Chapter 29: Return to Hogwarts

The next week passed with little event, except for the broomstick races on Saturday where Harry was pushed and fell from a height of twenty feet. Luckily, Madam Hooch had managed to get him back to a normal physical and mental state quite quickly.

It was on Thursday night that something happened. Harry was woken suddenly by noises, which turned out to be coming from Ron.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked groggily. There was no reply. Ron was obviously trying to keep still in the dark and pretend nothing had happened.

"What's happening?"

Ron gave up. "I'm leaving."

"Where to?" asked Harry, sitting up in bed and reaching for his glasses.

"Hogwarts. Now, if you don't mind, I need to go."

"Go?" asked Harry, surprised. "Why?"

"Ginny."

"What? Oh – the baby?"

"Yes. Her owl's just turned up with an urgent message – she wants me to come."

"Why you?"

"I don't know. Maybe she thinks it's because I haven't got a job yet, I'm not as busy as anyone else. I don't know." Harry sensed Ron moving towards the door in the dark.

"I'm coming too," said Harry, climbing out of bed.

The door, which had creaked open slightly, shut again. Ron had obviously turned back to face Harry. Rudolf gave a loud snore.

"Harry – she won't want you."

"Why not? I'm coming," Harry repeated.

"There isn't much time. I have to go."

"I'm coming," said Harry a third time. "Are we Apparating?"

"No," said Ron, who seemed to have given in. I think Hermione said something about you not being able to."

Harry pulled out a piece of clothing at random – it turned out to be a cloak. He fastened it, groped for his Nimbus, then opened the door. He felt Ron follow. It was dark in the corridor outside, as well. Harry and Ron lit their wands and made for the exit.

They made their way down the drive, past the statue, and pushed at the gates. A terrible sound emitted from them – a horrible, ghostly bell.

"The alarm!" said Ron, in panic. "They think we're trying to break in!"

"Get out, quickly!" said Harry. He flung open the gate, which carried on ringing. Lights had come on in the teacher's block. The last thing Harry wanted was several fully trained Aurors thinking he was a criminal. They ran out onto the road. The door of the building had been opened, and dark shapes were running out. Harry leapt onto his Nimbus; Ron onto his Cleansweep, and they were off.

Blasts of lights were being shot at them from the wizards. It was a good thing both Harry and Ron were Quidditch players. They dodged the spells as if they were Bludgers, and were soon off into the night.

"Makes you wonder how Millstew was meant to get through," said Ron.

They sped off through the cold, February night air, both wondering how exactly they were meant to get to Hogwarts without freezing to their brooms. Luckily, Harry solved this problem – with a simple charm.

Using their compasses for direction, Harry and Ron headed north. They didn't talk much – Harry had sensed that Ron was thinking about his sister.

"Er –" said Harry, in an attempt at suitable conversation and a distraction from the in all rather boring flight, "why is she still at school, anyway?"

"I think she wants to get her NEWTs. She's been taking potions to help her keep going."

They carried on flying in silence. Harry's broom was almost twice as fast as Ron's, and he was having trouble staying with his friend. At first he kept doubling back, but this only confused Ron.

"Stop doing that! I keep thinking we're going the wrong way!"

Hours passed. Harry's boredom was thrown out by dread. What if it all went wrong?

It was one o'clock in the morning when they finally saw the many lights, rising up to the sky, that Harry knew could only be those of Hogwarts. How they had found the school he didn't know. It must have been a miracle. They touched down lightly beside the Quidditch stadium.

"What do we do now?" asked Ron.

"I don't know, it was you're idea to come," replied Harry. "Get rid of our brooms, I suppose."

Amazingly, Ron had a key to the changing rooms from his previous spell as Quidditch captain. He had been meant to give it in at the end of last year. However, they unlocked the doors and left the brooms inside.

"You can hand it in later," said Harry. "There'll be no point trying to stay hidden now."

Despite this, they walked up the drive stealthily, using the techniques Andros had taught them. The doors opened easily. Harry wondered if this was accidental.

"You know, we could always have used Alohomora," pointed out Ron.  

As they stepped into the Entrance Hall, Harry stumbled backwards at the light. After so many hours in the dark, it was a big shock.

The Hall was obviously the only lighted part of the school, however. As Harry and Ron climbed the marble staircase, it steadily became dimmer until finally it was as dark as it was outside.

"Which floor's it on?" asked Harry, meaning the hospital wing.

"Don't know," replied Ron. "It's always moving, isn't it?"

"Yeah. Shall we try the third floor? I think it was their last time."

Ron nodded his agreement. "Let's hope we don't meet Peeves."

They didn't. They did meet somebody else however, and it gave them quite a shock. However, it turned out that the Fat Friar had been dead for so long he couldn't remember who was in which year at Hogwarts. He just said, "I haven't seen you two for a while," and drifted off.

"He's like Professor Binns," said Ron, but neither he nor Harry laughed.

The feeling of dread deepened as they moved closer towards the hospital wing. Ron's face was white, and Harry suddenly realised he was twisting his hair round his fingers in nervousness.

They climbed another staircase, and another, before coming to the door of the hospital wing. "Found it," breathed Ron. His voice was shaking.

They pushed open the door to reveal a lighted room, full of beds. A familiar, tired-looking witch looked over at them from the foot of one of the beds.

 "I thought I'd be seeing you here," said Madam Pomfrey. "You two are always breaking the rules."