Chapter 7
"Do you know when she will wake up Poppy?" McGonagall asked as she saw her student laying there bloodied and banged up. The doors to the hospital wing exploded open as the headmaster and other professors entered walking at a brisk pace.
"Hard to say Minerva, she has had severe head trauma, three of her ribs are broken. Her left arm is shattered."
"What happened to Ms. Lee?" Professor Flitwick asked as he saw moving motionlessly.
"Hagrid brought her here saying something about a centaur carried her back to the castle grounds." She responded
"I don't believe a centaur would care about a human let alone get near the grounds." Professor Snape said coolly, "Perhaps one felt pity to see one die young and decided to bring her here."
"Severus, please." Dumbledore began and stood next to Eleonora. "Barty Crouch is dead. Hagrid and Mr. Filch found him in the Forbidden Forest as well. Professor McGonagall, if you would be so kind to let the Lee family know and are allowed into the castle grounds to see Eleonora. I will talk to the Minister."
McGonagall walked out of the hospital wing room to see a swarm of students, "Why are you all not studying?" At that notion most of them left and the Golden Trio were standing there still, "Why is it always you three?"
"We just want to know if Norah is alright…" Hermione stated
"She's resting at the moment; however, she did receive damage to her head, and we don't know when she will awaken." Hermione's heart dropped at that. "You all can see her as soon as the other professors leave, now if you would excuse me, I have a few letters to write."
Harry nudged Ron, "We'll see you back in the common room, Hermione." Much to Hermione's confusion she saw her two best friends leave her as soon as the professors left.
"Ah, Ms. Granger. Do watch for Ms. Lee, will you?" Dumbledore said before walking off. Hermione walked into the hospital wing with students groaning in pain while Madam Pomfrey attends to them. At the end of the hospital wing there was one person that only mattered to Hermione. When she walked over her heart sank as she saw Norah laying there bloodied and bandaged.
"Norah… I'm so sorry." Hermione whispered as she sat next to Norah. "I shouldn't have been a brat to you." She took her hand and felt the pulse soothing and rested her head on the bed. "Please wake up, Norah."
Morning
Hermione woke with a stiff neck and saw Norah still laying there unmoved from her previous position. As she stood up, she felt something drop on to the floor and noticed it was a navy overcoat. "I see that you're awake was worried you wouldn't wake up either." Hermione spun behind her and regretted it due to her stiff neck and groaned in pain. "Stiff neck?"
"Yes. One moment please." Hermione groaned as she rolled her neck getting the kinks rolled out. She sighed out relief and noticed the person that was talking was standing next to Norah with a bottle and was going to give it to her. Out of instinct she drew out her wand. "Excuse me! What are you doing?!" The man stood and turned to her Hermione with a soft smile on his face and Hermione turned red this man was handsome, well-dressed in a black vest with a blue tie that complimented his dark skin, well groomed, and I saw something familiar in his face.
"Ms. Granger, I am not here to hurt my sister." He said politely and turned back to give Norah a potion. "It is a deflating potion for the swelling in her head. Madam Pomfrey did not notice it, and this should her wake up soon." Hermione was rather impressed by the knowledge of the older brother, but what can she expect with someone as famous as Harry Potter, yet far smarter than him.
"Joseph Lee! I can not believe you are here." Another voice said along with multiple footsteps. Fred and George were the first one to show up along with Ron and Ginny.
"Fred, George. Still up to no trouble I see." He said as he rolled his sleeves to his elbows and leaned against the window sill.
"Nonsense." They both lied and saw his smile at it.
He looked behind them and saw two more redheads, "You must be Ginny and Ron. Bill and Charlie would not shut up about you both." Ginny hid behind a blush as she heard his laugh when Ron puffed his chest out. "And now the famous Harry Potter. Glad my sister is rather popular." Joseph's smile lowered enough that Hermione caught it, "If you would excuse me. I would like to get a cup of coffee." He said and walked off much to the confusion.
"Hermione, why do you have your wand out?" Harry asked before she walked out of the hospital wing. She saw Joseph sitting on the stairs. Hermione walked over and saw him scoot over, so she can sit down next to him.
"Sorry for drawing my wand on you." She began and heard him laugh at her and she joined in feeling embarrassed.
"Ms. Granger, I wanted to thank you for El." He took off his glasses and looked at her, "El was a happy child always getting dirty when she played outside. Socializing with strangers; however, when I left for school… She changed." He said
"Because of your mother, right?" The silence was the only answer she needed.
"Anyways, you're good for her and make her happy. And based on what she wrote me. I am 100% sure she fancies you." Those words caused Hermione to blush and stand on her feet
"Wh-what are you talking about? Norah can't fancy me? We're both girls." She retorted
"I fancied Charlie Weasley for two years. I gave up due to his obsession of dragons, but that man's eyes were beautiful." He admitted
"Oh, I didn't know you were…"
"Bi-sexual? Yeah, Rita Skeeter, the bitch that she is heard me confessing to my best friend at the time and exposed it on the Daily Prophet." Joseph spat onto the wall next to him, "However, with that out in the open. Penny was there for me and I realized I strongly liked her at the time, and she was always there with me it evolved into love." His bright smile came back as he thought about his wife, "Anyways, Hermione what I am trying to say is don't wait for it. If you wait you will lose your chance and I'm speaking in experience here."
Professor McGonagall was at the base of the stairs, "Mr. Lee. Please come with me the Headmaster would like a word with you." At the same time Ginny came out to tell them that Eleonora had woken up.
"You go with El." He said as he walked down the stairs, "Oh and Hermione. Please take of my sister for me." Hermione smiled at him and walked back into the hospital wing.
Norah was sat up with a warm drink in hand her face looked a lot better. Probably the sleep and the medicine that she was given. Hermione felt a flood of emotions and pushed a few people out of her way as she hugged the taller Gryffindor squeezing the life out of her, "'Mione, you're going to kill me all over." She wheezed. Hermione looked back at shock when Norah used her nickname. "I need a favor from all of you."
"Sure, anything." Harry said and saw Norah's smirk,
"I need to shower because I smell like troll shit."
"And you look like it too." Ron added and Norah rolled her eyes to his comment as Ginny smacked the back of his head
"Madam Pomfrey is not going to let me out of here." Norah smiled, Fred and George both lit up at the idea of causing trouble.
"Alright everyone, George and I have some fireworks that would be loud enough to cause Pomfrey out of here. Ron act like you're injured and Harry… be dramatic. Ginny lecture him. Hermione why don't we have you-"
"Actually, I need Hermione's help to move. My body is stiff and sore." Norah admitted and saw Hermione's lip tug upwards.
~Time Skip~
Hermione plopped Norah on the big bed in their secret room, well it was technically Norah's. Hermione just spent a lot of free time in this room and missed it. Iris hopped on the bed and was immediately hugged by Norah, "Hey! I missed you!" The cat swatted her face and retreated underneath the bed and left a pouting Norah. "I guess I'll shower." Norah walked to the restroom
"Let me know if you need help." Hermione called out and sure enough a minute later she was calling for help. Hermione walked in and laughed at the sight she was in. Norah was caught in her shirt leaving her exposed, this was the first time she saw the extent of her injuries granted they were healed. There was this one scar where her ribs were located.
"I landed on a branch and it well left that. I guess." Norah said as she was still tangled with her shirt. Hermione sighed and helped detangled her and stared into Norah's eyes. "If you wait you will lose your chance" Hermione cupped Norah's face and softly placed her lips onto Norah's. Hermione stood back and looked down at the tiled floor.
"Sorry. I know I should have asked for permission before I did that." She admitted and was about to leave until Norah spun her and planted a kiss of her own. Hermione's face turned crimson and smiled at the kiss. When she pulled away Norah gave her a playful smile. "Go shower! You smell!"
Norah leaned in to her hear and whispered, "Would you like to join me, Ms. Granger." And received a punch to the shoulder. "Fine your loss." She smirked and walked away. Hermione huffed and laid on the bed and felt something furry curl behind her back and saw that it was Iris. Hermione rolled over and held the cat closer before falling asleep herself.
