'Charlie,' Harry snapped right back. 'I want to know who or what was responsible for this, and I want to know now.'
'What's going on here?' It was Professor Lupin, who had opened the infirmary door behind Charlie. He looked from Charlie's exasperated face to Harry's pale, set one. 'Did you tell them Draco's fine?'
'No,' said Charlie irritably. 'I felt like keeping it to myself so I could make it a really big surprise.'
Lupin shut the door behind him and turned to face Harry. 'So what's the problem?'
'I want to know what happened, Harry said. 'I want to know who's responsible for.. for this,' and he made a sweeping gesture towards the infirmary door. 'I'm family. I have a right to know.'
'Yes, you do,' said Lupin. 'And as soon as we know, we will tell you.'
'Let me see him. He'll tell me what happened.'
'He's passed out, Harry. He can't tell you anything.'
Harry glanced at Hermione. She was looking at him with large, worried eyes. Beside her, Ron looked taken aback at the force of Harry's anger.
'Harry,' Hermione said gently. 'We'll go to class and come back after -
maybe then they'll know a bit more.'
'No,' said Lupin. 'When we know anything, we'll find you, Harry. Hanging about in the corridor here won't do any good. Go to class, there's no need to come back.'
Ron reached for Harry's arm, but Harry shook him off. He was staring at Lupin. 'You're keeping something from me,' he said intently. 'All of you are — and what's the difference? Whatever it is, I'll be the one who has to deal with it in the end, all alone. I always am.'
'We're not keeping anything from you,' Lupin said sharply. 'You know what we know.' Harry started to speak, but Lupin cut him off. 'Draco is going to be fine, but he's still very weak. And in pain. And we need to be taking care of him, but instead you are wasting our time out here. Think about it.'
Hermione took hold of Harry's arm. 'We're going,' she said, and gestured with her chin for Ron and Ginny to follow. Harry went with Hermione unwillingly, looking back over his shoulder at Lupin and Charlie until they turned the corner of the hallway and were once again all four alone, at which point Hermione turned to Harry, her hand still on his arm.
'There's no need to talk to Charlie like that — ' she began.
Harry jerked his arm away from Hermione as soon as they had stopped walking, and glared at her. 'And you don't need to lead me around as if I'm some sort of mentally deficient child,' he snapped.
Hermione dropped her hand, looking fed up. 'Then quit acting like one,' she snapped right back.
Harry looked grimly satisfied, as if his goal of provoking a response out of Hermione had now been reached. 'I will if you quit acting like a bossy know-it-all,' he replied.
She looked shocked, then put her hands on her hips. 'Harry Potter,' she said in a voice that seethed with rage, 'you self-centered, inconsiderate, obstinate — '
Ginny felt a hand land on her shoulder. It was Ron. 'We'll just be going now,' he said, very loudly, although neither of his two friends turned to look at him. 'We have to…there's thing that…we have to do…very soon.
Like, now.'
'Right,' Ginny agreed weakly. 'That thing we have to do,' and she fled after Ron. Not, however, before she caught another glimpse of Harry and Hermione glaring fiercely at each other. Harry's hands were balled into fists in his pockets, and Hermione was pale and tight-lipped. She was glad not to have to stay to watch this fight; while Ron and Hermione often bickered and sniped in a wearying manner, Harry and Hermione fought extremely rarely — but when they did, it was with the force of several exploding volcanoes.
She caught up to her brother as they turned the next corner and emerged into the corridor that led to her History of Magic class. Ron was shaking his head. 'Unbelievable,' he said.
'What's unbelievable?'
Ron gave a short laugh. 'Those two,' he said. 'And their relationship.
Otherwise known as the Circus of Pain.'
'Oh, come on. It's not that bad.'
'Lately being around them is like repeatedly hitting yourself in the head with a hammer. The only bright side is that it feels good when you stop.'
'Ron!' Ginny glowered at her brother. 'They're just having a rough patch.'
Ron shrugged. 'Maybe.'
Ginny gave her brother a very hard look. He seemed distracted, and his color was high, as if he were annoyed. 'Well, maybe you should get a girlfriend yourself before you go making pronouncements,' she said severely.
Ron shrugged again. 'What makes you think I don't have one?'
Ginny stopped dead. 'Ron! You don't, do you? Do you?'
Ron paused, and looked at her as if in surprise. Then he laughed awkwardly. 'No. Of course not.'
She continued to look at him until he began to flush slowly.
'Not that anyone would take any interest if I did,' he said shortly.
'That's not true! Ron, what on earth is going on with you?'
Ron opened his mouth to reply, then shut it with a snap. He was looking off past her shoulder. She turned to follow his gaze and saw that someone was standing in the hall just ahead of them, near the doorway to History of Magic. It was a moment before she realized that it was Seamus. He must have been waiting out in front of Professor Binns' classroom — waiting for her.
