Without notice, the night had already deepened.
"You're heading out?" Phineas Black stretched lazily. "Going to check on that little girl?"
Jon didn't answer. Taking advantage of the darkness, he walked straight out of the Headmaster's Office.
The stone gargoyle was nodding off. When it spotted Jon emerge, it hurriedly lifted its head, putting on an exaggerated show of standing guard.
"If anyone comes, just say the Headmaster isn't here," Jon whispered before vanishing into the night.
...
The corridors of Hogwarts lay in complete darkness, giving them an eerie feel.
Jon carried an oil lamp in his hand. Though he was gripping the handle, his body was concealed by the Disillusionment Charm, making the lamp appear to float through the air on its own. Anyone who saw it would have been thoroughly creeped out.
"Meow!"
A cat's cry suddenly sounded ahead.
A scrawny, dark-gray cat stepped into view, its eyes bulging like glass bulbs.
It was Mrs Norris, the cat belonging to caretaker Argus Filch.
Jon could only shrug and waved a hand at her. The cat's eyes immediately turned unfocused, and she wandered off aimlessly toward the other end of the corridor.
After dealing with the minor mishap using the Confundus Charm, Jon continued toward the Hospital Wing.
It didn't take long before he slipped inside.
The ward was utterly quiet, broken only by the occasional groan—from a student who had broken a bone while fooling around and had just taken some Skele-Gro.
Jon paid him no attention and walked straight past the bed.
Madam Pomfrey must have gone to rest as well; at the very least, Jon heard no sign of her.
Step by step, he approached the innermost curtained cubicle, opened the door, and slipped inside.
"Ah—"
A soft, startled cry rang out.
...
"Muffliato Charm!" Jon muttered as he quickly drew his wand.
At the same time, he tossed the oil lamp aside and rushed forward while still invisible.
With his freed left hand, he pulled a small vial from his pocket, uncorked it, and tipped a single drop onto his palm. Stepping up to the figure standing beside the bed, he dabbed the potion gently onto her lips.
Daphne Astoria's expression instantly went hazy, and she swayed unsteadily.
Jon caught her at once, helping her sink back into a nearby chair.
The girl who had been asleep on the bed seemed to sense something was wrong and tried to sit up.
By then, Jon had already revealed himself.
"Don't move…" he said softly, shaking his head at Astoria.
"Jon?" Astoria called out, pleasantly surprised.
Then she asked in a low voice, "Sister… what did you do to her?"
"A drop of the Draught of the Living Dead," Jon whispered. "It'll keep her asleep for half an hour to an hour. Sorry—I couldn't let her know I was here."
Astoria nodded obediently.
...
"How are you feeling now?" Jon asked, sitting beside the bed, his concern evident.
"I'm fine…" Astoria replied. Her voice was hoarse. "I just feel so weak all over. It's really uncomfortable."
"That's normal. You were unconscious for two days and a night," Jon said with a gentle smile. "I heard you woke up this afternoon?"
"Yes…" Astoria nodded. "Madam Pomfrey had my sister feed me some milk. She said I can't eat too much at once, or I won't be able to digest it."
"Would you like a little more?" Jon glanced at the bottle nearby. "It's been quite a while since you woke up, hasn't it?"
"Sure!" Astoria said.
In the faint lamplight, the color slowly returned to her pale cheeks.
Jon picked up the bottle, then took another small vial from his pocket and added a few drops to it.
"Tears of a foolish bird," he explained softly. "Dilys said a few drops would help you recover."
"Who's Dilys?" Astoria asked, blinking.
"Dilys Derwent. Former Head Healer at St. Mungo's, former Headmistress of Hogwarts," Jon replied lightly. "She'd be over three hundred years old by now, if she were still alive."
"Pfft…" Astoria couldn't help but laugh.
After a few sips of milk—Jon insisted on not giving her too much—Astoria seemed to regain a bit of strength.
With his help, she was able to sit half-upright on the bed.
She hesitated for a long moment, gathering her courage.
"Jon… the Curse on me…"
...
"It's gone," Jon said calmly.
"What?" Astoria stared at him in disbelief. "Really… really… cough… cough…"
Overcome with emotion, she started coughing violently.
Jon immediately supported her, gently patting her back.
"No doubt about it. Don't you feel like something inside you is missing?" he asked with a smile.
"Yes…" Astoria nodded slowly. "My whole body still feels terribly weak, but… that pain from that soul… it's completely gone."
As she spoke, warm tears streamed down her face.
"Jon… thank you. Truly, truly… I can hardly believe it. That horrible Curse… it's really gone from me…"
She tried to hug him, but didn't have the strength.
Jon quickly pulled her into his arms, smiling as he comforted her.
"Yes. It's over. The Curse is gone. You're healthier now than you've ever been. Everything will get better."
Astoria lifted her head with effort and wiped away her tears.
She opened her mouth, as if wanting to say something.
"There's no need to thank me. Between us—" Jon shook his head.
"No…" Astoria shook her own.
Beneath her long lashes, her dark eyes fixed on his.
Her voice trembled.
"Kiss me…"
...
After several minutes, they finally parted, both reluctant to let go.
They leaned against each other again, speaking softly.
"What is it?" Jon asked when he noticed Astoria hesitating.
"Could you…" Astoria said haltingly. "Could you take me to Azkaban… I want to…"
"Of course. Once you've fully recovered," Jon answered without hesitation.
"I just want to tell Mother… tell her… the Curse is gone…" Her voice grew quieter and quieter.
"It's all right," Jon said with a gentle smile, shaking his head.
...
Just then, Daphne Greengrass, who had been sleeping nearby, stirred slightly in her chair.
"Sister… she's about to wake up," Astoria whispered.
"Mmm, I should go," Jon said, gently stroking the girl's golden hair.
"You'll come see me often, won't you…"
"Of course."
"Then… good night, Jon."
"Good night."
...
Picking up the oil lamp from the floor, Jon cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself once more and slipped out of the ward.
He didn't leave the Hospital Wing right away. Instead, he sat quietly outside the door, listening.
"Ah—" Daphne's startled cry came from inside. "What was that just now? I think I saw a floating oil lamp…"
"Sis, did you have a nightmare?"
"Maybe… Huh? Astoria, why is your face so red?"
"I… I… maybe it's just too warm…"