After Harry woke up, he found himself in the dimly lit infirmary. Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse, was hovering nearby, tidying up some vials on her desk. Noticing he was awake, she approached him with a gentle smile.
"You're awake, finally," she said, her tone brisk but kind. "Several of your friends came to see you, but I had to send them back to their dormitories. Curfew has passed."
Harry blinked, his mind still foggy from sleep. "What time is it?"
"It's just past 11 o'clock," she replied, glancing at the clock on the wall. "You've been out for quite a while. You should eat something and get more rest. You need your strength if you're going to be discharged tomorrow."
She handed him a tray with some food, simple but warm. Harry's stomach growled in response, reminding him how long it had been since he'd eaten. He nodded gratefully and started to eat, feeling more awake with every bite.
As Madam Pomfrey bustled around the infirmary, she added, "You'll be able to return to your dormitory tomorrow, but for now, rest up here. You've had quite the day."
Harry, still a bit dazed, nodded again. The events of the day—his Quidditch match, the enchanted Bludger, and Dobby's strange warnings—ran through his mind, but for the moment, he focused on finishing his meal. Exhaustion still lingered, and as soon as he was done eating, he lay back down, preparing himself for another night in the quiet of the infirmary.
At that moment, Harry felt something slithering on the edge of his bed. He glanced down and was startled to see Asha and Kavi, his two snakes, coiled up beside him. Asha lifted her head and fixed her sharp eyes on him.
"What are you two doing here?" Harry whispered in Parseltongue, glancing nervously at Madam Pomfrey, who thankfully hadn't noticed.
Asha flicked her tongue and replied, her voice soft but firm, "We didn't see you return to the nest. So I searched and found you here."
Kavi, the smaller and more playful of the two, curled closer to Harry's side. "You shouldn't get hurt without us there to protect you," he said, sounding almost like he was scolding Harry.
Harry sighed, feeling a strange comfort from their presence despite everything. "I didn't plan on getting hurt," he muttered. "It just... happened."
Asha gave a small hiss of disapproval, but Kavi was more direct. "We must be with you, always. Danger lurks, and we are here to keep you safe."
Harry couldn't help but smile faintly. Even though they were snakes, their concern for him was clear.
The next morning, Harry woke up feeling much better, his head clearer than the day before. He looked around and saw Madam Pomfrey bustling about, tending to her usual tasks.
"Good morning, Madam Pomfrey," Harry said politely as she approached his bed.
"Good morning, Potter," she replied with a small smile. "How are you feeling?"
"Much better, thank you," he said gratefully. "I was wondering... what method did you use to heal me? I mean, to fix everything after... well, what Professor Lockhart did."
Madam Pomfrey paused, a glint of pride in her eyes as she looked at him. "Ah, that's right! You mentioned you were interested in becoming a healer. Well, I used a mix of charms and potions to get you back in shape."
Harry leaned in, eager to hear more. "What exactly did you use?"
"First, I used the Brackium Emendo charm to properly restore your bone structure. It's a delicate charm, which is why it needs to be handled with care—unlike that catastrophe from Professor Lockhart," she said, shaking her head disapprovingly. "Then, I had to give you Skele-Gro to regrow the missing bones, though I'm sure you remember how unpleasant that part was."
Harry grimaced at the memory of drinking Skele-Gro.
Madam Pomfrey continued, "I also applied a Murtlap Essence salve to help with the bruising and inflammation. For the external injuries, I used the Episkey charm to heal those cuts and scrapes."
"Wow," Harry said, impressed. "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey. That sounds incredible. I really do want to learn all that someday."
She gave him a warm smile and patted his shoulder. "You're very welcome, Potter. But let's focus on keeping you out of here for now, alright?"
Madam Pomfrey approached Harry's bed once more after checking his arm for the last time. "Everything looks in order now, Potter. You're free to go," she said with a nod of approval.
As she turned her back to gather some supplies, Harry quickly slipped his two small snakes, Asha and Kavi, under his shirt. He didn't want to alarm her with their presence. "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey," he called out, standing up and getting ready to leave.
"Wait a moment, Potter," she called, stopping him in his tracks. "I have something for you." She turned around with a smile and handed him a well-worn book, its pages filled with notes in the margins. "This is a more advanced guide on magical medicine. It's the same one I used when I was learning. I think you'll find it useful, especially with all the scribbles I've added over the years."
Harry's eyes lit up. "Wow, thank you so much!" he said sincerely, hugging the book to his chest. As he turned to leave, a thought struck him, and he paused by the door. "Madam Pomfrey, I have a question," he said, looking back at her.
"Go on, Potter," she replied, curious.
"Why don't Muggle-born students get vaccinated against magical diseases?" Harry asked, frowning. "I mean, my friend Hermione—she's Muggle-born—never even knew about it. Shouldn't someone have mentioned it when we all started school?"
Madam Pomfrey's face shifted from calm to alarmed. "What?" she gasped. "I was under the impression that the professors made sure all Muggle-born students received the necessary vaccinations when they arrived. That's standard procedure."
Harry shook his head. "Hermione didn't know anything about it. She never got the vaccines."
Madam Pomfrey's shock deepened. "This is unacceptable. I'll go straight to the professors and ensure this is corrected immediately," she said, her voice determined. Without another word, she hurried out of the room, leaving Harry standing alone.
Feeling slightly bewildered by the conversation but glad he'd brought it up, Harry tucked the book under his arm and made his way toward the Great Hall. It was still breakfast time, and he figured he'd meet his friends there for a meal before his day continued.
Harry entered the Great Hall, scanning the long tables for familiar faces. Almost immediately, he spotted Hermione, who looked up from her book and gasped when she saw him. She practically leapt from her seat and rushed over, her eyes wide with concern.
"Harry! You're okay! I was so worried!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with relief, but her expression was a mix of concern and excitement. "How's your arm? Does it still hurt? What did Madam Pomfrey say? Did she give you any potions? Did she say you could play Quidditch again? What about your head? You did fall pretty hard—"
Harry raised a hand, trying to calm her down. "Hermione, I'm fine. Really. My arm's good as new, thanks to Madam Pomfrey. And yes, I can play again," he reassured her with a smile, though he could see she was still worried.
Hermione huffed, folding her arms, but her face softened as she gave him a tight hug. "I'm glad you're alright. You scared me, you know."
Harry returned the hug, feeling a bit guilty for causing so much concern. "I didn't mean to. It was just a rough match, that's all."
Before he could say more, a group of Ravenclaw Quidditch players approached, including Cho Chang and a couple of the older students from the team.
"Hey, Harry! You alright?" Cho asked with a warm smile. "We all heard what happened with the Bludger. Looked pretty nasty."
"Yeah, we were worried you'd be out for the rest of the season," another teammate chimed in. "Glad to see you're up and about!"
Harry grinned, feeling a surge of gratitude for their support. "Thanks, everyone. I'm okay, really. Just needed a night in the hospital wing."
One of the older players clapped him on the shoulder. "Good to have you back, mate. We need you out there."
"Wouldn't miss it," Harry replied, feeling a lot more confident now that the worst seemed to be behind him.
Harry decided to keep quiet about Dobby for the time being. With so many people around, especially in the busy Great Hall, it didn't seem like the right moment to bring up the strange house-elf and his cryptic warnings. Instead, he resolved to tell Hermione, Neville, and Theo later, when they were alone.
It still unsettled him, though—why was Dobby so obsessed with getting him out of the school "for his own good," even to the point of injuring him during a Quidditch match? The whole situation made no sense. But for now, Harry pushed the thought aside, focusing on the meal in front of him and the fact that he was finally back to his regular routine.
As he tucked into his breakfast, he glanced around the table. The morning light filtered through the enchanted ceiling, casting a soft glow over the room, and the chatter of students filled the hall. He tried to focus on the food and his upcoming classes, but the mystery of Dobby lingered in the back of his mind, like a shadow he couldn't shake.
After finishing his breakfast, Harry gathered his things, mentally preparing himself for the day ahead. There was still time to figure out the whole Dobby situation, but for now, he needed to focus on getting through his classes—and, later, finding a quiet moment to talk to his friends.
As the week went by, Harry found himself buried under a mountain of homework. The demands of classes and assignments left him little time to discuss the strange happenings surrounding the house-elf Dobby. He kept pushing the thought to the back of his mind, but the feeling of unease nagged at him.
Finally, the weekend arrived, and Harry knew he couldn't put it off any longer. He grabbed Hermione, Neville, and Theo by the hand, much to their surprise, and led them away from the bustling common areas.
"Harry, where are we going?" Hermione asked, glancing around in confusion.
"Just trust me," Harry replied, his determination clear in his voice.
They made their way to the second floor, where the corridor was almost deserted, far from classes and dormitories. Harry pushed open the door to an empty classroom and ushered his friends inside.
Once the door was shut, he took a deep breath, his heart racing. "I need to tell you guys something important."
"What's going on?" Theo asked, looking a bit worried.
Harry glanced around to make sure they were alone. "It's about an elf I met named Dobby."
"an elf ?"Neville asked, bewildered.
"He's a house-elf," Harry explained, trying to keep it simple. "i don't know him but he appears this summer in dursley house and tries to warn me about a danger ."
Hermione frowned. "So, what does he have to do with you?"
"Dobby came to see me," Harry said, frustration creeping into his voice. "He warned me about the dangers of returning to Hogwarts and tried to prevent me from coming back by sabotaging my chances with the Quidditch team."
Theo raised an eyebrow. "Sabotaging? How did he do that?"
Harry sighed. "During the Quidditch match, my broom went out of control, and I almost fell. Dobby was trying to get my attention, but it ended up being really dangerous."
"What?!" Hermione exclaimed, her eyes wide. "That sounds awful!"
"I know!" Harry replied. "He said he wanted to protect me, but it didn't feel like that at all. He nearly got me hurt!"
Neville looked concerned. "You should tell someone, Harry. A teacher or something. This Dobby could be a danger to you."
"I thought about it," Harry admitted, running a hand through his hair. "But I don't know what they would do. He's a house-elf, and I'm worried they might just dismiss him or punish him instead of helping."
Hermione nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense, but we can't just ignore it. If he comes back, we need to be ready."
The group shared uneasy glances, understanding the seriousness of the situation. They all felt the risks but also knew they had to support Harry.
"Alright," Theo said, determination in his voice. "We'll look out for each other. If Dobby shows up again, we'll figure out what to do together."
Harry felt a rush of gratitude toward his friends. "Thanks, guys. I knew I could count on you."
As Harry continued to explain the situation with Dobby, he remembered something important he had discussed with Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse.
"Oh, and there's something else," Harry added, glancing at his friends. "I talked to Madam Pomfrey about the vaccinations for Muggle-borns. She said it's supposed to be a protocol for their first time in the magical world, and she promised she would speak to the professors about it."
Hermione nodded, her brow furrowing. "That makes sense. They need to make sure everyone is safe, especially with all the magical illnesses that could spread."
Theo, however, looked puzzled. "But if that's the protocol, why didn't they do it last year? It seems really important."
"I don't know," Harry replied, shaking his head. "That's what I was thinking, too. Madam Pomfrey seemed shocked when I told her that Hermione hadn't even heard about it."
"Maybe it was just an oversight?" Neville suggested, trying to make sense of it.
"Could be," Harry said, "but I think we should keep an eye on it. If Madam Pomfrey brings it up, then maybe the professors will finally take action."
As they left the empty classroom, Hermione's mind raced with questions. "I wonder how many Muggle-borns like me haven't gotten their vaccinations yet," she said, glancing at her friends. "We should definitely find out."
"Good idea," Harry replied. "We can ask everyone in our houses and see if they know anything about it."
"Since we're missing the Gryffindors in our group, we should definitely ask Ron to help us out. He can talk to his classmates and see if anyone else hasn't gotten their vaccinations."
"Yeah, and it'll give us a chance to see if he's really sincere about his apologies," Theo added, a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
Hermione shot him a disapproving look. "That's not really fair, Theo. He's trying."
"Just saying, it could be useful to see how sincere he actually is," Theo retorted, crossing his arms.
Harry and Neville exchanged glances and burst into laughter at the banter. Hermione's brow furrowed as she tried to suppress a smile. "You two are impossible."
The contrast between Hermione and Theo was evident; they were the most oppositional personalities in their group. Hermione was always earnest and studious, while Theo had a knack for teasing, which added a layer of fun to their serious discussions.
"Come on, it'll be fun," Neville said, still chuckling.
Hermione turned to her friends with a plan in mind. "Let's split up and check in with our housemates first. We can see if anyone else in Ravenclaw, Slytherin, or Hufflepuff has had the same issue."
"Sounds good," Harry said, feeling the urgency of their mission.
As the weekend progressed, Harry and his friends gathered more information about the vaccination situation for Muggle-born students. They each made a point to speak to several classmates from their respective houses, eager to uncover the truth behind the discrepancies.
By Sunday evening, the group reconvened in their usual spot near the Ravenclaw common room, the air thick with anticipation. Hermione, her brows furrowed in concentration, was the first to speak. "So, what did everyone find out?"
"I talked to a few more Ravenclaws," Harry began. "Most of them didn't even know they were supposed to get vaccinated, and a couple were upset about it. They thought they'd been left out of the loop."
Neville nodded, adding, "The Hufflepuffs I spoke to were similar. They said they had no idea about any vaccination requirements either, and they're worried about it now."
Theo chimed in, "In Slytherin, a few students mentioned that they thought it was just a rumor. They didn't realize it was something that actually needed to be done, which is concerning."
Hermione's expression turned serious. "So it seems like a lot of Muggle-borns might be in the dark about this. We really need to bring this to the professors' attention, especially since the nurse is already aware."
"I'll talk to Professor Flitwick tomorrow," Harry suggested, determination in his voice. "He's usually really approachable, and I think he'll take this seriously."
"I can talk to Professor Sprout," Neville offered. "She's always been supportive of us."
"And I'll go to Professor Snape," Theo added, making a face. "Even if he's a bit intimidating, he might have insights on the Potions side of things."
Hermione smiled, impressed by her friends' initiative. "That sounds like a solid plan. If we each take our findings to our professors, we can push for a solution. It's important that everyone is safe and informed."
"Alright, let's get some rest. We have a busy week ahead of us," Harry said as they started to disperse.
"Definitely," Hermione agreed. "Let's meet up again after classes tomorrow to share what we learn."
As they parted ways, Harry couldn't shake the feeling that they were onto something significant. The mystery of Dobby's warning and the vaccinations would not go unnoticed, and he was ready to take action. With that thought in mind, he climbed into bed, the events of the weekend swirling in his mind, and drifted off to sleep.
Monday arrived quickly, and as the students gathered in the Great Hall for breakfast, the atmosphere buzzed with anticipation. The golden plates were filled with food, and chatter filled the air when Professor Dumbledore stood up to make an announcement.
"Attention, everyone," he called, his voice resonating through the hall. "I have come to address a pressing issue regarding our health protocols. It has come to my attention that some Muggle-born students have not received their required magical vaccinations. As a result, there will be no classes today. Instead, all students will undergo a check-up with Madam Pomfrey and Professor Snape, who has kindly agreed to assist her."
"How could he say 'some'? All the Muggle-borns didn't know," thought Harry.
The hall erupted into whispers, curiosity and concern spreading among the students. Harry listened intently, but he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in the pit of his stomach. As Dumbledore continued speaking, Harry felt a fleeting gaze from the Headmaster. For just a moment, it felt heavy with contempt, a feeling that sent shivers down Harry's spine. But before he could dwell on it, Dumbledore's demeanor shifted back to his usual, benevolent self.
As the announcement concluded, Harry noticed that many of the professors looked exhausted. He exchanged glances with Hermione and Neville, who both wore expressions of concern. Harry wondered if Dumbledore's mention of the vaccinations had led to some tension among the faculty.
"Do you think they had a fight about this?" Hermione whispered to Harry, who nodded slowly.
"I wouldn't be surprised," Harry replied, keeping his voice low. "Dumbledore didn't seem pleased at all. It's like he's hiding something, and I don't trust him."
Hermione frowned, her brows knitted together in thought. "I've always respected Dumbledore, but after everything we've been through, I can't help but feel uneasy about him too."
"Exactly," Harry said, glancing back at the staff table. He couldn't shake the stories he'd heard about the man who was supposed to be a beacon of wisdom and protection. "Something about him just feels... off."
The duo fell silent, each lost in their thoughts about the implications of the day ahead. With a shared understanding, they finished their breakfast, readying themselves for what the check-up would reveal and the mysteries that surrounded them.