A Whole New Meaning to Hogwarts: A Home...
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Disclaimer: See Prologue
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Thanks sooo much to Ceizzy (again) and NixieElementa for reviewing so I could update the chapter! It means a lot. :3
Aaaaaaanyways, there are some intense shocks in this story soooooo I just want to warn you ahead of time that this is a really awesome chapter so you don't explode from the amazingness. ;P
Enjoy!
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I woke up, my head pounding. I couldn't open my eyes, my lids felt like lead. But I heard voices.
"Why are you all still here?" a voice snapped.
"I... We want to be sure she's okay," said a second as if stating a fact.
"You have no right to be here, she wouldn't want you here!" I heard the first voice state.
"Shut up!" I heard another voice.
Why are these people arguing? Where am I? Didn't I die? I was given the kiss, was I not?
I turned my head, groaning.
"All of you should shut up. My head hurts like hell and you aren't helping with all your shouting," I said.
"Claire! Oh thank God, Terence, go get Madame Pomfrey!" I heard footsteps. Finally, I was able to open my eyes and see who it was who was speaking to me. Harry. I gasped and tore him into a hug.
"Oh thank God you're okay! What happened? Are you really alright? We didn't die, did we? Are you-" just then, Madame Pomfrey walked over with the headmaster.
"Headmaster, what happened? Why were those things let near Harry? What-"
"Claire," he said. "I assure you, the issue has been resolved. However, I'm not here to discuss your brother because, as you've seen, he's fine. You on the other hand have anemic given a Dementor's kiss and now - almost a week later - are actually waking up, completely fine."
He paused and I froze. "A week?" I croaked. He nodded. I was awake a week after being given the Dementor's kiss, and somehow I now remember everything from the three years before I was given to the Malfoys.
I looked at Harry. There was only one thing I should be thinking about right now, "Who won?" From the look on his face, I knew the answer. They lost. And unless we beat Ravenclaw and Ravenclaw beats Hufflepuff, they won't be in the running for the cup. But I've missed a week of training. "Professor, my team-"
"Has been practicing under the supervision of Madame Hooch, Professor Snape, and Mr. Terence Higgs has been acting captain in your absence," I sighed and finally took to looking to the other side.
I looked with wide eyes. The entire Gryffindor Quidditch team and the entire Slytherin Quidditch team was there along with Riley, the twins, and the Malfoys. They were all frozen with shock. I noticed Wood sitting on my bed next to me, and I blushed a little. I don't know why, I just did.
"Thank God you're awake," I thought I heard him whisper as I turned to look at Draco. I blushed a little more, unsure if I heard him right.
"Draco!" I called, arms out for a hug. We came over and sat down on my bed, shoving Wood out of the way.
"Draco, I've been knocked out for almost a week, now give me a hug before I'm attacked by everyone else," I said, rolling my eyes and pulling him into a hug.
As soon as I released him, the rest of the Slytherins ran over and tackled me, laughing and cheering.
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Every single Slytherin was elated as they spoke. Terence sat right by me, holding my hand the entire time, but I barely even noticed. By the time Madame Pomfrey shooed them out for being too loud, I was left with the Gryffindors and my parents with a screaming headache.
Before he left, Terence kissed my forehead, causing me to blush.
"I'll see you in the morning, darling," he said.
As soon as they left, it was quiet again. And kind of awkward if I'm to be honest. I looked at Harry, "What happened?"
"Well-"
"You were attacked by a Dementor when you ran to the pitch to see if Harry was okay. It was stupid and rash if you ask me," I glared at Wood.
"First off, I didn't ask you, wood," I spat his name. "And second, why are you here?" I looked at the rest of the team. "And why are they here, too? I don't even know anyone other than the twins, and we're not even that fond of each other."
"We're here because we wanted to support Harry. He almost lost the only family he has left because of you," I glared so hard at him that if looks could kill, he'd be dead a hundred times over at the least.
"I thought I heard you say that you were here to be sure the was okay?" said one of the twins.
"Yea, just before he realized his mistake by saying 'I' instead of 'we,'" said the other. He glared at them.
"Well, I lied. I just wanted to get under Higgs' skin," he said.
"You're such a-"
"Don't be harsh, Claire," my father scolded me.
"Apologies, father. It's good to see you all. I wasn't expecting to see you until Christmas," I teased slightly. I saw mother wince.
"Yes, well, once your little friends leave, we must speak with you as well as the headmaster," he said. I nodded, confused as he walked out of the hospital wing, mother following.
I sat and talked with Harry and Draco, trying to keep them from an argument for a few minutes.
"I have to admit, Gred, it is good to see her well for some reason," said Fred.
"I couldn't agree more, Forge," said George. "It seems we may have begun to grow fond of the older Potter child."
I looked that them, "Are you joking?"
"I thought I was pretty serious, wouldn't you say so Forge?"
"I couldn't agree more, Gred."
They grinned at me, and I was about to question them further when Wood interrupted.
"I can't imagine that you can actually grow fond of this girl," he said teasingly.
I kicked him off the bottom part of the bed and he fell to the ground with a thump and an 'oof!'
We all laughed and began joking around (Even Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson, and Alicia Spinnett, the rest of the Gryffindor Quidditch team that hadn't made a sound since I've woken up. It seemed as though I had broken the ice when I kicked Oliver to the floor, and something had snapped inside me, too... It must have been the headache, but for a moment, I didn't care that they were Gryffindors.), until we were cut short from Madame Pomfrey who strode over, shooing them out for the night to give me some rest. But then even she was cut short from shooing the kids away by the booming voice of my father in the hallway just outside of the slightly askew door to the hospital wing.
"Don't you see! If she stays with us she will be killed! The Dark Lord won't stand for her anymore! He doesn't want her alive anymore! When he heard that the Dementor couldn't kill her, he wants to prove more now than ever that he really is strong enough to kill a Potter and leave the youngest all alone!" they opened the doors, and Dumbledore strode in, my parents following. "He thinks with Harry all alone, he'd no longer be a threat! If he even knew I was here... I'd... I'd..." he trailed off when he glanced over and saw us all still there.
He took in my pale face, which must have been turning slightly green because I was certainly beginning to feel ill from his words.
Madame Pomfrey stood, frozen to her spot. Dumbledore was the first to move.
He strode over to my bed, taking in my appearance.
"My dear child, it seems as though you'll have to take refuge... By becoming my adopted daughter."
The worst part of this was that I knew everyone in the room, all those Gryffindors...
They knew.
