Chapter 2:
Two days passed before Harry woke up. At first he couldn't remember how he had ended up in the hospital wing again, but when he did the memories of what happened slammed him as if he flew his broom straight against a brick wall. The first thing he noticed was that he was alone, the second was that his whole body hurt. Realizing that his surrounding were hazy he fumbled his surroundings until he found his glasses, which he placed on his nose, painstakingly slow. Now being able to properly see again he made out another figure in the room, softly snoring two beds next to him on his right side. It was Ron, he was wearing PJ's and his leg was propped up on several cushions.
He didn't have much time to wonder how long he had been asleep or what happened while he was because a few moments later the entry doors swung open and Hermione walked into the room. When she saw he was awake she immediately exclaimed "Harry!" and sprinted to his side. "How are you?" she asked excitedly, rousing Ron from his sleep by the volume of her voice.
"I'm okay I guess", he answered tiredly. "You're awake!", Ron almost shouted, "I was starting to really worry about you - you just wouldn't wake up, mate!".
"How long have I been asleep?", he asked his friends. Hermione and Ron looked at each other, as if having a silent conversation through eye-contact alone, before Hermione faced him once more. "You've been asleep for two day, much has happened in that time."
"Okay…" Harry said slowly, "Well, are you going to tell me what exactly happened?", Harry asked, trying to keep the irritation he felt out of his voice. Why didn't she just tell him already?
But instead of telling him Hermione stood up and took out her wand before muttering spells he had never heard before. "What did you do?", he asked her when she was finished, not being able to tell any difference in their surroundings.
"It's a privacy charm, so no one will overhear what we're talking about", she said.
"Good thinking", Ron put in.
"So… what is the last thing you remember?", she asked her friend, trying not to stare at the numerous bandages that covered his body.
"Professor Lupin transformed and attacked me, I attacked Snape and told Sirius to change his memories and to get away. I don't know what happened after that."
"Ok, so you basically remember everything up to the point you fell unconscious. Well, your plan actually, and to be completely honest; surprisingly, worked out. As far as we know Mr. Black hasn't been captured and Snape couldn't remember what really happened. As for our story… you'll have to listen really closely, because they'll surely question you as soon as they see you're awake. We told Dumbledore and the Minister that we snook out to the forbidden forest because we thought it would be "fun" and a way to prove ourselves to each other – don't look at me like that, it's not like we had much time to come off with a better cover story. As it was we didn't know that it was the full moon and fell victim to a werewolf attack. The werewolf in question ran off when it heard rustling in the bushes and we got out of the forest as fast as possible. When we came to the edge of the forest we found Professor Snape. We tried to continue to the castle when you collapsed. Snape woke up and brought us back. Make sure to tell them the exact same story, Harry!"
"Wow…", Harry said, "it worked. What about Pettigrew? He's gone, isn't he?", Harry asked sadly.
"I'm afraid so, yes…", Hermione replied.
"What about Professor Lupin? Is he okay?"
Hermione smiled. It was just too typical like Harry to lie injured in a hospital bed and worry about someone else.
"He's fine, Harry, although he quit as soon as he returned to the castle. He was devastated when he found out about your condition. He blames himself and the guilt seems to squash him. We were barely able to convince him not to confess what happened to the ministry. We told him what you said and he almost couldn't believe it, but honored your wish in the end. He is gone by now."
A long silence followed which none of them quite knew how to break. After what seemed like eternity Harry spoke: "Did… Was I… Am I… Did I get infected? By Professor Lupin I mean. Was I bitten?"
"No, Harry", Hermione said soothingly, and Harry felt a huge weight fall from his chest.
"You weren't infected, but the wounds he caused you will scar. Heavily. Werewolves are considered Dark Creatures and it's the same with them as with injuries caused by dark magic – they won't fully heal through magic or muggle methods, they'll always scar. And… Professor Lupin did cause quite a bit of damage on you. I don't want to scare you but… you'll never look the same again." Hermione looked down sadly and Ron was completely silent, avoiding to look at them.
Harry slowly let it sink in what Hermione just told him and touched the bandages that covered most of his face. A sharp, but bearable pain accompanied every single touch and he lowered his hand again, remaining silent.
A few minutes passed and just before the silence became completely unbearable he asked "How's your leg, Ron?"
"Oh, it's fine. I'll be out out the hospital wing by tomorrow, almost as good as new.", he replied.
"That's good."
"Yeah."
There was nothing more to say. Hermione lifted the privacy charm and Harry laid back down once more. Just when he was on the verge of falling asleep he heard voices. Opening his eyes he turned his head and saw the doors open once more, admitting the Headmaster, Snape, Madame Pomfrey and, by the looks of it, two Aurors.
"Ah, Mister Potter! I see you're finally awake," the Medi-Witch said as soon as she laid eyes on Harry, "How are you feeling? Are you in pain?"
"I'm fine. Thank you, Madame Pomfrey", he replied politely.
"Well, that's good to hear, Mister Potter. You gave us quite a scare."
"Um, I'm sorry. That wasn't my intention.", Harry said meekly.
"I'm sure it wasn't, but it was still incredibly reckless and stupid what you did! You'll truly get yourself killed rather sooner than later if you keep pulling stunts like that!"
Madam Pomfrey was mad, and it was never good to make the Medi-Witch mad.
"I'm really sorry and I promise that I'll never do something like that again."
"I sure do hope so", she replied curtly and walked into her chambers.
"Harry.", Professor Dumbledore addressed him, "I'm glad to see you're awake, though I have to say that I wholeheartedly agree with everything Madame Pomfrey said. It may interest you that Professor McGonagall removed 50 house-points from each of you. She considered removing more, but thought that that the injuries that you and Mister Weasley sustained were punishment enough."
"Okay", Harry said.
"These two wizards are Aurors from the Ministry of Magic and they have a few questions for you as to what has happened", Dumbledore said while gesturing to the people on his left, "I will stay with you throughout the questioning. As for you Mister Weasley and Miss Granger, I have to ask you both to step out for a bit as Mister Potter is not yet well enough to be out of bed."
"Yes, Sir.", both chorused. Hermione passed Ron the crutches that leant against the wall next to his bed and helped him stand. Together they silently exited the room
The questioning was uncomfortable for Harry, but Dumbledore offered silent support throughout it. When the Aurors were satisfied with their answers they were escorted off the grounds again, by Dumbledore himself. Hermione and Ron returned about half an hour later, chatted quietly. Harry didn't really pay attention until he overheard the name "Buckbeak".
"What are you talking about?", Harry asked them. Both turned towards him. Hermione once again raised her wand and cast the same privacy charm she had earlier used. Then she spoke again: "Buckbeak got away. He mysteriously… vanished… before he could be executed."
"That's great!", Harry exclaimed, "But how is that possible? We saw him in front o Hagrid's hut right before the Minister and Dumbledore arrived?"
Hermione hesitated for a moment, but answered: "I freed him."
"But Hermione", Harry said, "that's impossible, you were with us at the time."
"It's not impossible, Harry", she answered, "didn't you wonder how I could attend to different classes at the same time this year? McGonagall gave me this at the start of the year", Hermione said as she lifted a golden necklace out of her shirt. "This is a time-turner, it allows you to turn back time to be at more than one place at once. I used it to attend classes, but also to free Buckbeak. When you and Ron were asleep Dumbledore approached me and told me if I really wanted to I could still save lives that day. I used the time-turner and went back to the point when we were at Hagrid's. After we all got away I took away Buckbeak from under their noses and hid him in the forest. After a few hours I let him go and he flew off the grounds. While I sat with him in the forest I had time to think. Dumbledore had said that I could save more than one life, so what had he meant? I thought back to the events of the day and suddenly had an idea. I'm not sure how much you remember from when you were attacked, Harry, but Professor Lupin suddenly let go of you, but he only did so because he heard something – a wolf-howl to be precise. Remember Snape's class? A werewolf only follows the call of other werewolves. So another werewolf had to have been in the area. Isn't it a coincidence that just when we needed it that other werewolf howled? And isn't it interesting that it hasn't howled a single time after Professor Lupin ran off?"
"I guess it is", answered Harry uncertainly.
"That's what I thought too", said Hermione, "so I came to the conclusion that it wasn't a werewolf. It must have been me. So I climbed up a tree from which I could see what was happening. Sadly I came to the conclusion too late and couldn't prevent Professor Lupin from hurting you, for which I am terribly sorry… Well, I howled as soon as I was high enough to be safe and Professor Lupin let go of you. He almost got me, but thankfully I chose a very high tree, so he couldn't get to me. After about an hour he seemingly got bored of waiting for me to come down and ran off. I waited another hour to be completely sure I was safe. Then I ran back to the castle."
"Wow…", was all Harry could say at first, "Hermione, you're a genius! That was amazing! You saved not only me, but also Professor Lupin and Sirius!"
Harry beamed at her, his injuries almost forgotten in that moment.
"B-But", Hermione stuttered, "if I had figured it out faster you wouldn't have been hurt. It's my fault you're injured! And not only because I wasn't fast enough, you shielded us from Professor Lupin, he probably would've gotten to me or Ron first, but you let go of Ron and positioned yourself between him and us. It's all my fault!"
Hermione was shouting by the end of her monologue, big tears rolling down her cheeks and her face buried in her hands.
"Hermione." No reaction. "Hermione, please come here", Harry said. She slowly looked up and did as he asked. Harry sat up in bed, a very painful process, which he tried to hide as best as he could. He gestured to the space next to him on the bed and Hermione sat down, not looking at him. Harry immediately pulled his friend close and hugged her. After a few moments of hesitation she returned the hug and cried onto his shoulder, big sobs wracking her body. Harry let her. He didn't know how long they sat like that, Hermione crying and Harry rubbing soothing circles on her back, until she had finally calmed down somewhat. When he felt that she was ready to hear it he spoke: "Hermione Jean Granger, you listen to me now. What happened wasn't your fault. None of it was. You saved my life by doing all you could and no one could ever ask any more of you than that. I will be forever grateful for what you did for all of us that day. Do you understand? I could never be mad at you while you are the sole reason I'm able to talk to you right now. So please… please don't beat yourself up because of this. You did great and saved my life. You are still my best friend and nothing will change that, okay?"
Hermione looked at him, new tears gathering in her eyes, but she nodded and quietly mumbled "okay".
Yes, a lot had happened. Harry would have even more scars to bear, making him even more recognizable than through the scar Voldemort gave him, but they would be okay. He would be okay. Just when Harry wanted to lie down once more an owl flew though the sole open window of the hospital wing. It landed right next to Harry on the bed and held out its foot towards him on which a small letter was attached. He removed it and faced the owl:" I'm sorry, but I don't have any treats for you.", he told it. He expected it to leave, but it didn't. He didn't really mind and so he began to read. As he read on a huge smile appeared on his face, almost looking out of place on his heavily bandaged features and paining him quite a bit. When he looked up again he faced his friends and said: "Ron, the owl's for you."
