Hermione Moves into the Hospital Wing (4)

"Fun?" Hermione's voice went shrill again. "You call this fun?"

"No, no, I meant—" Ron poked his head out from Harry's left, then quickly withdrew it. "I mean, you should've told us. We could've kept it a secret for you. You came to the Hospital Wing alone in the middle of the night—what if something happened on the way?"

Hermione's ears twitched, but she did not answer. Her tail slipped out from beneath the blanket, its tip swaying slightly, as though she felt a little guilty. Standing between them, Harry finally let out a breath of relief. He lowered his outstretched arms and took a step back, intending to lean against the cabinet and rest for a moment. Then he heard a snap.

The pink chocolate gift box slipped out from inside his robes and fell to the floor. The sound of wrapping paper striking the floor seemed especially loud in the quiet ward. All three of them looked down at the box at once. Pink, heart-shaped, its golden ribbon splayed across the floor like a crookedly blooming flower. Harry bent to pick it up, but Hermione was faster. Her movements were unbelievably nimble—perhaps some instinct brought on by the cat ears. With a quick reach, her furry hand snatched up the box.

Hermione turned the box over in her hands, the pink wrapping paper rustling faintly beneath her fingers. She tilted her head, confusion filling those vertical pupils. "What is this?"

Harry stood across from her, his back already beginning to sweat. "Chocolate." His voice was dry as sandpaper.

"What kind of chocolate?"

"Ordinary chocolate." Harry swallowed. "The kind that makes you feel better after you eat it."

Hermione's ears turned slightly. Clearly, she did not believe him. She lowered her gaze to the box, her fingers stroking the