After Transfiguration class, Hermione and Justin headed for the hospital wing.
For over a week now, the lawn outside the hospital windows had practically become their base. From up on the ward, Sean could hear their discussions drifting up from below.
And today, their plan was finally going to begin.
They went over details as they waited—heads lowered—for Madam Pomfrey to come open the door for them. The moment it swung open, they immediately noticed two red-haired figures.
"Water, or pumpkin juice?" Fred was balancing a tray full of cups.
"Water is fine… actually, pumpkin juice," Sean rubbed his brow, a little helpless.
"Careful, Fred—the Great Green is an injured man!" George shrieked, leaning on the divider rail beside the bed.
"Of course, George! Let me ask quietly—have you ever seen the Great Green get hurt?" Fred set the tray down. He looked like he was talking to George, but his eyes never left Sean.
"Of course—no! It's the weirdest thing Hogwarts has seen in years." George blinked at Sean.
"And he still won't tell us why," Fred said in a theatrically snide tone.
"So even his loyal believers don't know who to take it up with," George fired back instantly.
"I swear—if I ever find the villain who cast that curse—" Fred snatched up a telescope, his huge eye filling the tube.
"I'll stuff a whole fistful of Fainting Fancies up his mouth and nose!" George shouted.
"Aha!" The two slapped palms.
"So, how are you feeling?" They crammed their heads in on either side of Sean, boxing him in.
"I need to think about it…" Sean said slowly.
Stuffing Fainting Fancies up Voldemort's nose?
That would be… difficult.
After all, Voldemort was the one wizard you could never truly "lead by the nose."
"Buzzkill!" Fred darted off before Madam Pomfrey could chase him out.
"Boring!" George bowed and followed, vanishing like smoke.
Madam Pomfrey stamped after them, furious:
"You two little hooligans! If you make noise in my hospital wing again, you'll never be allowed in here—ever!"
From far down the corridor, their voices echoed back:
"Sorry, Madam Pomfrey! Don't be mad—we'll be back!"
"Two little brats," Madam Pomfrey spat.
Then she lowered her gaze and noticed two second-years standing there, wide-eyed and stunned.
"Oh, sweethearts—not you two. Go on in."
She glanced at the young wizard watching from inside and shook her head, baffled.
Little Green didn't look anything like those troublemaking Weasley twins—so how had he become their… "boss"?
Justin and Hermione finally craned their heads and slipped inside.
Sean was only a few meters away, lying on a bed covered in crisp white linen. On the table beside him, sweets were piled into a small mountain—like someone had moved half a candy shop into the ward.
"Justin. Hermione," he greeted them with a smile.
"Sean, are you… okay? We can postpone the plan," Hermione said, studying him carefully.
"I want you to understand something," Justin added, watching Sean closely, trying to judge whether he truly looked well. "We need you."
"Madam Pomfrey has already cleared me for discharge," Sean said. "They're just keeping me under observation for a few days—just in case."
Nearby, Madam Pomfrey looked up from her cleaning and saw the two of them staring with worried, pleading eyes.
"Go on," she said, her temper tucked away for the moment. "Take him for a walk, children."
…
February slipped into March, and the weather didn't change much—just as damp, and even windier.
The three of them walked shoulder to shoulder down the corridor. Their lips moved, but no sound carried—until you leaned in close enough to catch their shockingly bold conspiracy.
"Alright," Hermione said seriously, "we're going to repeat the whole plan, so there aren't any mistakes."
"First, I'll go get Professor Lockhart's autograph, tell him we're forming a fan club for him, and lure him to that storage room you mentioned, Sean.
"Then, Justin—you'll be hiding inside. You disarm him the instant the door opens with Expelliarmus, then use the Dancing Feet Spell so he can't fight back.
"And lastly—Justin, are you certain you can disarm him the moment the door opens?"
Justin's face stayed steady. He nodded firmly.
"If he reacts in time," he said, "I'll strike immediately, and you'll join in."
Hermione nodded again.
"Then the most important point—Sean, you'll be there the whole time, right?"
Sean inclined his head.
"Good! I'm confident every step is sound. The real key is adapting if something unexpected happens…"
As she spoke, Hermione pulled out a crystal vial, nervously re-reading the stained page in Moste Potente Potions.
"It looks exactly like the book says… Once Lockhart drinks it, we'll have a full hour to question him."
"Hermione," Justin said gently, "this is the sixteenth time you've checked that. Something unexpected might happen—but if it does, we'll handle it together. Try to breathe, alright?"
Hermione glared at him, then looked straight at Sean.
"The plan is perfect," Sean's calm voice said. "Nothing will go wrong."
Only then did Hermione loosen a little.
"Alright. We split up. See you tonight."
Hermione strode off, crystal vial in hand—she wanted to test the truth potion on something first.
"See you tonight, Sean," Justin said, already thinking about finding Neville to practice spells.
And just like that, Sean was left with a moment of peace.
He sat in the central courtyard of one of Hogwarts' towers, directing a vine to twist itself into a chair.
Then he quietly opened his book.
He had plenty to read—The Book of Ghosts, Dumbledore's Transfiguration notes, and lately, the old volumes taken from Ravenclaw's workspace.
In the hospital wing, he should have had endless time—because the hospital was supposed to be quiet.
But Fred and George had spent all day charging in and out, and various students kept bringing him sweets.
Hannah, in particular, had come by and asked him a few very specific questions.
"Mr. Green," she said earnestly, "I heard you've been dreaming constantly. You dreamed of the Lucky Black Cat, didn't you?"
Sean, book in hand, didn't know how to answer.
"I think I understand," Hannah continued, thrilled. "Congratulations—you had a lucky dream!
"Will you join our club? Hogwarts' biggest club.
"If you don't want that, then please join the Lucky Council, at least. Harry, Ginny, and I are in it.
"We're some of the only witches and wizards who've dreamed of the Lucky Black Cat—and I'm sure that means something.
"Will you help us uncover the secret?"
Hannah's invitation was as sincere as it was bold.
~~~
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