Title: Deadly Love
Written by: oopsiesgrl
Rating: PG - Parental Guidance recommended (some swearing)
Chapter Three: A Deadly Ride
--------------------------------------------------
Harry, Ron, and Hermione occupied one of the carriages in the back. With so many troubles around them, the three were silent. As the carriage glided peacefully towards the castle, Harry looked out the window.
Under the starry night, nothing seemed to be wrong. The tall trees lining the narrow road swayed gently in the breeze. A river was trickling somewhere nearby. Several birds were singing in their special tunes. A cricket chirped loudly into the night. The different sounds came together into a harmonious concerto.
Suddenly the calmness was put to an end. The carriage the three rode in swerved sharply to the right.
"Ahh!" Hermione screamed.
"What's going on?" Ron yelled.
"How do we stop this damn thing?" Harry called out urgently.
The carriage was completely out of control. It had driven off the edge of the road and was rolling violently down the hill. It crashed into tree after tree, but the trees did not stop it from moving. Harry could see now where the trickling of the river came from. The river was several meters below them, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were heading straight toward it. The carriage was moving faster by the second.
"Hermione! Don't you know a spell or something?" yelled Ron.
"I don't know! I don't know!" Hermione cried. "Oh wait! Harry, the door! Try the door!"
"The door!" Harry tried the handle and pushed hard against the carriage door, but it did not budge.
"Try again!" Ron said.
Harry tried harder this time, but the door stayed put. He tried several more times. His efforts were of no use.
"What do we do now?" he yelled urgently.
"I don't know!" cried Hermione.
Harry thought for a moment and then took out his wand. "Alohomora!" he yelled, but the spell didn't work. They were now only three meters from the river.
"Damn it!" yelled Ron angrily. He balled up his fist, and with all his strength, hit the glass window. The glass shatter, but the hole wasn't big enough. Ron made the move to hit again.
"Ron!" Hermione cried. "What are you doing?"
"This is our only way out!"
Before Ron hit the glass again, Harry striked with his own hands.
"Harry!" Ron and Hermione both yelled. They tried to hold his arms down, but he broke away from their grip and beat the window continuously. Soon, the window was almost completely shattered. Harry pushed at it one last time with his bloody hands. With the window gone, they could escape.
"Hermione, you first!" Harry yelled.
"But! What about you guys?"
"Just go! We're coming right behind you!"
Hermione hesitated a moment, and then scrambled out. She fell down roughly on the other side.
"Ron, you next!"
"Harry, no! You first!"
"We don't have time! Just go!"
"Harry -"
"Go, damn it!"
Ron looked at his best friend, and then climbed quickly out the window. As soon as he was out of the carriage, he heard a loud splash. The carriage had driven into the river.
"Harry!" Hermione came slipping and sliding down the muddy bank.
"Harry!" Ron called, getting to his feet. "Harry!"
********
The carriage had finally stopped, but it was already completely under water. Harry could hear the muted voices of his friends. He tried to call back, but as soon as he opened his mouth, water streamed down his throat. He could hardly see anything around him. It was all blurry, and his eyes stung from the water. Harry could feel his glasses sliding off. He adjusted them, and groped for the window. His hands stung like hell, but that was far from his mind right then.
"Air... air..." Harry thought desperately.
His hands felt the edges of the window, and he pulled himself out. He could feel a piece of glass cut into his back. Harry felt the immense pain, but didn't care. Finally, he was completely out of the carriage. He kicked hard against the side of the carriage and swam toward the surface. The river wasn't very deep and the currents not strong, but it took all of Harry's strength to make his way out. Feeling the river get shallower, he waded the rest of the way towards the bank. As soon as he made it, he crumpled down and fainted.
********
Half an hour later, Harry opened his eyes slightly. Someone had removed his glasses. Everything was blurry, but Harry could make out several beds and the tall ceiling above him. His own bed was very comfortable and the covers soft. He knew he was in the infirmary at Hogwarts. Around his bed, six pairs of eyes were looking at him with concern. The twinkling blue ones that currently showed a mix of worry and anger belonged to Professor Dumbledore. Beside him, Professor McGonagall's usually strict eyes were filled with tears. Harry didn't know the woman next to McGonagall. She seemed to be in her mid-thirties and had bright hazel eyes with long, straight blonde hair. At the end of the bed stood Madame Pomfrey, the school nurse, her gray hair askew and her robe wrinkled. On Harry's other side were Hermione and Ron in their pajamas. Tears were streaming down Hermione's face and Ron's eyes were filled with worry.
Harry reached for his glasses, but his hands were heavily bandages and his fingers could not move. He groaned quietly, feeling the stinging pain all over his body, especially his hands.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered softly. "Harry? Are you alright?"
His hands hurt so badly he could hardly feel them. Also, a searing pain went down his back.
"What happened?" asked Harry through clenched teeth.
"The carriage..." started Ron.
Suddenly, everything came flooding back - turning off the road, crashing down the hill, breaking the window, and splashing into the river.
"Hello, Harry," the stranger said kindly. "I'm Professor Fitz. How are you feeling?"
"Nice to meet you, professor. I'm okay. My hands... How did I get here?" Harry felt stupid asking this, but he wanted to know.
"Several students heard your screaming," explained Dumbledore. "As soon as they arrived at the castle, they ran to us and told us something had happened to the three of you."
"And we hurried over immediately," continued Professor Fitz. "You had just fainted when we came. You should have seen Ron and Hermione. They were worried to death about you!"
Harry gave all of them a grateful look and said, "Thank you."
"Harry," McGonagall asked, "do you need anything?"
"No, thank you, professor."
"Would... would you feel safer with someone protecting you?"
"Professor!" Harry sat up suddenly, ignoring his pain. "I don't... Someone protecting me? I don't... I don't need anyone!"
"Calm down, Harry," assured McGonagall. "It's for your own safety."
"No!" argued Harry. "I don't need it. I can take care of myself. Having someone watching me all the time will make me feel worse about everything."
"But, Harry, after what happened today -"
"Minerva," Dumbledore said to her, "if Harry doesn't think he needs any extra protection, don't pressure him. He has enough to worry about."
"Albus, a Death Eater or some other lunatic made it so near Hogwarts today. We should be more cautious when it concerns Harry. After all, You-Know-Who -"
"Professor McGonagall," Fitz said to her colleague, "I believe Harry is able to handle things by himself. Besides, he already has the protection of all the teachers and his friends."
McGonagall hesitated for a while, but agreed, "Oh, alright."
Harry smiled gratefully at Professor Fitz and Dumbledore. He relaxed and lied back down. Having a "bodyguard" is something he really didn't want. How would he lead a normal life with someone following him all the time?
"Now, the children need their rest," said Madame Pomfrey to the professors. "They've already been through enough today." She shooed the teachers away.
"All three of you showed great bravery today," Dumbledore turned back and said to Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. He winked at them, and left the room. When they were all out the door, Madame Pomfrey came back to her patients.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" she asked.
"A little better. My hands and back still hurt."
"I've already put some healing potion on your cuts. They were quite deep. But you should have your hands back to normal in a day or two. They will hurt some at first though. How is your hand, Ron?"
"It's better."
"Good." Now, get to rest. You've all been through so much today." She made sure Ron and Hermione were in bed. Then, she turned off the lights and left the room.
In the dark, Hermione said, "Thank you, both of you."
"For what?"
"If it wasn't for you guys, we would have..."
After a minute of silence, Harry asked, "What happened to the feast and the first years' sorting?"
"I heard the feast was cancelled for tonight," answered Hermione. "They might make it tomorrow night if nothing else happens. All the students were sent to bed directly. The first years were sorted, but they didn't get a ceremony."
"Yeah. And I think the teachers are patrolling the hallways tonight," said Ron.
"This feels just like two years ago. Remember when Sirius escaped from Azkaban and was thought to be after me?" reflected Harry. During Harry's third year, Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, escaped from the wizard prison and was after someone at Hogwarts, but not Harry. He was put in prison in the first place because of a mistake. However, the air was tense at Hogwarts among the students and teachers, and the same condition was coming back this year.
The three were silent for a while. Then, Harry said quietly, "I wonder who cursed our carriage." He barely moved his lips when saying this, but Ron and Hermione heard him clearly, and were thinking the exact same thing.
Written by: oopsiesgrl
Rating: PG - Parental Guidance recommended (some swearing)
Chapter Three: A Deadly Ride
--------------------------------------------------
Harry, Ron, and Hermione occupied one of the carriages in the back. With so many troubles around them, the three were silent. As the carriage glided peacefully towards the castle, Harry looked out the window.
Under the starry night, nothing seemed to be wrong. The tall trees lining the narrow road swayed gently in the breeze. A river was trickling somewhere nearby. Several birds were singing in their special tunes. A cricket chirped loudly into the night. The different sounds came together into a harmonious concerto.
Suddenly the calmness was put to an end. The carriage the three rode in swerved sharply to the right.
"Ahh!" Hermione screamed.
"What's going on?" Ron yelled.
"How do we stop this damn thing?" Harry called out urgently.
The carriage was completely out of control. It had driven off the edge of the road and was rolling violently down the hill. It crashed into tree after tree, but the trees did not stop it from moving. Harry could see now where the trickling of the river came from. The river was several meters below them, and Harry, Ron, and Hermione were heading straight toward it. The carriage was moving faster by the second.
"Hermione! Don't you know a spell or something?" yelled Ron.
"I don't know! I don't know!" Hermione cried. "Oh wait! Harry, the door! Try the door!"
"The door!" Harry tried the handle and pushed hard against the carriage door, but it did not budge.
"Try again!" Ron said.
Harry tried harder this time, but the door stayed put. He tried several more times. His efforts were of no use.
"What do we do now?" he yelled urgently.
"I don't know!" cried Hermione.
Harry thought for a moment and then took out his wand. "Alohomora!" he yelled, but the spell didn't work. They were now only three meters from the river.
"Damn it!" yelled Ron angrily. He balled up his fist, and with all his strength, hit the glass window. The glass shatter, but the hole wasn't big enough. Ron made the move to hit again.
"Ron!" Hermione cried. "What are you doing?"
"This is our only way out!"
Before Ron hit the glass again, Harry striked with his own hands.
"Harry!" Ron and Hermione both yelled. They tried to hold his arms down, but he broke away from their grip and beat the window continuously. Soon, the window was almost completely shattered. Harry pushed at it one last time with his bloody hands. With the window gone, they could escape.
"Hermione, you first!" Harry yelled.
"But! What about you guys?"
"Just go! We're coming right behind you!"
Hermione hesitated a moment, and then scrambled out. She fell down roughly on the other side.
"Ron, you next!"
"Harry, no! You first!"
"We don't have time! Just go!"
"Harry -"
"Go, damn it!"
Ron looked at his best friend, and then climbed quickly out the window. As soon as he was out of the carriage, he heard a loud splash. The carriage had driven into the river.
"Harry!" Hermione came slipping and sliding down the muddy bank.
"Harry!" Ron called, getting to his feet. "Harry!"
********
The carriage had finally stopped, but it was already completely under water. Harry could hear the muted voices of his friends. He tried to call back, but as soon as he opened his mouth, water streamed down his throat. He could hardly see anything around him. It was all blurry, and his eyes stung from the water. Harry could feel his glasses sliding off. He adjusted them, and groped for the window. His hands stung like hell, but that was far from his mind right then.
"Air... air..." Harry thought desperately.
His hands felt the edges of the window, and he pulled himself out. He could feel a piece of glass cut into his back. Harry felt the immense pain, but didn't care. Finally, he was completely out of the carriage. He kicked hard against the side of the carriage and swam toward the surface. The river wasn't very deep and the currents not strong, but it took all of Harry's strength to make his way out. Feeling the river get shallower, he waded the rest of the way towards the bank. As soon as he made it, he crumpled down and fainted.
********
Half an hour later, Harry opened his eyes slightly. Someone had removed his glasses. Everything was blurry, but Harry could make out several beds and the tall ceiling above him. His own bed was very comfortable and the covers soft. He knew he was in the infirmary at Hogwarts. Around his bed, six pairs of eyes were looking at him with concern. The twinkling blue ones that currently showed a mix of worry and anger belonged to Professor Dumbledore. Beside him, Professor McGonagall's usually strict eyes were filled with tears. Harry didn't know the woman next to McGonagall. She seemed to be in her mid-thirties and had bright hazel eyes with long, straight blonde hair. At the end of the bed stood Madame Pomfrey, the school nurse, her gray hair askew and her robe wrinkled. On Harry's other side were Hermione and Ron in their pajamas. Tears were streaming down Hermione's face and Ron's eyes were filled with worry.
Harry reached for his glasses, but his hands were heavily bandages and his fingers could not move. He groaned quietly, feeling the stinging pain all over his body, especially his hands.
"Harry?" Hermione whispered softly. "Harry? Are you alright?"
His hands hurt so badly he could hardly feel them. Also, a searing pain went down his back.
"What happened?" asked Harry through clenched teeth.
"The carriage..." started Ron.
Suddenly, everything came flooding back - turning off the road, crashing down the hill, breaking the window, and splashing into the river.
"Hello, Harry," the stranger said kindly. "I'm Professor Fitz. How are you feeling?"
"Nice to meet you, professor. I'm okay. My hands... How did I get here?" Harry felt stupid asking this, but he wanted to know.
"Several students heard your screaming," explained Dumbledore. "As soon as they arrived at the castle, they ran to us and told us something had happened to the three of you."
"And we hurried over immediately," continued Professor Fitz. "You had just fainted when we came. You should have seen Ron and Hermione. They were worried to death about you!"
Harry gave all of them a grateful look and said, "Thank you."
"Harry," McGonagall asked, "do you need anything?"
"No, thank you, professor."
"Would... would you feel safer with someone protecting you?"
"Professor!" Harry sat up suddenly, ignoring his pain. "I don't... Someone protecting me? I don't... I don't need anyone!"
"Calm down, Harry," assured McGonagall. "It's for your own safety."
"No!" argued Harry. "I don't need it. I can take care of myself. Having someone watching me all the time will make me feel worse about everything."
"But, Harry, after what happened today -"
"Minerva," Dumbledore said to her, "if Harry doesn't think he needs any extra protection, don't pressure him. He has enough to worry about."
"Albus, a Death Eater or some other lunatic made it so near Hogwarts today. We should be more cautious when it concerns Harry. After all, You-Know-Who -"
"Professor McGonagall," Fitz said to her colleague, "I believe Harry is able to handle things by himself. Besides, he already has the protection of all the teachers and his friends."
McGonagall hesitated for a while, but agreed, "Oh, alright."
Harry smiled gratefully at Professor Fitz and Dumbledore. He relaxed and lied back down. Having a "bodyguard" is something he really didn't want. How would he lead a normal life with someone following him all the time?
"Now, the children need their rest," said Madame Pomfrey to the professors. "They've already been through enough today." She shooed the teachers away.
"All three of you showed great bravery today," Dumbledore turned back and said to Harry, Ron, and Hermoine. He winked at them, and left the room. When they were all out the door, Madame Pomfrey came back to her patients.
"How are you feeling, Harry?" she asked.
"A little better. My hands and back still hurt."
"I've already put some healing potion on your cuts. They were quite deep. But you should have your hands back to normal in a day or two. They will hurt some at first though. How is your hand, Ron?"
"It's better."
"Good." Now, get to rest. You've all been through so much today." She made sure Ron and Hermione were in bed. Then, she turned off the lights and left the room.
In the dark, Hermione said, "Thank you, both of you."
"For what?"
"If it wasn't for you guys, we would have..."
After a minute of silence, Harry asked, "What happened to the feast and the first years' sorting?"
"I heard the feast was cancelled for tonight," answered Hermione. "They might make it tomorrow night if nothing else happens. All the students were sent to bed directly. The first years were sorted, but they didn't get a ceremony."
"Yeah. And I think the teachers are patrolling the hallways tonight," said Ron.
"This feels just like two years ago. Remember when Sirius escaped from Azkaban and was thought to be after me?" reflected Harry. During Harry's third year, Sirius Black, Harry's godfather, escaped from the wizard prison and was after someone at Hogwarts, but not Harry. He was put in prison in the first place because of a mistake. However, the air was tense at Hogwarts among the students and teachers, and the same condition was coming back this year.
The three were silent for a while. Then, Harry said quietly, "I wonder who cursed our carriage." He barely moved his lips when saying this, but Ron and Hermione heard him clearly, and were thinking the exact same thing.
