Chapter 13

Ron, Hermione, and Ginny trudged down the familiar halls of St. Mungo's. The atmosphere in the reception area was eerie, with an unusual silence hanging in the air, quite different from their bustling previous visit. The room, once filled with rows of witches and wizards, was now mostly empty, apart from a few patients whose injuries were apparent just by looking at them. Now, the only sound cutting through the silence was the occasional flipping of pages as witches perused old copies of Witch Weekly.

They approached the plump blonde witch stationed at the ENQUIRIES desk.

"We're here to see Rubeus Hagrid." Hermione quickly informed the witch, her tone eager and determined.

The witch glanced up at them with a bored expression. "Oh, the giant," she replied in a disinterested tone, letting out a yawn before continuing, "He certainly caused a commotion when he arrived. Had to practically squeeze through the door, he did."

"What happened to him?" Ron asked.

The blonde witch's voice was devoid of emotion as she described the gruesome scene: "He had deep, gaping wounds on his arms and chest, blood gushing out freely. The sight was quite alarming, yet he appeared unfazed. He's likely resting now."

Ginny's brow furrowed with deep concern. "Where can we find him?" she asked urgently.

The witch's bony, crooked finger pointed towards the imposing double doors just beyond her desk. "You'll find him on the fourth floor. Just take the lift up," she croaked in a raspy voice.

Hermione nodded gratefully, her expression a mix of trepidation and determination as she took the lead towards the lifts.

They pushed through the towering double doors, entering a grand hallway adorned with candlelit portraits of renowned healers from ages past. The rhythmic click-clack of their shoes echoed off the gleaming marble floors as they ascended the staircase, climbing towards the first floor. Faint cries and the patter of urgent footsteps filled the air.

Hermione's stomach churned with dread as she, Ginny, and Ron hurried down the sterile hospital corridor. Hagrid lay vulnerable and injured beyond those foreboding doors. The thought sent a shiver of fear through Hermione. Hagrid had always been a pillar of strength, larger than life and fiercely protective. Now, his wellbeing hung in the balance.

Ginny glanced nervously at the ominous room signs as they passed. "Do you think he'll be alright?" she asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

With a heavy heart, Ron trudged behind the group, trying to offer words of encouragement. "Hagrid's been through so much already—dragons, giant spiders, and all sorts of dangerous creatures. A few little cuts won't be enough to bring him down. He's tougher than that."

Beyond the grand hall, they stumbled upon two lifts concealed behind intricate silver grilles. With a smooth, effortless motion, the grilles slid open, granting them access to one of the lifts. As they stepped inside, the grilles shut behind them, and the lift began its gentle, steady ascent. A few minutes later, a soothing female voice announced their arrival at "Level Four, Spell Damage".

When the grilles parted, they were greeted by a flurry of paper planes soaring all around them. Each plane bore the name "BILL" imprinted on its wings, immediately catching their attention. Transfixed by the peculiar sight, they paused for a moment to marvel at the unexpected spectacle before stepping out of the lift to explore the wondrous surroundings that awaited them.

A kind-faced healer caught sight of them and approached them with a gentle smile. "How may I be of assistance to you, my dears?" she asked in a friendly, soothing tone.

Hermione stepped forward, her expression one of concern. "Could you kindly guide us to the ward where Rubeus Hagrid is being cared for? We're quite worried about him."

The healer nodded empathetically. "Certainly," she replied. Gesturing down the corridor, she added, "His room is located at the very end of this hallway. I do hope he makes a full recovery soon." She offered them an encouraging smile before turning to attend to her other duties.

The cramped and gloomy ward had been designed for four patients but now held only the hulking figure of Hagrid. His massive frame appeared painfully cramped on the narrow bed, utterly out of place in the sterile, clinical setting. Bandages swathed his arms and chest, mute testament to the confrontation that had left him injured, yet mercifully alive.

"Hagrid!" Ron, Hermione, and Ginny exclaimed as they hurried over to his bedside.

Despite his heavily bandaged and bruised frame, a broad, warm smile spread across Hagrid's face as he caught sight of them. "Hello," he greeted, his deep, rumbling voice echoing through the sterile hospital room. "Good thing yeh got my letter. I've been so bleedin' bored with no one ter talk to." Shifting his massive form, Hagrid's sheer size seemed to make the room shrink around him.

Ron's voice was tinged with concern as he spoke up, his brow creased in a worried frown. "We got your letter this morning and rushed right over. Harry would be here too if he knew you were hurt."

Hagrid's rugged face twisted into a puzzled expression. "What d'yeh mean?" he asked, his deep voice heavy with confusion. "Harry doesn't know I'm injured?"

"Harry's condition has severely worsened," Ginny explained, her voice trembling. "He can barely walk, move, or even eat anymore. He's utterly exhausted and has been sleeping since we decided to come here. Knowing you're hurt would absolutely devastate him—he cares for you so deeply."

Hagrid's brow furrowed with sorrow. He let out a heavy sigh. "I wish I could see him. Poor lad."

Hermione reached out and gently placed her hand on Hagrid's enormous, weathered arm. Her voice was soft and filled with concern. "You really scared us when you wrote about being attacked by Death Eaters. Please, tell us what happened."

Hagrid shifted uncomfortably in the bed, wincing in pain at the movement. "I was attacked, all righ'," he replied gruffly. "Lucky I got meself 'ere when I did, or I'd 'ave lost too much blood."

"But how did this happen?" Ron pressed. "Were you near the Thestral cave when it occurred? Were you able to recognise the Death Eater?"

Hagrid shifted in the bed to look at them more closely. "I was searchin' fer Thestrals in the eastern lands near Hogwarts and Ireland when I got yer letter, Ron. I suspected there might be some wild ones there, but I didn't know where exactly until yer letter told me. Did yeh check on yer owl this mornin'?"

Ron's face fell, a troubled look clouding his features. "No, why?" he asked, his voice tinged with concern.

Hagrid's eyes narrowed slightly. "When yer owl brought me yer letter, his left wing was bent at an odd angle—he's certainly hurt. His feathers were all ruffled too."

"Is he? Do you think he was attacked?" Hermione asked. "Are you saying Ron's letter was intercepted?"

"It seems that way," Hagrid replied solemnly. "I was afraid yer owl wouldn't make it back, but he did alrigh' in the end, eh?"

"I haven't had a chance to fully check on him since he arrived," Ron confessed.

"Yeh should definitely look in on him once yer get back home," Hagrid advised.

"What happened next, Hagrid?" Hermione asked softly as she pulled a chair closer to Hagrid's bedside.

"I apparated near the cave yeh mentioned, and at first, it was empty." Hagrid paused, his brow furrowing. "Lookin' fer the Thestrals, I found 'em huddled in a distant corner. Just as I was collectin' the tail hair, dark, cloaked figures appeared from every direction." His eyes darkened. "They looked like Death Eaters, but I couldn't be sure."

Ginny studied the medical wrappings on Hagrid's injuries with a curious gaze. "How did you get those wounds?" she asked.

Hagrid's eyes fell mournfully on his bandages. "Two of 'em hit me with a Severing Charm."

Ron's mouth dropped open in shock, and Hermione gasped, her hand instinctively moving to cover her mouth in horror.

"It could have killed me," Hagrid said, shuddering. "The spell went wrong in the darkness. I disapparated jus' in time, before they could hit me with more." He paused, the memory clearly unsettling him. "I ended up 'ere after that. The wound was deep, but the healers were able ter patch me up."

Ginny's eyes went wide with concern. "I shudder to think what might have happened if you hadn't escaped right away," she murmured, her voice tinged with worry. "I don't even want to imagine it."

Ron leaned forward, his brow furrowed. "Did you see any of their faces, Hagrid?" he asked, his tone urgent.

Hagrid shook his head, his eyes narrowing. "Nay, it was pitch black inside that cave," he replied. "I couldn't see a thing."

Ron's cheeks burnt crimson with outrage, his fingers tapping a rapid, agitated rhythm against his knee. "Malfoy's the one who sent the Death Eaters after you, Hagrid!" he exclaimed, his voice quivering with a blend of fury and anxiety.

Hagrid's brow furrowed, the edges of his mouth turning down in a perplexed frown. "Draco Malfoy? But why in the world would he do tha'?"

Ron's jaw tightened with tension as he spoke, his voice strained. "He's the only one who was aware of the cave—"

"We can't jump to conclusions, Ron," Ginny quickly interjected. A brief silence hung in the air as she spoke, her tone lowered and laced with caution. "You-Know-Who could have shared the information with his other followers. We must consider all possibilities."

himself had disclosed the information to him," Ron pressed on relentlessly. "It's hard to understand why he would betray Harry when he owed him his life."

Hagrid's brow furrowed even deeper as he absorbed this revelation. "He owes Harry? How so?" he asked, his voice thick with bewilderment.

Ron's voice was laced with disdain as he recounted the events of the Battle of Hogwarts. "Harry saved Malfoy, but I wouldn't have bothered," he spat, his eyes narrowing as he shot a scathing look at Hagrid's perplexed face. "That coward betrayed Harry and was behind the attack on you. In my opinion, he doesn't deserve to have been rescued."

Hermione shook her head. "But we can't be certain, Ron. There might be someone else orchestrating these attacks. I still can't bring myself to believe Malfoy is behind it all," she insisted, her voice tinged with frustration.

Ron crossed his arms stubbornly. "Yeah, I've heard that before, Hermione," he replied, annoyance evident in his tone. "It feels like you're defending him despite all the evidence pointing to his involvement."

"I'm not defending him, Ron," Hermione rebutted, her voice tense. "I'm simply acknowledging that he knew about Harry's condition and was willing to help, even if reluctantly. It shows he cares about Harry."

"Cares? Ha! He's just putting on a show, Hermione. He would never genuinely help Harry. That's just who Malfoy is."

Hermione raised an eyebrow in disbelief, feeling the frustration rising within her. "Then why did he visit the Burrow to talk to Harry?"

"He must have had some hidden agenda or ulterior motive," Ron replied dismissively, waving a hand as if to brush off the possibility.

The tension hung thick in the air, weighing heavily on Hermione. She felt exposed and vulnerable, her arsenal of counterarguments depleted against Ron's relentless onslaught. Begrudgingly, she conceded the validity of some of his points, yet a nagging sliver of doubt persisted in her heart about the true nature of Malfoy's actions.

"We truly didn't mean for you to suffer any harm as a result of our actions, Hagrid," Hermione said, her voice softened by concern.

Hagrid's rugged features softened slightly as he offered a faint, pained smile. "I understand the risks, Hermione. This is fer Harry's well-being, and I would do anythin' fer him."

Hermione's heart ached with the desire to protect her loved ones, but she forced herself to redirect her thoughts to more immediate concerns. "How long do you plan to stay here?" she asked Hagrid, who was glancing around the familiar surroundings with a nostalgic expression.

"I had expected ter stay a few days," Hagrid explained, his deep voice rumbling with a hint of wistfulness. "But bein' a giant, I don't think they want me 'round fer too long." He paused, then suddenly remembered something, his massive hands rummaging in his pocket. "Oh! I almost forgot—" Producing a stained envelope, he handed it to Hermione, who accepted it curiously.

Hermione's fingers trembled as she opened the envelope, her heart swelling with emotion at the sight of the delicate Thestral tail hair nestled inside. Tears of joy sprang to her eyes. "Oh, Hagrid, thank you so much. Harry will be overjoyed when he sees this," she breathed, carefully folding the precious envelope and tucking it away. Lifting her gaze to meet Hagrid's warm eyes, Hermione's expression brightened. "Would you like to come with us? I know Harry would be thrilled to see you."

"I'd love ter. Just a mo'—" he said, stretching and carefully manoeuvring his massive frame to stand, mindful of the low ceiling as he wrapped his giant fingers around his familiar pink umbrella.

As Hermione approached the stairs, she instantly recognised the familiar face of Augustus Pye. His cheerful smile and welcoming demeanour were unmistakable, despite the time that had passed since their last encounter. When Ron and Ginny spotted him, his expression lit up with delight as he hurried over to greet them.

"Hello!" Augustus greeted warmly. "I had a feeling I might run into the Weasleys here."

"What do you mean?" Ron asked, his brow furrowing in confusion. "Why did you think we'd be here?"

Augustus' expression grew puzzled. "Aren't you here to visit your brother?"

"What are you talking about?" Ginny interjected, her voice rising with anxiety. "I didn't realise any of my brothers were here. Which brother are you referring to?"

"Percy Weasley, of course," Augustus reiterated, his casual tone sharply contrasting the horror dawning on Ron and Ginny's faces.

"That's impossible. Percy is currently at home with our parents," Ron insisted.

Augustus' eyes widened, his expression conveying genuine surprise. "I can assure you that Percy is here. He was brought in early this morning, unconscious and injured. He was attacked," he explained, a note of concern in his voice.

Ron's face drained of colour as the shocking news sank in. Ginny's mouth fell open, her brow furrowing in disbelief. "That can't be!" she exclaimed, panic fluttering in her chest. "We just saw Percy, and he seemed perfectly fine!"

Augustus' brow furrowed deeper, the confusion evident on his face. "He never left the hospital," he clarified. "There must be some misunderstanding. He's currently resting, and I can take you to see him."

Hermione exchanged anxious glances with Ron and Ginny. A sense of dread coiled tightly in her stomach as they followed the ominous Augustus down the dimly lit hallway.

"Something doesn't feel right about this," Hermione murmured, her fingers tracing the edge of the bannister nervously.

The massive form of Hagrid loomed in the background as they entered the ward, his towering presence obscuring the small window's view. Bending down, he peered intently through the glass, his eyes narrowing with concentration as they settled upon a resting figure with fiery red hair.

Sprawled uncomfortably on the bed, Percy's face contorted with evident unease and distress. The sudden arrival of his unexpected visitors caught him off guard, prompting him to startle and flinch. "I didn't expect you all to come see me!" he blurted out, forcing a weak smile.

Ron took in Percy's unexpected appearance. "We weren't expecting you. What's happening? Is everything okay back home at the Burrow?" He anxiously asked, a tightness gripping his chest. "Are you alright, Percy?" His voice wavered slightly.

Percy chuckled nervously. "The Burrow? I've never been there before. I'd planned to visit but never got around to it." His eyes darted about, mind visibly racing. "I heard Harry's sick. Dad mentioned it, but I haven't gotten any updates. I wanted to go see him, but work got in the way."

Ron and Ginny stared at him, wide-eyed and speechless at the unexpected revelation.

"And I didn't want anyone to know I was in the hospital," Percy added, his voice softening with shame. "I didn't want to worry anyone. I just wanted to deal with it all on my own."

"Percy!" Ginny exclaimed, her voice tinged with a mixture of worry and frustration. "The Healer informed us about the attack. We were so worried sick. How could you not tell us sooner?"

"Are Mum and Dad with you?" Percy asked, peering up anxiously, but Ginny solemnly shook her head.

"No, we're here for Hagrid. Death Eaters attacked him." Ginny's voice quivered as she recounted the harrowing details, her body tense with emotion.

"Hagrid?" Percy echoed, his eyes widening in genuine surprise. "He's always been such a gentle, harmless giant."

"Yeah," Ron agreed. "But the healers have treated him, and he's doing much better now, thank goodness."

Percy visibly relaxed, a look of profound relief spreading across his face. "I'm so glad to hear that," he said, the worry in his voice replaced by genuine warmth.

"What on earth happened to you?" Ron asked, his brow creasing with concern.

"I was in my office this morning," he began, his voice tinged with uncertainty.

Hermione leaned in. "Did you see or hear anything during the attack?" she asked.

Percy's voice trembled as he spoke. "I... I can't be certain," he stammered. "I don't think I saw anyone, but I might have heard a muffled mumble. Suddenly, I felt dizzy and lightheaded, and then everything went dark. After the attack, my memory is foggy and unclear."

Ron's grip on Hermione's arm tightened, his knuckles turning white. Ginny remained pale-faced, her eyes wide and fearful.

Percy's face grew tense with concern. "What's going on?" he demanded. "You said I was at the Burrow, but I've been here all day."

Hermione's eyes widened as realisation hit her like a harsh light. "This morning, you flooed to the Burrow," she explained, her voice trembling slightly. Beads of anxious sweat began to form on her forehead. "We had a conversation—oh no!" She clamped a hand over her mouth in dread, her gaze darting nervously toward Ginny and Ron.

Ron's voice trembled with uncertainty as he pieced the information together. "It wasn't you, then. Someone must be impersonating you." The words tumbled from his lips, each syllable sinking deeper into the pit of their collective stomachs.

Percy shot up straight, panic flooding his system. "Someone's pretending to be me right now?" His eyes darted between their increasingly distressed expressions, his heart pounding against his ribs like a trapped bird desperate to escape. The shadows in the room seemed to grow darker, and a gnawing fear took root as doubt crept in.

Ginny's face drained of colour as a terrified gasp escaped her lips, confirming Percy's darkest suspicions. "Mum and Dad—Harry!" she cried, her voice laced with panic.

Spurred by a sense of urgency, Percy leapt from the bed, grimacing through the sharp pang in his side. The others hurried after him.

"I'll return shortly, Augustus!" Percy called back, his words lingering like a farewell as the bewildered healer watched in puzzlement.

As they approached the Burrow, an unsettling stillness blanketed the scene. Even the typically mischievous gnomes, usually scurrying beneath the rosebushes, now lay motionless and silent. The air itself seemed to hum with tension, causing the hairs on the back of Ginny's neck to stand on end. This wrongness permeated not just the exterior but seemed to seep into the very atmosphere around them.

Hagrid's heavy boots thundered urgently along the stone path. He gripped his pink umbrella tightly, his brow furrowed with determination as he approached the ominous door. With a forceful shove, the creaking hinges gave way, and Hagrid stepped resolutely into the unknown.

The silence within was oppressive. As the others filed in, they were met with a scene of utter disarray. Overturned chairs, shattered glass, and the remnants of a meal lay scattered across the floor. The kitchen emanated a haunting chill, with cracked windows hanging precariously and allowing a shiver of wind to sweep through.

Hagrid's gruff voice shattered the eerie silence, his words echoing through the chaotic emptiness. "Wha' happened 'ere?"

A sharp gasp escaped Ginny's lips as she caught sight of her parents sprawled motionless on the floor. "Mum? Dad?" she cried, rushing to their side, her hands trembling with anxiety. Kneeling beside them, Ginny frantically felt for a pulse, her heart pounding with fear. A wave of relief washed over her as she detected the faint throb of life. "They're alive. They must have fought back before they were stunned," she breathed, the tension leaving her body.

Hagrid's imposing figure towered over the dishevelled kitchen. Scanning the room, he carefully pieced together the remnants of a recent struggle. "We need ter get 'em outta here, fast," he rumbled urgently. "They could still be in grave danger."

A bone-chilling, sinister chuckle suddenly pierced the air, shattering the brief respite they had felt. The unsettling laughter was swiftly succeeded by a harrowing, agonised cry that reverberated through their bodies, filling them with dread. Gripped by a mix of terror and morbid fascination, they instinctively moved towards the source of the disturbing sounds.

Stunned disbelief gripped them as they entered the living room. There, in an armchair, sat Percy Weasley exuding an unsettling air of arrogance, his eyes gleaming with a sense of smug superiority. Utterly unfazed by the chaos around him, he reclined with an almost regal poise, his limbs crossed as if he were a monarch surveying his kingdom.

The impostor's lips curled into a cruel sneer as he regarded the others. The real Percy stood frozen, his wand gripped tightly in trembling hands, his expression shifting rapidly from stunned disbelief to burning rage. But it was Harry who commanded all attention in that moment, doubled over in apparent agony, his hand clutching his stomach as waves of pain radiated through his body. The impostor's eyes narrowed, a conspiratorial glint in his gaze as he noticed Harry's obvious pain.

A twisted grin spread across his face as he held the small vial, mesmerised by the ominous glimmer of the potion within. "It's fascinating how just a few drops can cause such excruciating pain," he remarked with a mocking tone. Unfazed by the curious onlookers and the five wands pointed in his direction, he savoured the moment, revelling in the power he held in his hands.

"Who are you?" Ron spat; his furious gaze bore into the impostor. "What have you done to Harry?" he demanded, struggling against Hagrid's powerful hold. "Let me go, Hagrid!" he growled, his eyes locked onto the impostor seated calmly at the table, a wicked grin spreading across the stranger's face.

The impostor sneered, savouring the shock that rippled through the room. "I poisoned him," he confessed nonchalantly, leaning forward with a menacing grin twisting his lips. "Watching his suffering brings me immense satisfaction after waiting for so long."

Ron's heart sank as a pit of dread formed in his stomach. Helplessly, he glanced towards his incapacitated best friend, whose face was contorted in agonising pain.

With a swift, merciless motion, the impostor yanked Harry's head back, exposing the sickly pallor of his skin. "I'm not the one you should be worried about," he warned, his eyes glinting with cold, sadistic glee.

Hagrid's voice boomed, vibrating with protective fury. "Don't yeh dare touch him!" He lunged at the impostor, his massive hands reaching out to crush the impostor, but found himself magically suspended in mid-air. The impostor chuckled, utterly unconcerned and unintimidated by the threat.

Ron's pulse quickened, thrumming with desperation. His wand sparked angrily as he grappled with a growing sense of helplessness and dread.

Hermione's voice trembled as she stepped forward, a mix of defiance and fear etched on her face. "Why are you doing this?" she asked, her words laced with urgency.

Ignoring her question, the impostor produced another vial from his cloak. With a dramatic flourish, he lifted the vial to his lips and drank deeply. The transformation was instantaneous. His unruly red curls morphed into sleek, pale blond braids, while harsh angles emerged on his once freckled face. An icy chill gripped Hermione's heart as she recognised the figure now standing before them.

"Corban Yaxley," Ron whispered, horror etching his features. The name whispered of dark nights and deadly encounters, a reminder of what they had narrowly escaped.

"That's right," Yaxley said, reclining in the chair with a casual, arrogant air. "I quite fancy that spot where you tried to Disapparate during your last ministry visit, posing as others. I've been using it as a hideout—it's proven quite handy. I assume you were too preoccupied to return."

Sprawled on the floor, Harry struggled to rise, his battered body wracked with pain. "G-Grimmauld Place... isn't y-yours," he croaked weakly, clinging to his last shreds of strength. With a cruel kick to his back, Yaxley sent him sprawling again, a cruel, triumphant laugh escaping his lips.

"Oh, but it is now," Yaxley sneered, savouring the moment. "You've taken from me, so now I'll take what's most dear to you. The Dark Lord's plans were thwarted by you, but everything will crumble, starting with this very place," he taunted, his eyes gleaming with delight at Harry's suffering.

Ron's face burnt with fury, his eyes ablaze with sheer rage. "Get away from him!" he roared, a powerful surge of protective instinct coursing through him. Hermione and Ginny, their faces streaked with tears, moved closer, their wands raised, hands trembling with steely determination.

Yaxley, however, merely laughed. "I heard Harry's dying," he sneered, raising the vial of poison mockingly toward Harry's face. "This will hasten the process, but oh so painfully."

Consumed by fear, Ron cried out, "No!" as Yaxley tilted the vial dangerously close to Harry's lips.

With great effort, Harry managed to turn his head, straining against Yaxley's vice-like grip. Every muscle in his body fought against the excruciating torment, but Yaxley merely tightened his grasp, ruthlessly pouring the liquid into Harry's mouth.

Gut-wrenching screams echoed through the empty halls, merging with Ron's horrified protests and Hermione's desperate pleas. Yaxley basked in the ensuing chaos, his twisted smile growing broader as the room descended into sheer panic.

With a final, sinister laugh that resonated coldly against the walls, Yaxley vanished, leaving Harry writhing helplessly on the ground. Hermione and Ginny rushed to his side, their hearts pounding with overwhelming terror.

"We need to get him to St. Mungo's!" Hermione shouted, urgency biting at her words.

"There's a Portkey that can transport you straight to the hospital lobby," Percy said. He hurried to the kitchen and returned with an out-of-date Witch Weekly magazine, tossing it to Ron. "I'll stay behind to give the minister a full report."

With a wave of his wand, Percy performed a countercurse to free the immobilised Hagrid from Yaxley's spell. He then began muttering incantations, watching as the damaged house slowly pieced itself back together.

Hagrid gently lifted Harry's frail form into his trembling arms, whispering words of comfort between his own anguished tears. "Don't worry, Harry, yeh'll be alright," he soothed, though fear punctuated his gruff voice.

Hermione, shaking with panicked desperation, quickly conjured stretchers for the unconscious Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, while Ginny tenderly tended to her parents' limp forms.

Hagrid's expression was grim yet resolute as he nodded.

"Touch it!" Percy commanded urgently.

They huddled together tightly around the magazine. In an instant, the world spun into a dizzying blur of colours and sounds until everything stabilised into the sterile, chaotic environment of St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries.

Stunned by the chaotic scene, Augustus Pye hurried to aid the unconscious Mr. and Mrs. Weasley as they were wheeled into the lobby on separate stretchers. Despite the unexpected turn of events, he immediately sprang into action, swiftly arranging for the couple to be taken to their rooms.

Unease prickled Ron's skin as he watched Augustus scurry about, darting back and forth like a nervous sprite. Ron couldn't help but ponder whether Augustus found it odd that the Weasley clan so often found themselves embroiled in perilous predicaments that landed them in the hospital, or if the redheaded family's perpetual pandemonium had simply become the norm for the peculiar wizard.

Harry's agonising cries reverberated through the lobby, instantly commanding the attention of the surrounding witches and wizards. His usually vibrant green eyes were now wild with terror and anguish, his trembling frame fighting for each laboured breath. Ron's heart plummeted, panic surging through him like a raging wildfire as he staggered towards his distressed friend.

Hermione's face was ashen with panic as she frantically recounted the events to the staff. "He needs immediate assistance! Harry has been poisoned!"

The bored-looking receptionist's eyes suddenly widened in shock as she stared at Hermione. "Harry? You mean Harry Potter?" She gasped, her feigned indifference instantly vanishing.

Ron bristled with irritation, annoyed that the girl seemed surprised by Harry's name, as if it should command reverence. "Yes, it's him!" he snapped impatiently. "Now stop gawking and get someone to help us!"

The healers swarmed the room in a flurry of activity, a familiar and unsettling sight for Ron. Scuttling feet, determined faces, and hushed commands echoed against the polished floors, filling the air with tension. Ron stepped back, a haunting shroud of dread enveloping him as the very essence of the hospital seemed to darken around him. The blonde witch directed the others to a waiting area on the fourth floor, but Hagrid paid no heed, pushing past the healers in his haste to be by Harry's side.

Inside the small waiting room, Ron fidgeted, unable to remain still. Beside him, Hermione paced anxiously, her mind whirring with possible solutions. Ginny sat trembling, her hands twisting in her lap.

"The healers have plenty of antidotes. They can fix this; they have to!" Ron's voice wavered as he tried to reassure Hermione and Ginny.

Hermione's eyes were filled with a stormy, anxious energy. "Even if they have an antidote, it may not work fast enough. The poison could already be causing irreversible damage. We need to start preparing the cure right away, just in case."

Ron gazed worriedly at Ginny, who sat in pensive silence, her brow furrowed as she contemplated Hermione's grave words. "If the poison is not completely removed, Harry may not survive another bout with it," Ginny said, her usually steady voice laced with a haunting dread that knotted Ron's insides.

Ron's fists clenched with fury. "Yaxley and Malfoy!" He spat. The memory of their recent attacks burnt fresh in his mind, igniting a burning desire for retribution. "If I see them again, I'll make sure they pay for what they've done!" he vowed, his voice dripping with conviction that echoed off the waiting room walls. "We need to confront Malfoy quickly. He cannot get away with this; I'll make sure he ends up in Azkaban!"

Hermione and Ginny shot him glances of mixed surprise and concern, taken aback by the intensity of Ron's outburst.

"Ron, it's not really the time for revenge," Hermione said.

"I don't care!" he cried. "I can't sit here while Harry—while anyone—is fighting for their lives against these monsters. Someone has to pay!"