Rest and Reconnaissance
Harry and Ron carried Ginny through the door of the Hospital Wing and were met immediately by Madam Pomfrey. She seemed relieved that Ginny was at least moving.
"Set her down here," she ordered, ushering them to a bed. Harry laid Ginny against the pillow and she gave a soft groan, trying to open her eyes.
"What happened to her?" the mediwitch asked.
"She passed out…err and hit her head," Harry replied hastily. He was suddenly reminded about his other arm when Ginny's weight was no longer holding the bone in place.
"Oh dear, come along. Better tend to you as well. What about you two?" she called, ushering Harry to another bed.
"We're fine," Irlynn replied. Madam Pomfrey busied herself with checking Harry's arm. She muttered to herself as she bustled about the bed, making him comfortable as she went to retrieve a potion. In the bed next to him, Hermione lay motionless.
"Has anyone found a way to turn them back?" Irlynn asked, moving towards Harry's bed. Ron followed after her. Madam Pomfrey handed Harry a potion and did a spot check on Ron and Irlynn just to be sure they were both ok.
"Professor Sprout's mandrakes are being brewed into the necessary potion now. With any luck, they will be revived in the morning," she answered. Harry drank the potion, grimacing at the taste and handed the empty glass back.
"Now you two should get back to your Common Rooms," she added, shooing the other two students away. Assured that Harry would be fine on his own, she headed over to tend to Ginny. Harry watched from across the room before finally succumbing to the lateness of the hour. Ron and Irlynn parted ways just outside the Hospital Wing.
"What do you think happened in there?" Ron asked, keeping his voice low.
"I don't know…but I think Harry will tell us when he's released. I hope Ginny is ok. She didn't look so good," Irlynn commented.
"You didn't…see anything?"
"I can't see things on command. It doesn't work like that…I don't really know why it works when it does," she said with a shrug before starting off to Ravenclaw Tower. Ron let out a loud yawn and made his way back to Gryffindor Tower, trying to ignore the message written on the wall across from the Portrait of the Fat Lady.
In another part of the castle, Snape made his way to the entrance to Dumbledore's office. He gave the gargoyle the password and strode up the spiral staircase as quickly as he could. He reached the door and knocked. He received no answer. He didn't know what time it was but Snape guessed it was well after midnight. He rubbed the back of his head and knocked a second time. This time he could hear scuffling sounds from within. He took a step or two back to allow the door to be pulled open. Dumbledore appeared in his nightclothes and cap, looking very bleary eyed. He was without his half-moon glasses.
"I apologize for the lateness of the hour, Headmaster however I need to speak with immediately," Snape said, suddenly feeling very much awake. Dumbledore stood back to allow the younger man into his office. Fawkes sat atop his perch, head tucked beneath his wing in slumber.
"What is it Severus?" Albus asked, searching for his glasses on his desk.
This evening I overheard Mr. Potter and his friends discussing the Chamber of Secrets. I caught them sneaking out tonight up to the third floor girl's bathroom," Snape began. Dumbledore sunk into hiss chair and listened intently.
"I knew Potter was just looking for trouble and so I revealed myself to them and informed that they were not to go any further. Naturally, they disobeyed. I admit, I was caught off guard by Mr. Potter. Due to mediocre aim, I was hit with a stunning spell."
"When he returned from the Chamber, he was carrying Miss Weasley's body," he continued but Dumbledore stopped him.
"You are saying whoever opened the Chamber, kidnapped Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yes, Sir," Snape said.
"And you were otherwise incapacitated during this entire encounter?" Snape nodded his head again, albeit begrudgingly.
"You will need to speak with Mr. Potter as to what happened within the Chamber. I do know however that upon exiting the Chamber, he carried with him, the Sorting Hat, a book and the Sword of Gryffindor."
"Is there anything else, Severus?"
"One other thing. Your phoenix was also present." Dumbledore looked over at Fawkes and smiled broadly.
'Remarkable birds, the phoenix. Extremely strong and has such a beautiful song," Dumbledore mused. Severus just looked from the bird to the man sitting across the desk.
"I sent Mr. Potter and Miss Weasley to the Hospital Wing. I do not believe Miss McQuillen and Mr. Weasley sustained injury. They should have returned to their respective dormitories."
"Thank you, Severus. Good night. I will talk to them all in the morning," Dumbledore replied. Snape stood up made a quick exit. Dumbledore looked at Fawkes and reach a hand out to stroke the sleeping bird's feathers.
"Thank you, my friend," he whispered before returning to his own private quarters.
The rest of the night passed by in silence. All parties involved were exhausted, regardless of their involvement. Irlynn lay awake for a while longer once she had returned to her dormitory. She was curious as to why she hadn't seen anything that Harry had. She needed to ask Dumbledore if he had found out anything about why she saw what she did. It seemed that he had just forgotten completely about her dilemma. As she rolled over and pulled the blankets up around her chin, another thought came to her. Why had she been so concerned about Professor Snape down in the Chamber? Of course she was a little afraid of how he would react when he awoke but there was something else. She'd genuinely been worried for his safety.
The following morning arrived much too quickly for the whole of Hogwarts. Dumbledore was up and about before any of the students. He woke Mr. Filch early much to the man's grumblings.
"Argus would you be so kind as to clean off the wall by the library and by Gryffindor Tower before the students awake. There is no need to invoke panic among the students. Thank you," the headmaster said with a cheery twinkle in his eyes. Filch gave a grumble but grabbed a bucket and mop and trudged off to clean up. Next Dumbledore headed for the Hospital Wing. He had several things to check on there. When he reached the room, h e found the office light on. He stuck his head in to see Madam Pomfrey reading.
"Good morning, Poppy," he greeted. She jumped a little in her chair.
"Good morning, Headmaster," she replied.
"I was told you have some new guests."
"Yes. Miss Weasley and Mr. Potter. Mr. Potter is mending a broken arm. Miss Weasley has quite a fever but I believe it broke an hour ago."
"I've no doubt they'll be good as new today. Any word from Pomona?"
"She said she should finish with the mandrake potion this morning." Madam Pomfrey gave a little stretch and stood up.
"Would you like me to wake Mr. Potter?"
"No, no. Let him sleep. I'm quite certain he needs his rest. I will come back in a little while. Please let me know when Pomona is ready. I would like to be here when the other students are revived."
"Of course Headmaster." With that, Dumbledore quietly strode out of the room.
Below in the dungeons, Snape too was up early. He was pacing back and forth of his fireplace, embers smoldering dimly in the hearth. He hadn't slept much the rest of the night. It wasn't that the events of the night previous had kept him awake. It was this new feeling that had crept up when he was down in the tunnel with Ron and Irlynn. He hadn't protested that much when Harry had decided to continue on without them. But deep down, he knew a part of him would have taken every measure necessary to keep Irlynn from going after him. Was he really beginning to feel fatherly emotions for this girl that he hardly knew? He caught sight of the picture of Lily on the mantle and let out a breath. Was this her way of telling him that he should stop wasting time and come clean with her?
"I just can't do it, Lily," he murmured, keeping his distance from the photograph. She just looked at him with sad eyes. He closed his eyes and sat down in the chair across from thee fireplace. He wouldn't know how to even broach the subject with Irlynn. And how could he guarantee that she would even believe him? All of these thoughts whirled around his subconscious as he stood up once more and walked out of his private quarters.