'And he threw a curse that rebounded and hit him in the arm,' said Harry with relish.
'I did not,' said Draco.
'Oh, yes you did,' said Harry.
'I think you're remembering what I told you wrong, Potter.'
'Then why don't you tell us how you got that hole in your shoulder, Malfoy?'
Draco gritted his teeth. 'I threw a curse that rebounded and hit me in the arm,' he muttered.
'Careless of you,' said Harry with obvious delight.
'Perhaps a Priori Incantatum might be in order here,' said Snape silkily.
'Draco didn't use his wand,' Harry put in quickly. 'I…I assume.'
Draco raised his left hand. 'No wand,' he said.
'Magid spells,' said Snape darkly. 'Both out of bed sneaking around after dark. Using curses. Filch would string you up in the dungeons by your thumbs for this.'
Harry looked mildly horrified.
'May I remind you,' said Draco, 'that detention is a time-honored form of punishment.'
'And detention you shall have,' said Dumbledore. 'Both of you, commencing when you return from Christmas holidays. As well as twenty points from each of your houses. I will consider the damage done to you physically, Draco, and you mentally, Harry, by the results of this escapade to be the rest of your punishment.'
Both boys looked at the ground. Draco was the first to speak.
'Headmaster…' he began slowly. 'Won't the…what will the other students….won't they wonder about…'
'Me?' Harry clarified.
Dumbledore's eyes twinkled briefly. 'I trust you two to fabricate a story they'll believe,' he said. 'I have the utmost faith in you both.'
'Thanks, Professor,' Draco said, not exactly sure what he was thanking him for, but feeling grateful nonetheless. For the vote of confidence, perhaps. 'And…we're sorry.'
Both Snape and Charlie looked to Dumbledore, who shrugged, and rose creakily to his feet. 'Very well,' he said. 'I would like to see you in my office later, Mr. Malfoy, when you are fully recovered.' He looked at Harry, and then back at Draco. 'Alone,' he clarified.
Draco felt himself flush. 'Of course, Professor.'
Snape and Charlie had risen to their feet as well, and Charlie looked expectantly at Harry, who glanced over at Dumbledore. 'I'd like to stay,' he said. 'If that's all right.'
'Normally, outside of visiting hours, only family…' Snape began.
'I am family,' Harry said.
Dumbledore nodded. 'Yes, you are,' he said. 'And you may stay.'
When Ginny left Herbology in the afternoon, she found Ron and Hermione standing on the snowy path that led up from the greenhouse to school, waiting for her. They were deep in conversation, Ron's dark red head bent over Hermione's brown one, and she had to clear her throat loudly to get their attention. They spun around, looking surprised.
'Hey, Ginny,' said Hermione. There was color in her cheeks and she clutched a white piece of parchment in a red-mittened fist. 'I'm skipping lunch and going to see Draco in the hospital wing — I thought you might want to come along.'
Ginny was surprised. 'He can have visitors? He's awake?'
'He's awake,' said Hermione. 'And Harry's with him.' She waved her parchment. 'He owled down and said we should come.'
'How'd Harry get there so early?' Ginny asked, starting to walk up the path.
'Spent the night on the floor,' said Hermione, sounding amused. 'You know how he gets when he's worried. Remember when that Bludger broke Ron's arm last year and Harry camped out in the infirmary and brought him all his homework?'
'True,' said Ron. He held out a hand to help Hermione up the iced-over steps, and she took it. 'But I don't think he spent the night on the floor, ever.'
'Well, Draco's a bit different,' said Ginny, and was about to add that Draco was different because it seemed like someone had actually tried to kill him, as opposed to his having had an accident, but Ron interrupted.
'Yeah, because if Harry didn't stay with him constantly, you know, Malfoy might stop breathing.'
'Ron, don't even say that,' Hermione admonished him gently. 'Harry's just being a friend — he'd do it for you.' Reaching the top of the stairs, she let go of Ron's hand. 'In fact, we should all go visit him. You, too, Ron.'
'Nooo,' Ron moaned, looking mutinous. 'Can't I just clean out the prefects' bathroom instead? Something fun?'
'He saved your life once,' said Hermione severely.
'I saved his life twice. I'm one up on him still.'
'Can't you just pretend to like him? As a favor to me?' Hermione asked.
Ron's resistance seemed to deflate like a punctured balloon. 'Oh, all right.'
