Harry Potter quickly made his way to the infirmary, accompanied by Hermione. Dumbledore had made sure that they were informed of what had happened to their relatives. The shock and worry both of them felt was evident upon their faces. 'I can't stand them,' Harry thought of his aunt and cousin, 'but I'd never have wished this upon them."
The two Gryffindors burst into the infirmary, much to the consternation of Madam Pomfrey. "Keep it down," she told them. "My patients need lots of rest if they're going to get better."
"How are my parents?" Hermione asked with tears in her eyes. "Are they all right?"
"I can't say yet, Miss Granger," Pomfrey said sadly. "I need to wait until they wake up. Their chances are quite good. Professor Snape is relatively well given what's happened to him, so I'm hoping the others will be too."
"Where am I?" came the croaky voice of Petunia Dursley, interrupting anything Harry or Hermione might have said in response.
"You're at Hogwarts, Aunt Petunia," Harry answered. "Do you know what happened?"
"Yes, I remember everything all too clearly," Petunia said bitterly. "I was at home with Dudley when Peter Pettigrew came to the door. He told me he had information on you and Vernon from Dumbledore, so I let him in."
"Hold on a minute, you know Wormtail?" Harry interrupted her. After seeing the blank look on Petunia's face he corrected himself "I mean Peter Pettigrew?"
"Of course I know him. You should know that your father always came with that group of his," she replied with a sneer. "If you met one you met them all. Anyway, I let him in and he stunned first Dudley then me. When I regained my senses, we were in a different place. There were Dementors nearby."
"How could you tell?" Harry asked. "Muggles can't see them."
"Use your head, boy. Do you think I don't remember what they do? Dudley was the same way he was when they attacked him two summers ago, and I felt absolutely awful. He wanted it that way." Petunia said the last part almost too quietly for anybody to hear. "And I'm not entirely normal anymore," she added even more quietly, with something like bitter awe.
"Who? Voldemort?"
"Yes, Voldemort. Who else would kidnap us that way? And who else controls the Dementors? Eventually, he had us and the other two brought before him. Then he brought Vernon out, and he killed him." Petunia began to cry. "My poor Vernon."
"Mister Potter," Pomfrey said, "please leave her alone for a while. She's suffered enough already. Now Mrs Dursley, please take this potion. It will help you get better."
To Harry's surprise, Petunia did as Madam Pomfrey instructed without protest. Within minutes, she had fallen into a deep sleep.
It was over another hour before any of the others woke up. "Dad!" Hermione cried out, her face lighting up with hope as she saw her father move. "You're awake."
"Who are you?" he asked her desperately. "Where am I?" Hermione's face fell. She began to sob uncontrollably. Harry tried his best to comfort her, but there were no words he could say.
"He doesn't know me," Hermione said through her sobs. "My father doesn't remember me."
"Now, Miss Granger," said Pomfrey reassuringly. "Don't give up hope. I've seen people recover from this situation before. Give him time."
Hermione was slightly consoled at this, but she was still obviously very upset. "How much chance of that is there?" Harry asked.
"It depends on several things. Whether the curse has damaged his brain, how strong willed he is, whether he responds well to treatment, and several other factors. The fact that he's a Muggle may act in our favour, or it may hinder us. Muggles are slightly harder to use magic on than wizards because they have no magic in their bodies. I'm afraid that only time will tell whether he will recover. I promise you though, Miss Granger," Pomfrey said kindly," I will do everything I can to heal him, and if I can't I will make sure that the St. Mungo's healers will take over. Mister Potter, would you take her back to Gryffindor tower? It would be best for her to have friends around her right now."
"Of course I will. Come on Hermione. We'll come back later." Harry led Hermione out of the hospital wing and back to the Gryffindor common room where their friends were waiting. "What happened?" Ron asked.
"Oh Ron," Hermione said. "My dad doesn't remember me. My mum hasn't woken up yet either. I don't know what I'll do if they don't get better."
"Don't worry about it, Hermione," Ron said, giving her a tender hug. "We're all here for you. We'll help you any way we can"
"Ron's right," Harry said. "Whatever you need us to do, we'll do."
"Thank you. Right now, just hold me Ron," Hermione said quietly. "I need to know you are here."
"Hermione," Ron said tenderly, "I'll always be here for you." He held her closer. "I will never leave you."