Well, I'm updating once again. I've put a little humor in this chapter--I feel like it's been too depressing :) . I hope everyone enjoys this chapter!!!
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Jestana--The book said "no less than four stunners" but I changed it to four, you'll notice :). Thanks so much for the help--I love your stories, and I'm sooo glad you liked mine.
Mugglemin--Glad you liked it, and here's more :) .
HogwartsDuo--Thanks so much. Tell you the ending? I'm appalled you even dare to suggest it!!
Bookwmnjan--I thought so. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Catwoman99--Well, they're sort of together in this chapter...no matter that one of them can't talk....
Cutegirl612--I'm so glad you liked it!!! Your story's coming so great, too, and I hope my mention of your story in chap. 4 will get you more readers!!! And thanks for the ego boost--I may not be the best beta ever, but I do try :) !!!
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You've never looked so pale, Minerva. I can't help but gasp as I take your hand...it's so cold. The healer hurries over, looking rather angry.
"I must ask you to be quiet, sir!" she snaps at me. I turn to her, and she suddenly stammers, "Unless, of course, you don't want to be quiet. In which case, you can not be quiet. If that's what you want," she says quickly, trying to bat her eyelashes at me, and looking more as if she has a nervous twitch. She's a young and pretty woman, and in my disguise, I look somewhat like a brown-haired Gilderoy Lockhart. A sigh escapes me as I realize that she's probably smitten with me. A poor choice of disguises, perhaps.
"That's quite all right," I say, somewhat glad for the brief humor she had brought me. You would have said I looked ridiculous, and that I shouldn't always try to bring so much attention to myself. But it is good to look young again. But a glance at you brings me sharply back to reality. "Do you know what her status is?" I ask.
"Is she your grandmother?" the healer-witch asks sympathetically, placing a shaky hand on my shoulder by way of comfort. I wish more than ever that you were awake and well to hear this.
"No." I say shortly. "Do you know if she'll be all right?"
"I think it's really sweet that you're so concerned. Our elderly--"
"Healer...Williams!" I snap, looking at her badge quickly. "Will Professor McGonagall live?" I ask, my voice rising with every word.
"Her?" she asks, gesturing carelessly towards your bed. "Most likely. She won't walk without a cane for while, and we weren't sure if she'd be all right at first--four Stunners to the chest, and she's practically a relic!" I almost laugh in my relief, before realizing that I am even older than you.
"Most likely?" I ask, suddenly, her choice of words having hit me. Most likely...I grasp your hand tightly.
"Well, she's stayed unconscious for much longer than most patients do, hasn't she? And if she stays unconscious for another, oh, twenty-four hours, then she may be worse off then we know right now," she explains, flashing me a bright smile as she finishes.
"How much worse off?" I say, immediately.
"Hard to say, really. But generally speaking, people who are Stunned repeatedly have two immediate after-effects. These are unconsciousness and seizures. People who are left unconscious for a longer time are more likely to have seizures. Seizures may not kill, and in this case, they won't be a life-long problem. But to have even just one or two can be dangerous." She stops here.
"Why?" I ask, feeling numb.
"Because the person having a one can 'forget' to breathe. And without air, parts of the brain can die. You can't project which parts these will be, but they commonly leave a victim paralyzed or with a speech impediment."
"And how likely is this to happen? My tounge stumbles over the words in my anxiousness.
"The longer she stays like that, the more likely it is," she says. I collapse into the chair beside your bed. Healer Williams pats my hand gently.
"Is there something I might get you, sir?" she asks, and I am sure she doesn't always take this much time with visitors.
"No," I say hoarsely. She could never deliver a replacement for you. I bring your hand to my lips, shutting my eyes tightly.
How could I have left you, all alone? You know mean the world to me, don't you? I can't imagine Hogwarts without you. You've always been there, my oldest and steadiest friend. And I allowed your safety to be compromised. How could I have done that? I will never forgive myself if you're not all right.
I've never felt so old.
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Jestana--The book said "no less than four stunners" but I changed it to four, you'll notice :). Thanks so much for the help--I love your stories, and I'm sooo glad you liked mine.
Mugglemin--Glad you liked it, and here's more :) .
HogwartsDuo--Thanks so much. Tell you the ending? I'm appalled you even dare to suggest it!!
Bookwmnjan--I thought so. I hope you enjoy the next chapter.
Catwoman99--Well, they're sort of together in this chapter...no matter that one of them can't talk....
Cutegirl612--I'm so glad you liked it!!! Your story's coming so great, too, and I hope my mention of your story in chap. 4 will get you more readers!!! And thanks for the ego boost--I may not be the best beta ever, but I do try :) !!!
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You've never looked so pale, Minerva. I can't help but gasp as I take your hand...it's so cold. The healer hurries over, looking rather angry.
"I must ask you to be quiet, sir!" she snaps at me. I turn to her, and she suddenly stammers, "Unless, of course, you don't want to be quiet. In which case, you can not be quiet. If that's what you want," she says quickly, trying to bat her eyelashes at me, and looking more as if she has a nervous twitch. She's a young and pretty woman, and in my disguise, I look somewhat like a brown-haired Gilderoy Lockhart. A sigh escapes me as I realize that she's probably smitten with me. A poor choice of disguises, perhaps.
"That's quite all right," I say, somewhat glad for the brief humor she had brought me. You would have said I looked ridiculous, and that I shouldn't always try to bring so much attention to myself. But it is good to look young again. But a glance at you brings me sharply back to reality. "Do you know what her status is?" I ask.
"Is she your grandmother?" the healer-witch asks sympathetically, placing a shaky hand on my shoulder by way of comfort. I wish more than ever that you were awake and well to hear this.
"No." I say shortly. "Do you know if she'll be all right?"
"I think it's really sweet that you're so concerned. Our elderly--"
"Healer...Williams!" I snap, looking at her badge quickly. "Will Professor McGonagall live?" I ask, my voice rising with every word.
"Her?" she asks, gesturing carelessly towards your bed. "Most likely. She won't walk without a cane for while, and we weren't sure if she'd be all right at first--four Stunners to the chest, and she's practically a relic!" I almost laugh in my relief, before realizing that I am even older than you.
"Most likely?" I ask, suddenly, her choice of words having hit me. Most likely...I grasp your hand tightly.
"Well, she's stayed unconscious for much longer than most patients do, hasn't she? And if she stays unconscious for another, oh, twenty-four hours, then she may be worse off then we know right now," she explains, flashing me a bright smile as she finishes.
"How much worse off?" I say, immediately.
"Hard to say, really. But generally speaking, people who are Stunned repeatedly have two immediate after-effects. These are unconsciousness and seizures. People who are left unconscious for a longer time are more likely to have seizures. Seizures may not kill, and in this case, they won't be a life-long problem. But to have even just one or two can be dangerous." She stops here.
"Why?" I ask, feeling numb.
"Because the person having a one can 'forget' to breathe. And without air, parts of the brain can die. You can't project which parts these will be, but they commonly leave a victim paralyzed or with a speech impediment."
"And how likely is this to happen? My tounge stumbles over the words in my anxiousness.
"The longer she stays like that, the more likely it is," she says. I collapse into the chair beside your bed. Healer Williams pats my hand gently.
"Is there something I might get you, sir?" she asks, and I am sure she doesn't always take this much time with visitors.
"No," I say hoarsely. She could never deliver a replacement for you. I bring your hand to my lips, shutting my eyes tightly.
How could I have left you, all alone? You know mean the world to me, don't you? I can't imagine Hogwarts without you. You've always been there, my oldest and steadiest friend. And I allowed your safety to be compromised. How could I have done that? I will never forgive myself if you're not all right.
I've never felt so old.