Thick Of It

Jason sat in the quiet of the hospital ward, the soft hum of magical healing spells in the background. He stared at the sterile white walls, his mind a storm of thoughts.

Jason's Internal Monologue:

"There's no doubt about it— I'm going to kill Barty. But I can't let my anger take over. Pointless rage isn't going to help me. I need to channel this, focus it. What could I have done better?"

He leaned back against the pillow, ticking off his self-assessment like a mental checklist.

"Sending Ghastly with Harry was a smart move, at least. That worked out well. But my electricity reserves? They were pitiful. I've been slacking, not storing energy since Christmas, and I didn't even head to the Muggle side to stock up. If I don't solve my electricity generation issue soon, I'll be back to square one in a crisis."

Jason rubbed his temples, frustration bubbling beneath his calm exterior.

"And radar sense. I still haven't integrated it properly still using my eyes and haven't even used sharingan. sitting there, unused, while I stumble around like an idiot . My thread manipulation? Could've been a Life-saver, but no, I thought I wouldn't need it. Cocky. Immature. Foolish."

He sighed, glancing down at his hands.

"Left my grimoire in the room like a rookie. Didn't keep my assassin blade on me. Constant vigilance, Moody always says. And I still let my guard down. Too many mistakes, Jason. Too many."

His thoughts darkened.

"I want to control the flow of the story, yet I'm not even in control of myself. If I don't step up, this whole thing will spiral out of control."

Before he could sink further into his introspection, the sound of hurried footsteps broke through his reverie. Hermione, Ron, and several of their friends rushed into the hospital wing.

Hermione practically threw herself onto Jason, her arms wrapping around him tightly.

Hermione: "Jason! Are you okay? "

Jason: [gruffly] "Not really."

She pulled back slightly, clutching his hand like a lifeline.

Hermione: "I'm here now. You're safe. That's all that matters."

Jason gave her a faint smile, appreciating her concern even as his mind continued to churn.

The others crowded around, bombarding him with questions about his health and what had happened. Ron looked uncomfortable, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.

Ron: [awkwardly] "Er… glad you're still in one piece, mate."

Jason: [with a weak smirk] "Barely, but thanks for the vote of confidence."

Harry: [sincerely] "Jason, I don't know how to thank you. If you hadn't been watching out for me…"

Jason: [cutting him off] "Don't. Just… be more careful next time, alright?"

The group fell into an easy chatter, their presence slowly lifting the weight in Jason's chest. Then the door creaked open, and Dumbledore entered. His sharp gaze swept across the group, lingering for a moment on Jason before he gently gestured for the others to give them a moment.

Dumbledore: [settling into the chair beside Jason's bed] "Jason, may I have a word?"

The others exchanged glances before quietly filing out, Hermione giving Jason's hand one last squeeze before leaving.

Dumbledore leaned forward, his expression a mix of concern and quiet strength.

Dumbledore: "Minerva told me what happened. What Barty did."

Jason nodded silently, his jaw tightening.

Dumbledore: "You faced something truly dark, Jason. And you survived. That is no small feat."

Jason looked down at his hands, unsure how to respond.

Dumbledore: [his voice soft but firm] "We all face choices in life. What is right, and what is easy. "

Jason finally met his gaze, the weight of Dumbledore's words settling over him.

Dumbledore: "You have friends here, Jason. You are not alone. Do not forget that."

For the first time since the ordeal, Jason felt a glimmer of something other than anger—gratitude, perhaps, or hope.

Jason: [quietly] "Thank you, sir."

Dumbledore gave him a small, reassuring smile before standing and making his way toward the door. Jason leaned back against the pillow, his thoughts quieter now, though the fire in his heart remained.

"Next time, Barty. Next time, I'll be ready."