AN/: Sorry its been a while, but I've been a very busy chicken lol. Thanks
for all the lovely replies and reviews, they are always helpful. Hope this
new chappie satisfies you for now. Read and review PLZ!
Luv Courty
Chapter 9: Second Aid
Just as Harry went to use the Impediment Jinx, the thing responsible for the noises moved into the thin splinter of light.
Harry stepped backwards in disbelief. Hermione gasped loudly in the background. 'P-professor Argyle?' Harry stammered, lowering his wand, eyes bulging. Their eyes weren't deceiving him. It was her...
The Professor looked a lot less glamorous, though. Her hair was messy, full of leaves and twigs, her boots covered in dirt, and she was breathing heavily. In her hand, along with her wand, was Harry's Firebolt, which seemed to be intact.
Argyle looked just as surprised as she stared at Harry, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Hermione, still crouching watchfully over the unconscious Vienna.
'My god! I thought I was too late... are you all okay?' Argyle was already walking over to Vienna.
Harry's eyes narrowed, as he glanced at Hermione, who was also looking distrustfully at the teacher, now tending to Vienna.
'What... what are you doing here?' he asked slowly, advancing towards her, tightly gripping his wand. 'How did you know we were here?' It was obvious that there was no way she could have found them if she hadn't also watched Vienna drop into the forest. Something was definitely amiss.
'I, I was near the forest meeting someone...' the Professor's eyes did not meet Harry's, instead staying positioned on Vienna. 'I saw the four of you on the quidditch pitch while I was waiting, and just like you, I watched Vienna fall off her broom into the forest... So I went after her...'
Hermione was also unconvinced.
'Well what are you doing with Harry's broom?' She asked, picking up the Firebolt that had been dropped on the ground.
'I found it stuck in a tree along the way, as I came to find her.' Argyle looked up this time, her sharp blue eyes glinting. 'Now come on and help me carry Vienna, she is in a bad way.' The finality of her last words closed the chance of more questioning.
As the three struggled to lift the dead weight of Vienna's limp body, a loud crashing and yelling could be heard, coming in their direction, accompanied by an eerie light. Argyle halted, a look of alarm on her face. But Harry did not flinch. He knew who it was.
'Fang!' Hermione cried with relief, as the large brown boarhound bounded into view. It was busy licking Harry when the large form of Hagrid appeared from the darkness, holding his crossbow warily. Ron could also be seen walking close behind him, clutching a bright lantern.
'I saw the red spark. Got 'ere as soon as I could...' Hagrid's voice trailed off as he noticed the teacher. 'Fiona?' He said in surprise, looking at Argyle with a startled expression. 'What are you doing 'ere?'
The Professor ignored his question. 'Rubeus, there's no time to talk... I'll explain later. This poor girl is in trouble, we need to get her back to the hospital wing right now...'
Ron's eyes widened at the sight of Vienna.
'Gosh Harry, what happened?' he whispered, as Hagrid effortlessly lifted Vienna up and began walking back towards the school.
'She fell through the trees when she jumped...' Hermione answered quietly, walking behind Hagrid and Professor Argyle, who were leading the way. 'Something or someone was trying to take Vienna away from Hogwarts... just like Dumbledore told her...' her voice trailed off.
A look of concern was visible on Ron's face, changing to suspicion as he glanced at the scruffy appearance of Argyle.
Harry remained silent. As he walked, in one hand he tightly clutched Vienna's wand, which he had found next to her body. In the other he held his Firebolt, which was miraculously unscathed. Not that it mattered. If he could, Harry would have rather had the broom wrecked instead.
He felt sick. Was Vienna going to be okay? She had been so cold when he had reached her, like some sort of ethereal ice maiden. Now he stared with dread at Vienna's limp arms swaying rhythmically with each one of Hagrid's long strides.
After what seemed like an eternity, the small party began to reach the edge of the forest. Already the air was clearer, and the trees were gradually thinning. Even the muted light filtering in through the leaves was enough to raise even Harry's spirits.
Harry heard Ron let out a loud sigh of relief as they finally stepped out of the forest into the full light. Sinister storm clouds had begun to roll in, obscuring what was left of the sun, which was preparing to set over the lake.
Professor Argyle hurried ahead to warn Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore. Harry, Ron and Hermione burned holes into her back with their eyes as she moved into the distance.
Finally Hagrid, Vienna, Harry, Ron and Hermione reached the warmth and safety of the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had been warned, and had a bed organised. The look on the nurse's face as Vienna was laid down said it all. She was in a bad way... had they got to her in time?
*********
'I think it would be best if you all came back later...' Madam Pomfrey said firmly, an apprehensive on her face as she ushered the very reluctant Harry, Ron and Hermione out the door.
It was decided, without the need of speech, that they would go back to the Gryffindor common room if they couldn't be at the hospital wing. All three were wordless along the winding corridors, until finally Ron muttered the password to get in.
Harry looked at the clock on top of the fireplace. Five past four. They had been in the forest for only twenty minutes. The three retreated to the cosy armchairs in one corner of the room, slumping tiredly into them.
After a few minutes, Hermione at last broke the silence. 'Don't worry... she'll be okay. Madam Pomfrey hasn't lost a student yet...'
Harry stared intently into the crackling flames of the fire, nodding to avoid looking rude.
'Yeah... we'll go see her after dinner okay...' Ron added, patting Harry on the back. He stood up and stretched lazily. 'I'm going to go get cleaned up, you wanna come?' All three of them were pretty dirty, after running through the forest; Harry supposed it was a good idea.
'Yeah, alright.' He said, standing up and following Ron to the boys' showers. 'Meet you back here later Hermione.'
She was busy prying a large twig from her hair, but nodded and went in the direction of the girls' dormitories.
Having a shower ended up being a good idea. The sensation of warm, running water felt healing, washing nearly all his troubles away. Shower or no shower, Harry still felt awful, as the image of Vienna's grey shape on the hospital bed flickered before his eyes. It was his fault. She had used his broom. He had gotten angry with her over a laughable prank. Would she ever forgive him?
The awfully loud, out of tune singing that was coming from Ron's shower interrupted Harry's train of thought. How ever bad he felt, Ron could always make him smile.
Soon the three were together again at the foot of the stairs. Harry had convinced Ron and his stomach to make a small detour to the hospital wing to check on Vienna before dinner.
'Come on!' Ron said, practically dragging the others. 'The sooner we see Vienna, and you see that she's okay, the sooner I can eat.'
Hermione groaned, meeting eyes with Harry, as they neared the wing. When they reached it, Harry knocked cautiously on the door and opened it.
Madam Pomfrey was nowhere to be seen. Careful not to make a sound, they inched their way along the row of empty beds, until the shadowy form of Vienna could be seen. Her eyes were closed, as she slept quietly under the crisp white hospital sheets. Her dirty robe and clothes were folded neatly on a chair alongside the bed.
'She's asleep. Looks alright to me.' Ron said impatiently, turning to leave.
'Ron! Don't be so insensitive!' Hermione snapped.
Ron was right though. Vienna's breathing had returned to normal. Her leg was in a cast, and the large scratch on her face had almost disappeared due to the effort of the skilled nurse.
'I'm not. Vienna is obviously okay now, so let's go. I am so hungry even that stuff looks appealing!' Ron was pointing to a goblet on the table beside Vienna's bed, containing some sort of vile purple coloured liquid.
Harry shuddered. He knew what that stuff was. It had been given to him after his ordeal with Lord Voldemort to help him sleep. As he looked at Vienna's colourless, sleeping face it occurred to him just how much they had in common. She was in danger just like he had been, by the same person.
How much he just wanted her to wake up, to open her beautiful eyes, so that he could apologize, hear her voice again. He would have held her fair hand if the others hadn't been there; instead he tenderly brushed some stray hair from her face.
Hermione and Ron exchanged uneasy glances. 'Maybe we should... err... leave you two alone...' Ron said quietly, starting to back away.
'No! I mean, no its fine,' Harry said hastily, trying feebly to hide his embarrassment.
'We should probably come back later before Madam Pomfrey catches us.'
Just as the three turned to leave, the door slowly opened, revealing a nervous looking Jay Argyle. As he took sight of Harry and the others, Jay smiled warmly and walked over...
Chapter 9: Second Aid
Just as Harry went to use the Impediment Jinx, the thing responsible for the noises moved into the thin splinter of light.
Harry stepped backwards in disbelief. Hermione gasped loudly in the background. 'P-professor Argyle?' Harry stammered, lowering his wand, eyes bulging. Their eyes weren't deceiving him. It was her...
The Professor looked a lot less glamorous, though. Her hair was messy, full of leaves and twigs, her boots covered in dirt, and she was breathing heavily. In her hand, along with her wand, was Harry's Firebolt, which seemed to be intact.
Argyle looked just as surprised as she stared at Harry, her eyes widening as she took in the sight of Hermione, still crouching watchfully over the unconscious Vienna.
'My god! I thought I was too late... are you all okay?' Argyle was already walking over to Vienna.
Harry's eyes narrowed, as he glanced at Hermione, who was also looking distrustfully at the teacher, now tending to Vienna.
'What... what are you doing here?' he asked slowly, advancing towards her, tightly gripping his wand. 'How did you know we were here?' It was obvious that there was no way she could have found them if she hadn't also watched Vienna drop into the forest. Something was definitely amiss.
'I, I was near the forest meeting someone...' the Professor's eyes did not meet Harry's, instead staying positioned on Vienna. 'I saw the four of you on the quidditch pitch while I was waiting, and just like you, I watched Vienna fall off her broom into the forest... So I went after her...'
Hermione was also unconvinced.
'Well what are you doing with Harry's broom?' She asked, picking up the Firebolt that had been dropped on the ground.
'I found it stuck in a tree along the way, as I came to find her.' Argyle looked up this time, her sharp blue eyes glinting. 'Now come on and help me carry Vienna, she is in a bad way.' The finality of her last words closed the chance of more questioning.
As the three struggled to lift the dead weight of Vienna's limp body, a loud crashing and yelling could be heard, coming in their direction, accompanied by an eerie light. Argyle halted, a look of alarm on her face. But Harry did not flinch. He knew who it was.
'Fang!' Hermione cried with relief, as the large brown boarhound bounded into view. It was busy licking Harry when the large form of Hagrid appeared from the darkness, holding his crossbow warily. Ron could also be seen walking close behind him, clutching a bright lantern.
'I saw the red spark. Got 'ere as soon as I could...' Hagrid's voice trailed off as he noticed the teacher. 'Fiona?' He said in surprise, looking at Argyle with a startled expression. 'What are you doing 'ere?'
The Professor ignored his question. 'Rubeus, there's no time to talk... I'll explain later. This poor girl is in trouble, we need to get her back to the hospital wing right now...'
Ron's eyes widened at the sight of Vienna.
'Gosh Harry, what happened?' he whispered, as Hagrid effortlessly lifted Vienna up and began walking back towards the school.
'She fell through the trees when she jumped...' Hermione answered quietly, walking behind Hagrid and Professor Argyle, who were leading the way. 'Something or someone was trying to take Vienna away from Hogwarts... just like Dumbledore told her...' her voice trailed off.
A look of concern was visible on Ron's face, changing to suspicion as he glanced at the scruffy appearance of Argyle.
Harry remained silent. As he walked, in one hand he tightly clutched Vienna's wand, which he had found next to her body. In the other he held his Firebolt, which was miraculously unscathed. Not that it mattered. If he could, Harry would have rather had the broom wrecked instead.
He felt sick. Was Vienna going to be okay? She had been so cold when he had reached her, like some sort of ethereal ice maiden. Now he stared with dread at Vienna's limp arms swaying rhythmically with each one of Hagrid's long strides.
After what seemed like an eternity, the small party began to reach the edge of the forest. Already the air was clearer, and the trees were gradually thinning. Even the muted light filtering in through the leaves was enough to raise even Harry's spirits.
Harry heard Ron let out a loud sigh of relief as they finally stepped out of the forest into the full light. Sinister storm clouds had begun to roll in, obscuring what was left of the sun, which was preparing to set over the lake.
Professor Argyle hurried ahead to warn Madam Pomfrey and Dumbledore. Harry, Ron and Hermione burned holes into her back with their eyes as she moved into the distance.
Finally Hagrid, Vienna, Harry, Ron and Hermione reached the warmth and safety of the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had been warned, and had a bed organised. The look on the nurse's face as Vienna was laid down said it all. She was in a bad way... had they got to her in time?
*********
'I think it would be best if you all came back later...' Madam Pomfrey said firmly, an apprehensive on her face as she ushered the very reluctant Harry, Ron and Hermione out the door.
It was decided, without the need of speech, that they would go back to the Gryffindor common room if they couldn't be at the hospital wing. All three were wordless along the winding corridors, until finally Ron muttered the password to get in.
Harry looked at the clock on top of the fireplace. Five past four. They had been in the forest for only twenty minutes. The three retreated to the cosy armchairs in one corner of the room, slumping tiredly into them.
After a few minutes, Hermione at last broke the silence. 'Don't worry... she'll be okay. Madam Pomfrey hasn't lost a student yet...'
Harry stared intently into the crackling flames of the fire, nodding to avoid looking rude.
'Yeah... we'll go see her after dinner okay...' Ron added, patting Harry on the back. He stood up and stretched lazily. 'I'm going to go get cleaned up, you wanna come?' All three of them were pretty dirty, after running through the forest; Harry supposed it was a good idea.
'Yeah, alright.' He said, standing up and following Ron to the boys' showers. 'Meet you back here later Hermione.'
She was busy prying a large twig from her hair, but nodded and went in the direction of the girls' dormitories.
Having a shower ended up being a good idea. The sensation of warm, running water felt healing, washing nearly all his troubles away. Shower or no shower, Harry still felt awful, as the image of Vienna's grey shape on the hospital bed flickered before his eyes. It was his fault. She had used his broom. He had gotten angry with her over a laughable prank. Would she ever forgive him?
The awfully loud, out of tune singing that was coming from Ron's shower interrupted Harry's train of thought. How ever bad he felt, Ron could always make him smile.
Soon the three were together again at the foot of the stairs. Harry had convinced Ron and his stomach to make a small detour to the hospital wing to check on Vienna before dinner.
'Come on!' Ron said, practically dragging the others. 'The sooner we see Vienna, and you see that she's okay, the sooner I can eat.'
Hermione groaned, meeting eyes with Harry, as they neared the wing. When they reached it, Harry knocked cautiously on the door and opened it.
Madam Pomfrey was nowhere to be seen. Careful not to make a sound, they inched their way along the row of empty beds, until the shadowy form of Vienna could be seen. Her eyes were closed, as she slept quietly under the crisp white hospital sheets. Her dirty robe and clothes were folded neatly on a chair alongside the bed.
'She's asleep. Looks alright to me.' Ron said impatiently, turning to leave.
'Ron! Don't be so insensitive!' Hermione snapped.
Ron was right though. Vienna's breathing had returned to normal. Her leg was in a cast, and the large scratch on her face had almost disappeared due to the effort of the skilled nurse.
'I'm not. Vienna is obviously okay now, so let's go. I am so hungry even that stuff looks appealing!' Ron was pointing to a goblet on the table beside Vienna's bed, containing some sort of vile purple coloured liquid.
Harry shuddered. He knew what that stuff was. It had been given to him after his ordeal with Lord Voldemort to help him sleep. As he looked at Vienna's colourless, sleeping face it occurred to him just how much they had in common. She was in danger just like he had been, by the same person.
How much he just wanted her to wake up, to open her beautiful eyes, so that he could apologize, hear her voice again. He would have held her fair hand if the others hadn't been there; instead he tenderly brushed some stray hair from her face.
Hermione and Ron exchanged uneasy glances. 'Maybe we should... err... leave you two alone...' Ron said quietly, starting to back away.
'No! I mean, no its fine,' Harry said hastily, trying feebly to hide his embarrassment.
'We should probably come back later before Madam Pomfrey catches us.'
Just as the three turned to leave, the door slowly opened, revealing a nervous looking Jay Argyle. As he took sight of Harry and the others, Jay smiled warmly and walked over...