Title: Reflections in the Dark

Chapter: 2

Notes: Sorry it took me so long to finish this new chapter. I've been busy and actually the story is going to be slightly different from what I had intended it to be. Sorry that this chapter is so short. Thanks for all your reviews, it really kept me at this one. I hope to get the next chapter out soon. Enjoy.

"Potter, you spend too much time in here," clucked Madame Pomfrey. Harry winched as she fingered his newly broken arm.

"Here," she said as she poured a whitish liquid on a spoon. Harry swallowed it almost gagging, but the arm was starting to grow warmer as the bone began to nit.

"You stay here, Potter. Do not move, do you hear me?" she ordered before sweeping towards her office. Stupid Malfoy had pushed him off his broom during practice, Harry let out a low curse. He felt like kicking himself for not watching his back. Stupid Slytherins had interrupted the Gryffindor's practice, which resulted in an unofficial match. Being fierce revivals, both teams agreed. Sunlight streamed through large windows as Harry laid back in the fluffy bed. The room was empty except for one bed that was covered with curtains. Last year a 6th year Hufflepuff ( who should've known better) had accidentally turned himself into a bat. Cases such as that usually got put behind the curtains. A few years before Hermione had been put behind one when her polyjuice potion had gone wrong and she had spent the week getting rid of her cat fur and hacking up hairballs. Hours crawled by and Harry became even more restless.

"Potter, you may go," Madam Pomfrey stated from her office. Harry jumped to his feet and started towards the door. Dumbledore was there.

"Hello, Professor," he said as he scooted past. Albus gave him a smile and greeted the young man.

"Broke his arm," Pomfrey explained.

"Ahh, I see. Poor boy, though from what I've heard, Gryffindor should have an excellent season this year," he said with a smile. Pomfrey simply shook her finger at him. "You aren't supposed to choose favorites," she scolded.

"Old habits die hard," he stated then grew serious.

"How's our other patient?" he asked. Pomfrey clucked disapprovingly and shook her head.

"HE snuck out last night, you know that, don't you?" she stated with his arms crossed.

"Well aware of it," the headmaster said with a nod.

"The bruises are starting to disappear. His broken wrist didn't take long to heal at all, but the rest will have to take time, " she said with a sigh.

"The boy is so thin, like a walking skeleton," she said shaking her head. Dumbledore stroked his beard for a moment.

"Well, time heals most wounds and I'm sure our house-elves will succeed in the boy gaining weight," Albus murmured as he glanced over at the curtained bed.

"Albus, he can't stay here! You must know that! What of the other students? If his family finds out. the Ministry would close this school in an instant!" Madame Pomfrey argued. Dumbledore looked down at her over his crescent shaped glasses.

"You expect me to tell him to go back?" Madame Pomfrey flew up her hands in defeat.

"There's no talking with you, Albus. It was bad having poor Remus here as a student, but now you risk this school with this boy."

"There's no chance that this boy is going to turn into a werewolf, Poppy. The boy made it through the Dark Forest, at least we can do is provide him a safe haven till we get this all worked out. We will find a way to keep him safe," he said nodding curtly as if deciding it for himself. And with that Dumbledore walked over to the bed and quietly pulled back the curtain. The lad was curled up fast asleep. One arm was flung over his face. His bandaged wrist was resting comfortably on his chest. His dark honey colored hair, newly cleaned and free from mats and tangles, spread out on the pillow like a halo. The nightshirt the boy wore nearly swallowed him, showed just how painfully thin he was. Albus shook his head over the sight and let the curtain fall back in place. "Send word when he awakes," he told Poppy as he walked out of the infirmary. There was a lot yet to do.

'Alright, so there's that potion report on wolfsbane due tomorrow, I should revise that again. Oh and transfiguration homework due Tuesday. I guess I should help the boys with their work again. I swear sometimes.' Hermione thought as she walked down the hall towards her History of Magic class. Ron and Harry chattered beside her about the last quiditch match of Ravenclaw vs Hufflepuff.

"Heard anymore voices yet, Hermione?" Hermione stiffened and spun around to see a set of identical faces grinning at her.

"YOU TOLD THEM?!" Hermione screeched at Ron. Students in the hallways stopped in their tracks to view the scene. When realizing this, Hermione's cheeks burned with embarrassment. The twins, in the meantime, were doubled over laughing. Great, just great now everyone was thinking she had gone mental.

"Someone was there! I don't see why it's so hard to believe! I mean, Harry heard voices!" she gestured over at Harry.

"No, he heard snakes, it's different," pointed out Fred still grinning from ear to ear. Hermione looked at the boys to defend her. Neither one was saying anything. She turned on her heel and stalked away from them, ignoring the curious stares of the rest of the students.