When Ron woke up, he found himself lying in a hospital bed. He was familiar with this place because he had stayed here when he was petrified by the basilisk last semester. It was the school's infirmary. The linen sheets and the scent of herbs instantly made him understand. He began to recall the last thing that happened before he lost consciousness.
"Hiss…" He couldn't help but cry out. The injury on his shoulder seemed to be only now reaching his sensory nerves. In the wizarding world, the habit of using anesthetics probably hadn't formed yet. Even if they had used it, the effect should have worn off by now. It wasn't just his shoulder and arm; Ron discovered that his head was also wrapped in a bandage, covering most of his fiery red hair, with occasional stabs of pain coming from underneath.
"Ron, you're awake?" Harry said in surprise, sitting beside him.
"Thanks," Ron said, then turned his head to look out the window, finding that it was completely dark outside.
"How long have I been out?" he asked.
"Almost half a day," Harry replied.
"Is that so?" He tried to sit up, but found that he couldn't exert any strength in his arms.
"You should lie down first. Madam Pomfrey said you'll need at least a month to fully recover." It was Hermione's cold voice. "Don't get me wrong," Hermione added, standing behind him. "I just feel a little sorry that my prediction came true. Now that you're awake, I should go."
"Goodbye, Weasley," Hermione's voice was still indifferent.
"Wait," Ron's voice was a little weak. He tried to stop her. "I'm sorry."
"I believe this was just an accident. You're still just a student without a halo." Ron's words almost reignited Hermione's anger.
"I'm not taking that lousy Divination class anymore. Actually, I don't believe it anyway. She even said I would have good luck today." Lying in bed, Ron let out a heavy breath.
"I apologize for my previous slip of the tongue," Ron said sincerely.
Hermione's spell had saved him when Ron was at his most desperate. He wasn't so ungrateful. He had already regretted saying those hurtful words yesterday.
Making a girl cry, especially when you're not really in the right, is really awful.
As a result, Hermione had helped him without holding a grudge. He felt that if he continued to be ungrateful, he would despise himself.
Essentially, he was still a good kid.
"I accept your apology," Hermione took a deep breath and said slowly.
After all, they were friends. Isn't it normal to be tolerant of friends?
But if cracks appear again and again and are patched up, will they really be as seamless as before?
Hermione didn't say it, but she really felt that he was too immature sometimes.
When it came to important matters, such as the Sorcerer's Stone in the first year and the Polyjuice Potion in the second year, she was willing to take risks with Ron and Harry and break school rules because she knew that there were more important things than rules.
But most of the time, she found it difficult to bear their stupidity and impulsiveness. Harry was okay sometimes, but Ron was really hopeless at times.
Today's accident could be entirely attributed to his own recklessness.
"Okay, then, so you're mentally prepared to accept this, I have three not-so-good pieces of news to tell you," Hermione's tone softened a lot after accepting the apology, but the words she spoke were not at all pleasing.
"Hermione, don't say it, we need to let him rest." Harry's eyes dimmed, as if he had thought of something, but he still tugged at Hermione's sleeve, telling her not to continue.
"Since you made a mistake, you must have the courage to take responsibility. That is the true Gryffindor way," Hermione said, staring at Ron.
"Okay," Ron nodded. He didn't realize how serious the consequences of today's accident were.
"First, your parents already know that you're injured. I heard that you were seriously injured. Aunt Molly almost came to see you, but your father stopped her. But I think they must be very worried about you. Your twin brothers and prefect brother stayed to watch over you for almost an afternoon before leaving. These are all the prices your family paid for you. Can you think more clearly when you take risks in the future?" Hermione earnestly advised him, hoping that Ron would think twice in the future.
Compared to the injury he suffered in the first year because of the chess game, that time could be called a sacrifice, but this time it was just a joke.
"Okay," Ron lowered his head in shame, and regret spread from his heart.
Seeing that he realized his mistake, Hermione's tone improved a lot, but the following words made him even more uncomfortable.
"Second, Hagrid may be fired," Hermione continued seriously.
"No!" Ron had an incredulous expression. "It's all my fault this time. It has nothing to do with Hagrid. I was carried away!" he exclaimed, wanting to take the blame on himself, but obviously, it was useless.
"Only possibly." Hermione frowned, and she didn't feel good looking at Ron's guilty appearance, but when she thought about how his own recklessness led to all of this, she didn't want to comfort him anymore. She felt that he had to learn a lesson this time.
"Harry, what should we do? Let's go talk to Professor Dumbledore and ask him to deduct my points, but don't fire Hagrid." Ron knew how hard-won Hagrid's opportunity was, but now he might have ruined it.
"Okay…" Harry just nodded perfunctorily. He felt that this matter shouldn't be resolved so easily.
"What's the last thing?" Ron asked with some fear. He couldn't imagine that he was the victim, but he had brought more trouble to others. He didn't want to involve others in this last point no matter what.
"Only related to you." Hermione sighed and looked at Ron with a complicated expression. "Harry, you tell him. I have to go to the library now." After speaking, Hermione walked towards the door of the ward without looking back. Hermione was relieved to see Ron wake up. Now she should return to her study.
The world doesn't revolve around one person.
"Harry, what's the matter?" Ron hurriedly grabbed Harry with his only intact arm and asked in a panic.
Harry hesitated for a while, stammered for a while, and then made the words clear.
Upon hearing this, Ron's face suddenly turned pale, and then turned red, as if it had been burned red by an iron skewer that had been roasted for a long time. His eyes were full of anger and unwillingness. He struggled to get out of bed, but fell back weakly due to his injuries.
His only intact right hand was clenched into a fist, which was perhaps the only way he could express his indignation now.
"Why is this happening!" Ron let out a shrill roar in bed. He couldn't accept this fact.
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