Disclaimer: Same as before.
A/N: WoW!!!! I'm sooo glad you liked it. I feel sooooo loved!!!! Hehehehe To clear up some confusion...Lorene was never dead. Harry just freaked out when he didn't feel a pulse. Snape used other ways to see if she was living. The whole time she had a very faint pulse and shallow breathing. Don't think that Harry's an idiot. He just had lots on his mind: 1) just killed Voldemort 2) afraid that he brought about Lorene's death like he blamed himself for Cedric and Sirius. Sooner or later he would have realized that she was breathing. Does that help?
Jumbled words, flashes of light, passing caresses were shuffled through my brain. Ever so slowly, the words became clearer, the light brighter and the caresses stronger. I finally opened my eyes and wished I hadn't when a scream bounced into my tender ears.
"Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey, she's awake! SHE'S AWAKE!!!" I heard the sound of rushing feet and a door opening. Seeing my scrunched face, Madam Pomfrey began to reprimand Jessy.
"Miss Jones, I would appreciate no screaming in my infirmary. Now, why don't you go inform Dumbledore of Miss Snape's improvements?" Jessy quickly left the room. I tried to speak, but my throat felt so dry and raw. "Here," Madam Pomfrey said, handing me a glass of water.
I tried to reach for it, but shots of pain echoed through my body. Sweat popped off my face and I felt a scream building. "Lay back down," Madam Pomfrey commanded. She placed the glass to my lips and slowly tilted the water into my mouth. Within seconds, I had drunk the whole glass.
By the time I finished the room was filling with people. My uncle pushed by Pomfrey and gathered me in his arms. I tensed slightly. The pain was really no longer there. "I thought I lost you," he whispered.
I watched as Harry worked his way through the crowd. My hand seemed to be working with a mind of its own, and I offered it to him. He gladly took it and squeezed gently. "What happened?" I asked.
"What do you remember?" Dumbledore asked.
"Pain, lots and lots of pain, muttered words and then blackness." Harry looked around the room and then to Dumbledore. Dumbledore only nodded his head and Harry began to tell me what happened after I past out.
"Voldemort kept hitting you with the Cruciatus Curse. Finally you blacked out. The...I...it was just like the dream." I gave his hand another squeeze. "I stumbled up behind him, but without your pain to cover up my noise, he heard me. In the end, I killed him." There was no emotion in his voice, just plain and simple truth.
I turned around to my uncle. "He knew. The whole time he knew that you were a spy. He was going to kill all of us." I pulled him down into a hug and just cried. I was happy that we survived; I was happy that it was over. Madam Pomfrey started to usher people out of the room. Harry began to follow, but I wouldn't let go of his hand. Once we were alone, I looked back towards him.
"Stay a while, please?" Harry nodded and sat on the bed next to me. A silence filled the room as we just sat there. I needed time to come back to reality and to form my thoughts and questions. He knew that and waited.
"So, he's really gone?"
Harry nodded his head. "Yeah. They dumped his body through the veil two nights ago. Wizards were careful about celebrating this time. They made sure he was dead first." There was a hint of humor in his words. "I was there when they disposed of the body. While in London, I bumped into my uncle. He was freaking out because of all the owls and 'strange things' that were happening."
I smiled at the thought. Another silence settled. All the time, Harry was drawing patterns on my hand with his fingers. I leaned closer and placed my head on his shoulder. "How long have I been out?"
"About four days. It was really off and on. You'd open you're eyes, look around and then you were gone. Snape's been in a real twit over it. He got a substitute to fill in for him and paced the hospital wing. Dumbledore made him start teaching again and he calmed down a little bit." Growing more serious, Harry turned his face towards mine. "We all thought we were going to lose you."
I reached up and stroked his cheek. "Never will you lose me." I turned my face away and stared at the wall. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and within minutes I was asleep.
***
A couple of days later, Madam Pomfrey let me leave the hospital. Of course, if it was up to her, she'd have me stay there longer. I left teasing her that she only wanted someone to care for and knowing Hogwarts, someone was bound to come in. Just as I predicted, my uncle came forward with a reluctant Neville. "Mr. Longbottom has messed up another potion," he said.
I took my chance to leave. While walking down the hallway, I bumped into Harry. "Where you headed?" he asked.
"Where else? The Great Hall. A girl has got to eat something better than hospital food." She shared a laugh and headed towards dinner. As we walked, the halls got quieter and quieter. We began looking around to see if we were missing something. Finally, we heard a shout. "Three cheers for Harry and Lorene!"
I felt my face turn red and chanced a look at Harry. He had to been as red as a tomato. The cheers followed us into the Great Hall. Students were standing on the benches while the teacher demurely clapped.
Dumbledore waited for everyone to sit and quiet down. Once that was done, he stood up. "As you all have heard, Lord Voldemort is dead. Thanks to Harry Potter and Lorene Snape, we will be able to enjoy the days without worry about what he is planning." Cheers filled the room and Dumbledore waited for them to subside. "Due to the events of the year, all tests have been canceled. Now let's eat."
Everyone started digging into the food and chatted about what they had done that day. I couldn't help but smile about the joy in everyone's words. This was a world worth living in. This was perfect.
***
The rest of the school years went off without a hitch. Before we knew it, it was time to leave. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Jessy, Michelle and I were the only ones left in the common room. "So, what is everyone doing this summer?" I asked.
"Going home!" shouted Jessy and Michelle. "Jinx!" They tried to not laugh, but in the end they couldn't hold it. "Home cooking, yummy!" Jessy said.
"I'm actually looking forward to seeing my sister," Michelle revealed. "Who knew you could miss annoying siblings? What about you?" she asked Hermione.
"I'll probably split it between The Burrow and my house." Ron leaned in and kissed her cheek. Afterwards, he said, "And I'll be wherever Hermione is." Of course the bit of sappiness caused him to be hit by four pillows. Hermione was an innocent victim.
"Harry?" I asked.
"I'm actually moving in with Prof...Mister...Well, Remus. My parents made him promise to take care of me if anything happened to them or Sirius. I can't wait. It'll be my first summer away from the Dursleys. I don't think I could be any happier!" Everyone smiled at his enthusiasm. He turned to me and waited for my answer.
"I'm going to spend it here. Dumbledore prefers that students don't stay during the summer, but this is where my uncle lives. I think my uncle might actually start looking for a house though."
"Are y'all coming back next year?" asked Hermione. The room filled with the largest burst of laughter. "What's so funny?"
"Do you know what you just said?" Harry asked. Hermione seemed to think it over, and started to turn bright red.
"Great, now I'm picking up a southern accent."
"But in answer to your question," said Michelle, "no we're not. This was a one time deal. We enjoyed it, but we're no longer needed." She looked at my and I gave her a bittersweet smile. Dumbledore had invited them back, but they turned it down after a long talk with me. I wished they'd stay, but they believed it was for the best that they left. I had friends here now and there was thing I had to work through without them here to help me. In the end, I gave in to their wishes.
We chanted for a few more hours and then headed up to bed. By the time I awoke in the morning, everyone was gone. This was the beginning of a very long and boring summer.
THE END *actually TBC*
A/N: Well, there it is. I hope I didn't leave you with too big of a cliffhanger. I didn't think it was one, but who knows. Remember, keep an eye out for my sequel. I just need to work on some of my other stories first.
I'm going to take this time to thank all my reviewer. I appreciate you reading my story, putting up with long waits for an update, and just for thinking that I was worth your time. So thanks to: Phoenixflames1, Fawkes, sounds of skies, Miss-Cho-Potter, tje-82871, TootsieGrim, SpOrTzChIk, jacki, Ditto7001, yesteray's spirit, rina, Mugglebornwitch2, pickled-cow, all who wander, Cannon Defender (yes, even you), lovablelatina, Flailersrules, Sailor Kat, Monica, potts, Skillz, Ko-shani, and Hogwarts, A History Girl. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!
A/N: WoW!!!! I'm sooo glad you liked it. I feel sooooo loved!!!! Hehehehe To clear up some confusion...Lorene was never dead. Harry just freaked out when he didn't feel a pulse. Snape used other ways to see if she was living. The whole time she had a very faint pulse and shallow breathing. Don't think that Harry's an idiot. He just had lots on his mind: 1) just killed Voldemort 2) afraid that he brought about Lorene's death like he blamed himself for Cedric and Sirius. Sooner or later he would have realized that she was breathing. Does that help?
Jumbled words, flashes of light, passing caresses were shuffled through my brain. Ever so slowly, the words became clearer, the light brighter and the caresses stronger. I finally opened my eyes and wished I hadn't when a scream bounced into my tender ears.
"Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey, she's awake! SHE'S AWAKE!!!" I heard the sound of rushing feet and a door opening. Seeing my scrunched face, Madam Pomfrey began to reprimand Jessy.
"Miss Jones, I would appreciate no screaming in my infirmary. Now, why don't you go inform Dumbledore of Miss Snape's improvements?" Jessy quickly left the room. I tried to speak, but my throat felt so dry and raw. "Here," Madam Pomfrey said, handing me a glass of water.
I tried to reach for it, but shots of pain echoed through my body. Sweat popped off my face and I felt a scream building. "Lay back down," Madam Pomfrey commanded. She placed the glass to my lips and slowly tilted the water into my mouth. Within seconds, I had drunk the whole glass.
By the time I finished the room was filling with people. My uncle pushed by Pomfrey and gathered me in his arms. I tensed slightly. The pain was really no longer there. "I thought I lost you," he whispered.
I watched as Harry worked his way through the crowd. My hand seemed to be working with a mind of its own, and I offered it to him. He gladly took it and squeezed gently. "What happened?" I asked.
"What do you remember?" Dumbledore asked.
"Pain, lots and lots of pain, muttered words and then blackness." Harry looked around the room and then to Dumbledore. Dumbledore only nodded his head and Harry began to tell me what happened after I past out.
"Voldemort kept hitting you with the Cruciatus Curse. Finally you blacked out. The...I...it was just like the dream." I gave his hand another squeeze. "I stumbled up behind him, but without your pain to cover up my noise, he heard me. In the end, I killed him." There was no emotion in his voice, just plain and simple truth.
I turned around to my uncle. "He knew. The whole time he knew that you were a spy. He was going to kill all of us." I pulled him down into a hug and just cried. I was happy that we survived; I was happy that it was over. Madam Pomfrey started to usher people out of the room. Harry began to follow, but I wouldn't let go of his hand. Once we were alone, I looked back towards him.
"Stay a while, please?" Harry nodded and sat on the bed next to me. A silence filled the room as we just sat there. I needed time to come back to reality and to form my thoughts and questions. He knew that and waited.
"So, he's really gone?"
Harry nodded his head. "Yeah. They dumped his body through the veil two nights ago. Wizards were careful about celebrating this time. They made sure he was dead first." There was a hint of humor in his words. "I was there when they disposed of the body. While in London, I bumped into my uncle. He was freaking out because of all the owls and 'strange things' that were happening."
I smiled at the thought. Another silence settled. All the time, Harry was drawing patterns on my hand with his fingers. I leaned closer and placed my head on his shoulder. "How long have I been out?"
"About four days. It was really off and on. You'd open you're eyes, look around and then you were gone. Snape's been in a real twit over it. He got a substitute to fill in for him and paced the hospital wing. Dumbledore made him start teaching again and he calmed down a little bit." Growing more serious, Harry turned his face towards mine. "We all thought we were going to lose you."
I reached up and stroked his cheek. "Never will you lose me." I turned my face away and stared at the wall. I felt my eyelids grow heavy and within minutes I was asleep.
***
A couple of days later, Madam Pomfrey let me leave the hospital. Of course, if it was up to her, she'd have me stay there longer. I left teasing her that she only wanted someone to care for and knowing Hogwarts, someone was bound to come in. Just as I predicted, my uncle came forward with a reluctant Neville. "Mr. Longbottom has messed up another potion," he said.
I took my chance to leave. While walking down the hallway, I bumped into Harry. "Where you headed?" he asked.
"Where else? The Great Hall. A girl has got to eat something better than hospital food." She shared a laugh and headed towards dinner. As we walked, the halls got quieter and quieter. We began looking around to see if we were missing something. Finally, we heard a shout. "Three cheers for Harry and Lorene!"
I felt my face turn red and chanced a look at Harry. He had to been as red as a tomato. The cheers followed us into the Great Hall. Students were standing on the benches while the teacher demurely clapped.
Dumbledore waited for everyone to sit and quiet down. Once that was done, he stood up. "As you all have heard, Lord Voldemort is dead. Thanks to Harry Potter and Lorene Snape, we will be able to enjoy the days without worry about what he is planning." Cheers filled the room and Dumbledore waited for them to subside. "Due to the events of the year, all tests have been canceled. Now let's eat."
Everyone started digging into the food and chatted about what they had done that day. I couldn't help but smile about the joy in everyone's words. This was a world worth living in. This was perfect.
***
The rest of the school years went off without a hitch. Before we knew it, it was time to leave. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Jessy, Michelle and I were the only ones left in the common room. "So, what is everyone doing this summer?" I asked.
"Going home!" shouted Jessy and Michelle. "Jinx!" They tried to not laugh, but in the end they couldn't hold it. "Home cooking, yummy!" Jessy said.
"I'm actually looking forward to seeing my sister," Michelle revealed. "Who knew you could miss annoying siblings? What about you?" she asked Hermione.
"I'll probably split it between The Burrow and my house." Ron leaned in and kissed her cheek. Afterwards, he said, "And I'll be wherever Hermione is." Of course the bit of sappiness caused him to be hit by four pillows. Hermione was an innocent victim.
"Harry?" I asked.
"I'm actually moving in with Prof...Mister...Well, Remus. My parents made him promise to take care of me if anything happened to them or Sirius. I can't wait. It'll be my first summer away from the Dursleys. I don't think I could be any happier!" Everyone smiled at his enthusiasm. He turned to me and waited for my answer.
"I'm going to spend it here. Dumbledore prefers that students don't stay during the summer, but this is where my uncle lives. I think my uncle might actually start looking for a house though."
"Are y'all coming back next year?" asked Hermione. The room filled with the largest burst of laughter. "What's so funny?"
"Do you know what you just said?" Harry asked. Hermione seemed to think it over, and started to turn bright red.
"Great, now I'm picking up a southern accent."
"But in answer to your question," said Michelle, "no we're not. This was a one time deal. We enjoyed it, but we're no longer needed." She looked at my and I gave her a bittersweet smile. Dumbledore had invited them back, but they turned it down after a long talk with me. I wished they'd stay, but they believed it was for the best that they left. I had friends here now and there was thing I had to work through without them here to help me. In the end, I gave in to their wishes.
We chanted for a few more hours and then headed up to bed. By the time I awoke in the morning, everyone was gone. This was the beginning of a very long and boring summer.
THE END *actually TBC*
A/N: Well, there it is. I hope I didn't leave you with too big of a cliffhanger. I didn't think it was one, but who knows. Remember, keep an eye out for my sequel. I just need to work on some of my other stories first.
I'm going to take this time to thank all my reviewer. I appreciate you reading my story, putting up with long waits for an update, and just for thinking that I was worth your time. So thanks to: Phoenixflames1, Fawkes, sounds of skies, Miss-Cho-Potter, tje-82871, TootsieGrim, SpOrTzChIk, jacki, Ditto7001, yesteray's spirit, rina, Mugglebornwitch2, pickled-cow, all who wander, Cannon Defender (yes, even you), lovablelatina, Flailersrules, Sailor Kat, Monica, potts, Skillz, Ko-shani, and Hogwarts, A History Girl. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!