Memories
Chapter 3: Hospital Liberation
DISCLAIMER: I do not own J.K. Rowling's work.
A/N: This chapter has been revised. Please review!
start chapter general PoV
"James, I would like to begin by asking you if you placed any charms on yourself before you played in the Quidditch match," Dumbledore said, placing the tips of his fingers together.
"No, Professor, I didn't," James replied, puzzled. "I know charms aren't allowed on the Quidditch pitch."
"They are not indeed. Perhaps another cast a spell on yourself?" Dumbledore asked. At receiving a negative shake of the head, he said, "Then we must look at alternatives. I will first explain the situation as it happened and then ask you if you have any other knowledge.
Approximately three minutes after the match was finished, the Slytherin Beater hit you in the back of the head with a Bludger, James. I'm afraid he was quite bitter. Needless to say that he has been punished thoroughly for his actions. However, the hit you took to the head was severe. You should be feeling – at the very least – a protruding bump on the back of the head."
James touched the back of his head tentatively, and frowned as his probing fingers found nothing. He looked up to his Headmaster. "I don't feel anything, Professor."
Dumbledore nodded. "Precisely, James. We were afraid that damage had been done to your skull. The protective charms that prevent any serious harm to a player went down the instant the match was over and so your head could have been dealt severe injury. Fortunately, it wasn't. However, by all rights you should have sustained some kind of mental injury or, at the very least, a bruise. You, James, received neither. Your skull was completely safe, and you merely fainted from the impact of the Bludger. Do you have any idea how this has come about, James?"
"Professor," James began slowly, "My father told me something a while ago. I don't know if it helped protect my head or not, but it's all I can think of. He said I was the last of the Potter line, and that I had some sort of inheritance…" James screwed up his face, trying desperately to remember.
"Was this the Ancient Wizards, James?" Dumbledore asked.
"Yeah! That was it! Does it have anything to do with the accident, Professor?"
"Possibly. It could have been your Gift showing through," Dumbledore replied, stroking his beard thoughtfully.
"My Gift, sir?" James asked in confusion.
"Yes, James, your Gift. Every wizard who has an Ancient inheritance is gifted with an ability that normal wizards are usually not capable of. For example, Godric Gryffindor had the ability to control and wield fire. My own Gift is an exceptional aptitude for Legilimency," Dumbledore responded.
"What is my Gift, sir?" asked James.
"Ah, that I do not know. Every wizard must discover their own. I have the suspicion that yours is to protect you and your loved ones with remarkably strong magic, much like Helga Hufflepuff's Gift. Only time will tell, however." Dumbledore remained silent for a long, contemplative moment. Then he rose to his feet and said, "Now, James, I will take my leave. I wish you a speedy recovery." With that, the Headmaster swept out of the Hospital Wing.
James lay still for a long time, thinking…
scene change James' PoV
"Prongs!" Sirius announced his arrival into the Hospital Wing with a loud and exuberant shout. Remus followed close behind, chuckling in amusement. Ah, my two best friends had arrived, with one conspicuously missing.
"Where's Pete?" I asked, frowning in confusion.
"He went and got himself cursed by Malfoy yesterday after Potions when he had to stay behind and finish his potion. He tried to curse him back, but Snyder saw him and gave him a detention scrubbing cauldrons without magic. You know Snyder; he knew Malfoy had cursed him, and all he said was that he'd talk to him. As if he would yell at one of his precious Slytherins," said Sirius, glaring at the ceiling as if it were the hated Potions Master. He grabbed a chair and threw himself in it, obviously still angry about the treatment of his friend.
"Wormtail's always getting himself beaten up by Slytherins, especially Malfoy and Snivelly," I sighed. I scowled at the thought of my greasy rival.
"So, how are you feeling, mate? Up to a midnight trip to the Shack? It's full moon tonight," said Remus, pulling up a chair to my bedside.
"Yeah! Definitely, Moony!" I brightened at the idea of another night spent exploring the hidden secrets of Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest. I sat up in bed, already planning the things we would do that night.
A moment later, however, a thought occurred to me, which made me sink back into my fluffy pillows in despair once more. "I doubt Madam Blitzer will let me go, though. If I so much as sneeze she'll be forcing more Pepper-Up down my throat."
"Don't worry about that, mate. We've got it all figured out," replied Remus with a wink. He leaned in closer to me and whispered a few words into my ear. I grinned broadly, my smile threatening to rip my face in half.
"That, my friend, is pure genius," I said, relishing the brilliant plan. I sat back in satisfaction, knowing that in two hours (currently five o'clock) I would be free from the suffocating Hospital Wing.
"Why, thank you, Prongs," Remus responded, sweeping me a mock bow.
"Oi! What are you on about, Moony? It was all my idea!" said Sirius indignantly.
"Yeah, right, Padfoot. You couldn't think up a good prank if it danced naked in front of you," scoffed Remus, grinning at the knowledge that this would infuriate Sirius.
"Take that back!" shouted Sirius.
"I won't," stated Remus, lounging back in his chair leisurely, the epitome of carelessness.
"I have thought of plenty of good pranks!" said Sirius haughtily.
"Name one," challenged Remus. As Sirius began to speak, he interrupted, "That neither James or Peter or I have helped with."
For a long moment, Sirius thought. Finally, he gave up and admitted defeat. Remus crowed in victory; Sirius sulked.
"Fine. I see how it is. Obviously my genius is unappreciated by you two," Sirius said, turning his nose up in the air. Remus and I howled in laughter at his attempt in being snooty.
"Sorry Padfoot, but you just don't do the Bellatrix act very well," I said. Sirius looked horrified at being put in the same sentence as his despicable cousin. He snapped out of it after I threw a couple of Chocolate Frogs at him, though.
"Hey!" Sirius shouted as the Frogs pelted him in the head. He grabbed a handful from the pile on my bedside (tokens from well-wishers) and tossed them in my direction.
Remus was torn between which side to help so he compromised by throwing Fizzing Whizbees at the both of us.
Soon, an all-out war was going on, and unfortunately the resulting shouts were enough to make Madam Blitzer come tearing out of her office. Her mouth dropped open in shock as she took in the current state of her beloved Hospital Wing: candy was flung everywhere, some half-opened and splattered on the walls, while three boys stared innocently up at her as the chocolate smeared all over their faces and hair incriminated them.
I geared myself up for an explosion, and I wasn't disappointed. Madam Blitzer started shooing the two visiting Marauders out of the Hospital Wing, waving her arms like a windmill and chasing them out. Before he was kicked out Sirius whispered in my ear, "Don't worry, Prongs, mate. We'll have you out from under this madwoman in a jiffy. See you in the common room at eight-thirty."
After Madam Blitzer calmed down and cleaned up the remains of our candy war (all the while shooting dirty glances at me) she left and I was the only occupant of the empty Hospital Wing once more. I was left with anticipation for the coming night and a great sense of loneliness.
scene change James' PoV
Exactly two hours later the empty Hospital Wing was filled with loads of injured people streaming in endlessly. I grinned as I noticed that all the victims of Remus' brilliant plan were Slytherins (most likely Sirius' contribution to the prank). It was all I could do to hold in my laughter as I saw Slytherins crawling, slithering, hobbling, and even flapping into the beds. For Sirius and Remus had transformed the fifth, sixth, and seventh year Slytherins into various animals – or rather parts of them.
I saw one Slytherin who had taunted Peter last week come into the Hospital Wing with a mottled purple face, hooves attached to the limbs, and feathers sprouting out of the head. Regulus Black was having a rather hard time walking as he had one spotted chicken leg and one dolphin flipper. He also had great wings of a hippogriff sprouting out of his back.
Slytherins of all kinds were filling up all the beds, and since the damage was semi-permanent they had to stay in the Hospital Wing until Madam Blitzer made the antidote.
Needless to say, one healed Gryffindor was released since Severus Snape needed the bed so he could get rid of the lion body and feelers crowning his head.
I forced myself to walk calmly out the Hospital Wing doors even though I felt like jumping for joy (which I did the instant I closed the doors behind me).
A wide grin spread itself over my face as I thought gratefully about the brilliant friends I had. I looked down at my watch, and found that I would be slightly late to our late night adventure if I didn't hurry. I took off at a sprint down the empty corridors, headed to the Shrieking Shack where I knew Moony and Padfoot would be waiting.
end scene
A/N: Sorry for the slight delay. Review please! Thank you!
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