Chapter 7: Bite me
"Hermionie!"
Harry yelled, leaving Ron to Lupin. He bolted out of the hall, afraid of what he might find. He skidded around the corner; Hermionie was lying motionless on the floor, blood seeping from her leg. Above her was a snake.
"Nagini?"
Harry said in a cold voice. The snake looked up
"You ssspeak sssnake?"
It asked. Harry nodded, his hood still covering his face
"What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
The snake slithered forward, moving around Hermionie
"I come with a death eater, he isss a rat. He knowsss a passage way in, yet he won't tell the dark lord how to enter."
It said, raising its head so that it was eye level with Harry. Harry's face darkened
"Wormtail"
He muttered
"Yesss"
Nagini hissed
"Yesss, that is he.who are you?"
"Where is he?"
Harry demanded. Nagini let out a low hiss that would probably be a sigh.
"He lives with a young student, in the lions den. He lives with the boy that carries a camera"
"Collin!"
Harry breathed, glancing down at Hermionie
"What did you do to her?"
He snapped
"Bit her"
Nagini replied simply
"Will it kill her?"
Harry growled, glaring at Nagini. The snake seemed to be pondering its answer
"I come to eat, you disturb. It can be treated"
Harry let out a sigh of relief. He looked sharply at Nagini
"When will the dark lord break in?"
He asked. The snake lowered its head and slithered back
"That's not for you to know"
She hissed, then she slithered away. Harry immediately dropped beside Hermionie
"Enervate"
He whispered. Hermionie groaned and opened her eyes
"Andrew!"
She cried
"A snake! A big snake! It bit me! I thoug-"
"I know"
Harry mumbled
"Don't worry"
He smiled down at her, but she wasn't looking at him, she was looking at her leg. It was bleeding freely. The bite was big and swelling. She let out a small squeak, then fainted. Harry sighed and picked her up like a baby. He sprinted back towards the hall. When he entered, everyone looked at him. Ron, who had collected himself, ran over.
"What happened?"
He asked, looking at Hermionie
"A snake bit her. Take her to Madam Pomphrey immediately. I'll see you-"
"Students!"
Dumbledore said loudly. Harry handed Hermionie to Ron and turned to leave
"And teachers"
Dumbledore added. Harry froze and turned around
"I'm sure you've all read the paper this morning. For those who haven't, it announced Harry Potter's death."
Harry heard a small whimper. Hermionie was now awake. Ginny, who was standing beside her was doing her best to look devastated. She looked angry instead. She kept glaring at Harry
"But I must tell you.that it's not true.I talked to Harry only last night, and he is doing fine."
There was a loud reaction from the crowd. Some gasped, sighed or cheered. Others didn't react at all.
"I've tried and tried to convince him to return. But he won't. He blames four peoples deaths on himself, and he believes that coming back wouldn't help him because his friends would hate him. He thinks he's bad luck."
Dumbledore chuckled
"Silly boy. I'll talk to him tonight. Maybe this article will change his mind."
Dumbledore looked at Harry, winked then turned towards he Slytherin table where Snape was. Harry sighed then ran out of the hall. He reached the portrait of the fat lady in record time.
"Utopia!"
He yelled practically dancing on the spot. The fat lady gave him a disapproving look then swung open. He ran to the sixth year boy's dormitories and slid open the door. The room was dark but Harry could just make out a small lump sitting on the far bed. Harry smiled and crept up to it. He mumbled a spell and a clear ball formed around the sleeping rat. Harry then placed another spell on it so that if Peter changed he'd only be around an inch high. Once he finished he shook the ball.
"Peter"
He said in a singsong voice. The rat stirred then opened an eye. It squeaked in horror and backed away from Harry. When he hit the other end of the ball he tried to transform. Instant little Peter.
"Hello Wormtail"
Harry spat
"Hiding here again are you?"
Peter whimpered and tried to back away. Harry laughed and headed for the doorway
"Who are you?"
Came Peter's high, terrified voice. Harry grinned and lowered his hood
"The last person you wanted to see, well besides Remus or Sirius"
Harry chuckled and pushed the portrait open. He came face to face with
"Ginny"
He breathed pulling his hood over his face
"Harry! They need you in the hospital wing! It's Hermionie, that bite, it poisoned her, she's dying!"
Harry was silent. The ball holding Peter rolled out of his hands and bounced along the floor, only stopping when it hit Ginny's feet. Harry sucked in a breath
"Who's in the hospital wing?"
He whispered
"Ron, Dumbledore, Lupin, Mcgonagall, Madam Pomphrey.oh Harry you have to help her!"
Ginny cried frantically
"She wants to see you"
Harry bowed his head
"Take the ball to that portrait beside mine. The password is Prongs. Give it to the man inside, tell him it's from me..ok?"
Ginny nodded and headed towards Sirius' room. Harry watched Sirius let her inside, then he took off towards the hospital wing. He burst through the door and ran straight to Dumbledore, ignoring Madam Pomphrey's glare.
"I can save her"
Harry whispered urgently. Dumbledore nodded
"I know"
Harry turned around; Mcgonagall was standing beside Dumbledore, looking terrified. Ron was beside Hermionie, holding her hand tightly. Remus was behind Ron, looking at Harry. Harry stepped forward and stood beside Hermionie.
"Andrew"
She chocked, smiling at him and squeezing his hand. She then turned to Ron
"I wish Harry was here"
She mumbled. Harry took a deep breath
"I am here Hermionie"
He said in is true voice. He raised his hand and lowered his hood. Hermionie and Ron both gasped slightly
"And I'll never leave again"
He smiled at her and looked down at her leg where the bite was. He placed his hand on it, gripped her hand tightly, and stared into her eyes, not blinking. A soft golden light began to glow from under his palm, and after only seconds the light faded. Harry lifted his hand. Where the bite was there was only a small scar. Hermionie had passed out and was sleeping soundly. Harry straightened up and staggered backwards. Remus, who had switched sides, caught him under the arms and sat him down. The spell had drained him. Madam Pomphrey rushed by. She muttered a spell over Hermionie and sighed
"She'll be fine"
She said, smiling. Ron began to breath again. Mcgonagall smiled, teary eyed, down at Harry. Dumbledore just grinned proudly. Harry looked up at Ron, and Ron at him. Slowly Harry stood up so that he and Ron were face to face.
"Harry"
Ron chocked
"You're alive."
Harry nodded slightly. Neither of them did anything. Then, finally, after what seemed like hours, Ron ran forward and hugged Harry.
"Oh God Harry"
He breathed, still holding tightly to his best friend.
"It's really you."
Harry nodded
"Yeah, it's really me.I'm so sorry Ron"
He mumbled. To his surprise Ron laughed
"I was only joking in the letter!"
He said, backing away from Harry
"It was strategy Harry, you git, but it doesn't matter now"
"Harry?"
Came a soft whisper. Ron and Harry spun around. Hermionie was staring at Harry, her eyes wide. Slowly, he approached her, stopping beside her bed.
"It wasn't a dream"
She whispered, looking into his eyes. Harry smiled and shook his head
"Nope, it's really me"
They stared at each other before hugging tightly. After a few seconds the door opened, it was Ginny. She smiled
"Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin, Harry, Sirius wants you"
Dumbledore nodded and left, Remus following closely. Ron stopped Harry
"She knew?"
He asked, surprised
"Yeah, she, err, followed me into my room my second night here.."
Ginny grinned
"Good thing too"
She said, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the hospital wing. Once outside she hugged Harry
"I knew you'd save her"
Harry smiled and they began to walk towards Dumbledore's office
"How do you know about Sirius?"
Harry finally asked. Ginny sighed
"He explained everything to me after we met, I didn't recognize him, good thing though."
She chuckled
"I would have screamed. He's actually pretty good looking, for an old guy I mean"
Harry snorted. They walked in silence until they go to Dumbledore's office. The word Fawkes was hanging in mid air over the gargoyle.
"Fawkes"
Harry read. The words immediately disappeared and the gargoyle moved aside. Harry and Ginny went up the moving staircase and through the door. When they entered Dumbledore wasn't there and neither was Peter. Sirius was pacing in front of Dumbledore's desk. Remus was sitting calmly in the chair, laughing silently at Sirius and Daniel was looking at Fawkes. As soon as they entered Sirius attacked Harry.
"Harry! You caught him! Thank you!"
He cried, hugging Harry tightly. Harry smiled
"Your welcome Sirius"
He said. Sirius smiled and nodded then went back to pacing.
"What's with him?"
Harry asked Daniel. Daniel grinned
"Dumbledore just informed us that some old friends of ours are on their way to Hogwarts, perfect timing huh? I owled them about Sirius as soon as we got Peter, they should be arriving in a bit."
He explained
"So why's he so nervous?"
Ginny questioned
"It's his old girlfriend"
Daniel said, turning back to Fawkes. Ginny and Harry rolled their eyes and sat side by side on Dumbledore's desk, watching Sirius pace. After only minutes they heard voices from outside. Sirius froze, the room was totally silent.
"Good thing Danny owled us, we would have been standing outside wondering the password!"
Came a woman's voice. No one replied
"My lord Cassi, your still nervous? You shouldn't be, you were gunna marry the guy! Ah, here we are!"
Sirius immediately moved. He went over by the fireplace and leaned against the wall. Daniel turned from Fawkes and Remus just grinned. Harry watched the doorknob turn and the door open.
(Thank you for reading! Next chapter up soon. Ron, Hermionie, and Harry didn't have much of a reunion, but Harry is moving fast. Next chapter is a few people from the past and the start of the war!)
"Hermionie!"
Harry yelled, leaving Ron to Lupin. He bolted out of the hall, afraid of what he might find. He skidded around the corner; Hermionie was lying motionless on the floor, blood seeping from her leg. Above her was a snake.
"Nagini?"
Harry said in a cold voice. The snake looked up
"You ssspeak sssnake?"
It asked. Harry nodded, his hood still covering his face
"What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
The snake slithered forward, moving around Hermionie
"I come with a death eater, he isss a rat. He knowsss a passage way in, yet he won't tell the dark lord how to enter."
It said, raising its head so that it was eye level with Harry. Harry's face darkened
"Wormtail"
He muttered
"Yesss"
Nagini hissed
"Yesss, that is he.who are you?"
"Where is he?"
Harry demanded. Nagini let out a low hiss that would probably be a sigh.
"He lives with a young student, in the lions den. He lives with the boy that carries a camera"
"Collin!"
Harry breathed, glancing down at Hermionie
"What did you do to her?"
He snapped
"Bit her"
Nagini replied simply
"Will it kill her?"
Harry growled, glaring at Nagini. The snake seemed to be pondering its answer
"I come to eat, you disturb. It can be treated"
Harry let out a sigh of relief. He looked sharply at Nagini
"When will the dark lord break in?"
He asked. The snake lowered its head and slithered back
"That's not for you to know"
She hissed, then she slithered away. Harry immediately dropped beside Hermionie
"Enervate"
He whispered. Hermionie groaned and opened her eyes
"Andrew!"
She cried
"A snake! A big snake! It bit me! I thoug-"
"I know"
Harry mumbled
"Don't worry"
He smiled down at her, but she wasn't looking at him, she was looking at her leg. It was bleeding freely. The bite was big and swelling. She let out a small squeak, then fainted. Harry sighed and picked her up like a baby. He sprinted back towards the hall. When he entered, everyone looked at him. Ron, who had collected himself, ran over.
"What happened?"
He asked, looking at Hermionie
"A snake bit her. Take her to Madam Pomphrey immediately. I'll see you-"
"Students!"
Dumbledore said loudly. Harry handed Hermionie to Ron and turned to leave
"And teachers"
Dumbledore added. Harry froze and turned around
"I'm sure you've all read the paper this morning. For those who haven't, it announced Harry Potter's death."
Harry heard a small whimper. Hermionie was now awake. Ginny, who was standing beside her was doing her best to look devastated. She looked angry instead. She kept glaring at Harry
"But I must tell you.that it's not true.I talked to Harry only last night, and he is doing fine."
There was a loud reaction from the crowd. Some gasped, sighed or cheered. Others didn't react at all.
"I've tried and tried to convince him to return. But he won't. He blames four peoples deaths on himself, and he believes that coming back wouldn't help him because his friends would hate him. He thinks he's bad luck."
Dumbledore chuckled
"Silly boy. I'll talk to him tonight. Maybe this article will change his mind."
Dumbledore looked at Harry, winked then turned towards he Slytherin table where Snape was. Harry sighed then ran out of the hall. He reached the portrait of the fat lady in record time.
"Utopia!"
He yelled practically dancing on the spot. The fat lady gave him a disapproving look then swung open. He ran to the sixth year boy's dormitories and slid open the door. The room was dark but Harry could just make out a small lump sitting on the far bed. Harry smiled and crept up to it. He mumbled a spell and a clear ball formed around the sleeping rat. Harry then placed another spell on it so that if Peter changed he'd only be around an inch high. Once he finished he shook the ball.
"Peter"
He said in a singsong voice. The rat stirred then opened an eye. It squeaked in horror and backed away from Harry. When he hit the other end of the ball he tried to transform. Instant little Peter.
"Hello Wormtail"
Harry spat
"Hiding here again are you?"
Peter whimpered and tried to back away. Harry laughed and headed for the doorway
"Who are you?"
Came Peter's high, terrified voice. Harry grinned and lowered his hood
"The last person you wanted to see, well besides Remus or Sirius"
Harry chuckled and pushed the portrait open. He came face to face with
"Ginny"
He breathed pulling his hood over his face
"Harry! They need you in the hospital wing! It's Hermionie, that bite, it poisoned her, she's dying!"
Harry was silent. The ball holding Peter rolled out of his hands and bounced along the floor, only stopping when it hit Ginny's feet. Harry sucked in a breath
"Who's in the hospital wing?"
He whispered
"Ron, Dumbledore, Lupin, Mcgonagall, Madam Pomphrey.oh Harry you have to help her!"
Ginny cried frantically
"She wants to see you"
Harry bowed his head
"Take the ball to that portrait beside mine. The password is Prongs. Give it to the man inside, tell him it's from me..ok?"
Ginny nodded and headed towards Sirius' room. Harry watched Sirius let her inside, then he took off towards the hospital wing. He burst through the door and ran straight to Dumbledore, ignoring Madam Pomphrey's glare.
"I can save her"
Harry whispered urgently. Dumbledore nodded
"I know"
Harry turned around; Mcgonagall was standing beside Dumbledore, looking terrified. Ron was beside Hermionie, holding her hand tightly. Remus was behind Ron, looking at Harry. Harry stepped forward and stood beside Hermionie.
"Andrew"
She chocked, smiling at him and squeezing his hand. She then turned to Ron
"I wish Harry was here"
She mumbled. Harry took a deep breath
"I am here Hermionie"
He said in is true voice. He raised his hand and lowered his hood. Hermionie and Ron both gasped slightly
"And I'll never leave again"
He smiled at her and looked down at her leg where the bite was. He placed his hand on it, gripped her hand tightly, and stared into her eyes, not blinking. A soft golden light began to glow from under his palm, and after only seconds the light faded. Harry lifted his hand. Where the bite was there was only a small scar. Hermionie had passed out and was sleeping soundly. Harry straightened up and staggered backwards. Remus, who had switched sides, caught him under the arms and sat him down. The spell had drained him. Madam Pomphrey rushed by. She muttered a spell over Hermionie and sighed
"She'll be fine"
She said, smiling. Ron began to breath again. Mcgonagall smiled, teary eyed, down at Harry. Dumbledore just grinned proudly. Harry looked up at Ron, and Ron at him. Slowly Harry stood up so that he and Ron were face to face.
"Harry"
Ron chocked
"You're alive."
Harry nodded slightly. Neither of them did anything. Then, finally, after what seemed like hours, Ron ran forward and hugged Harry.
"Oh God Harry"
He breathed, still holding tightly to his best friend.
"It's really you."
Harry nodded
"Yeah, it's really me.I'm so sorry Ron"
He mumbled. To his surprise Ron laughed
"I was only joking in the letter!"
He said, backing away from Harry
"It was strategy Harry, you git, but it doesn't matter now"
"Harry?"
Came a soft whisper. Ron and Harry spun around. Hermionie was staring at Harry, her eyes wide. Slowly, he approached her, stopping beside her bed.
"It wasn't a dream"
She whispered, looking into his eyes. Harry smiled and shook his head
"Nope, it's really me"
They stared at each other before hugging tightly. After a few seconds the door opened, it was Ginny. She smiled
"Professor Dumbledore, Professor Lupin, Harry, Sirius wants you"
Dumbledore nodded and left, Remus following closely. Ron stopped Harry
"She knew?"
He asked, surprised
"Yeah, she, err, followed me into my room my second night here.."
Ginny grinned
"Good thing too"
She said, grabbing his arm and dragging him out of the hospital wing. Once outside she hugged Harry
"I knew you'd save her"
Harry smiled and they began to walk towards Dumbledore's office
"How do you know about Sirius?"
Harry finally asked. Ginny sighed
"He explained everything to me after we met, I didn't recognize him, good thing though."
She chuckled
"I would have screamed. He's actually pretty good looking, for an old guy I mean"
Harry snorted. They walked in silence until they go to Dumbledore's office. The word Fawkes was hanging in mid air over the gargoyle.
"Fawkes"
Harry read. The words immediately disappeared and the gargoyle moved aside. Harry and Ginny went up the moving staircase and through the door. When they entered Dumbledore wasn't there and neither was Peter. Sirius was pacing in front of Dumbledore's desk. Remus was sitting calmly in the chair, laughing silently at Sirius and Daniel was looking at Fawkes. As soon as they entered Sirius attacked Harry.
"Harry! You caught him! Thank you!"
He cried, hugging Harry tightly. Harry smiled
"Your welcome Sirius"
He said. Sirius smiled and nodded then went back to pacing.
"What's with him?"
Harry asked Daniel. Daniel grinned
"Dumbledore just informed us that some old friends of ours are on their way to Hogwarts, perfect timing huh? I owled them about Sirius as soon as we got Peter, they should be arriving in a bit."
He explained
"So why's he so nervous?"
Ginny questioned
"It's his old girlfriend"
Daniel said, turning back to Fawkes. Ginny and Harry rolled their eyes and sat side by side on Dumbledore's desk, watching Sirius pace. After only minutes they heard voices from outside. Sirius froze, the room was totally silent.
"Good thing Danny owled us, we would have been standing outside wondering the password!"
Came a woman's voice. No one replied
"My lord Cassi, your still nervous? You shouldn't be, you were gunna marry the guy! Ah, here we are!"
Sirius immediately moved. He went over by the fireplace and leaned against the wall. Daniel turned from Fawkes and Remus just grinned. Harry watched the doorknob turn and the door open.
(Thank you for reading! Next chapter up soon. Ron, Hermionie, and Harry didn't have much of a reunion, but Harry is moving fast. Next chapter is a few people from the past and the start of the war!)