Madam Pomfrey walked briskly from the back of the ward, asking with concern, "What happened?"
As she spoke, she lent a hand to help Jon move Astoria Greengrass onto a bed.
Even after being covered with a blanket, Astoria remained curled up, trembling helplessly, her small hand clinging tightly to Jon's and refusing to let go.
"It was a Boggart, Poppy..." came the sound of heavy footsteps from behind—Albus Dumbledore had arrived.
There was a note of guilt in Dumbledore's voice. "It was my negligence."
"A Boggart?" Madam Pomfrey frowned. "She seems to just be frightened, but her reaction... is unusually intense."
"Can you help her, Madam Pomfrey?" Jon asked anxiously.
"Of course I can!" the school nurse replied with a nod. "It's nothing serious, but she'll probably need to stay the night."
As she spoke, she tossed Jon a warm towel. "Help me wipe her forehead."
Jon nodded, took the towel with his free hand, and gently began wiping Astoria's forehead. Slowly, her violent trembling subsided, and she began to calm down.
Madam Pomfrey returned with a large bottle filled with a pale blue liquid.
With Jon's help, they carefully propped Astoria up from the bed.
"Drink this, child... You'll feel better soon," Madam Pomfrey said gently.
After drinking the potion, the blonde girl's eyes seemed to regain their light.
She looked up, first giving Jon an apologetic glance, then turned toward the headmaster and said weakly,
"I'm sorry, Professor Dumbledore..."
"No, it's my fault, Miss Greengrass," Dumbledore shook his head. "I forgot about your special condition..."
The door slammed open, and Daphne Greengrass burst in.
"ASTORIA!" she cried.
"No shouting in the ward!" Madam Pomfrey snapped, her expression stern.
"I'm sorry, Madam... That's my sister—she's the one on the bed..."
Pomfrey didn't stop her further. Daphne rushed over to the bed and immediately wrapped her arms around her sister.
"Sis..." Astoria sobbed softly.
Daphne opened her mouth, about to say something, but then glanced cautiously at Jon.
"Mr. Hart, thank you for bringing my sister here," she said stiffly. "But now... could you leave us for a moment?"
Jon frowned slightly but nodded.
He gently touched the back of Astoria's hand, signaling her to let go. Then he stood and quietly left the ward.
...
Not long after stepping out, Jon passed a middle-aged woman with short golden hair, wearing a black coat and a monocle. She hurried past him and entered Astoria's room.
That must be Daphne and Astoria's mother—Mrs. Greengrass?
Astoria was definitely hiding something... Jon wasn't clueless. He'd already suspected something on the train to Hogwarts. But since she hadn't told him, she must have her reasons. He wouldn't pry.
Besides, as a first-year student, there wasn't much he could do even if he knew the truth.
Just as he was about to leave the Hospital Wing, someone called out his name.
"Jon?" A girl with thick brown hair and bright brown eyes looked at him in surprise. "What are you doing here?"
"Afternoon, Hermione..." Jon was surprised too and quickly explained, "One of my classmates had an issue during Defense Against the Dark Arts, so I brought her here."
It was Hermione Granger. They hadn't seen each other in half a year.
"I see..." Hermione nodded. "That's quite a coincidence. I'm also here for a friend. He was injured a few days ago. Although he's been discharged, Madam Pomfrey wanted him to come in for a follow-up today."
As if on cue, two boys walked into the Hospital Wing—one with fiery red hair, the other skinny, wearing black-rimmed glasses.
Was he really about to meet the legendary trio? Jon thought to himself, a small smile creeping across his face.
Well, better now than later.
"Harry, Ron!" Hermione waved to them, and they came over.
"Let me introduce you. This is Jon Hart—he's the son of a friend of my dad's, and a first-year Hufflepuff."
"Jon, this is Ron Weasley and Harry Potter."
"Wait... that name... I think Ginny mentioned it before..." Ron muttered. "Jon Hart... She said you work really hard... and you're top of the first-year Hufflepuff class?"
"I'm still slightly behind Miss Weasley," Jon said modestly.
"Sounds like another Percy..."
Jon pretended not to hear Ron's muttered comment and turned to Harry Potter.
"Wait... are you really Harry Potter?" Jon asked in mock shock. "The hero who helped Professor Dumbledore kill the monster in Slytherin... the Boy Who Lived..."
"Uh... yeah..." Harry gave a sheepish smile.
"Nice to meet you, Harry."
The two shook hands.
"Yeah... same here, Jon."
After chatting a little more, Jon parted ways with the trio at the Hospital Wing's entrance.
Walking outside, Jon couldn't help but smile.
Had he just unlocked the "Meet the Trio of Saviors" achievement?
More than six months into his first term, it wasn't the fastest, but it was an accomplishment all the same.
He hadn't gotten far when he overheard the three behind him arguing.
"Harry, you've got to tell Madam Pomfrey that you're fine so she'll let you play in the Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff match tomorrow," Ron insisted.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron!" Hermione shot back. "Madam Pomfrey already said three days ago that the Basilisk venom in Harry's body hasn't been fully flushed out. He may be discharged, but no strenuous activity for at least a week!"
"You don't get it... Hermione... it's Quidditch... This is about the House Cup!" Ron snapped. "You just don't understand how important this is!"