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Chapter 22: Awakenings
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Severus Snape's eyes snapped open and he sat up straight in bed, listening closely to the pounding of feet above him. He sneered and got out of bed, narrowing his eyes and reaching around blindly for his robes.
"You may be under some kind of traumatic stress right now, Potter, but if you think for one instant you'll get away with roaming the schools this year, you have another thing coming," he muttered, wrenching open his quarter doors and making his way into his office.
Snape ran up the dungeon corridor, trying to remember where the footsteps were headed. He skidded out of the corridor into the Entrance Hall, his slippered feet slipping on the wet floor.
"Blasted House Elves!" he yelled as he slid across the hall, his arms failing wildly. He skidded to a stop and then shouted a rude response at one of the nearby portrait occupants who was now doubled over in laughter.
"Well you don't have to get rude about it," the portrait of Selma the Scared said scornfully.
Snape glared at her and then looked around the room, looking at the puddles of water standing near the double doors.
"Where did the water come from?" he asked Selma viciously.
The pale girl shifted in her portrait to point at the double doors.
"When he brought the girl in, the snow came in too," she said timidly now, not impressed with his tone, her hand shaking slightly.
Snape raised an eyebrow.
"Who brought who in?" he asked, drawing his wand and clearing away the melted snow.
Selma looked at him.
"The boy, when he brought her in. She looked pretty bad, she did; she looked dead," Selma answered.
"WHO!" shouted Snape, his face reddening in anger, deciding to again attempt to convince Dumbledore to burn the ornery paintings adorning the school's walls.
Selma shuddered and moved further back in her frame.
"A Harry? Maybe that's what they called him. And the other, the girl, I don' t remember, an Aden or Madreien or, I don't know," Selma rambled, raising a shaking hand to her face in thought.
"An Adrienne?" prompted Snape.
"That's it, it was an Adrienne," said Selma, shaking her head in compliance.
Snape turned on his heel and started running again, this time in the direction of the hospital wing.
"You're welcome," said Selma snidely as he raced off.
"Oh sod off!" called Snape over his shoulder, "Bloody portraits!"
* * * * *
"What happened to her?" asked Madam Pomfrey frantically, rushing forward as Dumbledore lay Adrienne onto the nearest hospital bed.
"She was out in the storm," he replied, reaching down and again taking her pulse, relieved to feel the pulsation under his fingertips, however weak it may be.
"For how long!" exclaimed Madam Pomfrey, pushing herself in front of Dumbledore and rapidly flipping her wand at the girl, muttering spells Harry had never heard before.
Harry stood by the door, unmoving, Hermione next to him, Ron still helping to hold her up. It looked like a scene from a nightmare: Adrienne lying there, in the faint light of the stars that had fought their way through the barrier of clouds providing the snow that had left Adrienne in the state she was now. Harry shook his head and took a step backwards.
"You did the best you could do, Harry," whispered Hermione, finally recovering from the shock of seeing Adrienne like that. Hermione grabbed his arm.
Harry didn't say anything at first and then lowered his head.
"I should have done something sooner," he whispered, looking up at the lifeless girl, Madam Pomfrey's shouts about something concerning a pulmonary hemorrhage ringing in his ears.
Now Professor Dumbledore was shouting for Hermione and Ron to go get Sirius. Harry closed his eyes, exhaustion finally catching up with him. He heard the echo of his friend's footsteps retreating behind him. He was alone now. Harry slowly opened his eyes and looked at Adrienne, except he wished he hadn't, and turned on his heel, a hand clamped over his mouth, the image of Adrienne, now covered in blood pasting itself before his eyes. Harry ran through the corridor, not quite sure where he was going to, but wherever he would end up would have to remain unknown.
"Umpf!"
Harry ran headlong into something, falling back onto the floor, his head hitting the stone floor. His eyesight faded quickly, and right before he lost consciousness his eyes registered the person above him, and he muttered, "Not you."
"Wonderful to see you too, Potter. Your sister is ill and you're trying to get attention by fainting, eh?" snapped Snape, drawing his wand, "I can just see this sibling rivalry. Mobilicorpus."
Harry rose into the air, his feet stopping inches off the ground, his hands at his sides, and his head lulled forward. Snape pointed his wand ahead of him and then again began to run, Harry unconsciously leading the way to the hospital wing.
* * * * *
"I won't!"
"Mia!"
"No!"
"Mia!"
"You'll have to kill me!"
"MIA! For the love of God - WAKE UP!"
Mia's eyes snapped open, and she looked around her dark hospital room for several seconds before registering her husband's profile sitting next to her.
"My goodness, woman!" Joe said, leaning forward and smoothing her hair out of her face.
Mia looked up at him.
"Horrible," she muttered, slowly sitting up in the darkness.
Joe pulled his chair closer so his knees touched the side of the bed.
"You have some set of lungs there, Mia. Gave me a headache just listening to you," he said, rubbing his head.
Mia glared at him.
"Dreaming about the Dark Lord, now are you?" he asked, lowering his hands and leaning forward to better see her in the faint moonlight.
Mia turned away.
"Hey, I understand, sometimes you're just attracted to the bad boys," he said and then raised his arms in defense as she threw the jug of water that was siting on the bedside table at him.
"Joe, don't you even start," she whispered menacingly.
Joe stared at his wife, wide-eyed, his entire top half and lap soaking wet, now massaging the spot where the corner of the jug had hit his temple.
"Ok, so you're not in a joking mood, I can take a hint," he muttered.
Mia glared at him.
"That was a little cold, Mia," he said, standing up and walking over to where he had his cloak hung.
"That's why they call it ice water," she replied, drawing her knees up to her chest and hugging them.
Joe reached into a pocket and pulled out his wand. In an instant he was dry again and repocketing his wand. He turned to look at his wife, who now looked pitiful, like a child, sitting there helplessly on the bed.
"Mia, I'm sorry, I was just, well, ok, I was being stupid," he said, walking over to her and sitting down on the hard hospital bed. Mia looked up at him.
"I know, I'm sorry too. I just felt like throwing something, and you seemed like a good target," she replied angrily.
Joe smiled.
"Ah, just the scapegoat. Now that loses all excitement. See, I was kind of hoping I really pissed you off. Then we'd argue until you get out of here and then . . . if we had a really big row, we'd have to make up; I was all for the making up part," he said, a hint of disappointment in his voice.
Mia smirked and then broke into a huge grin.
"You're the best, you know that Joe," she said, laughing.
Joe put on a hurt face.
"Laughing at me now, are you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.
Mia put a hand on his shoulder.
"Oh stop feeling sorry for yourself," she said, shaking her head and smiling at him.
Joe smirked.
"And my attempt to start this row has failed. We never have any good fights, you know that," he said, narrowing his eyes.
Mia burst into laughter again.
"I'll keep that in mind," she replied.
Joe smiled at her.
"You're really brave, you know that, Mia," he whispered.
Mia looked at him and shifted herself, quite painfully, closer to him so she could rest her head on his shoulder.
"I'm not, I'm quite stupid actually," she whispered.
"And why is that?" Joe asked, turning his gaze out the window to look at the faint moon.
"Because, who in their right mind would stay in that kind of situation and offer to duel the Dark Lord," she replied.
Joe redirected his gaze to the top of her head and smiled slightly.
"Someone who values a life of another more than their own," he replied.
"I hope she's safe," Mia whispered.
Joe looked away.
"I thought you said she was," he replied, wrapping his arms around her tightly. "And I thought you didn't seem too sure of my divination abilities."
"She's safe," Joe whispered.
"And how do you know?"
"Because, Mia, because I don't know what I'd do if she wasn't."
* * * * *
With the click of Madam Pomfrey's office door, a pop resonated throughout the hospital wing. Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape, and now Sirius Black, stood at the end of the wing, overlooking the girl lying before them.
"She'll survive," Dumbledore answered quietly, shaking his head sadly, "Quite some holiday she's having."
"And Harry went out and found her?" asked Sirius surprisedly, turning his attention to Harry, who was now under the influence of a powerful sleeping potion, lying several beds down.
"Yes, perfect law-abiding Potter; at least he did something beneficial with this bout of rule breaking though," Snape said coolly.
Sirius glared at him and Snape glared back.
Sirius turned his attention back to the goddaughter he hadn't seen in fourteen years. Adrienne lay quietly on the bed, her hair pulled up out of her pale face, her mouth somewhat open to facilitate her ragged breathing.
"What was with all the blood when I first came in?" asked Sirius, turning his attention to the discarded hospital pajamas lying on the floor, the entire top half covered with blood.
"Pulmonary hemorrhage, from the hypothermia, had to use a Muggle technique for that one," Dumbledore replied, looking down at Adrienne.
Her hands were wrapped in gaze to allow the potion to reverse the effects of frostbite to heal her hands.
"They do look alike," muttered Sirius.
"You can see a resemblance with her looking like she's been run over by a rampaging hippogriff?" said Snape shaking his head as if he thought Sirius was mad.
"Really, now," barked Professor McGonagall, "Children, you two act worse than the children!"
Professor Dumbledore turned and looked at the three people standing slightly behind him.
"We should leave them to Madam Pomfrey, she's probably right now working up a rage about how we haven't let her treat them. You did send Miss Granger and Mr. Weasley back to their common room, right, Minerva?" Dumbledore asked.
Professor McGonagall nodded.
"They didn't seem too happy about it, but they are there now. Albus, you sent an owl to Headmistress Bell?"
"I sent an express owl; it should be arriving in the states any minute, only takes an hour, these new express owls do," Dumbledore replied. He then turned to Sirius, "I suspect you'll want to stay with Harry and Adrienne?"
With a pop, Sirius turned back into a dog and trotted over to take a seat next to Harry, correctly thinking that Madam Pomfrey would not be too thrilled about a dog sitting next to Adrienne, whom Madam Pomfrey was still believing would drop over dead any moment.
"Thank you for the help, Severus," Dumbledore said, turning to the Potion's Master.
"Yes, well, now if you don't mind, I'll return to my rooms," Snape answered and then turned on his heel.
* * * * *
Professor Bell knocked quietly on the hospital room door and then pushed her way into the dark room. She smiled at Joe as she walked closer to the bed. Mia was asleep, her head still on his shoulder.
"What I nice guy, sitting up all night just so his wife can use him as a pillow," she said.
Joe smiled.
"Yeah, well, nice guy, that's my middle name: Joe Nice Guy Glenn. What's new, Julia?" he asked, brushing some of Mia's hair out of his face.
Julia sat down in Joe's usual chair and in an instant jumped back up.
"It's wet!" she exclaimed, her mouth open in surprise.
Joe laughed.
"She threw a jug of ice water at me; thought it would vent her anger," Joe said.
"I think I'll stand then," Julia replied, wiping the backside of her robes.
"So?"
"I just received an owl from Professor Dumbledore," Julia began.
Mia sat up straight and rubbed her eyes furiously.
"I thought you were asleep," said Joe incredulously.
Mia shrugged.
"I was pretending, anyways, I was comfortable there," she replied rubbing her eyes again.
"You mean to tell me I've been sitting here letting all the muscles in my upper body get cramped up just because you were pretending to be asleep!" he exclaimed in quite identifiable mock-anger.
Julia looked at him a little confused.
"He's trying to start us in a row," explained Mia, shaking her head embarrasedly.
Julia smirked and then started laughing.
"You remember that one time you went around trying to instigate fights with her, Joe," Julia said between laughs.
Now Mia started laughing too. Joe, however, seemed to have forgotten that event.
"No, not really, should I?" he asked, raising his eyebrows in annoyance.
"Joe, Adrienne caught on to that one. You remember, every time she looked at you she burst into laughter. She had to avoid you for a week that summer, remember?" said Mia, shaking her head.
Joe laughed, once.
"Oh yeah, when she was at that giggly stage. Gee, I didn't think my motive was that obvious," he said disappointedly.
Julia laughed harder.
"I think, if a twelve year old girl could see your motive, you were as obvious as anything," said Mia, shaking her head in laughter.
Joe glowered.
"Speaking of Adrienne, Julia, before we got on this pick-on-Joe fiasco, you were saying something about a Dumbledore, as in the Dumbledore from Hogwarts?" Joe asked, turning his attention to Julia.
"The one and only. It seems that Adrienne has arrived there," Julia said, her smile fading off her face.
"What's the matter? I thought we were supposed to be happy about that? Am I missing something?" asked Mia, taking in Julia's face.
"She's quite sick. Turns out our 'genius' very intelligently decided to try and walk to Hogwarts during a snow storm," said Julia, shaking her head, "She must have lost her common sense some time that night."
"That's understandable though. I mean, if that were me I would probably have never even made it to the Gallows; she made it to Hogwarts!" said Joe, protectively.
"Is she all right?" asked Mia slowly, again moving closer to her husband.
Joe put an arm around her shoulder.
"She is now, but she's unconscious," Julia replied.
"Did he say anything else?" asked Joe, hoping for more information than just "she's unconscious."
Julia looked back down at the letter.
"Um, she's under that care of Madam Poppy Pomfrey for everything except her frostbite. That's being treated with potions by their Potions Master, Professor Severus Snape."
"WHAT!" shouted Joe, jumping up and whacking Mia upside the head in the process.
"Ouch," she muttered, rubbing her head in pain.
Joe ignored her.
"That moron is taking care of Adrienne?" he exclaimed.
"I'm sure Professor Dumbledore would not let him treat her if he was a moron, Joe," said Julia a little coolly.
Joe shook his head.
"That GIT! Who does he think he is taking care of her! He's the biggest idiot!"
"Joe."
"He's a . . . He's a . . . He's a . . ." Joe stuttered as all the horrible names he could think of left his head.
"JOE!"
"What, Mia!" he said, turning around.
"Now that I have your attention, I don't want her to wake up alone, Joe. She's been through enough; someone should be there when she wakes up," Mia said, looking up at him with a pleading look in her eye.
"Are you sure, Mia? I don't want to leave you alone while you're still recovering," Joe said hesitantly, momentarily forgetting that he was currently trying to think of different ways to curse Snape while there still being an ocean between them.
Mia smiled.
"I'm thirty-two, I've dueled the Dark Lord, and I once let Adrienne cut my hair; I think I'm quite capable of sitting alone in a hospital room," said Mia seriously.
"Oh I bet old Snapie will love this; I'll relieve him of his duties," Joe said quite maniacally, walking over to retrieve his cloak.
"Tell her Merry Christmas for me," Mia called after him.
Joe turned, having all ready made his way to the room's door.
"Oh yeah, forgot about you, honey," he said distractedly, rushing back and kissing her, "I'll tell her you'll come when those docs let you."
And with that Joe rushed out of the hospital room, drawing his wand so when he got to the lobby he could disapparate. Mia stared after him with a surprised expression
"I never once had any competition," she said, an amused smile engulfing her face, "never."
Julia laughed.
"Being replaced by a fifteen year old now?" she asked.
Mia smiled and shook her head.
"He really does care about her, you know that?" she said, smiling again, picturing how Joe put on a protective attitude when talking about Adrienne.
"You both do," said Julia, turning to leave, "Go to sleep, Mia. He might drive her crazy if you leave her alone with him once she wakes up. I think you should get there as soon as possible, especially if he runs into that Ron person."
Mia's smile slipped off her face.
"Oh boy," she whispered.
* * * * *
Harry slowly opened his eyes, squinting in the bright morning light that was pouring through the open windows. He raised a hand to block the light and slowly sat up, waiting for his eyes to focus, then realizing he wasn't wearing his glasses. He reached around blindly for the bedside table, finally finding his glasses atop a box of Kleenex.
The entire room came into focus and Harry blinked. In the snow reflected light, the white hospital wing looked more dull and clean than ever before. A slight movement at this side drew his attention, and he turned.
A black shaggy dog was sitting on the floor next to him, looking up at him and wagging his tail excitedly.
"Hey, Sirius," Harry said hoarsely.
The dog jerked its head slightly to the right. Harry made a confused face but followed Sirius' instruction. Lying at the other end of the room was Adrienne, but Harry couldn't see much of her, only part of her face and her hair: Someone was in his way.
A man was sitting by her side, his back to Harry. Harry thought he could hear the low murmur of a voice carrying through the still air, and he turned onto his side to better hear what the man was saying.
"You had us worried, Adri," the man said, his voice barely audible.
Harry could see him reach up and stroke her face.
"You have no idea how much; you have no idea. When they said they didn't know where you were, it, well, we didn't know what to think. We didn't know what to do. You were the first thing Mia asked about when she woke up, you know that, Adri?"
Joe smiled slightly and looked down at the sleeping girl. Adrienne's hair was pulled back from her puffy face, her lips slightly open, the marks from where she had bit her lips and where they had cracked still visible. All in all, she still didn't look very great. Joe reached down and stroked her cheek.
"If something would have happened to you, Adrienne, I don't know what I would have done. I don't know, Adrienne," he whispered.
"You still don't know what happened that night do you? What are you, Adrienne?" he asked quietly, looking down at her now, confused.
"What aren't you telling us? You know we'll always listen, right?" he asked, a tear rolling down his face. He brushed it away.
"Professor Dumbledore said you lost your wand?" continued Joe, rambling, saying whatever question or comment came into his mind, hoping earnestly that she'd wake up. Adrienne didn't.
"How did you escape, Adrienne?" he whispered.
Harry laid in his bed, watching the back of the man, watching Adrienne's head, listening to him speak, the words making no sense in Harry's mind. Harry turned onto his back, watching the winter light of morning reflecting off the walls before him. Sirius came closer to his side and put his head on Harry's bed. Harry smiled at the dog and followed his gaze, his head turning to look at Adrienne, his ears catching another piece of spoken word.
"Mia and I love you, Adrienne, and we won't let anything like this happen to you again, not if we have a say in it. We thought we were protecting you by making you leave, maybe that wasn't the best choice."
* * * * *
Madam Pomfrey let Harry leave around noon that day, very reluctantly though, and only on Professor Dumbledore's orders. Harry slowly walked out of the room, now again wearing his school robes and carrying his winter cloak. He paused at the door and looked at the man still sitting next to Adrienne. He looked like he was asleep, quite awkwardly at that. His head bowed slightly to the left, propped up on one hand, his other hand on Adrienne's right arm, as her hands were still bandaged. Harry smiled slightly and then walked out of the hospital wing, never drawing Joe Glenn's attention.
"Mr. Potter."
Harry turned away from the portrait of the Fat Lady to see who had called him. Professor Dumbledore was walking towards him, a small, reassuring smile on his face
. "Harry, I'd like a word with you," Professor Dumbledore said, stopping at his side and looking down at him through his half-moon spectacles.
Harry cast a reluctant glance at the entrance to the Gryffindor common room; he had really wanted to speak with Ron and Hermione. Harry turned back to Dumbledore and nodded. * * * * *
Joe twitched in his sleep and then jerked awake, looking around the hospital wing, wondering where he was. Then he caught sight of Adrienne, lying before him.
"Hey, cutie," he whispered, reaching up and stroking her cheek, "Don't feel like waking up by any chance, do you?" Adrienne didn't respond and Joe smiled slightly, "Always had to be ornery, eh?"
Adrienne didn't move. Joe closed his eyes again and slowly let sleep drift over him.
"I thought you were talking to me," said a slow, hoarse voice.
Joe's eyes snapped open.
"Adrienne!" he exclaimed.
Adrienne smiled slightly and then winced.
"Where's Professor Hartel?" she asked slowly, images of the past twenty-four hours starting to flicker through her mind.
Joe patted her arm reassuringly.
"At Darthmouth, she's fine," he said.
Adrienne smiled again.
"Good. Where am I?" she asked, slowly turning her head to look around the bright room.
"At Hogwarts, goof, where else would you think you'd be?"
Adrienne turned and looked at him, an odd expression on her face, one which Joe couldn't read.
"In heaven," she whispered, her smile flickering off her face.
Joe's face fell.
"What happened after you left, Adrienne?" he asked quietly.
Adrienne looked at him and then shifted her face to a corner of the room.
"Stuff."
Joe leaned over and reached for her left cheek, slowly turning her face back to look at him.
"You know, Adrienne, if something's going on that you want to talk about . . ." he began, but Adrienne had already shut her eyes, trying to ignore him.
Adrienne heard Joe sigh and slowly let go of her face. Adrienne turned her head to the opposite side and opened her eyes to stare at the wall, the same feeling that had been troubling her since Christmas Night again pervading her soul and mind: It was all her fault.
Joe looked at her in silence for several minutes, a confused expression on his face. He slowly stood up from his chair.
"I'm going to send an owl to Mia, to tell her you're awake, all right kid?" he asked.
Adrienne turned back to look at him, her face expressionless, her eyes dulled in a way that made Joe's heart wrench. She nodded her approval. Joe turned and walked away, his minding screaming at him that something was bothering her. Once out of the hospital wing, Joe stopped to lean back against a wall and close his eyes, half in exhaustion, half in worry. * * * * *
"Harry, first off, I'd like to say that was a very brave thing you did last night," Professor Dumbledore started as Harry took a seat in his office. Dumbledore walked around his desk, "Even if it was quite dangerous."
Harry shifted uncomfortably in his chair.
"I couldn't let her freeze," Harry responded.
Dumbledore smiled.
"Of course not, Harry; If you hadn't have found her, she'd probably be dead now," Dumbledore said, his eyes dulling slightly.
Harry looked down.
"No, Voldemort would have gotten her. He was there, at the station," Harry said, looking back up at the Headmaster, his hands unconsciously clenched in his lap.
Dumbledore raised his eyebrows.
"He was?" Dumbledore prompted, leaning forward in his chair.
Harry nodded.
"He came right after we had lifted off. He and someone else; they stunned Adrienne, but that's all. We had too much of a head start."
Dumbledore nodded and waited for Harry to continue, but Harry didn't. Harry sat there in silence, looking at the elderly man before him, questions quickly forming in his mind.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked quickly.
"Yes, Harry?" replied Dumbledore, leaning back into his chair and reaching for a sheet of parchment.
"Why did Voldemort want her?" he asked quietly, hoping for an answer other than the one he was dreading.
Dumbledore looked at Harry intently, his blue eyes piercing through him, again making him feel as if he was being x-rayed somehow. Dumbledore didn't say anything for several minutes and then slowly stood up, walking over to where Fawkes was perched.
"What, Harry, do you know about Adrienne?" asked Dumbledore, looking at him sharply.
Harry thought for a second.
"I know her surname isn't Miles, she's an expert dueler, and she is the clumsiest person I've ever met," said Harry thoughtfully, wondering what kind of question that was.
"That isn't exactly what I meant, Harry. What do you know about her; has she ever told you anything odd, or have you noticed anything odd about her?" Dumbledore asked.
Harry looked at him for a moment, thinking quickly.
"No, besides that she's mastered the art of falling down anything and tripping over anything," Harry replied quietly.
Dumbledore smiled slightly.
"She's quite good at keeping secrets," Dumbledore said calmly, turning to look at the bookshelf next to Fawkes' perch.
The room filled with an awkward silence, and as Dumbledore searched for a book, Harry turned his mind back to Adrienne. Harry didn't know what exactly Dumbledore thought he knew about her. 'Anything odd?' Harry asked himself, and then it dawned on him.
"Something odd, Professor?" he clarified.
Dumbledore turned around, his hand falling away from a book he had made to pull out.
"When I duel her, sometimes, no a lot of the times, it's almost as if her spells issue before she finishes the incantation," Harry said, wondering if this was something Dumbledore had been looking for.
"You've noticed that too? I see," Dumbledore said quietly, walking away from the bookshelf and taking his seat back behind his desk. "Anything else, Harry?"
Harry shook his head.
"So, what kind of wand does she have that can anticipate her spells like that?" Harry asked, not quiet understanding how this had anything to do with why Voldemort had attacked the Gallows and Salem.
"It has nothing to do with her wand," Dumbledore replied.
Harry looked at him, a confused expression engulfing his face.
"It don't think I quiet understand," Harry replied.
"If you are worried that Voldemort tried to capture Adrienne to use against you, that isn't entirely true, partly, but there's something before that, Harry. And that is only Adrienne's business," Dumbledore replied, "I'm not at liberty to disclose anything about Adrienne that you don't all ready know."
Harry's jaw dropped. He had been sure that Dumbledore would answer his question; he had told him about the Longbottoms, and now he wasn't even going to tell him about his own sister. Harry made to argue, but them stopped, reminding himself that he'd never be able to persuade Dumbledore to tell him. Harry smiled weakly.
"Thanks anyway then, Professor," Harry said, standing up.
"Harry, when she's awake, she'll want to see you. But remember, what you know, she doesn't; so be careful what you say," Dumbledore said, standing up and walking Harry to the door.
"You aren't going to tell her?" Harry asked incredulously.
Dumbledore smiled sadly.
"Of course I am, just not right after she wakes up, that might put her over the edge; I daresay, she's had enough surprises lately to last her a lifetime," Dumbledore said, putting a hand on Harry's shoulder.
* * * * *
"Harry!"
Hermione and Ron came racing through the common room as the portrait door shut behind him. Harry smiled at them and braced himself as they rammed into him, engulfing him into a large hug.
"Ok, I get the picture, let go, I can't breathe," he gasped, his face turning slightly red.
Hermione and Ron stepped back.
"Oh, sorry," Ron mumbled, a little embarrassed.
Hermione just smiled at him.
"You did it, Harry," she said, her face full of pride and worry, a single tear welling in one of her eyes. Harry smiled at her.
"Is Adrienne all right?" asked Ron, biting his lip nervously, "I couldn't sleep last night, I was so worried."
Harry laughed.
"She's fine, Ron, breathe," said Harry, watching as Ron quickly stopped holding his breath. "I don't know, you seeing my sister, how am I supposed to feel about that," Harry said sarcastically.
Ron's eyes widened.
"I wouldn't have a problem with you liking Ginny," he said defensively.
"I'm joking, Ron, calm down," Harry shot quickly, taking in Ron's quickly angering face.
Hermione started laughing.
"Oh, just playing along," Ron muttered, embarrassed.
Harry smiled at him and then cast an amused glance at Hermione, who was still smirking and stifling laughs.
"That professor of hers, the one she talks about, the funny one, I think he's here," Harry said, turning back to Ron.
"How do you know?" said Ron, curiously.
"Because he was sitting by her bed talking to her while I was in there . . ."
"She's awake!" exclaimed Ron, running past Harry, towards the portrait hole.
"She wasn't when I left," Harry called after him, but Ron was already gone.
"So I guess we're taking a field trip to the hospital wing," Hermione said, reaching for Harry's hand and following after Ron, "I'm really glad you found her, Harry."
Hermione had stopped walking now and had turned to look at him. Harry smiled.
"Me too."
* * * * *
When Harry, Ron, and Hermione walked into the hospital wing, Adrienne was sitting up and talking quietly with Joe Glenn. The three walked in quietly, not drawing their attention.
"All my books and homework are still at Salem, Professor," Adrienne said, taking a goblet of potion from Professor Glenn.
"I'll get them for you before your term starts," he replied, taking back the goblet and laughing at her face, "That's the same face that Mia made every time she drank it."
Adrienne laughed slightly.
"Is she going to come sometime soon?" she asked, looking down at her still bandaged hands.
"When the doctors say she can leave, she will."
Adrienne looked up, shaking her head a little to get her hair out of her face.
"What about the others, like Professor Mondel. I want to talk to him, tell him I got in a fight again, he'd be proud of me," said Adrienne quietly, talking for the first time about something that had happened that night.
Joe's face fell.
"When did you get in a fight, Adrienne?" he asked.
Adrienne turned away.
"I just want to talk to Professor Mondel sometime," she mumbled.
Joe didn't say anything; he looked down at his hands, which were folded in his lap. Adrienne slowly turned, ready to ask why he wasn't responding, but her eyes caught sight of the three standing in the doorway.
"Hey you guys," she said as loud as she could, which was barely above a whisper.
Harry smiled and walked forward, Hermione behind him, and Ron bring up the rear, blushing furiously now.
"You look good," said Hermione wearily.
Adrienne laughed.
"Right, that's it, stick to the truth Hermi, you're a horrible liar," she replied.
Hermione blushed.
"Well, you look better than you did before," she said a little defensively.
Adrienne's smile faded slightly.
"Professor Glenn, these are my friends, Harry, Hermione, and . . . Ron," said Adrienne, saying Ron's name a little tentatively.
Professor Glenn turned and looked at them, smiling, his eyes looking over each face, trying to discern this Ron person.
"Nice to meet you," he said, standing up, his eye's taking in Harry's scar and flitting right on to Ron, knowing exactly who the red head was now.
He raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth to speak again, but Adrienne interrupted him.
"Professor," she said, drawing out his title in annoyance.
Joe turned, smiling sheepishly.
"Just was going to start a conversation," he said.
Adrienne glared at him.
"Conversation, my foot, Professor," she said in mock-anger.
Joe sighed and sat down.
"I'll just sit and listen, is that fine with you, your highness?" he asked.
Adrienne nodded and then smiled.
"Did ya get my presents?" she asked, her voice slightly rising in excitement.
"Yep," Hermione said, "I gave them out, just like you asked."
"I tried to tell you thanks last night, Adrienne, but it seems you decided to take a nap," Harry interjected.
Adrienne raised an eyebrow.
"And a very good pillow you made too," she replied and then added, "Thanks, Harry."
Harry walked closer to her bed, leaving Hermione and Ron behind.
"No problem; like I said, I couldn't let you freeze," he said.
"How did you know where I was?" Adrienne asked, turning to look at him, but before he could answer, another voice rang through the room.
"Adrienne!"
Adrienne turned sharply, registering the voice, her eyes lighting up, her mouth open in surprise.
"Professor Hartel!" she yelled, and then started coughing horribly.
"Don't kill yourself now, Adri," Mia said as she slowly walked over to her bed, limping slightly.
"Look at you, you're falling apart," Adrienne gasped, pointing at her with a bandaged hand.
Mia shrugged.
"Small price to pay to see you again," she replied.
Adrienne's smile left her face.
"Who did that to you?" she asked slowly.
Mia looked quickly at Joe, who sighed.
"That doesn't matter, Adri," she said, walking over and sitting on her husband's lap, patting Adrienne's arm.
Adrienne didn't move. She didn't have to ask what happened, she knew that Professor Hartel had been hurt trying to protect her. Adrienne looked away.
"Honey, what's the matter?" Mia asked quietly.
"She won't tell me either, Mia," Joe whispered in her ear.
Harry slowly walked back to stand next to Hermione and Ron, looking at Adrienne strangely. The room filled with an awkward silence, and Mia just stared at Adrienne, who now had her head turned completely away from the two on her side. Mia turned and looked at her husband, who just shook his head.
"I want to tell Professor Mondel about my fight," Adrienne whispered.
Mia swallowed hard.
"Honey, you can't," she replied.
"Send him an owl, I want to tell him," Adrienne repeated.
Mia stood up and walked around the bed.
"Adrienne, I can't send him an owl either," she whispered, kneeling down.
Harry took a deep breath, knowing exactly what was coming.
"It isn't that hard, Professor, you can use Hecate," Adrienne whispered.
"Adrienne," Mia said, reaching up to put a hand on her shoulder.
Adrienne rolled away.
"Don't touch me, I want to talk to Professor Mondel," she said, her voice louder, trying to blot out the little voice in her mind saying over and over, "It's your fault." Adrienne clenched her hands.
"Joe?" Mia asked, pleadingly.
Joe shook his head.
"She's been like this the entire time," he mouthed.
"Adrienne, you can't talk to Professor Mondel, he's, oh dear . . . he's . . ."
"GET OUT!" Adrienne screamed, sitting up bolt in her bed.
"You're going to hurt yourself, Adrienne," Joe said worriedly, reaching to help her lay back down.
"GET OUT! ALL OF YOU! GET OUT!" she screamed, irritating her throat and causing her to cough.
"Adrienne, calm down," Mia whispered, reaching for her too.
Adrienne ducked her grasp and rolled out of bed, standing up quickly, the world starting to spin, tears starting to fall down her face.
"GET OUT!" she screamed again, walking clumsily away from the bed and the people surrounding it.
Mia stared at her, a shocked expression engulfing her face.
"GET OUT!" Adrienne backed away from them.
Harry, Hermione, and Ron's eyes widened and they quickly left of the room. Mia and Joe walked towards her. Adrienne backed up more, hitting the wall.
"Get out," she whispered, sliding down the wall and sitting on the floor.
"Please leave me alone," she moaned, crying heavily now.
Mia cast a glance at Joe and then knelt down beside her.
"Adrienne, don't cry, you'll make yourself worse," she said, reaching forward and pulling the girl into a tight embrace.
"Don't touch me," she whimpered.
Mia didn't let go.
"Shh, don't cry, Adrienne," she whispered.
Joe walked over and sat down next to his wife.
"It's all my fault," Adrienne whispered, her face buried in Mia's shoulder, her tears soaking through her robes.
"Nothing is your fault, Adrienne."
Adrienne shook her head.
"That's where you're wrong, Professor, that's where you're wrong."