The Malfoy family was going to be investigated, a direct result of the Quidditch "brawl."
Harry and Malfoy were both in the hospital wing, another consequence of the insanely rough match.
Everyone on the Gryffindor and Slytherin Quidditch teams was sporting injuries; any wizard who didn't know better would have thought they'd been in a duel.
Harry and Malfoy were the worst off. Harry had a broken arm because he'd smashed Malfoy into the railing; he had a head injury because they'd tumbled to the ground together; and his leg was in a cast because he'd kicked Malfoy several meters away.
The Gryffindors were buzzing about it, but most of them thought it was "normal competition."
Wizarding "savagery"?
Sean thought to himself.
When Justin and the others arrived at the hospital wing, they could see through the crack in the door that Harry had casts on his left arm and right leg, and a bandage wrapped around his head.
Unfortunately, although Madam Pomfrey was a kind witch, she was extremely strict.
"Just five minutes, Madam, we're really worried about him."
Justin pleaded.
"Absolutely not."
Madam Pomfrey refused.
"But you let Sean in earlier..."
Ron frowned, his tone exaggerated.
"Yes, well, of course. Young Mr. Green was delivering potions; that's naturally different. Leave now, the patient needs rest."
Madam Pomfrey walked away, but she didn't close the door completely.
"Excuse me, what's going on here?"
A familiar voice sounded as several heads stacked up at the crack in the door.
Four heads turned around together, then gasped in low voices:
"Headmaster Dumbledore."
"Ah, yes, I know my name."
Dumbledore blinked benevolently.
"Shall we go in and have a look?"
Dumbledore added, and the group happily followed him inside.
"Heavens, Harry! You were so reckless!"
As soon as they entered, Hermione exclaimed. She ran to Harry's bedside and looked into his exposed left eye.
"Malfoy..."
Ron gritted his teeth.
Their entrance interrupted Sean, who was putting away potions. He looked at Harry, encased in plaster and bandages, and then at Malfoy on the other side, who was wrapped up like a mummy. For a moment, he couldn't tell who had it worse.
Following Sean's gaze, Ron and the other three suddenly fell silent.
They saw Malfoy wrapped tightly from head to toe, with only one indignant, angry eye exposed to glare at them.
"Malfoy, Malfoy... oh... he looks terrible."
Ron stammered, changing his tune.
"But he deserved it."
He added.
"You came just in time. If you were a few minutes later..."
Sean packed up the empty bottles of Bruise Removal Paste and Invigoration Draught that Harry had finished, then spoke to the group.
"Sean, you mean... what happened?"
Ron was burning with anxiety.
"If you were a few minutes later, Harry would have been discharged."
Sean said, tapping Harry's cast with his wand. Fragments of stone scattered on the floor.
Harry's fractured bones were already as good as new.
Madam Pomfrey had once told Harry, when he had his bones removed, "I can mend bones in a second."
It seemed Madam Pomfrey was precise; she had indeed reset Harry's bones in a second and made them heal rapidly.
"Is that so?" Ron scratched his head sheepishly. He looked at Harry again and whispered, "Now the whole school is talking about this match. We couldn't see clearly from down there. What exactly happened?"
The true story was even more bizarre and thrilling than the baseless rumors. This was a rare occurrence, but it was the case now.
Harry told them everything exactly as it happened—how he had dangerously fought Malfoy for the Golden Snitch during the Quidditch match, and how they had attacked each other.
Neville, Ron, and Hermione listened intently, gasping nervously at every perilous moment.
"Brilliant job!"
Ron punched the air excitedly at the end.
Just then, Madam Pomfrey bustled in.
"You've been here for nearly fifteen minutes. Out, all of you. And you, Harry, dear, I hope you haven't forgotten how to walk."
She said firmly.
The group helped Harry, who was fully healed but still a bit stiff, out of the hospital wing.
Harry felt like a hero returning in triumph. He liked this feeling; after Malfoy had hurt Ginny, he had been able to get justice for her.
Just look at Malfoy; he'd be staying in the hospital wing for quite a long time.
But subconsciously, Harry wanted to look at Sean again.
Sean hadn't said anything. what was his opinion?
They still had so much to tell Sean, like the reason for this conflict, and how Lucius wanted to kill Ginny...
But somehow, after packing up the glass bottles, Sean walked off with Headmaster Dumbledore. They were discussing something; Harry could only see Dumbledore's beard trembling and his eyes narrowing.
Harry couldn't resist quietly following them until they disappeared around the corner of the corridor.
By this time, the group had split up, and the corridor was quiet.
...
Headmaster's Office.
The door wasn't fully closed.
Sean looked toward the entrance. Suddenly, the door was slammed open with force, bouncing off the wall behind it with a bang.
Lucius Malfoy stood there, his expression one of fury.
Cowering under his arm, covered in bandages, was Dobby.
"Good evening, Lucius."
Dumbledore said pleasantly.
Lucius stormed into the room, causing the torches to flicker.
Dobby followed in a panic, hunched over, staring at the hem of his master's robes with a look of desperate, helpless terror on his face.
"So, Dumbledore."
Lucius said, enunciating every word.
"It's over, Lucius. Surprisingly, it's not much different from what was reported."
Dumbledore said.
"Oh?" Mr. Malfoy asked sharply. "Who is the culprit?"
"The same person as last time, Lucius," Dumbledore said. "However, this time, Voldemort was acting through another person. By means of his diary."
Dumbledore glanced at Sean, who was holding a small black book with a large hole pierced through the middle, and closely watched Mr. Malfoy's reaction.
"So that's how it is..." Mr. Malfoy said slowly to Dumbledore.
"Aren't you curious, Lucius, how this diary appeared?"
Dumbledore said in a calm tone, still staring piercingly into Mr. Malfoy's eyes.
"Why should I know how that stupid little girl got hold of it?"
Lucius Malfoy sneered.
"I rather think you gave it to her. This information comes from a wizard who cannot lie."
Dumbledore narrowed his eyes.