𝐃𝐨𝐥𝐜𝐞 | ʜ. ᴊ. ᴘ. [ hiatus ]

• 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐏𝐨𝐞𝐦𝐬 •

❾¾ ⌁☍ ♪ ‹ 𝓶𝓪 𝓭𝓸𝓵𝓬𝓮 › ♪ ☍⌁¾❾

Hermione remained in the hospital wing for several weeks.

There was a flurry of rumor about her disappearance when the rest of the school arrived back from their Christmas holidays, because of course everyone thought that she had been attacked.

So many students filed past the hospital wing trying to catch a glimpse of her that Madam Pomfrey took out her curtains again and placed them around Hermione's bed, to spare her the shame of being seen with a furry face.

Harry, Mal and Ron went to visit her every evening. Mal often visited Hermione so she wouldn't feel lonely, comforted her and gave Hermione extra notes so she wouldn't miss a lesson, every breakfast until dinner, she accompanied Hermione. When the new term started, they brought her each day's homework.

"If I'd sprouted whiskers, I'd take a break from work," said Ron, tipping a stack of books onto Hermione's bedside table one evening.

"Don't be silly, Ron, I've got to keep up," said Hermione briskly. Her spirits were greatly improved by the fact that all the hair had gone from her face and her eyes were turning slowly back to brown. "I don't suppose you've got any new leads?" she added in a whisper, so that Madam Pomfrey couldn't hear her.

"Nothing," said Harry gloomily.

"If it wasn't Malfoy it would have been Gloiriè," said Ron for about the hundredth time. "Too bad he wasn't there."

"But maybe it's not between the two of them," said Mal with a sigh. "I'm so tired of hearing that from you."

"How do you know the password to the Slytherin common room, Dolce?" Harry asked Mal.

"Easy," Mal shrugged. "Remember that Salazar-bloody-Slytherin for pure-blood supremacy."

"What's that?" asked Ron, pointing to something gold sticking out from under Hermione's pillow.

"Just a get well card," said Hermione hastily, trying to poke it out of sight, but Ron was too quick for her. He pulled it out, flicked it open, and read aloud:

"To Miss Granger, wishing you a speedy recovery, from your concerned teacher, Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, Order of Merlin, Third Class, Honorary Member of the Dark Force Defense League, and fivetime winner of Witch Weekly's Most-Charming-Smile Award."

Ron looked up at Hermione, disgusted, Mal gave her snorted while hid her face behind Harry's shoulder.

"You sleep with this under your pillow?"

But Hermione was spared answering by Madam Pomfrey over with her evening dose of medicine.

"I have an appointment with Cordelia and Ginny," Mal said to Harry and Ron as they exited Hospital Wings. "She said she wanted to borrow my Herbology textbook for her second grade."

"With Eleanor?" Harry asked suddenly, Mal raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?" Mal nodded confirming Harry's words. "They often study together, so yes with Eros, what's the matter?"

"It's okay," Harry quietly looked down at the floor. "You with him so often- Eleanor I mean."

"For Godric's sake, Wonderboy." Mal chuckled softly. "Yeah, he's also my friend, just like you - my friend."

Harry smiled weakly, glancing at Mal who was now smiling sincerely at him, friend, he thought.

"May I borrow your Potions assignment?" Ron complained to Mal, because Snape had so many assignments, Harry and Ron thought they would finish them by sixth grade. "I really need this, just the Hair Raising's potion."

"Don't tell Hemmie," said Mal, Ron and Harry beaming as they nodded eagerly. "My parchment is on the common room table, finish quickly and don't let get caught by Hermione, okay?"

Harry and Ron nodded enthusiastically again then parted with Mal on the stairs and headed for the library to meet Cordelia, Ginny and Eleanor. As soon as she saw someone walking from the end of the corridor then disappeared around the corner, Mal was curious and walked over to her.

She quickened pace through the library, until she forgot her original purpose there.

And she found Ginny, her face pale and half relieved by something. Looking here and there looking for something and then sighed. She turned and froze when she found that Mal had been following all along, Ginny let out a small cry of surprise quickly giving Mal a nervous grin.

"Ginny?" Mal slowly approached her. "What are you doing here? You're not with Cordelia?"

"Ah!" Ginny gasped. "Um- I'm here because- to get some fresh air, huh."

"Didn't we promised meet at the library?" Mal asked frowning. "You just passed it."

Ginny seemed to think for some time looking for an excuse.

"I-" Ginny cleared her throat. "No Berry, I think I'm going to rest in the dormitory, I'm so tired," she stretched her muscles awkwardly.

"Oh?" Mal suspiciously but ignored it all. "Okay? Are you sure you're alright? Want me to take you back to Gryffindor tower?"

"Don't bother Berry," Ginny quickly refused. "I'll be back myself - you be careful, okay?"

Then she jogged back past Mal and gave a weak grin then sprinted up the steps, leaving Mal at the end of the corridor amazed at Ginny's behavior.

She shrugged nonchalantly, walking back towards the library. Madam Pince greeted Mal kindly while dusted the books on the shelf near the reception desk. Cordelia was already there with Eros, chatting about something that made her chuckle so the librarian wouldn't kick them out.

"Cordy, Eros," Mal said as she drew closer to Cordelia and Eros, both of whom turned beamingly while waving at her.

"Berry! You should know, earlier during Potions lesson, Ros managed Valentià to remedial his essay," Cordelia chuckled softly. "Let know how he feels - after he bullied Ros all the time."

"You don't seem to like Elliot very much," Mal raised an eyebrow but smirked.

"That self-centred butt ape," Cordelia muttered flatly. "No tired of bothering me and Eros, luckily Ginny once punched him until his arm went numb because of he makes Eros's nose bleeding."

Mal realized earlier that Eros was only watching Cordelia absentmindedly with a smile on his face, it was the first time Mal saw the Slytherin boy smile because as long as she knew Eros he just nodded and only answered as needed, but it was different when he was around Cordelia who would continue smiling and open about his life.

"Eros?" Mal snapped her fingers in front of his crooked nose. "You are still there?"

Eros snapped back to reality, he looked at Mal who was trying to hold back grin and Cordelia was confused to see Eros now blushing.

"Are you sick, Ros?" Cordelia asked anxiously. "Your face is so red."

"It's okay," Eros fanned himself as he tugged at the collar of his uniform. "just a little hot in here."