Harry Potter: Reunion with the Enemy

"Are we just going to wait here for them to leave?" Harry asked Draco beside him.

Both of them had their hat brims pulled down low, and their large sunglasses covered most of their faces, making them look sneaky and malicious.

Fortunately, Ward 9 currently attracted the attention of most of the therapists passing by, and no one noticed the two of them yet.

"Of course not." Draco opened his backpack and searched for something, then pulled out two long flesh-colored ropes.

Harry was familiar with this. "Retractable ears! So you bought this thing."

"This year's new model, I prepared it when I thought it would be used in a mission, but I didn't expect it to be used in this kind of occasion." Draco gave one to Harry. "But now I don't dare to go to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes in person anymore."

"Given what I said earlier, I'm not sure I'll make it out of the Redhead District in one piece." Draco pretended to shudder.

"This is the consequence of talking nonsense to the media." Harry skillfully put the flesh-colored string into his ear. "In this situation, I'm afraid I have to complete the task before I can overturn what you said before - things have come to this point."

"Well - I was wrong -" Draco leaned closer to Harry, and the hot air from his mouth blew on his cheek. "In fact, if I publicly admit that I have lived a happy life holding Harry Potter every day, I can't escape the fate of being beaten up by your friends and little fans."

"But at least this will satisfy me." Harry let the retractable ear crawl into the crack of the ward door. "Shh - I can hear you clearly -"

There was a slight commotion coming from the other end of the telescopic ear, but the ward was not noisy and the conversation could be clearly transmitted to this side through the telescopic ear.

A deep male voice sounded, "How did you get injured like this, Ed? But I can also give you a ticket to the Quidditch World Cup - this is a ticket for the friends and family section, take good care of yourself."

"It's okay, I'll be back in no time," the patient replied.

"My assistant told me that you suggested I adjust the time of my other recent invitations. I think that's right - I'd better prepare for the game. I have a training session in an hour, and I'll go back with the portkey later - these are some of the things you liked to eat when you were in school, I brought them for you."

"It's Krum." Harry recognized his Bulgarian accent. It seemed that the international star was pushed to the front by everyone in the ward. "Friend?"

Draco nodded. "So the patient's name is Ed? Why does it sound familiar..."

"Is he also from Durmstrang? Did this person come to Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament? I remember their students sat next to Slytherin at that time." Harry asked.

"I - uh - maybe I wasn't paying attention," Draco replied hesitantly.

"This shouldn't be the work of a dark wizard." Krum continued gloomily in the ward, "If it is - they must pay the price."

"Just go and train." Ed replied. "I'll come find you when I recover."

"They have a pretty good relationship." Harry adjusted his retractable ears and commented. "Krum has always hated the Dark Arts. He even told me about Grindelwald at Fleur's wedding. I wonder if he mentioned this good friend when he corresponded with Hermione."

"We have a good relationship - Ron was even treated as your baby and locked under the water during the Goblet of Fire challenge." Draco said lightly. "Are you not on good terms? How do I put it - your most beloved baby~"

"I can see you want to be locked up," Harry replied dryly.

After a while, a tall figure with a slightly hunched back walked out of the ward. Krum had already left in a hurry.

The voices of several young people came from the other end of the retractable ears.

"Let's take a look at you together. This is a new gadget I made. I hope it can make you feel better." said one of them.

"Thank you. The second draft must be submitted before noon tomorrow. I think you must have finished it~" Ed reminded with a smile, "It might not be convenient for me to bring the hospital bed to your house - you should come to the hospital -"

"Of course I've written it, hehe, haha..." He answered stutteringly.

Another male voice, speaking very quickly, joined in.

"This is the manager of the Weird Sisters singing group - I bring you greetings. Please take care of us with invitations to magazine events in the near future."

Others soon followed.

"Celestina Warbeck's new concert might need some pertinent reviews and publicity - I was wondering when Ms. Skeeter and you would be available to talk about working together."

"And we—"

"Of course, of course." Rita Skeeter's voice appeared. "My dear friends, why don't you put down the visiting gifts and wait outside for a while. We can go back and talk about cooperation."

Harry seemed to find Rita Skeeter's voice disgusting and briefly moved the retractable ear away from his ear. "He is Rita Skeeter's subordinate. What good people can there be under Rita Skeeter's command?"

"It seems to be an editor-in-chief." Draco was still listening carefully to their conversation and nodded. "I remember that the editor's notes of the "Wizard Fashion" I bought had the name Ed. No wonder I felt so familiar with it."

"Rita Skeeter seems to be asking who Lancelot is. It seems there are not many people in the ward." Draco raised his chin and motioned Harry to continue listening.

Harry put the retractable ear back on his ear.

"I don't seem to know you." Harry only heard the second half of Rita's words.

"I--" Lancelot began to speak, but was interrupted by Ed.

"He is my friend." Ed paused and seemed to be talking to Lancelot. "But it's not convenient for you to stay here now. Maybe you can go find me some dinner? I'm a little hungry."

"Okay, are you still in pain, buddy?" Lancelot seemed surprised by the several rounds of conversation in the ward and was a little at a loss.

"It hurts. It hurts to breathe, to talk, and to sit. Coughing also hurts my ribs." Ed replied without any emotion, "I'm hungry."

Lancelot ran out of the ward and walked towards the sixth floor.

There was silence over at the Retractable Ears. It seemed that Rita Skeeter and Ed were the only two people left in the ward.

"I'm still curious, how could you be beaten like this by Muggle thugs at three in the morning? Wizards can't beat Muggles?"

"Muggle drunkard, you've seen my medical records. There's no magical damage on them." Ed obviously didn't want to continue this topic. "Is there anything else you want to order?"

"After you get your Animagus certificate, I told you before that you could find a few people to practice with. It will be an important means of obtaining information in the future, and animals will not alert people."

"Ah."

"Did you do it?" Rita demanded.

"The practice target just went out - you saw it." Ed replied briefly.

"What's the point of approaching such a shabby-looking person?" Rita Skeeter took a few steps on her high heels. "He looks worthless. What about the previous reports on Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy? You might as well find a way to approach them directly."

"I didn't know you had to interfere so much in the process?" Ed's tone revealed a hint of irritation. "When have I not completed the information and other requests you requested before?"

"That's right. If you do your best, I won't treat you unfairly. You know the consequences of not obeying me." Rita Skeeter's tone also turned cold. "I can also ignore your habit of wasting time and money making friends with these inferior people. Being a good person can't accomplish great things, so keep your overflowing sympathy."

There was the sound of hurried high heels, and it sounded like Rita Skeeter was walking towards the door.

"I don't think you're seriously injured. I suggest you be discharged early and return to work." Rita Skeeter slammed the door of the ward.

"I never said I was a good person." Ed said lightly, "I'm just a handy and advanced tool."

Rita walked out of the ward and waved her hand, taking away a large group of colorful agents and other people seeking cooperation who were squatting at the door.

Lancelot reappeared with the bag in his hand, but he turned aside and noticed Harry and Draco who were packing up the retractable ears.

"Hey - sorry, I forgot to buy your dinner when I bought dinner just now -" Lancelot remembered when he saw two sneaky men in sunglasses. "Were you standing in the corner waiting - I don't know if it hurts for him to swallow..."

Harry and Draco looked at each other with complicated expressions, obviously not yet recovered from the long conversation they had just overheard.