Harry's head was throbbing and he had a ringing in his ears which made him a little disoriented. So when a hand came down on his shoulder he braced himself to ward off another attack, but it never came. Slowly, he realized that whoever was with him was talking to him. He shook his head and rubbed his eyes to clear his vision. When he looked up he saw the concerned face of Lupin.
"Harry? Harry, are you alright?" Lupin shook his shoulder.
"Ginny, where's Ginny?" Harry struggled to his feet and pushed past Lupin. He ran from the room and down the stairs, but when he got to the first floor it was empty. Harry began to panic until Lupin spoke from behind him.
"They're at St. Mungos," he said quietly. "Come on, I'll take you. Hold on tight." Lupin held out his arm and Harry grabbed on to it. He felt the familiar sensation of being sucked into nothingness and pressure coming at him from all sides. As quickly as it had started it stopped and Harry found himself standing in front of St. Mungos. He started forward and found himself in the bustling front entrance of the hospital. Nurses darted back and forth between patients, doctors ran down the halls towards patient's rooms, and people were taken away on gurneys. Lupin walked to the large desk in the middle of the room and spoke to a witch who was giving orders to someone Harry assumed was a nurse. He came back and motioned for Harry to follow him. He didn't try to talk to Harry, seeming to understand that he just wanted to be left alone for now.
Harry felt numb. That's the best way he could describe it. Ginny had been kidnapped and tortured, Ron had gotten hurt, and Hermione was...he didn't even know how Hermione was. He and Lupin turned a corner and saw all of the Weasley's sitting or pacing in the hallway. Mrs. Weasley was crying into Mr. Weasley's shoulder, Fred and George were leaning against the wall, both of them very pale, and Bill and Charlie were pacing back and forth. Ron was sitting alone, a bandage was wrapped around his head and he was bouncing his knee up and down.
Harry and Lupin came to a stop near the group and seven heads swiveled to face them. Harry didn't know what to expect, but he did know that an overwhelming rush of relief came over him when Mrs. Weasley stood up and crushed him into a big hug.
"Harry, I'm so glad you're alright!" She looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
"Where are they?" Harry looked over her shoulder.
Mrs. Weasley's tears spilled over and she pointed to a door next to Ron's chair, "They put both of them in that room there. They said it would be easier to care for them." She looked at Harry again, "You are alright, aren't you?"
Harry nodded his head but Mrs. Weasley wasn't going to take his word for it. She looked him over critically before stopping at his right arm, "What is this?" He looked down and saw that his sleeve was ripped and stained with blood. Then he remembered that he'd been hit with Bellatrix's knife.
"It's just a cut, no worse than what happened to Ron."
"You come sit down here right now," Mrs. Weasley pushed him into an empty seat beside Ron and walked down the hall. She returned a minute later followed by a rather disgruntled looking nurse.
"Here he is," Mrs. Weasley shooed the nurse towards Harry who winced as she poked and prodded his arm. She placed her wand against his skin and muttered under her breath. When Harry looked at his arm again all that was there was a thin white line.
"That should go away in a couple of weeks, but you might still be a little sore." The nurse turned to Mrs. Weasley, "May I go back to my patients now?" Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes and nodded.
Once the nurse had rounded the corner the group lapsed back into silence until Ron jumped up from his seat, "What's taking so long? What's the point of magic if they can't fix them?"
Mr. Weasley nodded sadly, "I know son, but we just have to—" Mr. Weasley was cut off by several doctors running past them and disappearing into Hermione and Ginny's room. No one moved, it was as if time stood still. Mrs. Weasley started crying again Harry and Ron had taken up identical poses, their elbows on their knees and their hands covering their faces.
After what seemed like an eternity the doctors and nurses filed out of the hospital room and walked down the hallway. The last doctor out was a man in his late forties with a kind face. He stopped and looked down at his clipboard, "Hermione Granger's family?" Ron leapt to his feet as all of the Weasley's, Lupin, and Harry stood up. The doctor looked down again and asked, "Ginny Weasley's family?"
Lupin spoke up, "We're here for both of them. Miss Granger's parents have been notified and are on their way. They have given permission for you to share her condition with us."
The doctor nodded his head, "Very well. Miss Granger was hit with a very powerful dark curse. It causes extensive internal bleeding. To be completely honest we aren't sure why she's not dead." Ron looked like he was going to be sick as the doctor continued, "The only thing we could find on her that could explain it is this." He held up a familiar small circular stone strung on a cord. Everyone recognized it as the gift Bill had given each of them for Christmas.
"What about Ginny, doctor?" Mr. Weasley asked.
"Your daughter had multiple knife wounds along her arms, several of which had poison introduced to them. One of her ribs was broken and the Cruciatus curse was used on her repeatedly." Ginny's brothers turned slightly green and Harry's eyes began to burn as he started to fully comprehend how much had been done to Ginny.
"Are they going to be alright?" Charlie found his voice and asked the question everybody was thinking but dreading the answer to.
"Miss Granger began bleeding internally again which is why those doctors came earlier. We got it under control for now and unless something else happens we are hopeful that she will recover. As for your daughter, we fixed her rib and we have healed her wounds as well as given her the antidote for the poison. Until she wakes up we won't know if there is any lasting damage from the Cruciatus curse. If you'll give me one moment I will make arrangements for you all to go in to see them."
With that the doctor went back into the hospital room, leaving a cloud of fear and hope hanging in the air. Ron pulled himself together and walked over to where Bill was standing, "Thank you for saving her." He threw his arms around Bill's shoulders and hugged him. Bill's arms automatically returned the gesture and both brother's eyes filled with tears.
"You may come in now," the doctor reentered the hall and stood back to allow the large group past. The room was painted a light green color and sunlight shined in through the windows. There wasn't much furniture aside from the two hospital beds, just a simple table beside each bed and two large armchairs. Everyone moved to stand between the two beds and looked from Hermione to Ginny. Both of them were very pale but that's where the similarities ended, Hermione looked like she was only sleeping and Ginny had thin red lines on her arms where the gashes used to be.
"If I may, who put the salve on your daughter's wounds?" the doctor questioned.
"Hermione brought it with her and had me help her put it on," Harry answered.
A small smile appeared on the doctor's face, "Well, it helped save her life. If those cuts had kept bleeding any longer then she wouldn't be here." And with that, he left the room.
The Weasley's took turns visiting the girls, talking to them and asking them to wake up soon. After an hour or so of this, they all left the room to go to the cafeteria and get something to eat, leaving Ron and Harry alone. Harry took the seat beside Ginny and Ron did the same with Hermione.
Harry looked down at Ginny's face and fought back tears, "I'm so sorry, Ginny. I never wanted this to happen." He gave a bitter laugh, "And you know what the worst part is aside from the fact that you're here right now? The worst part is that had I not lost my temper with Cho you wouldn't have run off and been taken. I wish I could have had the chance to tell you what really happened. I'll just have to tell you when you wake up. Please wake up," Harry whispered.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Ron reached out a hand to smooth back Hermione's hair. He still couldn't get the image of Hermione getting hit with that spell out of his head. When her eyes had connected with his he saw her surprise and fear but the worst one was the acceptance. Like she knew that she was going to die and there was nothing that could be done. To see her crumble to the floor with blood trickling out of the corner of her mouth was something out of Ron's nightmares.
"You have to get better, you know. You owe me. Whenever I was scared of you getting hurt you always told me that you'd be fine. And I believed you because when was the last time that you were wrong about something? I've only had you for a few weeks. I want more than a few weeks so you're just going to have to give it to me."
Ron was quiet after this and he could hear Harry saying something to Ginny before he too stopped talking. A little while later Ron's family and Lupin returned to the room and Lupin spoke to Ron and Harry, "I'm going to need you to come with me so that you can tell Professor Dumbledore what happened today."
Ron and Harry opened their mouths to protest but Lupin held up his hand to stop them, "I understand you don't want to leave Ginny and Hermione so Professor Dumbledore has arranged for us all to meet in a room down the hall."
The boys nodded mutely and followed Lupin down a series of halls before they reached a large room that was decorated completely different from the rest of the hospital. The floor was hardwood that was covered with a large rug, the walls were a darker color instead of the normal stark white, and there was a large fireplace on one wall that sat behind a grand wooden desk. Several large armchairs were arranged around the room and were currently being occupied by Tonks and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
Professor Dumbledore was seated behind the desk, his face a mask of serenity, "Please, take a seat." He waved at two chairs facing the desk and Ron and Harry took them, Lupin going to sit in the chair beside Tonks.
"I know that you are both very anxious to get back to Miss Weasley and Miss Granger but I need to know everything that happened today."
The boys nodded and launched into their story, explaining how they'd been waiting for news of Ginny to come, about the charms from Hermione's bracelet, Hermione sending the note to Dumbledore, getting past the Whomping Willow, getting into the Shrieking Shack, and the fight that ensued. Dumbledore remained silent, his fingers steepled together as he listened to their story.
"Bellatrix was standing over me when there was this weird noise and some wind and then she collapsed. That's when Lupin found me," Harry finished.
Dumbledore smiled slightly, "Ah, yes, I believe I was the cause of that noise. My own version of the Stunning Spell, much bigger and much louder." Ron and Harry looked at him in awe, making him chuckle.
"I have a couple more questions and then I shall let you leave. Would you explain about these 'charms' of Miss Granger's?"
"They're from a bracelet I gave her for Christmas," Ron explained. "When you wave your wand the broom, scroll, and quill get bigger. The broom will fly to whoever you tell it to and you can use the quill to write on the scroll."
"Very interesting. But if the bracelet is Miss Granger's how did Miss Weasley have the charms?"
"I don't know, sir."
"And you said that Miss Granger brought the Draxian Aphaedin with her when you all left. How did she know that that particular potion would be needed?"
Harry spoke up this time, "I think I might know. Last night after you left the common room I was pacing and Hermione noticed me grabbing my arm. She kept asking me questions about the pain, when it started, and stuff like that. She said she thought it was something called the Cordis Bond, that I was feeling what Ginny was feeling but not as painful." Harry winced as he said this last part.
"Miss Granger never ceases to amaze me. I believe she was right, what you were experiencing was the Cordis Bond. It's an uncommon connection between two soulmates who have found one another and are in love."
"Your parents had the Cordis Bond, Harry," Lupin smiled at him as he spoke.
Harry stared at him in shock, "They did?"
"Yes, it's been known to run in families."
"So, it must run in Ron's family then?"
"Yes, I believe it might."
"Does that mean that Hermione and I have it, too?" Ron asked.
"It's possible. Now, mind you, even if you don't have it that doesn't mean you and Hermione aren't soulmates or aren't in love. It's kind of like freckles, you're either born with them or you're not. The Cordis Bond is the same way, you're either born with it or you're not. Although, based on your family's propensity for freckles, you very well might have it," Lupin grinned at Ron, making everyone laugh. It felt good to laugh at something but the seriousness of the situation soon set in again.
"I thank you for explaining things and answering my questions, you may go now. Harry, will you stay for a moment?"
Harry remained seated while the others filed out of the room, his stomach was in knots and he feared he would be getting a severe lecture. He always hated those, especially when they came from Dumbledore. They made him feel about two inches tall.
"Harry, I won't take up too much of your time but I need you to understand how foolish your actions were today. You put yourself in the situation of being surrounded by dark wizards who want nothing more than to kill you. I know that you are aware of how important you are to defeating Voldemort so I need you to start acting like it."
Harry felt himself shrink under the headmaster's gaze, his every word hitting him like a punch in the gut, "I'm sorry, sir. I never wanted to disappoint you but the only thing I'd change about today is that I let Ron and Hermione come with me."
"Not once in all of the years I've known you have you ever disappointed me, Harry. You have grown to be a young man of great bravery, courage, and love. I may not approve of you taking things into your own hands but that doesn't mean that I don't understand why you did it. All I ask is that should an event like this occur again you will come to me before you do anything else."
Harry felt his throat squeeze Dumbledore's words. He'd never truly known his father and no adult had ever said such kind words to him aside from Sirius. Without saying anything else, he nodded his agreement to Dumbledore's request and the older wizard led him back to Hermione and Ginny's room. He and Ron were given another hour to stay before Dumbledore brought them back to Hogwarts. Both boys protested having to leave but he finally convinced them when he explained that Ginny and Hermione needed quiet and rest just as much as they needed their family and friends to sit with them.
They apparated to Hogsmeade where Dumbledore walked them back to Hogwarts. Thankfully he had timed it so that everyone was at dinner meaning that Ron and Harry weren't bombarded with people and their questions. Partway to the Gryffindor common room, Dumbledore left them to return to his office. The boys reached the portrait hole and tiredly climbed up, collapsing into the two armchairs by the fire. They stayed quiet, lost in their own thoughts when the low rumble of voices alerted them to the arrival of the other Gryffindor students. They prepared themselves for the onslaught of questions but surprisingly they never came.
Dean, Seamus, Parvati, and Lavender came and sat on the couch and Seamus spoke up first, "I'll go down to the kitchens to get you some food."
After he'd left, Harry looked curiously at the others, "Why aren't we being surrounded and asked a ton of questions? Not that I mind, but that's what usually happens."
"Lupin came before we went down to dinner and explained what happened. He asked that we give you some space and we understood," Dean explained.
"We're sorry about hounding you with questions all the other times, though. You're our friends so we just wanted to make sure you were okay," Lavender chimed in, referencing all of Harry's near-misses over the last few years. Harry and Ron grinned at her in response.
"Alright," Seamus appeared behind them. "Dobby caught me talking to one of the other house-elves and insisted that he be the one to make your food." He set down a huge tray covered in sandwiches, cakes, and a large pitcher of pumpkin juice with mugs.
Ron smirked, "Good ol' Dobby." He reached for a sandwich and handed one to Harry, waving at the others to take what they wanted. After they finished eating, Harry and Ron stood up to go to bed, anxious for the morning to come so they could go back to Ginny and Hermione. Lavender and Parvati jumped up and asked that they wait before darting up to the girls' dormitory. They returned seconds later, each carrying a little bundle of scales.
"They've been restless since Hermione and Ginny have been gone so could you keep them in your room with the other two?" Parvati handed Hermione's dragon Hathor to Ron and Lavender gave Aslan to Harry. The boys thanked them before going to their room and depositing the little dragons onto their end tables where Droxal and Narith were curled up and sound asleep.
"Night, Harry," Ron yawned and rolled over onto his bed.
"Night," Harry fell asleep the second his head hit his pillow.
