Professor Dumbledoor, Snape and McGonagall rushed into the medical wing on
the first floor of Hogwart School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Professor
McGonagall's eyes were puffy and red from crying. Professor Snape although
he had not been crying, his eyes showed an expression of sorrow. Even
Professor Dumbledoor's eyes had lost there usual sparkle.
"Poppy ?" Professor Dumbledoor called urgently to the matron of the hospital wing.
"Yes ?" Madam Poppy Pomfrey called back as she came rushing out of her office.
Madam Pomfrey gasped as she saw the site before her. In Professor Snape's arms laid the body of a boy, battered and beaten, black and blue. He looked to be only six years old. After a moment she realized who it was. A single tear trickled down her face. The distressed looks on the Professors' faces told her as much as words ever could. Madam Pomfrey motioned for Professor Snape to place him on the bed and in silence he did. With a wave of her hand she motioned them out of the room so she could work.
Hours later when she finally came out of the hospital ward to inform the headmaster of Harry Potter's condition she saw that not only had all the staff assembled but they had been joined by Cornelius Fudge, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and there family, Hermione Granger, and Remus Lupin and his dog Snuffles. There wasn't a dry eye except for Cornelius Fudge who seemed to be unmoved by the whole situation. Ron and Hermione were hugging each other. Hagrid was wiping his nose on a huge hankie. The twins stood there stunned. Mrs. Weasly hugged Ginny close. The Weasly's older boy had there hands on there father's shoulder. Remus' held his dog as both him and the animal seem to cry softly.
Madam Pomfrey eyes lowered. "I did all I can for Mr. Potter but he has slipped into a coma. There is nothing we can do for him but wait and pray."
"Then he doesn't really need to be here does he." said Fudge speaking up. "I'm sure we can return him to his aunt and uncle to care for him."
"Are you mad ?" shrieked Professor McGonagall.
"You can't !" Ron and Hermione squealed at the same time.
"No ! " bellowed Hagrid.
"Fudge ! No ! You can't !" Everyone roared all at once.
Professor Dumbledoor held up his hands and the room went silent at once. He took a deep breath in then looked around the room at the anxious looks in everyone's eyes.
"You can not be serious can you?" Professor Dumbledoor asked.
"I want to make this clear that I am an employee of the Ministry of Magic and I can. We did an investigation and it was an accident. Mr. Potter fell down the stairs. I received an owl just before Madam Pomfrey came out of the Ward to info us of Mr. Potter's condition." Fudge informed them.
They all appeared horrified at what Fudge had just said. How could they be so blind. Surely nobody could truly believe that a fall down the stairs would have yielded so much damage. Remus' dog Snuffles gave a thunderous growl. Snuffles hackles were raised and Remus was doing all he could to keep a hold on the dog.
"And furthermore." Fudge continued "His Aunt and Uncle have been found to have kept good care of Harry over the years. The investigation found that they are loving and caring people. They were frightened half to death when three wizards showed up and threatened them. I told them that this would never happen again. He has agreed not to take the transfer so that Harry may continue to attending Hogwarts."
"Yeah and if you believe all that I have a picture of You-Know-Who in teddy bear boxer shorts." Ron whispered under his breath.
The group continued to quarrel loudly with Fudge They all trying to talk some sense into him. Hagrid loomed over Fudge hollering in his two cents every so offen. Even Professor Dumbledoor was trying with luck to make Fudge see reason but it was no use.
With all they auguring no one noticed Remus and Snuffles silently nodding to each other as if sharing their secret plan. There was no way that they were going to let Harry go back to that house. Remus and Snuffles quietly slipped away from the group and gathered Harry, his cloak and his wand and crept away into the night.
"Poppy ?" Professor Dumbledoor called urgently to the matron of the hospital wing.
"Yes ?" Madam Poppy Pomfrey called back as she came rushing out of her office.
Madam Pomfrey gasped as she saw the site before her. In Professor Snape's arms laid the body of a boy, battered and beaten, black and blue. He looked to be only six years old. After a moment she realized who it was. A single tear trickled down her face. The distressed looks on the Professors' faces told her as much as words ever could. Madam Pomfrey motioned for Professor Snape to place him on the bed and in silence he did. With a wave of her hand she motioned them out of the room so she could work.
Hours later when she finally came out of the hospital ward to inform the headmaster of Harry Potter's condition she saw that not only had all the staff assembled but they had been joined by Cornelius Fudge, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley and there family, Hermione Granger, and Remus Lupin and his dog Snuffles. There wasn't a dry eye except for Cornelius Fudge who seemed to be unmoved by the whole situation. Ron and Hermione were hugging each other. Hagrid was wiping his nose on a huge hankie. The twins stood there stunned. Mrs. Weasly hugged Ginny close. The Weasly's older boy had there hands on there father's shoulder. Remus' held his dog as both him and the animal seem to cry softly.
Madam Pomfrey eyes lowered. "I did all I can for Mr. Potter but he has slipped into a coma. There is nothing we can do for him but wait and pray."
"Then he doesn't really need to be here does he." said Fudge speaking up. "I'm sure we can return him to his aunt and uncle to care for him."
"Are you mad ?" shrieked Professor McGonagall.
"You can't !" Ron and Hermione squealed at the same time.
"No ! " bellowed Hagrid.
"Fudge ! No ! You can't !" Everyone roared all at once.
Professor Dumbledoor held up his hands and the room went silent at once. He took a deep breath in then looked around the room at the anxious looks in everyone's eyes.
"You can not be serious can you?" Professor Dumbledoor asked.
"I want to make this clear that I am an employee of the Ministry of Magic and I can. We did an investigation and it was an accident. Mr. Potter fell down the stairs. I received an owl just before Madam Pomfrey came out of the Ward to info us of Mr. Potter's condition." Fudge informed them.
They all appeared horrified at what Fudge had just said. How could they be so blind. Surely nobody could truly believe that a fall down the stairs would have yielded so much damage. Remus' dog Snuffles gave a thunderous growl. Snuffles hackles were raised and Remus was doing all he could to keep a hold on the dog.
"And furthermore." Fudge continued "His Aunt and Uncle have been found to have kept good care of Harry over the years. The investigation found that they are loving and caring people. They were frightened half to death when three wizards showed up and threatened them. I told them that this would never happen again. He has agreed not to take the transfer so that Harry may continue to attending Hogwarts."
"Yeah and if you believe all that I have a picture of You-Know-Who in teddy bear boxer shorts." Ron whispered under his breath.
The group continued to quarrel loudly with Fudge They all trying to talk some sense into him. Hagrid loomed over Fudge hollering in his two cents every so offen. Even Professor Dumbledoor was trying with luck to make Fudge see reason but it was no use.
With all they auguring no one noticed Remus and Snuffles silently nodding to each other as if sharing their secret plan. There was no way that they were going to let Harry go back to that house. Remus and Snuffles quietly slipped away from the group and gathered Harry, his cloak and his wand and crept away into the night.