Chapter 302: A Small Profit
By Monday morning, news that Professor Charity Burbage had been attacked and taken to the Hospital Wing had spread throughout the castle.
The school had suspended all Muggle Studies classes until a replacement professor could be found. Marcus Flint, recently discharged from the Hospital Wing, claimed he'd seen the professor being brought there on Saturday night. Everyone who heard was shocked—it was a professor, after all!
Rumors spread like wildfire, and suspicions ran high. Nearly everyone began moving in groups, fearful of being attacked if left alone.
"He's lying!" Harry said indignantly at the Gryffindor table. "He didn't wake up at all on Saturday night; he was out cold!"
"But people want to believe him," Ron muttered, not looking up. "Forget about it."
He dropped a knapsack onto the table, rummaged through a pile of books and notebooks, and finally pulled out a piece of parchment, measuring it with a ruler.
"Ugh, still three inches short... Harry, did you finish the History of Magic homework?"
"What? We have homework in History of Magic?" Harry asked, stunned.
"Of course we do. It's on the 1289 International Warlocks' Convention." Ron looked at him in disbelief. "Did you let that Bludger hit you on the head again?"
"No... but maybe it's from that fall I took," Harry admitted. "I don't remember any of that."
"You're in trouble, then, because our first period is History of Magic," Ron said sympathetically. He then turned to Hermione. "And your..."