Chapter Ten: Aftermath

Ruthie stood staring at the crowd of people in front of her. She tried to look as though nothing had happened and she wasn't in excruciating pain. She looked nervously at Dumbledore who looked as if he was surveying her. She straightened up, trying not wince as she did.

"Do you have any idea what has just happened Ms. Camden?" Dumbledore asked. Ruthie shook her head slowly looking at Harry, Hermione, and Ron for help. They just looked at her blankly. She looked at Simon who looked utterly confused.

"No…"She said softly.

"So you did not see or hear the fat lady get attacked?" He asked. Ruthie's eyes bugged out. Damien attacked the fat Lady? "Sirius Black attacked her…"He said. Ruthie felt a wave of relief and then registered what he had said.

"No I didn't! I didn't know!" She said frantically.

"Very well. Prefects gather the students in the Great Hall. We shall search the castle." Everyone rushed down the stairs whispering madly. She caught up with Harry, Hermione and Ron. Who, bombard her with questions. She shook her head yes or no to every one. The pain was increasing but she couldn't tell anyone.

They got downstairs and everyone settled down. They had to sleep in the great hall. At around ten they made everyone be quiet and go to sleep. Ruthie slept fitfully. Her whole body was writhing in pain, making it harder and harder to move. Around one am she heard chatter but it was closer to Harry she couldn't really hear it. She was in too much pain by then anyway.

Morning finally came and the students were allowed back into their dormitories. Once she reached her bed she collapsed. Ruthie lay down motionless.

"Are you okay?" Hermione asked as she changed into her robes.

"Yes…"Ruthie lied. She couldn't bend or move her stomach or legs. Hermione shrugged.

"All right. Are you coming?"

"Go on ahead." She said quietly.

"All right. But don't be late." Hermione said and left. Ruthie fell asleep. Hermione went downstairs to breakfast. Harry and Ron were trying not fall asleep in their breakfast.

"Morning." Hermione said cheerfully. They groaned in response. Harry looked up.

"Where's Ruthie?" Harry yawned.

"She said she'd be down…"Hermione shrugged. The three ate breakfast quietly and headed off to class. But Ruthie never showed up. She wasn't in Divination either. They went to potions but she wasn't there.

"Where is Ms. Camden?" Snape smiled walking over to them. The three looked at each other and shrugged. "Now, you expect me to believe you don't know. Well, since I saw her this morning, tell her I shall expect her at detention tonight." He smiled wickedly. Harry growled as Snape walked away.

"We should check the common room during lunch." Harry said. Ron and Hermione agreed. So after Potions they grabbed some sandwiches and set off for the common room.

"Why would she skip classes?" Ron asked as they headed up the stairs sandwiches hanging out of their mouths.

"She seemed off this morning." Hermione commented taking a bite of her sandwich. They reached Gryffindor tower after about twenty minutes. Nobody was in the common room, and according to the fat lady nobody had been in or out since everyone left for first period.

"I'll check the girls dormitory. Maybe she fell asleep." Hermione headed up the stairs. She peaked in and didn't see anyone; she pushed the door open and walked in. Ruthie was lying on her bed. Hermione rolled her eyes and walked over. "Ruthie! Ruthie wake up you've missed all our morning classes. Snape and McGonagall are really mad…Ruthie?" Ruthie didn't move. Hermione began to panic.

"Ruthie?" She shouted shaking her wildly. She pulled out her wand. "Mobilicorpus" Ruthie rose into the air, her head flopping from side to side. Then she fell onto the floor.

"Oh no! I can't do the spell…" Hermione whined. "Mobilicorpus!" She said again. Ruthie levitated again and Hermione ran for the door Ruthie following behind her knocking against the floor. She ran down the stairs and into the common room.

"What? What's wrong?" Ron asked as Hermione rushed into the room frantically. Ruthie flew in behind her and landed on the floor.

"AH! Sorry!" Hermione screamed to a motionless Ruthie.

"What did you do to her?" Ron screamed.

"I didn't I found her like this. I'm no good at the Mobilicorpus spell." Hermione said practically in tears. Harry reached down and picked her up. She was still in her night robes.

"Come on! We have to get her to the Hospital wing." Hermione and Ron nodded and ran ahead to get the door. Harry followed, Ruthie held tightly in his arms. They ran down the stairs banging into a few younger students on break.

"Sorry." Hermione yelled back. They ran down corridor after corridor pushing past groups of students. Finally they reached the hospital wing. The three burst in Ruthie still dangling in Harry's arms.

"What is going on?" Madam Pomfrey asked shrilly.

"SHE NEEDS HELP!" They yelled. Madam Pomfrey looked at Ruthie and went white. They placed her on an Empty bed.

"Go! Leave. Get…what house is she in?" Madam Pomfrey yelled rushing around instruments flying overhead.

"Gryffindor—"

"McGonagall. Go! Get her!" Harry, Hermione and Ron ran out in search of McGonagall. Harry the fastest of the three reached her office first.

"Professor!" Harry screamed. McGonagall looked up bewildered.

"Potter—"

"Madam Pomfrey…she sent us…Ruthie…hurt!" Ron wheezed. McGonagall got up and left. Harry looked at Ron and Hermione and the three chased after her. They got back to the hospital wing. The curtains were drawn around Ruthie so they couldn't see. McGonagall walked over to Madam Pomfrey. The two began speaking in whispers.

"Out!" She yelled at them. McGonagall wheeled around and charged at them hurrying them out of the hospital wing.

"But Professor—" Hermione started.

"What about—" Ron tried.

"No!" Harry shouted.

"Potter, this is not up for discussion. Here," She waved her wand and a piece of parchment appeared. She whipped out a quill and scribbled something. "Go to your next class." She disappeared back into the Hospital wing. Harry glared furiously at the door, which was now locked.

"That's not fair!" Harry raged. Hermione whimpered tears leaking out of her eyes.

"Come on Harry we better get to Defense against the dark arts." Ron said. Harry nodded still glaring at the door; he followed Ron and Hermione quietly to Defense Against The Dark Arts. They reached the class twenty minutes later. Lupin looked up as they entered the room.

"Ah. Hello, nice of you to join us." Lupin said. Harry handed him the note. Lupin's face shifted. "Is she alright?" He asked quietly. Harry shrugged and walked over to his seat. Hermione was sitting with her head on the table crying. Whispers broke out all over the room.

"All right. Settle down." Lupin straightened up. "Everybody turn to chapter four and begin reading about Hinkypunks we shall be learning about them next. Harry turned to that chapter, but didn't read it. The class was going by so slowly. He was happy it was the last class. Then they could go wait outside the hospital wing.

Class finally ended but Lupin asked the three of them to stay behind. Hermione and Ron were looking nervously at Harry who looked ready to explode.

"What happened?" Lupin asked.

"We found her passed out in the dormitory…" Hermione whispered.

"Well…I am sure Madam Pomfrey will have her back to normal in no time. Don't worry. Go I'm sure you want to visit." He said, his tone sounding somewhat forcefully cheery.

The three nodded and headed off to the Hospital wing. When they got there Simon was sitting outside looking angrier then Harry. He spotted the three coming his way.

"What happened?" He screamed.

"We don't know…" Hermione whispered.

"They wont let me in!" Simon yelled, swearing loudly. Hermione jumped.

"Simon!" Harry said. "Calm down. We'll wait until she does." Harry understood how he felt, but he knew screaming and cursing would only anger professor McGonagall and likely land them in detention. So they sat down and waited.

Author Note: Hey guys! Happy New Year! This chapter and the last one something huge happened and nobody reviewed so sad :( I don't know if anyone is reading this but if you are please review let me know what you think. I'll continue it anyway because I love it. But I would love to know what other people thought about it and the story is really going to pick up the pace now.

So I'll try to update again soon. Whether or not I get any reviews. I hope you review though! I just want to know if people are actually reading it but anyway! Enjoy.