Chapter 10 – Wakey Wakey – Laura's POV
Something just didn't feel right. You know that feeling you get when you know something's wrong? Well I had that feeling. Sarah and I had been playing a game of exploding snap in the living room of the little cottage we had moved in to, fearing our lives as the death eaters tried to get rid of muggles and muggle born witches and wizards. Sarah had to drop out of school which she loved.
I must admit I missed Hogwarts and all my friends. I still kept in contact with some of them. After our game finished I went into the room that Sarah and I shared and took out a box which had some of my old school stuff in it. I noticed my Dumbledore's Army coin.
"Emergency! Needed at Hogwarts immediately. Go to Hogsmede to the Hog's Head pub." appeared on it.
I wouldn't be welcome back at Hogwarts, I was muggle born. But what was happening? I had to go and see what was happening, they needed my help. I quickly gathered up my belongings, making sure I had my wand safely in my pocket and apparated to said place on the coin. A man with a long white beard was there to greet me, who looked the spitting image of Dumbledore. A few other ex-students had gathered in his room.
"They sent for all of us. They need us." Oliver Wood the old Gryffindor quidditch captain spoke.
Just then there was a massive 'POP' and The Weasley family arrived along with my old Defence Against The Dark Arts professor, Professor Lupin.
"Aberforth what is happening?" The ginger haired plump woman cried.
"Harry Potter has returned to Hogwarts, something about needing to do a job for Dumbledore." Aberforth answered rolling his eyes.
The twin boys Fred and George had also got contact via their coins about the emergency. Aberforth opened a secret passage which led us to the already busy Room of requirement where a huge crowd of students from all three houses were gathered, Harry, Ron and Hermione amongst them. It appeared that Neville Longbottom with the help of Ginny Weasley and Luna Lovegood had kept up Dumbledore's army after Harry, Ron and Hermione left the school, especially after Snape took over. They had a lot more members now however. There must have been about 50 students there and I noticed quite a few ex-students back again.
"Needing some back up?" George Weasley smirked as we entered the room which was laid out with hammocks, blankets, rugs and even a make shift radio station which I was told Potterwatch was being run from inside the school.
It was overwhelming to be back especially with so many ex pupils there too. There were hugs all around as people were reunited with old friends. I managed to find some of my fellow students; Hannah, Susan and Justin whom I went over too.
"What is going on?" I questioned.
"I have no idea. Harry's back for some reason. I can see it all kicking off. We've got to be prepared." Hannah answered.
Harry spoke to everyone explaining that he had to do something for Dumbledore and hoped we all could help him, but he didn't tell us what.
"I need to find something to do with Ravenclaw." He spoke.
A few of the Ravenclaw students piped up trying to give him answers. Luna offered to go with him.
"I need you all to keep watch out for me. This is extremely important." Harry spoke then he and Luna disappeared.
All the students in uniforms went after them to keep watch so he wouldn't be spotted or caught by the Carrows who were death eaters now working in the school. The rest of us stayed not knowing what was going on. We all began chattering amongst ourselves, finding out what all had been happening at the school.
"It's been a nightmare, worse than when Umbridge took over and that's saying something. The punishments are harsher and the only house who can do no wrong is Slytherin. Snape is worse now than he ever was. Even some of the other Professors are finding life here difficult." Seamus Finnegan told our group and I noticed a nasty gash above his right eye.
"Some of us have tried to retaliate. They've been trying to get us to use the unforgivable curses on the younger kids." Ernie Macmillan added.
I looked around the room of requirement that we had once used for Dumbledore Army meetings. It had white hammocks hanging from the ceiling and both male and female bathrooms. Lavender Brown explained that Neville and Ginny came up with the idea of using this room and that they'd been seeking refuge here ever since Snape took over.
"We needed somewhere safe where people couldn't find us. We aren't even safe in our common rooms anymore." Lavender told us looking worried.
The war had begun, students running screaming and crying everywhere. My heart hammered at 90mph in my chest, adrenaline and fear streaming through my veins. I darted down the stairs following a group of my fellow Hufflepuffs. Blasts of coloured light were shooting from all directions as I ducked and jumped to miss them.
A black haired boy wasn't so lucky, falling on his back in front of me. I squirmed. Two fellow students help lift him out of the way so people didn't fall over him. Then Professor Sprout lifted him into the Great Hall to attend to him. Thankfully he wasn't dead, just about alive. Death eaters in black cloaks appeared from everywhere.
"Stupify!" I shouted blasting one unexpectedly.
This gave me a chance to make a get away with Helen, a girl in the year below me, hiding behind a pillar. There was a massive blast and then blackness.
I felt like I was floating, it was a strange but enjoyable feeling, like I was flying amongst the clouds. I couldn't be dead. I could hear voices all around me, muffled voices, cries and a lot of shouting and screaming, high pitched screaming. I had no idea where I was nor what was happening. This feeling lasted for quite some time until I felt a huge strike of pain go through my head, but not just my head but my arm and my stomach too.
The sound of the voices around me became clearer and I could just make out my Mum's voice.
"Mum?" I tried to call out but all I managed was a croak.
My throat was dry and felt like I'd swallowed fire or something. I began coughing and felt someone touch my arm.
"Laura, Laura are you awake dear?" Mum spoke.
Was I awake? I was so confused. I tried to open my eyes but the bright light made them sting like crazy.
"Oh John dear, she's wakening, she's coming around." Mum spoke.
I felt her take my hand, the warmth of her touch felt nice. I gently opened my eyes, letting them adjust to the light.
"Oh Laura darling. You're ok. How are you feeling?" Mum asked me.
My eyes were stinging like mad. Mum was stood towering over me.
"I'm...I'm here Mum. Where am I? What happened?" I questioned getting used to speaking again.
I didn't take my eyes off Mum.
"Laura dear, you are in St Mongos, you got knocked out during the battle at the school." Mum answered.
Tears were glistening in her blue eyes.
"It's...it's all over?" I stuttered. I had so many questions to ask.
"Yes it is. It's all over." Dad answered.
I shot a glance around the room which was relatively quiet. I noticed a group of red heads sat at the bed next to me.
"Who's that lying there?" I asked Mum as I couldn't see who was lying on the bed.
I knew the Weasley kids quite well being in Dumbledore's Army with the twins, Ginny and Ron.
"That's one of the Weasley boys, think it's one of the twins. There's so many of them though I'm not too sure." Dad answered looking in their direction.
One of the twins had gotten hurt. In my 7 years at Hogwarts I never ever saw Fred or George apart. They were joined at the hip. Mum kindly helped me sit up and explained that I had a blow to the head, some broken ribs and a broken arm, not to mention quite a few cuts and bruises.
"You are extremely lucky Laura. You had us worried. The young Weasley chap has similar injuries to you, only his are slightly worse." Dad explained.
I looked over to the bed. I could see the older Weasley boys; Charlie and Percy and their parents.
"They're a lovely family. I was speaking to Arthur and Molly earlier." Dad spoke.
There was no sign of the other twin, Harry, Ron, Hermione or Ginny. A healer then came to see if I was ok.
"It's so good to see you awake dear. I think we'll keep you in tonight then you should be free to go home tomorrow." The woman called Patty told me.
Mum, Dad and Sarah had stayed for as long as they could. I was upset to see them go as I would be all on my own. They said their goodbyes and wished me goodnight then left. I looked around the ward where other people were leaving too. I had found out that it was Fred in the bed next to me as I had seen George arrive with Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny who thankfully were all ok.
The only remaining Weasley now however was George who sat by his twin's bed reading through a copy of the Quibbler which was the magazine Luna Lovegood's father wrote. I watched the red haired boy get up.
"I'll be back soon Freddie, don't go anywhere on me while I'll away." I heard him say.
It actually broke my heart seeing George so lonely. I couldn't imagine what he was going through at that moment in time. I couldn't imagine loosing Sarah. They seemed to have this unbreakable bond that no other set of siblings seem to have and Sarah and I were close especially since we both attended Hogwarts. George and Fred would finish each other's sentences and somehow know what the other was thinking.
With having Muggle parents there was so much I didn't know about, about what all had happened during the battle and was desperate for answers and George seemed the perfect person to ask. As he went to pass my bed I called out his name.
"George!" and ushered him to come over to me.
I wasn't expecting him too. I had spoken to him a few times but we weren't friends or anything. Ok maybe I thought he was a good looking chap, and he was charming to boot but other than being in the DA we never really mixed plus I was the year below them and in a completely different house.
"Good to see you're wakened Laura. How are you feeling?" George asked me sincerely.
"Thanks. I'm ok thank you. I'm in a lot of pain unfortunately." I answered.
"How are you?" I asked him back as he sat down on the empty arm chair beside my bed.
"I'm ok considering. I just wish he'd wake up soon. I'm as bored as hell without him around." George answered looking over at his sleeping twin. "Though seeing you awake has gave me hope that he will soon."
"I really hope he does soon. Just stay positive." I said. "George can I ask you a few questions about what happened? If you don't want to answer I understand."
"Of course, of course, go on ahead." George answered.
"Well what all did happen?" I questioned. "I got knocked not long after we left the room of requirement."
"Right so much happened. Well Harry defeated you-know-who so he's thankfully long gone, most of his followers ran off scared and most of them have been caught and put in prison now. Mum managed to kill Bellatrix Lestrange. Unfortunately we lost a few members of the order, Professor Lupin and his wife Tonks. I think over 50 people were killed in total, well from our side anyways. Lavender Brown and Colin Creevey also died." George explained.
"The school is a complete mess but we're all going back to help rebuild it in a few weeks' time once people have healed and stuff. That's all really, well the important stuff anyway."
"So is he really gone? You-know-who?" I wondered.
"Yep he is all thanks to Harry. I honestly don't know how he did it. However at one point we thought he was dead, he was brought to us by Hagrid along with all the death eaters but nope he was alive, the boy who lived and all that. Surprised us all but we knew we could count on him." George answered.
"And how is Fred?" I finally asked him hoping it wasn't a touchy subject.
"He's getting stronger, only time will tell but he's bloody lucky to be alive at all. We all thought he was a goner but I knew my Freddie wasn't going to give in that quickly. He's a tough cookie that one." George answered with a small smile.
"I wonder what's going to happen now." I asked out loud.
"I honestly have no idea. I think we'll all try and get the wizarding world back to normal and rebuild our lives. It'll take time though." George answered.
I was pleasantly surprised at George's calmness and seriousness. For the first time I was seeing George as a real person and not this mischievous, trouble maker who was part of a double act with his twin. He was definitely the quieter twin and less boisterous and surprisingly easy to talk too.
"Thank goodness I've found someone to talk too. I was starting to go mad sat here on my own." George spoke.
"You stay all night?" I asked raising an eyebrow.
"Yep then Mum and Dad will come tomorrow morning to let me go home, have some sleep and get cleaned up then I'll back at night to stay." George answered. "I can't bear to leave him. We've never spent that much time apart in our 20 years. I hate seeing him like this."
