Chapter Eleven

Harry woke the next morning to Bentley and Nala licking his face. Gently, he pushed the two dogs away from him. They jumped down from the bed and ran out of the room. Harry wiped his face and rolled onto his side. Then Martha came into his room.

"You're not up yet?" she asked. "Emily and Gilbert are going to be here soon."

Harry looked over at his clock. They were going to continue looking for the fan fic. Tawny's parents were having a family gathering at her house, but promised to join in the search later.

Harry grumbled. He threw the covers off of his bed and got up. The moment he stood, he suddenly felt dizzy. He sat down on the edge of his bed and rubbed his forehead.

"Are you all right?" Martha asked.

"Yeah," Harry said. "Just got up too fast."

"You look really pale. I hope you're not getting sick."

"Mum, I'm fine. Really."

"I'm going to take your temper, just in case."

Martha left the room. Harry sat for a moment longer and the dizzy spell passed. He tried to stand again, but with the same results. He leaned over and pushed the speaker button on his phone. Then he pushed the speed dial button for Emily's cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Emily, it's Harry."

"Hey. I'm on my way over right now."

"Hurry, please."

"Harry, what's wrong?"

"I don't have much time, Emily. I can feel myself starting to shut down."

"I'll be there as soon as I can."

"Alright. I'll see you."

"Bye."

Harry pushed the speaker button again, ending the phone call. Harry lay back in his bed. Just sitting up took too much effort.

Martha came back into the room. In her hand, she held a digital thermometer.

"Open," she said.

Harry opened his mouth and she placed the thermometer under his tongue. As Harry waited for the thermometer to beep, the doorbell rang.

"Mmm-ah-ee esh huh," Harry mumbled.

"Albert will let Emily in," Martha said, decoding Harry's mumbles. "Don't talk."

The thermometer beeped. Harry pulled it out of his mouth and looked at it.

"Normal," he said. "No fever."

"I think you need some rest, though," Martha said.

"I'd like Emily to stay. Just for a bit?"

"OK, for a little bit. Just take it easy. I'll send her up."

Martha left. Harry pulled the covers up around himself, feeling very cold. Then Emily rushed into his room. She came over to him and sat down on the edge of his bed. Her cheeks were flushed and her breathing was heavy. No doubt that she had run over to the house.

"Are you OK?" she managed to ask between breaths.

"I feel like shit," Harry replied. "It's kind of like flu symptoms."

"Have you talked to Gilbert yet? Does he know what's going on?"

"No, not yet."

The phone rang.

"Maybe that's him," Emily said.

Harry reached over and pushed the button for the speaker. "Hello?"

"Harry, it's Gilbert."

"Hey."

"Am I on speaker phone?"

"Yeah."

"Hey, Gilbert," Emily said.

"Listen, I need you two to be ready to leave when I get there. I'm about ten minutes away now."

"Why?" Harry asked. "Where are we going?"

"I found the fan fic. When the power came back on, I got on the Internet and looked for it. We're going to the girl's house."

"Good work. Not a moment too soon."

"Why's that?"

Harry gasped as a splitting headache suddenly came over him. He shut his eyes tightly.

"Harry?" Gilbert said. "What is it?"

"He's getting worse," Emily said. "You need to get here right quick."

"I'll be there as soon as I can. Just make sure you're both ready to go when I get there."

"Alright, bye."

Emily pushed the speaker button, ending the call. Then she turned to Harry. The pain had subsided some and he opened his eyes.

"You all right?" she asked.

"Do you remember the fourth movie?" Harry asked. "When Voldemort came back and touched his finger to my scar?" Emily nodded. "It's that painful."

"Oh." Emily grimaced. "Well, we need to get you ready."

"I'll just wear what I have on." Harry had slept in a t-shirt and plain, gray pajama pants. "Can you help me with shoes?"

"Sure." Emily grabbed his shoes as Harry sat up. She put them on him and tied them. "Can you get up and walk?"

"I don't know." Harry slowly stood up. He took a few unsteady steps towards Emily. "I'm going to need to lean on you."

"OK."

Emily put an arm around his shoulders. She guided him out of the room and down the stairs. Emily opened the front door to see Gilbert walking up the driveway.

"Perfect timing," he said.

"Help Harry into the car," Emily said. "I'll be right back."

"Where are you going?"

"I'm going to cover our arses."

Emily let go of Harry and walked back into the house. Gilbert led Harry over to his car and helped him into the backseat before getting into the driver's seat. A moment later, Emily came rushing out of the house. She slid into the backseat next to Harry.

"Get going," she said.

Gilbert threw the car into drive and they sped off. Harry tilted his head back and closed his eyes, trying to will the pain to go away. Emily held his hand.

"Just hang in, Harry," she said. Harry nodded. Then Emily turned to Gilbert. "How much further is it?"

"A few more blocks," Gilbert said. "What was it you just did back there?"

"I told Martha and Albert that I was leaving and that Harry was going back to sleep. It'll be a few hours before they go up to his room to check on him."

"Good work, Em."

"Oh, my God!" Emily turned around in her seat and looked out the back window. Then she turned back to Gilbert. "You stupid git! You just ran a red light! Are you trying to get us killed?"

"This is an emergency," Gilbert said.

"Yeah, try explaining that to the officer when we get pulled over."

Harry squeezed Emily's hand as the pain started to get stronger. Emily looked at him. His eyes were again shut tight and a tear trickled down his cheek.

"Just drive!" Harry said through gritted teeth. "Don't fight, just fucking drive!"

"I'm going as fast as I can," Gilbert assured him.

"We're almost there, Harry," Emily said. "It's not much further."

"It's just down this way." Gilbert made a turn onto a side street.

Emily looked out the window. "I've been here before." She turned to Gilbert. "Are we going where I think we're going?"

"Yes," Gilbert replied.

"Oh, my God. Are you fucking serious?"

"What?" Harry asked.

Gilbert passed Emily a piece of paper. "That's the first page of the fan fic."

Harry looked over Emily's shoulder at the paper. Across the top was

Strange New World

A Harry Potter Fan Fic

Written by Virginia Sumdim

Harry looked up at Emily. "I don't understand. What does this mean?"

"One of our cast mates told us that she writes under this penname," Emily said.

Harry was about to ask which cast mate it was, when he was hit with another shooting pain. The pain spread from his head into his neck and down his back.

"You are not going out like this," Emily said sternly. "Not when we're this close."

Gilbert pulled the car up in front of the house. He put the car in park and he and Emily quickly got out. They ran around to the other side and helped Harry out of the car. When he stood, Harry started to fall to the ground. Gilbert caught him under his arms and stood him upright.

"Stay with us," Gilbert said. "Almost there."

With both of them on either side of Harry for support, they walked to the front door. Gilbert knocked on the door. A moment later, a short, red-haired woman answered.

"Well," she said. "Gilbert, Emily, Donald. This is a surprise."

"Hi, Mrs. Albright," Emily said. "We need to talk to Tawny. It's important."