Begin Chapter Twelve

Chapter Twelve: The Recovery and the BIG Surprise

  "She's not dead Potter. But she's barely alive. We're lucky that Hagrid was in Hogsmeade buying sweets for Madame Maxine. He found her lying by the Shrieking Shack. Do you have any idea at all why Ava would be in Hogsmeade, by the Shrieking Shack no less." Harry shook his head, trying to breathe again. "We also found this in her pocket," McGonagall said picking up a small object on the stand next to the bed. It was a small square object. "It's her trunk. She shrunk it and carried it in her pocket. So smart, yet so foolish," she said her eyes oddly bright. "I'll let you have a moment with her." She pulled the curtains back around the bed. Harry, still stunned, sat down slowly next to the bed. He took Ava's hands with his and tears filled his eyes. They were ice cold. He leaned his head on her chest, trying to feel a heartbeat. He felt a faint, weak thumping in her chest.

"Ava, what were you thinking," he whispered. Ava didn't move or make any acknowledgement that she knew he was with her. He kissed her hands, trying to give them some warmth. But it wasn't working. Then he thought of something. "Professor McGonagall!" He heard the door opening and then the curtain flew open.

"What Potter? Is there something wrong?" McGonagall held her hand to her throat and she seemed scared. Harry felt terrible for calling her like that. She must've thought that Ava took a turn for the worst.

"I'm sorry, Professor McGonagall. Nothing's wrong." She let out a whoosh of air when he said this. "I just wanted to know what happened to Ava. Do you know what has made her like this?" McGonagall looked very grim.

"Potter, there are the Unforgivable Curses that you know of. What you don't know is that there are Dark incantations and curses that are as old as this school. They are rarely ever used, and the one who uses them has to be a very powerful Dark Wizard or Witch. The only other wizards who know it are Aurors. Sirius has been here and has told me of her condition. She seems to have been put under an enchanted sleep. It is the oldest and most primitive form of the Cruciatus Curse that we know of, the Caracorpsia Curse. She will have terrible dreams of her worst and darkest fears, while enduring the pain of the Cruciatus Curse. This is the worst torture that any wizard can endure. It seems she's been under it for a couple of hours. If we had found her any later, she would be…"

Harry closed his eyes. "Don't. I get the idea." McGonagall sniffed and pulled out a handkerchief. Her voice quivered a bit as she spoke to Harry.

"Potter, you need not worry about her. We have Madame Pomfrey and Professor Sprout making her a Draught of the Living. She'll live, but what she has to endure right now cannot be stopped until the Draught is ready. We cannot ease her suffering."

"When will it be done?" Harry was panicked. Especially since at that moment, Ava's body started to convulse rapidly. Her back arched and she let out a blood-curdling scream. Her eyes were shut tight but tears still managed to leak out of the sides. McGonagall cried out and ran to the bed to grab Ava. Harry couldn't stop the flood of tears that came out of his eyes.

"Stop this! Make it stop! Please!" Harry was yelling at McGonagall and pulling at his hair in sheer panic. But after a few moments, her body fell back onto the bed with a sickening thump. McGonagall's eyes were spilling over as well.

  "Dumbledore is on his way. He was at the Ministry today on important business and now this…" her voice trailed off. She dabbed at her eyes. "Poor child."

They heard the door burst open and heard Dumbledore's voice, not cheerful as was usual, but booming and angry.

"How did this happen Minerva? I want to know how someone got to her." He almost tore off the curtain, he opened it with such force. His eyes were absolutely burning with fury. McGonagall got up slowly.

"I will tell you in private. Let Harry and his friends spend some time with her." Dumbledore nodded. Harry heard Ron and Hermione come in. When they came to the bed and saw Ava, they reacted as Harry did. Hermione gasped loudly and started to cry. Ron, not a person to show his emotions, became stone faced. Harry quietly told them what had happened. Yet again, the door opened, but this time, Madame Pomfrey came bustling in. She was carrying a tray with a goblet that was smoking slightly. Madame Pomfrey promptly put it on the desk next to Ava's bed.

"Owing to the nature of this situation, I will allow you all to stay in here for the night. Dumbledore's orders," she said bristling slightly. She pulled Ava upright with a spell and she picked up the goblet. She put the smoking goblet to Ava's lips and soon the goblet was drained. Harry noticed that some of the flush came back into Ava's cheeks but she didn't stir.

"Will she wake?" Hermione said through her fingers, which were over her mouth.

"Yes, but not right away. You can't expect her to wake so quickly after what she's been through. But the draught is our strongest ever and it has phoenix tears so I daresay she'll be up by tomorrow . Or possibly even in a few hours. Now, you all need to be off to your Common Room to shower, change, and get a decent breakfast down at the Great Hall. Then you can come back. Those were also Dumbledore's orders," she said curtly when she noticed that Harry, Ron and, Hermione were all not budging. They started to move reluctantly, trudging toward the door. They all headed to the Common Room, where Ron had to help Harry go through the motions when he noticed that Harry's clothes were backwards. They got ready rather quickly and hurried down to the Great Hall and bolted down their breakfast. Harry noticed, much to his anger, that Malfoy looked rather smug. But he paid it no mind. He'd get him later. They ran back to the Hospital Wing, which was brighter, now that the curtains were pulled back to let in the morning light. The light shone directly on Ava and Harry noticed, much to his relief, her color was back. He walked up quickly and put his head on her chest. Her heartbeat was much stronger now, but her hands were still clammy. Her eyes were also beginning to flutter underneath their lids, which meant she was going to come around. Harry sighed, relief washing over him. Hermione and Ron both thought that maybe Harry would want to be alone, so they silently slipped out of the room. Harry looked at Ava's chest and he could see it start rising and falling, slowly, but still an improvement from her previous condition. Harry felt so tired, having been woken up from that strange dream. It was only mid-morning, he argued with himself. He tried to fight it when he remembered Madame Pomfrey saying that Ava wouldn't wake till tomorrow. He leaned his head on Ava's bed, giving into his exhaustion, and soon fell asleep, dropping his glasses on the nightstand.

**Night Time**

Harry awoke and looked around. Everything was blurred so he grabbed his glasses off of the little table by Ava's bed. As his vision cleared, he noticed it was dark out. He was shocked when he realized how long he had slept. He got up to go tell Madame Pomfrey that he was going to leave when he noticed the curtains were pulled around the bed. Strange, he thought. As he reached to pull them back and leave, he heard someone come in. Harry didn't know why, but he just felt like maybe he should stay where he was. He silently sat back in the chair. He heard a delicate knocking on Madame Pomfrey's office door. He then heard a creak and Madame Pomfrey's voice.

"Priscilla? What's wrong dear?" Harry wondered why Professor Dean would be in the Hospital Wing.

"Poppy, I…" her voice faltered, very unlike Professor Dean, Harry thought. She sounded uncertain. "Well, I spent time with a certain man and I think I'm…" she cut herself off quickly. Harry felt he shouldn't be hearing this but he felt compelled to. He heard Madame Pomfrey tutting.

"Tsk tsk. Dear you are far too young to be in that condition. But very well, let's get you checked."

"Is there anyone else here?" Professor Dean sounded so scared that Harry felt sorry for her.

"My dear, only Ava Richardson and Potter, who won't leave her side. They are both sound asleep, I assure you." He heard Professor Dean breathe a sigh of relief. There was a long, deafening silence save for the occasional clank of something Harry didn't want to think of at the moment. Then the silence was broken.

"Priscilla, you are indeed pregnant." Harry's jaw dropped and he had to keep himself from yelling out in surprise. "Only a couple of days along m'dear. May I ask whom this mystery man is?"

"Percy Weasley," Professor Dean said. Was Harry going mad, or did it sound like she was smiling?

"Well, child congratulations. Now just figure out how you are going to hide it from your uncle." He heard a gasp.

"Oh no! Uncle Severus! He'll be so angry."

"What about your parents?"

"Dead," Professor Dean said flatly. "Uncle Severus raised me. What will I do Poppy?" She sounded so terrified now.

"Well. I can fashion you robes equipped with a Concealing Charm. But after a while, even the Concealing Charm won't be able to hide your condition. Sooner or later, you will have to tell your uncle and Mr.Weasley. Now off with you, love. You need time to figure this out. Now all I can suggest to you for the sickness is gillywater and rest." Harry heard Professor Dean walk out slowly and close the door. Madame Pomfrey walked back into her office muttering something about the "uproar" this was going to cause. She sounded slightly amused. Harry knew what this meant… Ron was going to be an uncle.

End Chapter Twelve