Harry awoke to white-washed walls and the faintly sweet smell of antiseptic. He had spent enough time here to know that he was in the hospital wing at Hogwarts.
His memories flooded back all at once. He bolted upright, only to regret it as the sudden movement sent shooting pain all over his body. He was easing himself back down when Madam Pomfrey came bustling through the curtain around his bed.
"Ah, Mr. Potter," she smiled warmly, "welcome back." Then noting the grimace on his face, "You'll need to stay still and rest for a few days. Even I can't do much about the aftermath of the cruciatus curse, I'm afraid." She shook her head grimly. "It's an absolutely nasty curse, the cruciatus. It's no wonder it's illegal…but to think someone used it, and on a child no less! I'd like to give them a piece of my mind, but the Aurors outside refused to tell me anything, saying something about how it was a matter of national security or some other nonsense."
"Madam Pomfrey," he asked her urgently, "what happened? The others…" His mind leapt to his friends who he had left behind. "Are my friends alright?"
"Oh yes, dear, they're all fine. Mr. Malfoy's the only one who hasn't woken up yet—the others have already been healed for minor injuries and released."
His brow furrowed in confusion, and he wondered if his brain had been affected by the curse after all. "Malfoy…? But he's dead."
She gave him a slightly perplexed smile. "No, not dead, dear, just injured. I'll admit that he was in pretty bad shape, but under my care he'll be good as new in a week or so. See?"
She pulled back the curtain, revealing Draco's unconscious form laying on the hospital bed next to his. The other boy was so utterly still and peaceful looking that it was hard to believe…
"You're sure he's not dead?" He knew that he hadn't imagined it. The bright green light of the killing curse had hit Draco directly—he had seen it with his own eyes.
"I'm a professional mediwitch, so I think I would be able to tell the difference, Mr. Potter." She looked at him curiously. "Why were you so sure he was dead? Did something happen…?"
"Um…no, not really, Madam Pomfrey." If she had gotten that worked up about someone using the torture curse on him, he didn't even want to think about her reaction to someone using Avada Kedavra on a student.
"Are the Aurors still here?" he asked, tactfully changing the subject.
"Yes, I said that I would tell them when you woke up. They wanted to see you, but I told them not to expect too much since you're still recovering."
"I feel up to seeing them," he said quickly. The truth was that his mind still felt foggy and his entire body was aching, but all of that was overshadowed by the need to know what had happened back at the Ministry.
"Alright," she said with obvious reluctance, "if you're certain…" She swept out of the room and came back a few moments later with Tonks, Mad-Eye Moody, Lupin, and Sirius in tow.
"Harry!" Sirius strode up to him with a broad smile. "It's good to see that you're alright! You had me worried there for a second. I thought the Dea—"
Lupin cleared his throat loudly. "Thank you for all that you've done, Madam Pomfrey, but do you think that we could have a moment…?"
Madam Pomfrey had been listening closely, and it was clear from her face that she was none too eager to leave. After glancing at each of them and receiving no support, she finally left with a small 'harrumph!'
"Now then," Lupin said, once he was sure she was gone, "let's begin, shall we?"