Chapter 7 - Helping Hands
Hermione stirred from her sleep only vaguely aware of her aching muscles and the sun that fell on her face from the grated window high above her head. It took her a minute to understand the unsettled feeling that weighed heavily on her heart. It wasn't long though before she recalled the evening before and the diary's entry that had stimulated her subconscious during her brief sleep. She shuddered involuntarily and quickly pulled herself into a sitting position. The three of them must have dozed off at some point during the night but none of them had left the comfort or the sitting room and each other's company. Harry was curled up in one of the huge wingback chairs by the fire and Ron was slouched at the other end of the couch from herself. She sat quietly with her knees drawn up to her chest and chin resting on top for a while thinking about what they had learned. She knew Harry was right to point out that they really didn't know what had happened but… There was something inside her that told her that it had happened. Her mind conjured up images of the trashed room and the petrified anamagi but it was still somehow hard to equate those with the calm strict, professional exterior of their head of house. Instead of making the whole thing less believable to her though, this just reaffirmed her belief that what had happened in that room all those nights ago had been beyond horrific. They had all commented on the difference between the Professor McGonagall that the Marauders described and their own, perhaps they had found the reason why the change seemed quite so drastic. She looked across to Ron who seemed to be waking. He had obviously forgotten where he was though as he tried to roll over only to find himself on the floor. Harry bolted upright at the crash and the look on his face was priceless. Hermione tried not to laugh, it felt wrong somehow, but she just couldn't help herself. It wasn't long before Harry snickered slightly at Ron who was still looking round trying to wake up. When he did snap out of it he grabbed a cushion off the sofa, which was now above him and threw it at his friend. She was glad for the distraction and the jollity that broke the heavy atmosphere a little.
"How about breakfast you two?" She asked hoping to avert an all out pillow fight. They boys agreed and after they had all freshened up and changed, at her insistence, they went through into the public area of the inn. It was still early and it was quiet as they shared toast and tea none having the appetite for anything more. Their attempts at conversation failed miserably and Hermione was aware of an almost physical need to go back to the journal. It was an unspoken consensus when they returned, that they settled back down in their seats and watched as Harry reopened the book. She had always held the written word above so many other things, as an aid to learning and more generally broadening ones horizons. Never once had she ever regretted reading something, never once regretted learning of something; she just hoped that wasn't about to change.
"December 18th. It must have been about six this morning when the portrait whole opened back up and Professor Dumbledore came in.
"I thought that I might find you here." He said smiling a little. I was sitting in the corner of the sofa with my arms around Lilly who had fallen into a light sleep not too long before. Sirius was sitting on the floor with his back up against the wall staring at the floor while Remus had been pacing on and off all night. He walked across and perched on the low coffee table in front of the fire. Moony and Padfoot joined us and we all looked at him expectantly. There was something different about him though, something I had never seen before. He looked drawn-out and tired as if the weight of what he knew was too much to carry. Lilly stirred in my arms as I began to think the worst.
"She's not…" Lupin beat me to it.
"No, for the moment Professor McGonagall is still alive." I could hear us all breathe a sigh of relief. "However I have come here to ask your help." This threw me I wasn't sure what on earth he was going to ask but I took a guess telling him that we hadn't told anyone and nor would we. He smiled again but it still didn't make it to his eyes.
"I don't doubt that and on Tabby's behalf I'll thank you for it but that's isn't why I'm here. At the moment we've done all we can for her but she doesn't seem willing or able to return to her human form and until she does…" We could fill in the gaps or at least I could after hearing what Madame Pomfry had said earlier. "I have little doubt that you recall during your animagus training that you learned how to help Mr Pettigrew when he became stuck in his animal state." Boy do I remember, that was one strange experience. "You," He looked at Padfoot and myself. "are at this moment the only other Animagus within a hundred miles of here. I cannot order you to help but I only ask you."
"Of course." Sirius replied before looking at me. Professor Dumbledore's gaze fell upon me as well, that searching gaze that makes you feel as if there is no point in even trying to lie to this man. I just nodded – it wasn't a hard decision to make.
Nobody said a word as we made our way to the hospital wing. I swear I could get there in sleep I've been there so often. If it isn't Moony after well… then one of Peter's spells has backfired, Sirius has fallen fowl of one of his own tricks or we've just played Slytherin at quiditch. I know that maybe it's wrong, but I shiver every time I think of them, Slytherin that is. Maybe it's because every time I do, I think of their head prefect but it's still a generalisation I'd rather not make. I see his face everywhere though, in the portraits that line the stairs and in patches of light in the shadows where something reflects what little light there is. I hear his voice in the wind that whistles round the tower and along some of the draughtier passageways. Still, I'm sure it'll pass with time along with that nauseated feeling in my stomach but if I feel like this then… Then I can only imagine what it'll be like for her.
When we reached the ward we slowed, or at least Dumbledore who was in the lead did causing both of us to in accord reduce our speed. I think he was composing himself but he has never been easy to read and that certainly hasn't changed. As the doors swung shut behind us Madame Pomfry bustled over.
"Poppy." He greeted quietly as they led us along to a room at the far end of the wing. "How is she fairing?"
"I've told you before Albus – I can't be sure but, well her blood pressures still dropping. It's low, even for a cat. I've healed what I can but she could be bleeding internally or it could be shock but…Anyway I'm glad your back she calms somewhat in your presence." He nodded. I glanced at Padfoot and he looked straight back. We didn't need words we both knew that we were pretty much the last option.
A/N: Sorry for the delay (again) I'll try and do better next time *smile* Keep reviewing please. Linz