~Author's Note: This chapter is kind of unnecessary. But since I couldn't figure out away to start this chapter, I just went with this. Um… the little number you see floating in the air by a word-yeah it means that the phrase means something. And if you read the bottom of the chapter with that number there is an explanation. Um…what else to say? Well guess that's it. Enjoy! And don't forget! R&R! ~sweetangelgirl~
~Chapter 3: In the Hospital Wing
The next morning early-risers arrived for breakfast, but found none. The plates were lying in pieces across the floor and a few were still whole if not dented and chipped. The chairs were cluttered and some were upturn in last night's earthquake. A couple was broken. A few windows were shattered and many had cracks. It seemed as if a tornado had blown through.
"I thought Dumbledore was going to clean up after last night." Ron said.
"Well, after last night, I didn't think he had the time." Harry replied.
"Or it might have slipped his mind." Hermione added. "I think nothing has happened like that before." They stepped over the debris and turn upright a few fallen chairs. Stunned at the mark the earthquake has left behind from last night.
"It's those stupid Americans' fault!!" They turned to see Malfoy walking in with Tweedle-dee and Tweedle-dumb1 and a couple of other Slytherins. Harry and the others ignored the remarked, but couldn't help to think that it was the Americans' fault.
"They have ruined the Great Hall!! Our wonderful Great Hall!! It's their fault!! It's the stupid Americans' fault!!" Pansy cried pitifully. Those around her glanced upwards towards heavens asking if God would answer their prayer of making her shut up. The damage was quite great. A few of the 7th and 6th years began to cast small spells to repair as much as they could. Soon all who knew a helpful spell slowly and steadily rebuild their Great Hall. Hushed and whispered voices were used as if they were at somebody's funeral. Eventually all the windows were no longer cracked or in pieces, the chairs were all upturned and stood in their rightful places without crevices or broken pieces, and a pile of the rubble stood in a corner.
No one knew what to do with them so they piled the wreckage of wooden chunks and glass pieces in a corner. The banners and wall hangings were mended with care. But no one could fix the golden plates. As hard as they tried no spell would work on them. A small crowd formed around the shattered plates that kept on thinking and trying different spells. They groaned in frustration as each spell failed.
"Come on Hermione," Ron said. "You have got to think of a spell to fix these plates."
"I'm trying Ron." Hermione replied feeling annoyed. Everyone stood around hoping Hermione would know a spell to mend the plates.
"I have thought of all the obvious ones, and the ones that repair other things, but these plates seem as if they were only made to do one thing-to serve us and then clean itself off."
"How very true, Hermione." A voice came from behind them. Professor Dumbledore stood in the doorway wearing a smile. "I'm proud to know that my students are so well-mannered to help repair the Great Hall. Even if it is not your place to mend this, what do I say this, mishap."
"But it was all the Americans fault!" shrieked a first-year Slytherin.
"Oh, they did cause this," Dumbledore said slowly, "but they couldn't help but cause it to happen. Right now they are resting in the hospital wing. They had quite an adventure the last few nights."
"What happened to them?" a short, dark-haired first-year asked. All the first year seemed to be 6-year-old rather than 11-year-old. They haven't learned any magic yet so they couldn't help in the repairing of the Great Hall. But instead dragged debris and collected trash. Now all have gathered around Dumbledore. They all kept quiet so they could hear his calming voice. Those who couldn't see him leaned towards him with their ears.
"I'm not sure exactly." He said gravely. The faces turned seldom. "I am hoping when the Americans have fully rested, they will explain everything. I am allowing them only 30 hours of rest. They should not need anymore than that." They all fell quiet around him. His eyes seem to twinkle as he looked at them all.
"Today we will allow you all to have a free day." Dumbledore spoke. "A few teachers would be walking up and down the halls to make sure there are no trouble. I'm advising you all to use this day wisely. You can catch up on the homework that will be due tomorrow instead of today. Madam Hooch will be at the Quidditch field if any of you want to have a game of Quidditch." There was then excited whispering going on between the Quidditch players. Dumbledore continued, "Try not to wander around too much or else Peeves will find you somewhere and that won't be too fun. First-years are recommended to either stay in the common room or outside. We can't afford losing any of you. Do not try to come anywhere near the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey will fry your blood. Am I forgetting anything?" He looked at all 280 students.
"What about breakfast?" Ron asked out loud.
"Oh yes," Dumbledore began, "all eating periods including snacks will be held here as always. After I tend to this matter, the Great Hall is free to be used whenever you wish but be warned there are no teachers to watch you if the time you chose to spend here is not lunch or supper." With a flick of his wand and a couple well-chosen words, the Great Hall was once again its wonderful self. All the rubbish disappeared and the plates repaired themselves and floated to their proper places. They all sat down as eggs and jam began appearing on the tables.
When he was sure that they no longer knew he was there, he left the Great Hall. He walked amiably towards the Hospital Wing and soon caught sight of Snape and McGonagall talking down the hall.
"Ah, Severus, Minerva!" He said. They both looked up and smiles appeared on their faces. "Yes, I need you two to be in the Great Hall to watch the children eat. There is plenty to eat."
"We were heading there ourselves actually." Snape answered.
"Yes, we will be more than happy to see to it that they do not start a food fight or something of the sort." McGonagall said cordially.
"That will be excellent! Can I count on you to be there at noon and for supper?" Dumbledore asked. "I am fearing that many of the other teachers are supervising elsewhere to be in the Great Hall at that time and I have business to attend to."
"No problem Headmaster," Snape merely replied. McGonagall nodded her head.
"Then I will see you at supper time." Dumbledore nodded and continued to stroll to the Hospital wing. He arrived at the door and to his surprise; someone on the other side reached the doorknob and opened the door for him. It was Madam Pomfrey.
"Professor!" She shrieked. "Oh you gave me a scare." She step aside to let him in. She shut the door behind him. "I was coming to fetch you."
"I'm sorry for that," he apologized. "I'm here anyways to save you the problem of searching for me. Any signs of awakening?" He walked in and went immediately towards to three beds in the corner. Pulling a stool towards himself, he sat down and gazed at the American children sleeping peacefully in the hospital beds.
"No, none at all." Madam Pomfrey replied. "I was going to put a lock on the door so no one could come in and disturb these poor dears."
"Go do that," Dumbledore said without looking at her. "I am going to stay for awhile." She left to do his bidding. He sighed as he study each child's face. The farthest kid away from him was the red haired one. He slept with his back to the wall and stretched out. His red hair was thin and straight. His skin was pale as the sheets he slept on and lips were a thin soft red line. A good boy he seemed to be, Dumbledore thought.
In the middle bed was the girl. Sleeping on her backside, her face showed signs of tranquility and innocence. Wrapped around her head was a bandage, an obvious sign that she had been injured. Her black hair shined in the sunlight that peered through the window nearby. It was long and was tossed in odd directions as she turned her head in her sleep. With tender pale red lips, she murmured something in her sleep. Her sheets were wrapped around her and her legs were sprawled across the bed. A peaceful girl she seemed to be, Dumbledore thought.
The bed nearest Dumbledore laid a boy with bleached hair. A fuzz of brown has grown underneath his bleached curly hair. His eyes were furrowed as if something troubled him. He tossed to his side, facing the girl, and his face softens to a face of calmness. A trouble boy who looks to his friend for comfort, Dumbledore thought. Each face was dirty with dust and sweat.
Madam Pomfrey returned. "They will be well soon." She said.
"You are sure of that?" Dumbledore asked again without looking at her.
"Yes," she said at his side. "They haven't tossed and turned much. Mostly dead sleeping2. The odd thing was that they objected the medicine I tried to give them for their wounds."
"Wounds?" Dumbledore this time turned around, his face filled with concern.
"Yes, wounds. Do you want to see?" Dumbledore nodded. Madam Pomfrey moved towards the bleached-hair boy and pulled his sheets down. Across his chest was a long ominous scar. His left upper arm was flaking dead skin; a sign of burning. His right leg was bruised and his left ankle was in a bandage. Madam Promfrey pulled the sheets up to his chin when he began shivering. She moved on to the girl and pulled her sheets down.
Her wounds were much worse. There was a large bandage wrapped around her torso. Explaining the reason why she was sleeping on her back. A line of blood was on it. It seemed as if she was slashed across her left side. Her arms had lots of cuts and bruises. Down the inside of left arm was a long wound. Her legs were all wrapped in bandages and spots of soaked blood appeared. She breathed more heavily without her sheets to warm her. Quickly Madam Pomfrey covered her and moved on to the red-haired boy.
He had lots of cuts in his chest and lower neck. His right arm and leg was deeply burnt. His left leg was paler that his right. Madam Pomfrey then pointed near his ankle. A circular opening was cut into his leg. Blood clotted the opening shut. She recovered the boy and returned to Dumbledore.
"Oh my," he said and breathed in deeply. "What on earth did these children went through?"
"I was hoping you would answer that question for me." She said. "What more, I am afraid they are also ill on the inside but I can't seem to get a look."
Dumbledore stared at her bewilderedly.
"I mean that I couldn't seem to get a look inside of them to find out if they are ill." She replied earnestly. "There seem to be a blocking or something that is not allowing me to penetrating anything in to them. The most I've done was keep their scars from bleeding by creating a bubble on it."
Dumbledore nodded to show that he understood. "If they are who I think they are, when they awake, they will care for themselves perfectly fine." He said as he stood up.
"What makes you say that?" She asked as he followed him to the door.
"Just call it a hunch I suppose." He replied. "Do not let anyone in. Only me and make sure they," indicating the three sleeping children, "are not to be disturbed in anyway and I will be back around noontime to check on them." He nodded good day and left for his office. Madam Pomfrey shut the door and locked it with a spell.
"A hunch indeed." She murmured to herself.
~So what do you think? Don't forget to R&R! Oh and here are an explanation of the numbers: 1= Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb- referring to Crabbe and Goyle. Tweedle-Dee and Dumb are from Alice and Wonderland. 2 = dead sleeping means that you sleep and you like don't move or anything. You are just sleeping in the same position and not tossing and turning at all. Umm is that all? Well the disclaimer- everything that you recognize is J.K. Rowling's. The stuff that is mine is the plates not being able to repair (I'm not sure if the plates can't repair themselves), the day off that includes Quidditch, the wounds on the Americans, the plot, and the kids themselves. Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dumb belong to Alice and Wonderland who belongs to someone I don't know (either Disney or the original author). Dead sleeping is kind of universal so I can't claim that, not that I want to. Umm…if there's anything else I missed it's mine unless it's J.K. Rowling's. Okay I'm gonna shut up now. Laterz~ Oh wait! A P.S.! P.S. Are you allowed to do P.S.'s? Oh never mind. The next chapter will be much better than this. It's gonna be about ….oh I can't tell you or else I'll ruin it. Well happy guessing! Laterz!~