AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hope ya liked the last chapter. I should be able to keep
rollin the chapters out cuz of a wonderful thing known as Christmas
Vacation! Yay!! Hope everybody had Happy Holidays and will hopefully enjoy
this chapter, too! Hehe. Here it is.
CHAPTER SIX: Hospital Wing
RECAP: They got up and were about to head back into the castle hand in
hand when a Harry and Hermione each felt a hand fall on their
shoulders.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. What a pleasant surprise."
Harry tensed from hearing the voice. His scar burned. He slowly turned to become face to face with none other than Voldemort. His appearance was indescribable. His snake-like face was as shocking as ever, but being face to face made it more real. Harry's mind was racing. He pushed Hermione behind him, the only form of protection he had at the moment.
"Prepare to die, Harry Potter."
Harry clenched his eyes shut. All he cared about was protecting Hermione. His scar felt like it was on fire. His body seemed to be boiling. An unusual question popped into his mind, 'Why am I not sweating? It feels like my whole body is on fire.' He heard Voldemort begin to shout the curse, "Avada Kadavr-"
Harry sat up straight, eyes wide open, covered in a cold sweat. He was lying in a bed in the Hospital Wing. After putting on his glasses from his bedside table, he looked around. Hermione was lying in a bed next to his, buried under her sheets, except for her face. She was looking directly at Harry.
"Good morning," she said with a forced smile. "Well, more like late afternoon."
"Hermione? Why are we here? I had a dream, well, it seemed like a dream.I saw Voldemort."
"Harry, I really have no idea what happened. I had a dream, too. It fit all too well with what happened before it. I just woke up and checked what time it was. I'm not even sure what day it is."
"Hermione? What was your dream about?"
"Well, I don't know where it actually started. I mean, I remember talking to you about your prophecy and then I was about to tell you, er, something.when we heard something. Voldemort put his hands on our shoulders. I stayed where I was. I was so frightened. You pushed me behind you and Voldemort said he was going to kill you. He was just about to finish the killing curse when I woke up."
Harry just stared at Hermione. He couldn't believe she had just described his own dream to him.
"Harry? What was your dream?" Hermione said hesitantly.
"You already know."
"What? No.that's impossible! We couldn't have had the same dream. Unless- "
"Unless it wasn't a dream."
"What? What are you saying? Voldemort *did* somehow get into Hogwarts and tried to kill you again? It doesn't make sense. We don't even know how it ended."
"Well obviously for the best, I mean, we are alive."
"Yes, but, Harry, really, it just doesn't make any sense."
"I know, 'Mione.wait, what was the thing you were going to tell me before?"
Hermione's eyes widened again. She had to tell him. He had told her everything, or hopefully everything. She just had to face the truth. She dove right into her explanation. She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, talking in a depressed tone.
"A few days ago, I woke up from a dream, no, a prophecy. Professor Trelawney's voice echoed through my mind. She said, 'On the night of her final day of her sixth year at Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the close friend of The Boy Who Lived will meet her end.'" Hermione just stopped, still staring at the ceiling, a tear fell down the side of her cheek.
Harry was shocked. How could this have happened? Why is it that everyone around him dies? His parents, Cedric, Sirius, and now Hermione.no, she's not dead yet. She won't die. The prophecy's wrong. She can't die. Not Hermione. He wanted to get up, to hold Hermione in his arms once again, but pain shot through his legs when he tried to bend them.
Hermione saw Harry's effort to try to get up and realized he was trying to comfort her. She somehow seemed fine apart from some scratches and bruises. She got up from her bed and walked over to Harry. Harry painfully moved over to give Hermione more room. She propped up some pillows and sat there next to Harry, who had pulled her into a embrace. Silent tears started pouring from Hermione's eyes. She felt so safe with Harry. No prophecy could claim her life while she was in his arms.
They stayed like this for a very long time it seemed until Harry broke away. Hermione's tears had dried, but a single new one escaped from her eye. Harry wiped it away with his thumb, savoring the feeling of her soft skin. Harry simply threw away all caution at that one moment. Out of instinct, Harry moved toward Hermione, closed his eyes, and kissed her gently on the lips. He didn't know what Hermione's reaction would be, so he pulled back quickly. The both stared into each others eyes for a few moments.
Hermione couldn't believe it. She just stared into his longing emerald eyes. Everything was going so fast, and yet, it seems so right. She couldn't resist any longer. She placed a hand around the back of Harry's neck and pulled him into another kiss.
A gentle kiss turned into a long "snog session". They had no idea how long they sat there in pure bliss, but they didn't care. They came back to reality when they heard voices outside the Hospital Wing door. Hermione tried to quickly jump back into her bed, but Harry pulled her back. "Please stay," he said. Hermione nodded.
"Dumbledore!" It was Snape's voice. "Why haven't we closed down this school? We are not here to run an orphanage Professor, we, or at least I, am here to teach. I will not continue babysitting these vile students!"
"Calm yourself, Professor," said Dumbledore in his usual soothing voice. "Am I not correct in saying that you *are* teaching these students?"
"These students are incapable of learning. They have no aspect of the world around them. They are petrified by the mere thought of the Dark Lord."
"Not all Severus. I believe you are right. I came to the same conclusion just this morning. We need students who have faced true danger, who have faced Voldemort. Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood would help in a heartbeat. I am up here to retrieve Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, who should be awake from their long slumber. Thank you, Severus. Good day."
They heard Snape stomp off while Dumbledore unlocked the door and entered. Hermione had forgotten she was still in Harry's arms.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, how are you?" Dumbledore said with a familiar twinkle in his eye.
"Very well, thank you Professor." Hermione answered. Harry nodded.
"Well, first things first.do you know what day it is?"
"I would guess sometime close to the first week of school. That's what I remember." Hermione answered.
"It's winter." Harry said in a monotone, gazing out the window. Snow had begun to fall.
"That is correct, Harry. You two have been unconscious for over three months."
"What? How can that be? What happened?" Hermione had begun to sit up, clearly unable to comprehend the fact that she had missed more than three months of school, or of her life.
"We have not been able to figure that out yet Miss Granger. We have some ideas, but nothing is for sure. We simply had to wait until you two would awaken to collect more pieces to this puzzle." Professor Dumbledore had entered a more serious state now.
"What's going on in the shool? We heard Snape talking-" Harry was cut off.
"That's Professor Snape, Harry, and there have been many changes in the school." Dumbledore sighed. "I might as well tell you now, since you two have been known to collect information in your own ways.
"After the attack on you both, Voldemort's power to terrorize was exhibited. Thousands of people were killed by his followers, leaving many broken families, mostly orphans. Many children feared that Hogwarts was no longer safe, even after the many reassurances of the teachers and myself. It was my decision to send the students home to their families, but where to put the unfortunate ones who no longer had a family? I came to the conclusion that we would keep those who chose to stay at Hogwarts. They would be trained on the weekends and various weekdays, if necessary, however they would still lead a somewhat normal life. Some teachers have left to be with their families, however most have remained to guard the castle and train the students in order to prepare them for the worst. Have I done a satisfactory job in explaining everything?"
"Yes, Professor, thank you," they said.
"Well, I better leave you two to think everything over. You need not leave the hospital wing today. Stay as long as you desire. Dobby has agreed to take care of the both of you. He'll be coming by a little later with me." Dumbledore turned to face the door.
"Professor?" Harry said cautiously.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Where's Ron?"
Dumbledore turned to face them again. Hermione glanced at Harry and then nodded. She wanted to know as well. Their Headmaster was at a loss for words.
CHAPTER SIX: Hospital Wing
RECAP: They got up and were about to head back into the castle hand in
hand when a Harry and Hermione each felt a hand fall on their
shoulders.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger. What a pleasant surprise."
Harry tensed from hearing the voice. His scar burned. He slowly turned to become face to face with none other than Voldemort. His appearance was indescribable. His snake-like face was as shocking as ever, but being face to face made it more real. Harry's mind was racing. He pushed Hermione behind him, the only form of protection he had at the moment.
"Prepare to die, Harry Potter."
Harry clenched his eyes shut. All he cared about was protecting Hermione. His scar felt like it was on fire. His body seemed to be boiling. An unusual question popped into his mind, 'Why am I not sweating? It feels like my whole body is on fire.' He heard Voldemort begin to shout the curse, "Avada Kadavr-"
Harry sat up straight, eyes wide open, covered in a cold sweat. He was lying in a bed in the Hospital Wing. After putting on his glasses from his bedside table, he looked around. Hermione was lying in a bed next to his, buried under her sheets, except for her face. She was looking directly at Harry.
"Good morning," she said with a forced smile. "Well, more like late afternoon."
"Hermione? Why are we here? I had a dream, well, it seemed like a dream.I saw Voldemort."
"Harry, I really have no idea what happened. I had a dream, too. It fit all too well with what happened before it. I just woke up and checked what time it was. I'm not even sure what day it is."
"Hermione? What was your dream about?"
"Well, I don't know where it actually started. I mean, I remember talking to you about your prophecy and then I was about to tell you, er, something.when we heard something. Voldemort put his hands on our shoulders. I stayed where I was. I was so frightened. You pushed me behind you and Voldemort said he was going to kill you. He was just about to finish the killing curse when I woke up."
Harry just stared at Hermione. He couldn't believe she had just described his own dream to him.
"Harry? What was your dream?" Hermione said hesitantly.
"You already know."
"What? No.that's impossible! We couldn't have had the same dream. Unless- "
"Unless it wasn't a dream."
"What? What are you saying? Voldemort *did* somehow get into Hogwarts and tried to kill you again? It doesn't make sense. We don't even know how it ended."
"Well obviously for the best, I mean, we are alive."
"Yes, but, Harry, really, it just doesn't make any sense."
"I know, 'Mione.wait, what was the thing you were going to tell me before?"
Hermione's eyes widened again. She had to tell him. He had told her everything, or hopefully everything. She just had to face the truth. She dove right into her explanation. She lay on her back, staring at the ceiling, talking in a depressed tone.
"A few days ago, I woke up from a dream, no, a prophecy. Professor Trelawney's voice echoed through my mind. She said, 'On the night of her final day of her sixth year at Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, the close friend of The Boy Who Lived will meet her end.'" Hermione just stopped, still staring at the ceiling, a tear fell down the side of her cheek.
Harry was shocked. How could this have happened? Why is it that everyone around him dies? His parents, Cedric, Sirius, and now Hermione.no, she's not dead yet. She won't die. The prophecy's wrong. She can't die. Not Hermione. He wanted to get up, to hold Hermione in his arms once again, but pain shot through his legs when he tried to bend them.
Hermione saw Harry's effort to try to get up and realized he was trying to comfort her. She somehow seemed fine apart from some scratches and bruises. She got up from her bed and walked over to Harry. Harry painfully moved over to give Hermione more room. She propped up some pillows and sat there next to Harry, who had pulled her into a embrace. Silent tears started pouring from Hermione's eyes. She felt so safe with Harry. No prophecy could claim her life while she was in his arms.
They stayed like this for a very long time it seemed until Harry broke away. Hermione's tears had dried, but a single new one escaped from her eye. Harry wiped it away with his thumb, savoring the feeling of her soft skin. Harry simply threw away all caution at that one moment. Out of instinct, Harry moved toward Hermione, closed his eyes, and kissed her gently on the lips. He didn't know what Hermione's reaction would be, so he pulled back quickly. The both stared into each others eyes for a few moments.
Hermione couldn't believe it. She just stared into his longing emerald eyes. Everything was going so fast, and yet, it seems so right. She couldn't resist any longer. She placed a hand around the back of Harry's neck and pulled him into another kiss.
A gentle kiss turned into a long "snog session". They had no idea how long they sat there in pure bliss, but they didn't care. They came back to reality when they heard voices outside the Hospital Wing door. Hermione tried to quickly jump back into her bed, but Harry pulled her back. "Please stay," he said. Hermione nodded.
"Dumbledore!" It was Snape's voice. "Why haven't we closed down this school? We are not here to run an orphanage Professor, we, or at least I, am here to teach. I will not continue babysitting these vile students!"
"Calm yourself, Professor," said Dumbledore in his usual soothing voice. "Am I not correct in saying that you *are* teaching these students?"
"These students are incapable of learning. They have no aspect of the world around them. They are petrified by the mere thought of the Dark Lord."
"Not all Severus. I believe you are right. I came to the same conclusion just this morning. We need students who have faced true danger, who have faced Voldemort. Mr. Longbottom and Miss Lovegood would help in a heartbeat. I am up here to retrieve Mr. Potter and Miss Granger, who should be awake from their long slumber. Thank you, Severus. Good day."
They heard Snape stomp off while Dumbledore unlocked the door and entered. Hermione had forgotten she was still in Harry's arms.
"Mr. Potter, Miss Granger, how are you?" Dumbledore said with a familiar twinkle in his eye.
"Very well, thank you Professor." Hermione answered. Harry nodded.
"Well, first things first.do you know what day it is?"
"I would guess sometime close to the first week of school. That's what I remember." Hermione answered.
"It's winter." Harry said in a monotone, gazing out the window. Snow had begun to fall.
"That is correct, Harry. You two have been unconscious for over three months."
"What? How can that be? What happened?" Hermione had begun to sit up, clearly unable to comprehend the fact that she had missed more than three months of school, or of her life.
"We have not been able to figure that out yet Miss Granger. We have some ideas, but nothing is for sure. We simply had to wait until you two would awaken to collect more pieces to this puzzle." Professor Dumbledore had entered a more serious state now.
"What's going on in the shool? We heard Snape talking-" Harry was cut off.
"That's Professor Snape, Harry, and there have been many changes in the school." Dumbledore sighed. "I might as well tell you now, since you two have been known to collect information in your own ways.
"After the attack on you both, Voldemort's power to terrorize was exhibited. Thousands of people were killed by his followers, leaving many broken families, mostly orphans. Many children feared that Hogwarts was no longer safe, even after the many reassurances of the teachers and myself. It was my decision to send the students home to their families, but where to put the unfortunate ones who no longer had a family? I came to the conclusion that we would keep those who chose to stay at Hogwarts. They would be trained on the weekends and various weekdays, if necessary, however they would still lead a somewhat normal life. Some teachers have left to be with their families, however most have remained to guard the castle and train the students in order to prepare them for the worst. Have I done a satisfactory job in explaining everything?"
"Yes, Professor, thank you," they said.
"Well, I better leave you two to think everything over. You need not leave the hospital wing today. Stay as long as you desire. Dobby has agreed to take care of the both of you. He'll be coming by a little later with me." Dumbledore turned to face the door.
"Professor?" Harry said cautiously.
"Yes, Harry?"
"Where's Ron?"
Dumbledore turned to face them again. Hermione glanced at Harry and then nodded. She wanted to know as well. Their Headmaster was at a loss for words.