A fan fiction by Pottergirl
Disclaimer: Everything belongs to J K Rowling and no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 12: Unexplainable
Harry hurried into the Hospital Wing with Ron. Afternoon sunlight filtered in through the large windows, falling upon the row of beds, all covered with white bedspreads. The curtains to one bed were pulled back and Madam Pomfrey was bending over it. The tall and sturdy form of Professor McGonagall stood beside her, watching anxiously.
At the sound of footsteps however, the Professor looked up and Harry saw for the first time how scared she was. He had rarely seen his Head of House so worried. She motioned them over with a slight wave of her hand and then looked back at the bed, saying nothing.
Ron and Harry approached the bed quickly.
'Where's she?' asked Ron, his voice cutting through the silence sharply. Madam Pomfrey stepped away.
'I see nothing wrong with her,' she said, looking quite puzzled to find a patient that had no visible signs of any problem.
Harry caught sight of Ginny. She lay on the bed peacefully, her hair spread out over her pillow. Her eyes were closed, her expression was calm…and it was like she was asleep…or that she was…Harry shook himself mentally, trying to speak properly.
'What happened to her?' he blurted out in shock. Professor McGonagall looked calmer now that Madam Pomfrey had said Ginny was not in apparent danger of common standards. She was frowning and she looked up at Harry.
'Miss Hart found Ginny still asleep this afternoon and she would not wake up when tried,' Professor McGonagall explained quickly. Her eyes were quite wide with anxiety.
Ron stepped forwards and sat down beside Ginny quickly before either Professor McGonagall or Madam Pomfrey could stop him. He placed his hand on his sister's arm and slightly shook her.
'Ginny, wake up,' he said as if he were waking her up from a nap. Harry felt he saw a reflection of the twelve-year-old Ron that had been told of his sister's kidnap into the Chamber of Secrets. It wasn't a good sight.
'But, surely Professor-' said Hermione, who had just arrived. 'How is it possible? She was alright yesterday night – at the Ball.'
'Yes, Miss Granger,' said the Professor. 'I know it is impossible but both Madam Pomfrey and I have checked her and we find nothing wrong.'
Harry stepped past the curtains and sat down on the other side of Ginny. Ron had been silent since his last attempt at awakening his sister.
'She is breathing,' said Ron, trying to imply nothing was wrong with Ginny.
Professor McGonagall took a deep breath.
'I know, Mr. Weasley. She is breathing and she is strangely unconscious. I am afraid only Professor Dumbledore will be able to know more about Miss Weasley's situation. Unfortunately, he is not in Hogwarts right now.'
It seemed Professor McGonagall had been saving the news of Professor Dumbledore not being in Hogwarts for the last – that she did not want to tell her students that at all. Suddenly, Hogwarts…everything felt so vulnerable. Without Dumbledore, Hogwarts felt strangely unprotected. And with the sudden predicament of Ginny, everything felt bleak.
'Where's he? Dumbledore?' asked Harry quickly, quite worried.
'He has gone on some committee matters,' said the Professor and Harry understood "committee matters" were related to the "Order of The Phoenix", the committee Dumbledore was head of, founded to fight Voldemort and his supporters.
'Oh…no…' Hermione breathed slightly, panic rising in her voice.
'Do not panic, Miss Granger. As Prefect, you are required to show more responsibility,' said Professor McGonagall, trying to inject confidence in her own voice.
'What do we do? We can't just stay here and do nothing,' said Ron suddenly. Professor McGonagall turned to him.
'I am afraid, Mr. Weasley,' she said and could not cover a small sigh which betrayed the helplessness she herself felt. 'We can only wait for Professor Dumbledore. Meanwhile, Ginny will stay here of course. You may stay with her if you wish.'
'Professor, maybe we'd be able to find something somewhere.' Hermione suggested. Ron knew she was referring to her revered place in the entire world – the library. Professor McGonagall nodded slightly.
'You may use the Restricted Section of the library…I'll write a note of permission for you,' she said quite gravely and walked off down the corridor.
Madam Pomfrey tutted quietly and went to the windows to draw the curtains which filled the Hospital Wing with sunlight.
'What's wrong with her?' Ron insisted, looking down at Ginny sadly.
'I know.'
Ron turned to Harry. 'What?' he asked quickly. Harry glanced at Ginny.
'The dream I had today…it spoke of someone who would go away…'
'What dream?' Hermione asked suddenly, surprised. And so, Harry recounted the dream he had seen that night…about the voice that spoke through the darkness. Hermione's face had gone white, her eyes wide by the time Harry finished.
'But…' she spluttered. 'It can't be true. I mean, Harry, it's only a dream.'
'Well then, what explains Ginny's state?' Harry asked, not knowing what to do.
Hermione looked at Ginny and then quickly looked back at Harry.
'If…if it is true…but I mean, it says "in a few moon"…and that's doesn't mean any time really soon. I mean…' Hermione's voice trailed off and she couldn't say anymore. Slowly, she sank down into a chair by Ron, staring at Ginny's motionless form before her.
'What do we do now?' she asked. Ron turned to Harry.
'What about the "power" mentioned in your dream, Harry?' he asked.
'I don't know what it is. When I remembered the dream this morning, I tried to think of what power it might be but I didn't have any idea. Which power "grows within"?' said Harry, thinking hard.
The sound of Professor McGonagall's footsteps cut through the silence in the Hospital Wing and drew closer. She appeared at the foot of the bed with a parchment in her hand.
'Your permission note, Miss Granger,' she said, handing the parchment to Hermione. She looked at Ginny sadly once before turning and leaving the Hospital Wing, her footsteps dying away.
A moment later, Hermione got up.
'I'll go look in the library. There has to be some way. Something…' she said quietly and hurried out of the Hospital Wing.
Harry looked back at Ginny, her face serene and expression-less. He took her hand and squeezed slightly. If only he had any idea of what to do…
The day passed very slowly. Fred and George had immediately gone to Ginny when Ron told them of her state. A gloom fell over everything for Harry, Hermione and the three Weasley brothers. The excitement and fun of Christmas was all forgotten suddenly as Ginny lay in the hospital wing, showing no signs of gaining consciousness.
Hermione was not seen much. She immediately went to the library and was determined to search for something that would give them some knowledge of Ginny's condition. Ron decided to help her and went to the library where he knew she would be.
Harry felt helpless. What would he do? What was happening? He didn't even know if Voldemort was really involved. Everything seemed so bleak. He spent some time with Ginny and then left to his dormitory. He needed some time in his bed to think.
As he sat there on his bed, the thick velvet curtains keeping out any sunlight, he gripped the Charmzirius tightly. It was frustrating. He was getting no ideas…there was no mystery involved…no sign of anything. It wasn't like Ginny's first year when the mystery of the Chamber of Secrets had been going on. He had known where Ginny was…what he would have to face.
But today, it seemed there had been no warning at all. Out of the blue, Ginny had suddenly become an immobile, unconscious figure. Harry got up quickly…thinking was getting him nowhere. He had to do something. But what? Harry finally decided to go down to library. He needed to help Ron and Hermione. It was no use, sitting there and doing nothing.
None of the three – Harry, Ron or Hermione had felt like eating much that day. Slowly, the whole of Gryffindor came to know of what had happened and silence spread in the Commonroom until there was no sound except the crackling of the fire in the grate.
As the clock struck ten, many students got up to go to bed, saying a word or two of comfort to the Fred, George and Ron. They would nod in silence. When the Commonroom was completely empty and only Fred, George, Ron, Harry and Hermione remained, Fred and George got up to go visit Ginny.
Hermione was sitting at a table surrounded by large stacks of books and for once, the books were not for her homework. Madam Pince, when she heard of Ginny, let Hermione take as many books up to the Commonroom from the Library as she wanted. Ron and Harry were sitting by the fire, bent over large, old and thick volumes. Ron was silent, saying nothing at all. Occasionally, Hermione would get up and suggest some books they could look through. She also got out Moste Potente Potions from the Restricted Section but this time that book gave them no help.
The clock struck one but three continued their search. At half past one, Professor McGonagall suddenly came into the Commonroom, followed by a subdued Fred and George.
'I think it's best all of you go up to bed now,' she said, a tone of warmness in her voice as she saw Harry, Ron and Hermione poring over the volumes of books. 'I think it's been quite enough for all of us today.'
'It's got to be here somewhere,' Ron insisted but Professor McGonagall walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
'It will be better, Mr. Weasley that you go up to bed now. It will not do for us to stay up very late.'
Ron nodded slightly and got up. Professor McGonagall went to the portrait of the Fat Lady to leave. Before exiting, she turned and said,
'Professor Dumbledore will be here tomorrow morning.' She opened her mouth as if she was about to add something more but then decided against it and left.
'Professor Dumbledore will be here tomorrow morning,' Hermione echoed and that was the only comfort any of them received that night.
~*~
Harry sat up quickly. It didn't feel as if he had slept at all. The dormitory was still dark and there was no moonlight that night. But Harry didn't think of that at all. He was quite amazed and surprised. He had had another dream. Ginny.
Ginny had been all right. She had been walking by the lake. There was nothing wrong with her at all and she had been laughing.
Harry got out of bed quickly and put on his shoes with fumbling hands. He had to get to Ginny and see if she was all right. He couldn't be in bed just then. He had to see her.
Harry took his Invisibility cloak just in case and ran down the steps, past the Commonroom and out of Gryffindor tower. The Fat Lady muttered her annoyance at being pushed so roughly that it had awoken her. But Harry didn't care. With the Invisibility cloak wrapped around him properly, he hurried down to the Hospital Wing.
The door to the Hospital Wing was closed and Harry only wished it was not locked. It wasn't and Harry pushed it open, stepping into Gryffindor tower. It was quite dark in the Hospital Wing but in the end, near Ginny's bed, several candles were lit. And Madam Pomfrey was there.
Harry almost ran to Ginny's bed, shocked, his heart skipping beats as he could only imagine what could be happening…or had happened. What was Madam Pomfrey doing? Madam Pomfrey heard Harry's footsteps and she turned around.
Harry was about to explain but he suddenly noticed that Madam Pomfrey was smiling.
'She's awake!' she exclaimed happily and Harry suddenly felt relief wash over him. Ginny was ok!
Ginny was sitting up in bed, holding a cup in her hands. She looked up when Harry appeared at the foot of her bed.
'Harry!' she squealed, her eyes alight with happiness. Harry hurried to her side, his eyes wide.
'Ginny, are you okay?' he asked quickly, quite out of breath. Ginny raised an eyebrow slightly.
'Of course I'm okay. Only, why am I here?' she said, looking at Harry with an expression of bewilderment. Harry frowned slightly and sat down beside her.
'But Ginny, don't you remember anything? What happened?' he asked her quickly, surprised at her answer.
'What?' Ginny asked. She looked from Harry to Madam Pomfrey whose smile had now become slightly faltered.
'I'll go and call the Professor,' said Madam Pomfrey practically and went off. Harry turned to Ginny.
'Ginny, did something happen last night?' he asked. Surprisingly, Ginny smiled and blushed slightly.
'There was a Ball but-'
Harry knew this was the same old Ginny.
'No, listen. You wouldn't wake up when we tried this morning. What happened? Don't you remember anything? A dream? Anything?' he tried. Ginny frowned.
'I wouldn't wake up? I guess that's why I am here. No, I don't remember anything,' she said thoughtfully. Harry covered her hand with his.
'Are you okay? Do you feel all right?' he asked, concerned. Ginny smiled.
'I'm all right really, Harry. Look, I can get up too. I don't have to be in bed,' she said and made to get up. Harry got up from the bed unsurely. Ginny easily slipped out of bed, standing on her feet like any other normal person.
'See? I'm fine but…' she said thoughtfully. 'Why wouldn't I wake up?'
Harry did not want to mention the dream he had had the previous night…about the mysterious voice. He sighed. Ginny was okay and that was good enough for the moment.
He surprised her by hugging her suddenly.
'I was so worried,' he said, wondering if this was another dream or that Ginny was really okay.
'I'm okay,' Ginny said in a low voice, feeling wonderful in Harry's embrace.
The sound of footsteps was suddenly heard and Harry quickly stepped back. Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey stepped into view and as the Professor's gaze fell on Ginny, Harry and Ginny saw her break into a smile.
The result of the arrival of Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey was that Ginny had to get back into bed while the Professor and Nurse questioned her. Harry suddenly felt everything was all right and he went back to Gryffindor tower to wake Ron. He didn't care about his dreams or why Ginny had suddenly gone unconscious and for so long; he was only content and happy that she was all right again and whatever had been happening, had ended.
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THE END
Ha! Sorry, that was a joke…a bad joke I guess. I feel this chapter was rushed and had a VERY, VERY abrupt ending. But I hope no one minded. And no, this will definitely not end here. There's lots more…that has to be converted from thoughts into writing.
I REPEAT, THIS IS NOT THE END!!! (Hehe)
Meanwhile, please review…hopefully I will be able to get the next chapter in by Sunday. If not, then a few days later. I'm going on a 13 hour-long school excursion on Saturday…and I'm so excited. When I return home in the evening, I'll sit down and write the next chapter!
Do check for updates!
Love,
Pottergirl ameerak86@hotmail.com