Chapter 9
The Storm

Ron turned just as Harry lost consciousness, and caught Harry before he hit the floor. He carried Harry over to the bed and put him on it, and then he ran from the room. Ron banged on the door to Hermione and Lily's room. Hermione opened the door and saw desperation in Ron's deep blue eyes. "Ron, what's-?" Hermione started, Lily rushed over to the door.

"Harry's passed out," Ron said, quickly. Hermione and Lily rushed passed Ron and into their room. Harry lay on the bed still unconscious. Lily grabbed Harry's hand and fell to the floor sobbing quietly. Hermione felt for a pulse, and to their great relief found one. He was still breathing.

"He's OK then?" Ron asked Hermione. She nodded. Harry's eyes opened. "Harry, how do you feel?"

"Sick," Harry muttered, trying to sit up. But Hermione pushed him back into the bed.

"Stay where you are, Harry," Hermione said, "Lily and I will go and make a potion for you." She pulled Lily to her feet and they left the room.

"You going to be alright, Harry, while I go and get some soup?" Ron asked.

"Yeah." Ron left the room. Harry lay there for a while, how long he didn't know, Ron didn't return. Hermione walked in late in the afternoon carrying a cup of purple liquid.

"Here," she said, "it's a sleeping potion."

"What time is it?" Harry asked, taking the cup from her.

"Just after five," she responded.

"Thank you," he said.

"Don't mention it," Hermione said. Harry drank down the purple liquid and felt sleepy at once. He set the glass on the night table and fell asleep. Hermione removed his glasses and left the cabin.

Harry and Ron were awakened on Wednesday by a loud bang. Harry sat up and turned on the bedside lamp. "Harry, what was that?" Ron asked, "I hope it wasn't another iceberg."

"I don't think so," Harry answered, getting up and walking over to the window. He felt much better after a long sleep. "No, it's only thunder."

"Is it going to storm?"

"It seems so."

"How are you feeling?" Ron asked him.

"Fine," Harry replied, Ron didn't look convinced. "I'm fine, really. What time is it?"

"It must be nearly six," Ron said.

"How do you know, your watch must have stopped at the sametime mine did?"

"Back to his old self," Ron muttered to himself so that Harry couldn't hear. Then more loudly he said, "Sun rises at five-thirty, and it's getting lighter outside."

"Do you think it's too early to go to breakfast?"

"Maybe." There was a knock on the door and Lily came in. She had tea and cookies for them.

After they ate they went down for breakfast, where they met up with Hermione, Fred, and George. Breakfast was held in the dinning salon. Most of the survivors had been put into empty cabins on the Carpathia. The passengers, who didn't get a private cabin, were put into the cabins of the crewmembers.

After breakfast they went back to their rooms. Harry left Ron in the cabin saying that he needed to send a message to Sirius, telling them that they were all safe. When Harry was returning he found Ron on the way to the wireless room. "I'm going to send a message to my parents, to tell them to meet us in New York," Ron said, as he passed. Harry returned to the cabin to wait for Ron.

When he returned they went up to the boat deck. It was raining and the deck was wet and slippery. "Do you know if there is some kind of shop on board?" Harry asked, he wanted a new watch; he had thrown his old one away because it had stopped working.

"I haven't seen one," Ron answered.

"There you two are!" Hermione's voice called out. Harry and Ron turned around and found her and Lily running toward them.

"We've been looking for you everywhere!"

"What do you want, Hermione?" Ron said. Just then Fred and George appeared at Harry's elbow.

"Did you tell them yet?" Fred asked.

"Tell us what?" Ron asked.

"Wait till you hear," George said, unable to keep a straight face.

"What's so funny?" asked Harry.

"They just put out a survivors list," Lily said.

"There is no Malfoy on it at all, nor Snape," Fred said, smiling. Harry and Ron looked at each other, smiles on their faces.

"Have you sent a message to Sirius yet?" Hermione asked.

"Yes," Harry replied.

"And I sent one to mom and dad, telling them to meet us in New York," Ron told his brothers.

"Speaking of New York, Harry, could I have a word with you?" Lily asked, "alone." She added looking around at the others.

Harry nodded and followed her over to the railing. "What's up?" he asked her.

"I love you, you know that," she said, he smiled. "But once we get to New York, I will never be allowed to see you again." His smiled faded and a look of desperation appeared on his handsome face. She continued, "I'm engaged. I'm in love with him; or at least I thought I was. Then you entered my life and I fell for you too, and now I'm not sure whom I love more. Our relationship must end before we get off this ship. Good-bye, Harry Potter." She kissed him, just once.

"Wait, where will you go?" Harry called after her.

"I've already packed, I transferring back to second-class."