hopefully-'

But he was cut off, as though someone on high had decided to answer his unspoken sentence.

The Hospital Wing doors swung open and Katie Bell came striding up the ward towards them.

'Were you listening? Waiting for the perfect moment to walk in?' asked Y/N, smiling broadly at her.

'No,' said Katie. 'I just got back and wanted to thank you. Then I got told someone had poisoned you and you'd probably be out of commission for the next match. Knowing you, I figured you'd be concerned about how that was your fault.'

'Yes, yes he was,' said Hermione, also beaming at Katie as she sat down. 'How are you?'

'Well, all things considered. Thanks Y/N. The healers told me what you did when I woke up the other day.'

'The other day?' asked Y/N. 'You've been out all this time?'

'Yeah, I don't really remember any of it,' said Katie. 'I don't even know who did it or who they asked me to take it to. I just remember walking into the bathroom in the Three Broomsticks, then waking up in St Mungos, they told me the rest.'

'Have you met with Leanne?'

'Yeah, she's doing okay. Still a bit rough but she's tough. And besides, to quote her "I can't be too bothered. After all, you're the one who got cursed."'

'So, reckon you'll be up for Saturday then?'

'I've been itching for it to be honest,' smiled Katie. 'Not that I'd wish ill on you, but I feel better knowing that you're out of action and I'm not just taking a slot back off Demelza.'

'She wouldn't mind,' said Y/N, 'but thank Merlin you are here. Didn't know what our options would be otherwise.'

'From what the healers tell me, it was close. Your work jumped my recovery forward by a couple of months. What did you even do anyway?'

'Honestly, couldn't tell you. Threw everything I knew at that damn curse and more, I'm just glad it was worth something. It's good to see you well.'

Katie smiled and stood.

'I didn't want to keep you for long, just wanted to see how you were doing and say thanks. I'll see you soon, Y/N.'

And with a wave, she departed.

'Well, that was excessively convenient,' said Hermione laughing slightly.

'Yes, yes it was, but it works out. I dare say Harry will be over the moon.'

However, Harry didn't seem over the moon when he, Ron and Ginny arrived later that day to visit Y/N. Ron and Ginny both looked delighted to see Y/N awake and greeted him happily. Harry echoed the sentiment but looked a million miles away, and when Y/N brought up Katie, he seemed as though he'd forgotten.

'Hm? What? Yeah....' he said. 'Yeah it's good to have her back, better chances. Hey, listen.'

He leaned in and whispered to them all about the conversation him and Ron had had with Hagrid the evening prior after leaving Y/N's bedside. Apparently, Dumbledore and Snape had been arguing about something.

'It's terrible,' growled Hagrid into his beard, as the three of them walked back along the corridor to the marble staircase. 'All this new security, an' kids are still gettin' hurt. Dumbledore's worried sick. He don' say much, but I can tell.'

'Hasn't he got any ideas, Hagrid?' asked Ron.

'I 'spect he's got hundreds of ideas, brain like his,' said Hagrid.

'But he doesn' know who sent that necklace nor put poison in that wine, or they'd've bin caught, wouldn' they? Wha' worries me,' said Hagrid, lowering his voice and glancing over his shoulder, 'is how long Hogwarts can stay open if kids are bein' attacked. Chamber o' Secrets all over again, isn' it? There'll be panic, more parents takin' their kids outta school, an' nex' thing yeh know the board o' governors...-'

Hagrid stopped talking as the ghost of a long-haired woman drifted serenely past, then resumed in a hoarse whisper,

'-the board o' governors'll be talkin' about shuttin' us up fer good.'

'But that's crazy!' said Ron, looking flabbergasted.

'Gotta see it from their point o' view,' said Hagrid heavily. 'I mean, it's always bin a bit of a risk sendin' a kid ter Hogwarts, hasn' it? Yer expect accidents, don' yeh, with hundreds of underage wizards all locked up tergether, but attempted murder, tha's diff 'rent. 'S'no wonder Dumbledore's angry with Sn-'

Hagrid stopped in his tracks, a familiar, guilty expression on what was visible of his face above his tangled black beard.

'What?' said Harry quickly. 'Dumbledore's angry with Snape?'

'I never said tha',' said Hagrid, though his look of panic could not have been a bigger giveaway. 'Look at the time, it's gettin' on fer midnight, I need ter-'

'Hagrid, why is Dumbledore angry with Snape?' Harry asked loudly.

'Shhhh!' said Hagrid, looking both nervous and angry. 'Don' shout stuff like that, Harry, d'yeh wan' me ter lose me job? Mind, I don' suppose yeh'd care, would yeh, not now yeh've given up Care of Mag-'

'Don't try and make me feel guilty, it won't work!' said Harry forcefully. 'What's Snape done?'

'I dunno, Harry, I shouldn'ta heard it at all! I- well, I was comin' outta the forest the other evenin' an' I overheard 'em talking, well, arguin'. Didn't like ter draw attention to meself, so I sorta skulked an' tried not ter listen, but it was a, well, a heated discussion an' it wasn' easy ter block it out.'

'Well?' Harry urged him, as Hagrid shuffled his enormous feet uneasily.

'Well, I jus' heard Snape sayin' Dumbledore took too much fer granted an' maybe he, Snape, didn' wan' ter do it anymore-'

'Do what?'

'I dunno, Harry, it sounded like Snape was feelin' a bit overworked, tha's all, anyway, Dumbledore told him flat out he'd agreed ter do it an' that was all there was to it. Pretty firm with him. An' then he said summat abou' Snape makin' investigations in his House, in Slytherin. Well, there's nothin' strange abou' that!' Hagrid added hastily, as Harry and Ron exchanged looks full of meaning. 'All the Heads o' Houses were asked ter look inter that necklace business-'

'Yeah, but Dumbledore's not having rows with the rest of them, is he?' said Harry.

'Look,' Hagrid twisted his crossbow uncomfortably in his hands; there was a loud splintering sound and it snapped in two. 'I know what yeh're like abou' Snape, Harry, an' I don' want yeh ter go readin' more inter this than there is.'

'Filch,' said Ron tersely.

They turned just in time to see the shadow of Argus Filch looming over the wall behind them before the man himself turned the corner, hunchbacked, his jowls aquiver.

'Oho!' he wheezed. 'Out of bed so late, this'll mean detention!'

'No it won', Filch,' said Hagrid shortly. 'They're with me, aren' they?'

'And what difference does that make?' asked Filch obnoxiously.

'I'm a ruddy teacher, aren' I, yeh sneakin' Squib!' said Hagrid, firing up at once.

There was a nasty hissing noise as Filch swelled with fury; Mrs Norris had arrived, unseen, and was twisting herself sinuously around Filch's skinny ankles.

'Get goin',' said Hagrid out of the corner of his mouth.

Y/N listened to this story without saying a word, leaning back into his bed and thinking carefully about it.

'So?' prompted Harry when Y/N didn't say anything. 'That's got to mean-'

'Nothing,' said Y/N. 'It doesn't have to mean anything, Harry. All it means is that Snape promised to do something and now he's trying to back out on it. From what Hagrid says, the row was clearly about that, and not Snape making investigations into Slytherin.'

Harry looked extremely put out.

'After all of this you're going to just ignore it again? You saw it on the map, you saw that he's up to something!'

'Harry, I've never denied that he's up to something,' said Y/N, 'but the evidence just doesn't point to him trying to do this.' He gestured at the bed. 'He wasn't in Hogsmeade, and he's probably never seen that bottle of mead in his life. I believe that Malfoy is scheming. I'm curious as to how he's fooling the Marauder's map. But for heaven's sake, he's not the one who poisoned me, and right now that's what my biggest concern is. Whatever Malfoy is doing is small time compared to that.'

'Who says it's not both? Maybe what he's doing is orchestrating the poison and necklace,' said Harry.

'You make it sound like he's some criminal mastermind. And besides, I already know who's behind both of those,' said Y/N.

'You do?' said Ginny before Harry could even respond, her eyes lighting up. 'Who?'

'Madam Rosmerta, she's the only one who makes sense. She was in the Three Broomsticks the day Malfoy was in the castle and gave Katie the necklace. That way, she could also be in the girl's bathroom. And the oak-matured mead is a speciality of her place. Slughorn probably ordered it from her. I'll ask him to confirm but I think it's her.'

'But why would Rosmerta want to hurt someone in the castle?' asked Ron.

'Imperius Curse I bet, I haven't been close enough to tell,' said Y/N. 'Either Slughorn or Dumbledore has to be the target.'

'Maria said the same yesterday. Said it depended on whether the person knew Slughorn was intending it as a gift or not.'

'Then it looks like I need to have a chat with Professor Slughorn first,' said Y/N. 'Just as soon as I get out of here that is.'

Harry did not look impressed, evidently still wanting to continue his tirade about Malfoy. Y/N could understand why he was focusing on it, but at least right now, Y/N was more interested in this thread. Whatever Malfoy was potentially doing could wait.

'How did things go with Lavender?' asked Y/N.

'She understood, especially when my story mirrored what Hermione told her. Thanks, both of you, I almost blew that.'

'It wasn't your fault,' said Y/N 'You didn't ask to get love potioned, I'm just glad she believed us.'

'The two separate but matching stories definitely helped I think,' said Ron. 'She's a bit upset but that's to be expected. We're working through it though.'

'Good on you,' said Y/N. 'She's good to you, look after her. And how about you and Dean?'

'We got into a row last night,' shrugged Ginny, 'but that's par for the course at the moment. He'd asked me to go to the library and study with him but obviously, I didn't because of what happened to you. He seemed to take that personally.'

'Damn, thought Dean liked me, I'd have hoped he understood.'

'Oh he did, just his fragile little ego can't handle being alone for a few hours,' said Ginny, rolling her eyes. 'Maybe I'm being a bit harsh on him but it's ridiculous. We've been close friends for years. Hell, you're practically another brother to me. I'm allowed to come and visit you when you nearly die.'

'Well, I appreciate you being here, even if I wasn't awake to appreciate it.'

Y/N spent the rest of the day chatting idly with his friends and having Madam Pomfrey fuss over him. Hagrid and Minerva both dropped by to see him now that he was awake, and even Dumbledore did for a short while.

His visit was brief, and very polite, but Y/N had been glad for the presence of the others. He still couldn't stand to look at the Headmaster right now.

Finally, as the sun set past the windows, Hermione got up, stretching.

'I need to go love, can't stay here forever. I'll come and visit you tomorrow though, okay?'

'Yeah of course, I look forward to it.'

She leant in and kissed him gently, before departing with a small wave. Y/N waited until she was gone, then settled himself in, pretending to sleep.

He remained there for a while, waiting until he heard Madam Pomfrey retreat to her office, locking the door behind her. Then slipped out of bed, placing on his holster.

'Eternus,' he breathed, and the Phoenix sprang into being. Y/N seized it's talon and next second, the corridor outside of Slughorn's office formed around him. He moved forward and knocked.

There was a shuffling sound from inside and then the door opened a crack.

'Y/N? But my dear boy! What are you doing out of bed?'

'Sorry Professor, I'll go back soon, I just needed to ask you. That bottle of mead. Where did you get it from?'

'It was a special order from Madam Rosmerta for Christmas, my boy,' said Slughorn.

'And did Rosmerta know it was due to go to Dumbledore?'

'I believe I told her as such...' said Slughorn, 'but Y/N, you can't be thinking-?'

'I'm not thinking anything yet professor, I'm just investigating. That was the missing link. Oh and I'm sorry about whatever I broke when that was happening...' his mind wandered back to the glass he'd heard shatter.

'It is no worries, my boy,' said Slughorn, waving his hand. 'It was nothing more than a bottle of frogspawn, easily replaceable. I am just glad to see you fit and well.'

Y/N nodded, smiling appreciatively.

'Thank you, Professor, have a good night.'

'You too, Y/N, and rest!' he added, waggling his finger disapprovingly as he closed the door.

Y/N called Eternus and vanished once more.

The Three Broomsticks was odd this late. Y/N wasn't used to seeing the pub completely empty. The joys of it being open during the day was that at night Rosmerta did shut it down, speaking of.

She was stood behind the bar, looking at Y/N, her face full of apprehension.

'We're um- we're closed at the moment. You'll have to come back tomorrow,' she said.

'I won't be here for long, Madam Rosmerta,' said Y/N, turning towards her. 'Impedimenta!'

She froze, her hand lunging for her wand as Y/N stepped forward, feeling outwards...

There!

It was there, it was good. Whoever used it was talented, but that was undeniably an Imperius Curse. Y/N began to trace the line, trying to follow the thread...

A glass next to him shattered and Y/N span around, losing focus.

A figure, resting in the dark corner of the tavern stood, their face obscured through the cloak they were wearing and the darkness of the bar. Y/N had completely missed them.

'You poisoned me, you asshole,' said Y/N, turning his wand on the intruder, 'Whether on purpose or not you did. So maybe you'd like to tell me who you are before-'

The figure waved its wand.

Two of the nearby tables sprang to life and threw themselves at Y/N. He dodged sideways, blasting the other out of the way as he copied the incantation, instead sending the chairs towards his foe.

Moving at impossible speeds, the figure darted between the oncoming woodwork and leapt over three of the tables in one jump, landing over by the door to the pub. They raised their wand.

'Protego!' yelled Y/N.

But he had acted too quickly, and as his shield charm sprang up, the figure turned its wand onto Madam Rosmerta.

Y/N felt the memory charm leave the wand and tried to force his shield charm in the way, but it was too late. It shot past, hit the barkeep just as the figure turned and sprinted out of the door.

Y/N made a split-second decision and took off after the retreating figure, firing spells up the path towards them. But the figure repelled them with a practised ease, as though the power that Y/N was putting behind them was nothing.

Just as they broke past the entrance to the alley supporting the entrance to the Hog's Head, the figure twisted on the spot and vanished.

Y/N slid to a halt, staring after them panting slightly.

'Y/N?'

He turned to see Tonks hurrying up the street towards him, her wand drawn.

'What was all that? I heard spells and shouting.'

'Someone had Rosmerta under the Imperius Curse,' said Y/N and he led the way back to the pub, filling Tonks in on everything that had happened.

'Yeah, Dumbledore mentioned you getting poisoned, and that you should be resting,' she added, glaring at him. 'But I should have known you wouldn't listen to that.'

'To be honest Tonks, you really should have. When have I ever listened to an instruction like that?'

Tonks sighed and moved over behind the bar, where Madam Rosmerta stood, still immobilised.

'Oh, right, damn. Finite,' said Y/N and he felt both the Imperius Curse and Impediment jinx break.

'Who... what, why are...' said Madam Rosmerta, her face a mask of confusion.

'Come on,' said Tonks, scooping her up and helping her out of the bar. 'Me and the others will explain and get you caught up. I'll send you an owl with everything she tells us,' added Tonks, as Y/N opened his mouth. 'You did good today Y/N, now go rest for crying out loud.'

Y/N nodded and grasping Eternus' talon, re-emerged in the Hospital Wing.

He jumped as he heard someone clear their throat.

Hermione was back on the chair, next to his bed. Smirking at him.

'Five minutes. That was all it took, five minutes after Madam Pomfrey went into her office.'

'I'm surprised it took that long to be honest,' said Y/N, smiling back. 'It felt much quicker.'

Hermione sighed, shaking her head.

'And here I was really hoping that you'd prove my assumption wrong, that I'd be able to just come back in here and find that you had decided to wait until you'd fully recovered for once.'

She patted the bed that Y/N had been staying in.

'Come on then, tell me what you found out.'