Chapter 2: The Next Day
"Will they live?" asked Professor McGonogall, her voice tense with worry. She had spent most of the harried morning and the day before reassuring the students, that Harry and Draco would be all right. Most of the enquiries were for Harry, but the Slytherins were equally worried for their seeker. And other students, though not fond of the Slytherin, were kind enough to enquire about Draco's welfare as well.
The incident had almost given the 2 rival houses some solidarity in their grief. Both houses had put aside their usual petty insults and snide remarks, at least for this period.
"Yes, but barely."
"The headmaster may have very well have saved their lives. That spike punctured their hearts. Punctured Harry right through. They should be dead, if not for that temporary protection spell from Dumbledore." said Madam Pomfrey.
Her usual brisk, jovial voice had been replaced by a weary, tired one. She, with the assistance of Professor Snape and Dumbledore had worked all night, on a combination of healing potions, protection spells and blood restoration charms. All had thankfully worked well, and now the boys were in stable condition, though extremely weak from their ordeal.
They were lying on hospital beds next to one another. Both looking extremely pale and fragile in their light blue pajamas.
Madam Pomfrey had attached a warning charm on them earlier, in case their condition took a turn for the worse, she would be alerted immediately, along with Dumbledore and Snape, at their insistence.
Both were extremely worried. *And who could blame them?* thought Madam Pomfrey with a slight shake of her head as she tucked a coverlet over Harry and did the same for Draco.
It was mid-afternoon and the sun was creeping slowly down the horizon. An almost peaceful, serene atmosphere could be felt as the lengthening shadows moved slowly about the orange light bathing the 2 boys.
"Is he all right?" Hermione almost shouted as he burst into the hospital room suddenly, the doors thrown open in her haste.
Ron joined soon behind her. He looked as if he hadn't slept at all the previous night.
No students were allowed to visit until now. The day's classes had just finished and Hermione and Ron practically ran all the way from Herbology to the hospital.
Both had sat up all night, comforting each other. Fearing the worst for their friend.
Minerva was about to chastise her 2 students when she saw the dark circles and red rimmed eyes they both had. Her heart softened and she nodded to Madam Pomfrey.
"He'll be all right, from the looks of him." She said softly, patting Hermione on her shoulder before she stepped out of the room to give the 2 friends some time alone.
Madam Pomfrey nodded and motioned for the 2 to come nearer.
"He's still sleeping. They're both worn out and I expect he won't be waking up so soon. It takes time to heal from such a serious... accident." She added.
"You can both stay with him until the dinner bell, but try not to wake him." She finished before leaving to the storeroom with a pile of folded linen in her arms.
Ron was the first one to move closer to the bed, Hermione soon followed suit. Both were taken aback by Harry's appearance. His face was pale and gaunt; a dark shadow had settled beneath his closed lids and his chest were drawing weak ragged breaths.
He looked like broken child.
Hermione caught her bottom lip with her teeth and bit back her tears. She can't cry again. She'd been doing that; it seemed the whole of last night.
Ron unconsciously reached out for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as they stood next to each other by Harry's bed, looking down at him.
"He'll be all right, you heard what Pomfrey said. That's the most important thing. We didn't lose him, Hermione." Ron told Hermione and it seemed, himself too.
Hermione nodded and gave Ron a small weak smile.
"He'll be up and about in no time at all, you'll see." Ron said again. As he looked at his best friend's white face, the fear and worry closed over his heart like a cold fist.
*No, I have to be strong, for Hermione.* He shook himself and squeezed her hand again.
Hermione let out a sigh as her eyes welled up with tears she can't control. "You're right, Ron. I'm just so relieved, that's all."
"I know, Hermione. I know." He pulled her in close and she rested her head on his shoulder before giving in to her tears fully.
"Will they live?" asked Professor McGonogall, her voice tense with worry. She had spent most of the harried morning and the day before reassuring the students, that Harry and Draco would be all right. Most of the enquiries were for Harry, but the Slytherins were equally worried for their seeker. And other students, though not fond of the Slytherin, were kind enough to enquire about Draco's welfare as well.
The incident had almost given the 2 rival houses some solidarity in their grief. Both houses had put aside their usual petty insults and snide remarks, at least for this period.
"Yes, but barely."
"The headmaster may have very well have saved their lives. That spike punctured their hearts. Punctured Harry right through. They should be dead, if not for that temporary protection spell from Dumbledore." said Madam Pomfrey.
Her usual brisk, jovial voice had been replaced by a weary, tired one. She, with the assistance of Professor Snape and Dumbledore had worked all night, on a combination of healing potions, protection spells and blood restoration charms. All had thankfully worked well, and now the boys were in stable condition, though extremely weak from their ordeal.
They were lying on hospital beds next to one another. Both looking extremely pale and fragile in their light blue pajamas.
Madam Pomfrey had attached a warning charm on them earlier, in case their condition took a turn for the worse, she would be alerted immediately, along with Dumbledore and Snape, at their insistence.
Both were extremely worried. *And who could blame them?* thought Madam Pomfrey with a slight shake of her head as she tucked a coverlet over Harry and did the same for Draco.
It was mid-afternoon and the sun was creeping slowly down the horizon. An almost peaceful, serene atmosphere could be felt as the lengthening shadows moved slowly about the orange light bathing the 2 boys.
"Is he all right?" Hermione almost shouted as he burst into the hospital room suddenly, the doors thrown open in her haste.
Ron joined soon behind her. He looked as if he hadn't slept at all the previous night.
No students were allowed to visit until now. The day's classes had just finished and Hermione and Ron practically ran all the way from Herbology to the hospital.
Both had sat up all night, comforting each other. Fearing the worst for their friend.
Minerva was about to chastise her 2 students when she saw the dark circles and red rimmed eyes they both had. Her heart softened and she nodded to Madam Pomfrey.
"He'll be all right, from the looks of him." She said softly, patting Hermione on her shoulder before she stepped out of the room to give the 2 friends some time alone.
Madam Pomfrey nodded and motioned for the 2 to come nearer.
"He's still sleeping. They're both worn out and I expect he won't be waking up so soon. It takes time to heal from such a serious... accident." She added.
"You can both stay with him until the dinner bell, but try not to wake him." She finished before leaving to the storeroom with a pile of folded linen in her arms.
Ron was the first one to move closer to the bed, Hermione soon followed suit. Both were taken aback by Harry's appearance. His face was pale and gaunt; a dark shadow had settled beneath his closed lids and his chest were drawing weak ragged breaths.
He looked like broken child.
Hermione caught her bottom lip with her teeth and bit back her tears. She can't cry again. She'd been doing that; it seemed the whole of last night.
Ron unconsciously reached out for her hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze as they stood next to each other by Harry's bed, looking down at him.
"He'll be all right, you heard what Pomfrey said. That's the most important thing. We didn't lose him, Hermione." Ron told Hermione and it seemed, himself too.
Hermione nodded and gave Ron a small weak smile.
"He'll be up and about in no time at all, you'll see." Ron said again. As he looked at his best friend's white face, the fear and worry closed over his heart like a cold fist.
*No, I have to be strong, for Hermione.* He shook himself and squeezed her hand again.
Hermione let out a sigh as her eyes welled up with tears she can't control. "You're right, Ron. I'm just so relieved, that's all."
"I know, Hermione. I know." He pulled her in close and she rested her head on his shoulder before giving in to her tears fully.
