Harry Potter; Fifth Year Unchanging

Visiting Hermione



Ron paced up and down one long corridor in the hospital. He walked past heavy old doors that lead to the patient's room. Ron never left one door for long. Room nine hundred and thirty-four, curse ward, fourth floor was the room that Hermione lay in. He stopped in front of the door and pressed an ear to the wood of the door. He didn't hear a sound through the door. He knew, of course, that he wouldn't be able to hear anything because every room had a silencing charm on it.

The first moment he got, he had slipped away from his family to find Hermione. He had found out what room she was in when he barred one nurse from her duties until she told him where to find Hermione. It had taken him awhile to find the room, but know that he found it he had no intention of leaving. It had been two hours ago that he told his family he was going to the bathroom.

Ron was halfway down the corridor, a few doors past Hermione's room, and he was on his way back down the corridor when sirens blasted through the corridor along with a magnified voice telling the doctors who specialized in curse treatment to report to the fourth floor. The corridor plunged into darkness for a split second, then the torches that had been glowing orange came back an icy blue. Ron's heart sunk, he knew it was the cool-blue signal.

Ron ran down the corridor and skidded to a stop in front of Hermione's door. It wouldn't be long until the doctors and nurses flood the corridor and kicked him out, but before he could let that happen he need to know if Hermione was okay. "Hermione," he whispered through the keyhole on the door. He pressed his ear up to it, but no noise came from inside. Ron tried again, calling her name louder this time. There was still no answer. Ron was about to kick the door down when he heard voice and rushing feet coming around a corner.

Ron stood frozen when the first wave of people came around the corner. Five people pushed a bed down the corridor. Ron could see a figure lying on the bed. The people pushing the bed veered off into a room when a door opened by magic. More people pushing beds followed the first group. For each group a door opened along the corridor. The corridor itself seemed to stretch so more doors could fit in the long corridor. The people pushing the beds started to go by Ron, as the first rooms they came to were full.

Some of the people on the beds didn't seem to move at all in the brief time that Ron saw them. Others moaned, or cried out. One woman who looked slightly deranged shot out a hand and latched on to Ron's arm. She was yelling like a mad woman. "My baby!" She screeched. She was pulling along, as people pushed her bed. Ron had no choice but to stumble along after her. "My baby, where is she? My poor baby!" She wailed.

One of the men pushing her bed noticed Ron following them. "You can't come down here," he barked at Ron.

"I'm sorry, but she won't let me go."

"What's that. She wouldn't let you go?" He asked, Ron simple nodded. "Let the boy go, Hun."

"I want my baby!" She wailed again.

"What happened to all these people?"

"There was a massacre down in Bulgaria. I think it was right after the Quidditch tryouts. All the hospitals in England are overfilled. In all my years as a doctor I've never seen anything like this, and I hope I never will again." The man stopped pushing the bed to come over to Ron. He pried the lady's hand off his arm. "Now get out of here before someone tips off security. Although I doubt anyone will care much if some kid is up here. Why are you up here?"

Ron didn't know if he should tell him about Hermione. He wanted to see her so bad that he decide he might as well tell this guy. "My friend is in room nine hundred and thirty- four. And I came up here to see if I could see her."

"Come back here at eleven o'clock tonight. If I'm not up here wait twenty minutes, if I'm still not there, go back to who ever you are here with. Okay kid?" They had reached an open room. Ron nodded before they disappeared behind a close door.

Ron walked back down the long corridor. Sometimes it seemed that he wasn't moving. The corridor was still growing, so it was hard to tell if he was going anywhere. When he got back to Hermione's room he stopped to whisper through the keyhole again. "I'll come back for you Hermione, don't worry."

Ron shuffled down the rest of the corridor. People on beds keep rolling by him. Ron looked at the people who went by. He was hopping against hope that his brothers weren't going to be rolled by him. He hoped they had left before the attacks. Beds were lined up outside rooms.

Ron came to a dead stop. Lying on one bed, his eyes only half open, and seemed to be following Ron's progression down the corridor was Victor Krum. "Krum!" Ron breathed.

"Hey Ron," Krum said in a horse voice. Ron didn't have any time to marvel that Krum recognized him, for what he said next made fear flow through him. "Harry was there, Ron. He was at the tryouts. They were after him."

Ron wanted to ask who was after Harry, but before he could ask, a doctor came out of a room, and saw him. "You have to leave this area boy," the doctor said, then he turned his attention to Krum. "We have a room for you." He stared to push Krum away.

"Wait," said Krum. "I need to talk to him." The doctor was about to protest, but Krum weakly waved him off.

"Ron, I saw Harry try to get away. I tried to help him get away, but someone hit me with a curse. Before I passed out I saw Harry fall off his carpet. Get someone out there to help him." Krum started to cough, and the doctor pushed him down the corridor leaving Ron to gape after them.

Ron turned and ran down the corridor, back to the lobby where his family waited to hear about Hermione. He skidded around corners, dashing around people, and crashing down nine flights of stairs to get back to the lobby. He arrived there totally out of breath. He slid to a stop. He was overbalanced and fell into a chair next to his mum.

"Ron, where have you been?" Molly Weasley glared at him. Ron didn't say anything. He couldn't, he was still panting from his mad-dash through the corridor. "Well? I'm waiting. You have no right to disappear for well over two hours without telling anyone."

"I told you I was going to the bathroom," Ron said meekly. It didn't matter now how angry Mrs. Weasley would be at him, once he told her what he had found out, she would be too happy to be mad at him.

"That was some bathroom break," piped in Ginny. "Or did you get lost?"

"I see you're feeling better; glad to hear it." Ron shot back.

"Enough you two," Molly glared at them. "Ron, where have you been?"

Ron retold the whole story about finding Hermione's room, the crazy lady who wouldn't let go of him, and the guy who told him what happened at the tryouts. He paused here. "Fred, George, and Bill do you think-"

"Of course they're alright; they're back," Molly said with a bit of an edge in her voice.

"Oh, they are?" Silence hung over them, thick and unsettling after Ron spoke.

"Go on with your story Ron," said Ginny in a small voice. Her eyes were shinning with a look that Ron couldn't place. He thought for a moment that it was excitement. He couldn't help but think that his sister knew him better then he thought.

He winked at her. Ginny grinned back at him, eager to know what he knew. Any worries that she had were forgotten for a moment when Ron started to tell his story again.

Ron told them about how the guy invited him back to the fourth floor to see Hermione at eleven o'clock. "Mum, I think you should come with me," Ron said. Mrs. Weasley nodded, but said nothing. Ron continued. He repeated almost word for word what Krum had told him.

Bill and Fred walked into the lobby right at the end of Ron's story. They sat on the other side of the room facing Ron, Ginny, and Mrs. Weasley. "Where is Dad?" Asked Bill.

"He went to get some food," said Ginny

"When were you planning on telling me that Harry was at the tryouts?" Mrs. Weasley snapped at them.

Bill and Fred looked at each other unsure of what to say. "What makes you think we saw Harry?" Fred asked.

"Don't you play dumb. Krum told Ron that he saw Harry there," Mrs. Weasley had gotten up out of her chair and was now hovering over Fred and Bill.

Bill launched into the story about running into Harry at the tryouts. Mrs. Weasley didn't say anything as he told his story. "And we told him that we would come back tomorrow to bring him home with us," Bill said finishing up his story.

"Did you know that a group of people attacked everyone at the tryouts shortly after you left?" Fred and Bill looked shocked. "Now we're not sure who they were, but that's not important at the moment. What is important is Krum saw them attacking Harry. He told Ron that right before he was hit with a curse and passed out, he saw Harry fall of his magic carpet. What do you have to say for yourself?"

"We didn't know mum," said Fred.

"We thought he would be fine there," put in Bill.

"I see," was all that Mrs. Weasley said. After a moment of silence she left the lobby and headed to the Owl Post. Ron sat and watched her leave. Ginny also got up, but Ron didn't wait to see where she was going. He closed his eyes.

He felt calmer then when he first woke up that day. Even with the news that Harry could be in more trouble then they thought. None of it seemed to phase him. He had past the worry onto his mum, and he felt good about that. He knew that his mum could take the information he gave her and put it to good use, maybe she could even find Harry. Ron sat in his chair with his eyes closed enjoying the feeling of doing something right.

He dropped off to sleep. When he woke up he felt relaxed and rested. Ginny was sitting in the chair next to his reading a magazine. He stretched out his long legs and arms without leaving his set. Ron rubbed his eyes, and yawned. It seemed like such a long time ago that Sirius had waked him up.

"Sleep well?" Ginny asked him. She closed the magazine that she had been reading, and put it in her lap. Ron nodded to her. "That's good. Mum isn't back yet, and it's almost eleven."

Ron jumped out of his chair. He spun around looking for a clock, but he couldn't find one. Ginny pointed above the desk in the front of the lobby. Two clocks were on the wall. One showed where all the doctors and other staff of the hospital were and the other told what time it was. It read ten forty. Ron couldn't believe that he had slept so long. He had gotten back to the lobby around three o'clock, and hadn't fallen asleep until sometime after four.

"I wasn't going to let you miss seeing Hermione. I was going to wake you," Ginny said. She was standing right behind him.

"I know," Ron said simply.

"You better get going. I'll stay here and tell mum when she gets back. What room is Hermione in?" Ginny asked him.

Ron told her, and then he took off back the way he had come earlier. The hospital had become much quieter. The torches burned low casting shadows over the long corridors. Ron slowed down when he reached the fourth floor corridor where Hermione's room is. The blue flames were gone, beds no longer lined the hallway, and the corridor itself was devoid of any movement. Ron tried to walk swiftly down the stretch corridor without making any noise, but his shoes made a very sold clumping noise.

Ron's legs grow weak with each step that brought him closer to Hermione. He hoped with every part of him that he would be able to see her. He got the feeling that he wasn't alone anymore. He quickened his pace. He watched the numbers above the doors go up. He was almost there.

"Aaagh!" A figure stepped from the shadows startling Ron, who yelled in surprise.

"Ah, so we meet again boy."

Ron stumbled backwards due to the fear he felt. He was about to run, but his feet wouldn't move. He was frozen in place, contemplating running away or pressing forward to see Hermione. He stayed.

"You're late. I told you to meet me here at eleven to see you friend. It's five after." He held out a hand for Ron to shake. "The name's Diggamor. Dan Diggamor," he said. Ron now recognized him from before. Ron shook Diggamor's hand.

"Sorry 'bout giving you such a fright."

"No problem." Diggamor led Ron to Hermione's room. He uttered a spell under his breath. When the door clicked open he pushed it wide open, and held it for Ron to go through first.

The room was dimly lit. There were no decorations on the walls, just white paint. Ron's eyes rested on the bed below the window on the opposite side of the room, and a wood chair set next to the bed. He couldn't take his eyes off the bed; he could hardly see the small girl lying there.

"Go on boy," Diggamor put his hand on Ron's shoulder and gave him a nudge towards the bed. Ron stumbled forward.

He crossed over to the bed. He pulled the chair next to Hermione and sat down. He studied her in the half-light. Hermione's newly straightened hair already started to get its bushiness back. Her face was pale and ghost like, her eyes were closed, and her pale lips parted ever so slightly.

Ron reached out a hand to touch her face. "Please wake up Hermione," he whispered while he stroked her cheek, which was cold under his fingers. He willed her eyes to open, but nothing happened.

"So, I was just reading her clipboard, it doesn't say what curse was used on her." Diggamor stood on the other side of the bed with the clipboard in his hand. He looked down at Hermione, studying her still figure.

Ron looked up at Diggamor. "What do you mean it doesn't have the curse written there?" Ron reached out a hand for the clipboard, "Let me see it." Dan Diggamor handed it over. The clipboard had only one paper on it with the very basics about Hermione, but some of the information wasn't right.

Hermione's name was spelled wrong, it said she was a pure blood, and that she was fifteen. Ron pointed this out to Diggamor who couldn't believe it.

"Who's her doctor?" He asked Ron.

"I think someone named Johnson, but I'm not sure."

"Hmm, Johnson? Ah yes, Old Johnson." Diggamor shook his head as if disgusted.

Ron handed the clipboard back. "Is that bad. I mean isn't he a good doctor?" Ron took Hermione's hand that had been lying on top of the covers in his own.

"Well, you see Doctor Johnson is very young and inexperienced when it comes to taking care of people. He was a veteran before he became a doctor. A lot of the doctors here were top of there class, or at least in the top five, so it was a real shock when they hired him. He was twentieth in his class, sad really. He almost didn't pass his curse boards, and that was what he was majoring in.

"A lot of the doctors here, myself included, protest his job here. We did every thing in our power to keep him out, but he won out. Three things got him this job: money was a big one, he has lots of it, and his family name had a lot to do with it. He is from one of those old pureblooded families. And when you combine an old family name with money, you get a kind of status that people can't go against."

"So your saying that he bought his way in?" Questioned Ron.

Diggamor nodded. "Not only that, but he bought his teachers out when he was still studying, to let him pass. It shows that he doesn't know what he's doing. I mean look at this clipboard. It isn't the first time he got information on a patient wrong." Diggamor looked at Ron like he was sizing him up. "I shouldn't have told you all that, but I felt like I had too."

Ron didn't know what to say so he just sat in his chair holding Hermione's hand. Dan Diggamor read over the clipboard again, and then he drew out his wand. Ron watched him mutter spells that seemed to do nothing.

Diggamor pocketed his wand again. He put the clipboard back on that holder at the foot of the bed. "I'll be back," he said to Ron. "I have to go and see some people." With that he swept out of the room leaving Ron alone with Hermione.

"Hey Hermione. Why don't you wake up? I didn't think you would like people fusing over you like this. Besides don't you want to do some studying so you can be ahead of everyone when we get back to school?" Ron didn't know what to say to her. He didn't know if she could hear him.

"I miss you Hermione. We all miss you." Ron stayed silent for along time, just thinking about nothing. He had been sitting there for a half- hour when the door to the room swung open.

"Mum!" Ron said when he saw Mrs. Weasley standing in the doorframe with Diggamor behind her. Ron jumped to his feet and went over to her. Molly hugged him, and then she went over to Hermione.

"She was out in the hallway looking for you," said Diggamor indicating Mrs. Weasley. "I told her what I told you about Dr. Johnson."

Molly started to fuss over Hermione. She kept saying things like "Poor dear," and "Blessed child." She took out her wand and conjured a thick blanket out of the air. She covered Hermione in it.

"I think you should check her out of here," said Diggamor.

Molly looked up sharply, as did Ron. "What do you mean check her out of here?" Molly asked in shock. "This is the best hospital around." Ron nodded his agreement.

"I think you should check her into a family clinic. Perhaps mine?"

"What did you say your name was again?" This question seemed to startle Diggamor.

"Dan Diggamor." He stepped forward and handed Molly a card. She looked at it for a minute and then slipped it into her pocket.

She smiled at him. "You're the Dr. that Dumbledore had mentioned. He only used your first name, so I wasn't sure, but that card is the same as the one he gave me."

"Is Dumbledore here?" Diggamor asked. He looked rather excited.

"No he isn't. He went to look for you, at your house and at the clinic. Why are you working here tonight?" Molly asked him.

"They called me to see if I could help out with the new curse victims that came in today. I'm sure that he told you that," said Diggamor referring to Ron.

Molly looked at Ron and then back to Diggamor. "How soon can you let her into your clinic?" She grinned at the idea of doing something spontaneous for once.

"As soon as you check her out of this place."

Molly turned to Ron, "Go tell everybody that we are taking Hermione out of here. Tell them to Floo on home, I'll be along shortly." They all walked over to the door and left Hermione alone.

When he got back to the lobby he found most of the Weasleys asleep in chairs. Ginny was the only one who was still awake. She looked up from her magazine when he came into the lobby.

"How did it go?"

"Not bad. Help me wake everybody, I've got to tell them what happened then we're going home."