Chapter 28: Apology and Consolation

Smelling the smell of food, Himari quickly woke up.

She licked her owner's face to show intimacy, then sat upright in front of Penelope, looking at her with an expectant expression.

Penelope smiled gently at her, poured a plate of milk, and then served the grilled fish.

Himari happily started eating.

Unlike other cats that gulped down their food, she ate with unusual elegance: sipping the milk and nibbling at the fish, behaving like a true lady.

Alaric also started eating breakfast. His eating movements were rougher, having been sent to the infirmary and sleeping most of the day after taking Madam Pomfrey's healing potion. He was thirsty and hungry.

Penelope, on the other hand, didn't seem to mind. While he wolfed down his food, she observed him with an appreciative look.

Same eating actions, some people just look uncouth, while others are called genuine. Any judgment about a person varies.

After taking a bite of the sandwich, Alaric suddenly thought of something and looked up, asking, "Do you have more breakfast? Hermione probably hasn't eaten yet."

Penelope chuckled, teasing, "You really care about your little girlfriend."

Seeing Alaric's helpless expression, she explained, "Cho Chang, a second-year, is responsible for bringing Miss Granger's breakfast. Speaking of which, both of them seem to care a lot about you."

As she finished her words, the door outside sounded with footsteps. A girl carrying a basket pushed the door open and entered the infirmary.

Seeing Alaric already awake, drinking milk, the girl revealed a delighted smile.

However, she didn't make a sound, just unconsciously quickening her steps.

...

"You finally woke up. We were all worried about you," Cho Chang sat at Alaric's bedside, taking out Hermione's breakfast from the basket as she spoke. 

"Last night, all the girls at Hogwarts were worried about you."

At this point, she frowned slightly, seemingly dissatisfied, but quickly let it go and turned her attention back to him.

"Madam Pomfrey gave you a quick recovery potion. She said you'd be fine after just one night. How are you feeling now?"

As for Hermione, she hurried to wash up immediately after waking up.

Yesterday, she cried for a long time and then slept at the bedside for a night, making herself look messy. She didn't want Alaric to see her unprepared and messy side—of course, relatively speaking.

"I'm feeling better than ever now. I could even leave the hospital right away," Alaric stretched lazily, twisted his neck, feeling completely normal.

This casual attitude angered Cho Chang. She spoke sternly, "Don't even think about it! Before leaving, you must have a proper checkup with Madam Pomfrey."

Alaric was nonchalant about his health, which Cho Chang found hard to tolerate.

"Alright, alright." Alaric shook his head helplessly, but he was secretly pleased.

Seeing him looking tired, Cho Chang's tone softened, comforting, "Your appearance with blood all over last night scared us. We were all worried about you. Hermione cried for a whole night..."

But her words were immediately interrupted.

Hermione, who had just finished washing up, rushed in. Hearing Cho Chang's words, she instinctively raised her voice to refute.

"I didn't cry all night—"

But the next moment, after noticing Alaric beside her, her voice immediately softened.

"That... I'm sorry." She stammered an apology to Alaric, lowering her head almost buried into her chest—assuming she had one—making her face completely invisible.

"It's all my fault, making you get hurt."

"Speaking so meekly, this doesn't sound like the usual Hermione," Alaric smiled slightly, teasing, "The Hermione I know is a smart, proud, and stubborn girl. She boldly speaks her mind about anything."

"I'm neither proud nor stubborn!" Hermione couldn't help but raise her head to argue, but when she saw Alaric's face, she involuntarily lowered her head again, stammering, unable to speak.

"Never mind, you don't have to be like this. Saving you was my willing choice, we're friends, right?" Alaric patted her head reassuringly.

"I couldn't just stand by and watch you fall to the ground. What if you broke something important?"

But her tone still seemed on the verge of tears.

"But... if it weren't for me being reckless, you wouldn't have almost fallen, let alone get hurt."

"Is that so?" Alaric was slightly surprised.

"But why did you act so recklessly?"

"I... I saw you fly so well, and I thought I could do it too..." At this point, she couldn't continue, "Waah!" she cried out.

Cho Chang hurriedly fumbled for tissues for her.

Indeed, the proud Miss Know-It-All always refuses to lose, whether it's in academics or sports. She always wants to be the best.

But I never thought that, in the original work, she was not good at flying, but it was not exaggerated like this.

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