"I'm sorry. Ron is talking to Percy, but they know who it's about, now."
                              
"Just tell Percy that I'm doing my job to the letter like he used to, that should shut him up."
                              
"And Ron?"
                              
"What? Is he going to come down here to confront me, too?"
                              
"No, I didn't come here to confront you, Harry."
                              
"Feels like it."
                              
"Harry, she attacked you personally. I know it hurt you, a lot. I just want you to know that you can talk to me. You never told us what happened."
                              
And I never will, he thought and looked away. A tear fell down his face. Hermione hugged him, and he hugged her back, glad for the contact. He couldn't tell her or look her in the eye. He was too ashamed.
                              
"It's okay, Harry. I'm sorry if I pushed you."
                              
"S'okay. I know you care about me, but please don't poke at that."
                              
"Okay... just... please take care of yourself."
                              
He nodded.
                              
"I also came to offer a solution to your... officer problem."
                              
He looked at her, again. "What?"
                              
"Well... it just has to be a member of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement... so it could be me, and you can trust that I'll be fair and considerate."
                              
Harry stared at her. "You can't see him."
                              
She stared. "Ever?"
                              
"Hermione... he needs to relax to heal. You read his file, you know one thing that happened. I will not have him agitated because you must "see" him. He's unarmed and bed-ridden, understand?"
                              
She nodded. "I watched you through the window interacting with Malfoy before your trainee found me. Joel? He's very loyal to you, but you never had a problem getting people to love you, did you?"
                              
Harry grimaced.
                              
"But you were helping Malfoy use weights. He looked at you like you are the only person in the world he trusted."
                              
"Maybe I am. You mind finding out what happened to his parents?"
                              
"I already did. Lucius died in Azkaban... heart attack, according to the file. Narcissa committed suicide only a year after the trials. Self-brewed potion in her home," she said, quietly.
                              
Harry nodded. "Will you promise to not see him without my okay?"
                              
"I promise, Harry."
                              
"Alright... I'm late for my appointment."
                              
"Will you come over tonight?"
                              
"So Ron can run me through this, too?"
                              
"Better now than later, Harry," she said, and he agreed.
                              
She left out the door, and Harry ran into Natalie as he made his way to room 2. She laughed and said, "Should I adjust the wards for her, too?"
                              
Harry chuckled. "I think Hermione will be able to get through them if she wanted."
                              
"I like seeing you with your friends, Harry," she said. "I've been here five years, and you've been friendly with nearly everyone, but are friends with no one. Have you ever gone out to lunch or dinner with anyone in this hospital?"
                              
"I... no. I'm... not good at... friendships."
                              
"I think you're great at making friends. You just are careful about opening up."