AUTHOR'S NOTE: well once again a delay, this time because I finally got a job! Which is good cus money and bad cus less writing (and free generally) time but I have so little work to do that I can write in my head.
Mini appeal at end, along with review responses.
Brain melted so…
And here's chapter fifteen.
Enjoy.
Chapter Fifteen: Nothing Ever HappensNothing ever happens, nothing happens
at all
The needle returns to the start of the song
And we all sing along like before
Nothing Ever Happens (Del Amitri)
Madame Pomfrey's head disappeared and Snape leapt up, grabbing a jar of powder from a nearby cupboard. As they gathered round the fire he threw powder into the fire, turning the flames green. They climbed through the flames and entered the infirmary to see the two boys lying exactly as they had left them hours before.
"They should be awake in a few minutes," Madame Pomfrey said before they could comment. "Are you sure it is wise for Mrs Malfoy to remain here. It could lead to further questions."
"Thank you, that is a good idea," Narcissa agreed, "I shall wait in your study Severus. I will here from you soon?" What was meant to be a statement came out as a question as a note of panic slipped into her voice.
"Of course," he smiled at her before resuming his closed mask and moving to his godson's side, shortly to be joined by Pansy and Blaise, Hermione, Remus and Seamus taking up a similar position by Harry's bed.
Moments after they had settled both boys began to stir, shifting uncomfortably in the bed, squirming around as if having the beginnings of a nightmare. Slowly Harry opened his eyes, squinting at the light, hindered by his myopia.
"Wh-" his voice was hoarse. He coughed, licked his lips and tried again, "where am I?"
"The infirmary," Hermione spoke softly, handing him his glasses and helping him sit up.
"Ugh, my head feels like its been used as a football," Harry blanched.
"A football?" Seamus looked amused at the imagery.
"Yeah well it really hurts."
"Is it better lying down or sitting up," as Hermione was fussing around him, trying to rearrange his pillows and tidy his hair, Seamus was fighting the urge to remind her that this was the seventeen year old Harry, not the five year old. Only the knowledge that Hermione would do decidedly not pleasant things to him if he went against the agreed plan of 'lie through our teeth' kept him silent.
"What happened?"
"There was a problem with the potion, no one is quite sure what happened. You took it, fainted and were unconscious for over a day," Hermione lied fluently.
"Oh," Harry looked completely confused as he looked at his friends. Suddenly his tone became more alarmed, "there aren't any long term effects are there? Because I don't want to miss Quidditch. And oh my God what did Madame Pomfrey say? There has only been a week of term and already I'm in the infirmary. She actually threatened to withhold treatment if I wasn't more careful."
"Harry, slow down," Seamus laughed at his panic, while Hermione took a more practical line.
"If it makes you feel any better Harry she didn't treat you."
"What!" he screeched.
"There was nothing to be done. Snape said it was just a case of waiting for you to wake up."
"Well that makes me feel better," Hermione smiled at the sarcasm, taking it as a sign that Harry was recovering his normal equilibrium.
"Yeah, you should have seen Hermione's face when Pomfrey said there was nothing she could do," Seamus chuckled.
"Well it sounded worse that it was," she defended herself, flushing slightly as Harry grinned up at her.
"That's not all, she was so close to attacking Snape because he did not show concern when you collapse," Seamus continued, ignoring Hermione's glaring.
"Yeah well he was all over Draco…" Hermione began before stopping abruptly, her heart sinking as Harry looked suddenly more alert, and suddenly more angry.
"Malfoy," he practically snarled at her, "of course, it was all his fault." He looked around the infirmary, eyes landing on the bed surrounded by Snape, Blaise and Pansy. As Pansy bent down to get another pillow from under the bed he saw Draco half sitting up, looking as bad as he felt.
"Feeling unwell Malfoy," he crowed, "serves you right."
"What," Draco looked somewhat shock by this unprovoked attack but rallied quickly when he gauged the source, "of course, it was all my fault. Couldn't have been your own ineptitude."
"You except me to believe that it is purely coincidence that after an hour in the same classroom as you and your minions I end up unconscious for twenty four hours."
"You weren't the only one unconscious here Potter and I'm not some idiotic Gryffindor to hit myself with my own sabotage."
"Maybe you grew a brain and decided to make it look like an accident."
"Or maybe the mudblood got something wrong for once. Not a surprise, given the…quality of the help," the pause as he surveyed Harry and Seamus spoke volumes and Harry leapt out of bed, ignoring the mini explosion in his head that told him that it was not the best idea he had ever had.
"Say that again," he snarled as Draco too climbed out of bed to meet him halfway.
"Deaf as well as blind Potter?" he taunted.
"Well that qualifies as the stupidest retort ever," Harry began, shifting his stance, clearly willing to make this physical. Before he could make a move he found himself being physically returned to bed, the only satisfaction he could gain from it being that Draco was receiving the same treatment from Snape so he hadn't really lost face.
"Near to the full moon Moony?" he asked, rubbing his arms.
"Enough that you might want to think about keeping your temper," Remus scolded gently, "I'd like to keep my pack intact thank you."
Harry kept silent; when Remus used imagery like that he knew the older man was truly riled. His current anger could not prevent the happy glow that sprung up inside as Remus claimed him, however. The werewolf had made only one other reference to Harry being part of his pack, when he had been captured by Death Eaters near the end of his sixth year. It had been thanks only to the actions of Snape that the boy had been able to escape before Voldemort arrived. When he awoke to find he was once more settled in the infirmary the first thing he had seen was an extremely tired Remus by his side. The werewolf had held him closely, checking he was truly alright, eyes glowing amber. When Harry had mentioned this to him rather alarming change the older man had just growled something about 'stupid Death Eaters who think they can mess with my pack.' A few days later when Harry had raised the subject with him, Remus had explained that 'the wolf' saw certain people in his life as part of his pack, someone both the wolf and the human would die to protect.
Despite the love he knew he received from Sirius, Ron, Hermione and all the Weasley family that had been the single happiest moment he could remember. The idea that he was loved had never been realised so forcefully for him and he quite liked the idea that something primeval in his adopted Godfather saw him as a surrogate son.
Bought back to the present by Hermione fussing over him once again, he could she was torn between curiosity and eagerness to scold him. The scolding won through, however and once she had settled him to her liking she sat down and let flow.
"Really Harry does the fact that you've just been unconscious for nearly twenty-four hours not register with you? You can't just jump out of bed like that. What were you thinking? And just to assume it was Dr-Malfoy's fault! He was just as unconscious as you and Pansy and Blaise were just as worried as we were. You should show some consideration for that if nothing else. You scared me half to death the way you were both so ready to throw down in the middle of the infirmary. It was irresponsible and unfair Harry."
"Oh come on, you know it was all that, that snakes fault," Harry muttered, reading to get angry again.
"No it wasn't Harry," Seamus began before Hermione took over.
"It was no one's fault Harry, can't you get that into you're head. It was some fluke, something wrong with what we did or how we did it or the ingredients or, or something. The potion didn't work for either of us. It didn't work, ok."
"Look," he began, turning to her, only to be checked by the tears threatening to fall, "oh 'Mione," he stammered, "I'm sorry love, I'll be good."
"Oh Harry," she flung herself on him, burying her head into his shoulder. As he tried to soothe her, stroking her back uncertainly he turned to glare at Malfoy, who returned the look in full force. He was determined to let Malfoy know he would pay for making Hermione cry.
Unable to do anything more threatening, Harry stuck his tongue out at his enemy, somehow wanting to giggle as much as he really meant it to be an unpleasant gesture. Malfoy returned the favour and upped it one, giving Harry the finger. Now it was Harry'' turn and returning the finger was about to up the stakes again when he was interrupted.
"No," Remus' angry tone was laced with a weary concern which enough to make Snape half turn and sink back onto his pillows. He turned to see the werewolf shaking his head at him. "Behave Harry. Sleep."
The visitors took their cue and all six moved away from the beds. With a quick flick of his wand Snape erected a curtain between the two boys.
They took their leave with promises to visit again soon and then the infirmary was empty.
***
Standing at the door to the infirmary Pansy and Hermione took one last look at the two boys lying in bed with frowns pasted onto their faces.
"I don't care what Snape said, I really thought they'd remember," Hermione finally broke the silence.
"Me too. It would have been perfect, you know, enemies reconciled by memories of the past and all that."
"Yes."
"They made cute kids though, didn't they."
"Oh yes."
END CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Well, what did you think?
Review responses:
Cassa-Andra: glad you liked it. And oops on the long wait.
Hannah: aw thanks *blushing* well on of your curiosities has been answered anyway, wait and see for the rest!
Megs5: glad you're enjoying it. Got a 2.1 in my degree so am so happy! Jumping up and down happy.
Esaure: thought Sev+Re+bedroom would get some people's minds racing – mine too if I'm honest but no matter how much I strech it I can't see Sev/Re alone time as relevant to the story. Darn it!!
Cliffe: *grins stupidly* I'm on your favourites list. Thanks! And what are you doing up at 4.05am? Can't be uni deadline so I'm lost for an explanaion. Glad you thought Snape was in character, though I agree with you on the how that works thing. And for the record Harry would never hit Draco…that's what Hermione's there for!
Jaded*Secrets: um…not actually too sure, no definitive plans past chapter twenty, which is probably gonna be a mistake! Did you check my favourite stories? If not read Unthinkable Thoughts, can not plug it enough, tis so great.
momma-dar: oops *sheepish grin*. Do I say too much if I tell you to keep waiting, it could happen. On a side note I am still working on a non slash one where they're friends, but guessing that's not what you meant.
Jade Maxwell: that's what I was thinking, also it could explain a lot. Little sis suddenly no longer needs her protection and all that. Hope this chapter did not disappoint! And thanks for another long review – love them!
Slice: yeah, Sev and Re are all popular!
wintermoon2: hey, yeah, the background info was kinda necessary but also there to be mean! *evil laugh* Tell you what, little deal, as much as I loved The Showers, you update Blast From The Past and I'll update this. And yes I'm aware you've written more and updated more recently that me put I'm gonna try this anyway J
Also thanks to Baby Sphinx, anrui1, MP4, ShaeLynn, TigerBlak, Silver15, Pam Briggs, PeachDancer82 and Ice Lupus
Appeal type thingyRight, question for all you out there. This is totally unrelated to this fic apart from the fact that the fic it is related to is bugging me and I've been writing it out some so I can focus on this one. Anyway, question is, can Ron successfully convince Harry to stop dating Draco and be (a) accepted by Harry as friend still and (b) accepted by readers as good character. This has been really bugging me cus I need someone to convince Harry to split and it can't be Ginny or Hermione and I don't really want it to be an original character if I can help it. This is really bugging me so suggestions/comments would be appreciated as I personally can not like a Ron who splits them up. HELP!