Kathy: Hmmm, I love rocking.

Creepy Susie: I hope this gets an even bigger wow.

Badgerqueen: Don't worry. I'm posting the rest of the story.

Disclaimer: Potter ain't mine.

Worse Before It Gets Better

A bright light blinded Katie as soon as she opened her eyes. She blinked instinctively and tried to call out, but her tongue felt thick and heavy like she had too much vodka. Every muscle in her body screamed out in agonizing pain.

Is this what it feels like to die?

Slowly, the sterile white walls of St. Mungo's came into focus. She glanced around, praying to see Oliver or at the very least someone to explain what had happened. The last thing she could remember was fighting Stovald for his wand and Oliver screaming her name. Then she woke up in a cold St. Mungo's bed. She needed to know that Oliver and their baby were alright.

A medi-wizard carrying a clipboard strode in purposefully.

"Glad to see you're awake…" he checked his clipboard "…Katherine."

She struggled to open her mouth and ask what was going on as he continued talking.

"I'm sure you are feeling a tad bit confused," he adjusted her covers, "but Dumbledore said to let you know that he will be by to explain everything when you've recovered a bit more."

Oliver? Our baby? Are they alive?

The medi-wizard waved his wand over her and the pain dissipated slightly.

"I know you must be in a lot of pain," he told her.

She managed a low moan from the back of her throat. A small vial of potion was poured into her mouth. She began to feel drowsy, but her tongue felt less weighted.

"My baby?" she managed to croak, "Oliver? Did…did they make it?"

Her eyes began to flutter as she struggled to stay awake. Her sweaty hair was pushed out of her face,

"They're fine, Katherine. Now get some rest."

There were voices all around Oliver, little whispers of snippets of conversations that he strained to hear in case the status of Katie and their child was mentioned.

"…half dead…"

"Extremely lucky…"

"…hearing…"

"…Dumbledore."

His head began to throb painfully from the effort.

"Katie," he groaned, shifting his weight, "the baby…"

Someone touched his forehead.

"He's burning up with fever. We should get the medi-wizard."

He sat up suddenly and grabbed the person's arm.

"Katie…Baby…alive?" he gasped.

"They're fine," he was assured, "and we'll take you to them as soon as you are feeling better, but first the medi-wizard needs to look you over."

He fell back against the cool pillows, sweat dripping down his face and slipped into a restless sleep.

Katie fought back tears as Dr. Langford tried to gently help her move her stiff muscles. He was one of Dumbledore's most trusted doctors, a man of about forty with receding brown hair and sparkling grey eyes. It had been two weeks since she had woken up and her entire body still had a dull ache.

"Just hold it a bit longer," he encouraged her, "You're doing wonderfully."

She gritted her teeth. "I'd do better if you'd let me see Oliver."

Dr. Langford ignored her comment and lowered her leg back down. He had already told her that Oliver was still ill and seeing him would endanger her and the precarious state of her child. Katie accepted these facts, but she wanted proof that he was alright.

"At least promise me that I can see him as soon as his fever breaks."

"I need you to relax so I can check on your baby."

He lifted up her gown and lightly touched her stomach while she breathed deeply in and out of her mouth. He looked over at his ever present clipboard.

"Four months along now, Katherine."

She made a face when he used her full name. It did not matter how often she told him to call her Katie, he refused to do it.

"Yeah," she sighed, "Do you know when Dumbledore will be here?"

He put the gown back down and handed her a vial of potion.

"He didn't say. He's a bit tied up at the Ministry."

She nearly choked on her potion. Until that moment, she had not thought of what the Ministry was going to think of their little skirmish with Voldemort. They had all broken a number of Ministry rules and done everything in their power to cover it up. The Ministry was sure to know that by now.

"Did he say what he was doing there?" she asked.

He took the empty vial from her hand. "It's not my place to talk about these things, Katherine. Now how about I go see how Oliver is feeling?"

Oliver could feel someone wipe his forehead with something cold and damp.

"Oliver."

He groaned miserably and his eyes flickered open. Angelina was standing over him, a wet washcloth in hand.

"Where's Katie?" he whispered hoarsely.

"She'll be here in a few moments. George is bringing her down," she wringed excess water from the rag, "Dumbledore wants to talk to us."

She helped him sit up and placed a few pillows behind his back as George wheeled Katie in. Fred and Dumbledore were close behind. George left Katie beside Oliver's bed. He leaned down and softly touched the small bump that was his child.

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"I couldn't," she said sadly, "I wanted to but we couldn't risk the Ministry finding out."

"It seems that our efforts were in vain," Dumbledore interrupted, "The Ministry is now fully aware of what set the events in motion. I am sorry to say, but the Ministry has called a hearing over our actions."

Angelina gasped, and Katie nearly felt her heart stop beating. Oliver squeezed her hand.

"I tried to take full responsibility," he continued, "but the Ministry wants a full investigation."

"It's not your fault," Oliver interjected, "Katie and I made our own decisions. We chose to break the rules."

"But I was the one to bring you all into contact. It was my actions that triggered this chain of events."

Fred shook his head. "We all made our own choices. It was everyone's fault."

Angelina placed her arm around his waist. "We knew what was going on. It was our decision not to stop it. Now we'll all pay the price."