Chapter 6 – Miracles
Mr. Weasley was leaning against the door. Mrs. Weasley was hugging Ron. Lupin was sitting by Luna. They all stood/sat there in disbelief. Tears were streaming down each and everyone's face as they all knew the dangers ahead and behind.
"Isn't Voldemort going to come in here?" Harry dared to ask in a whisper.
"No… he can't. The walls of this castle have been enchanted to keep any of Voldemorts followers and him out." Mr. Weasley said. "They thought it best because they are still going to have school this year. They figured that Hogwarts is the safest place in the wizarding world."
"But can't he un-enchant it?" Harry asked. "I mean he is Voldemort."
"No they made it so he couldn't. It's like a barrier, they try to get in and they are blown several feet back."
"Poor Malfoy." Hermione said sarcastically, trying to lighten the mood. "It should be interesting."
"Yeah, he'll be blown on his bloody a…" Ron just received a smack in the head from his mother. Then he added very weakly. "…butt for once."
"Hey, remember that time I punched him." Hermione asked.
"Yeah, that was bloody brilliant." Ron said.
As the two of them lightened the mood about old memories Harry slid across the floor to Lupin and Luna.
"How's she doing?" Harry asked.
"Fine, how are you, Harry?" Lupin asked a hint of concern in his voice.
"I'm good. I'm not the one lying unconscious." He replied.
"No your not but you were just brutally attacked by the Dark Lord." Lupin said trying to look Harry in the eye but he just looked at Luna, trying to hold back more tears.
"Harry…" Lupin slid over to sit next to him. "Harry, it's not your fault…" Harry looked up into Lupins eyes in confusion. "It's not your fault that Sirius, Moody, and others died."
Harry slowly nodded his head, "Yes, yes it is. They died trying to protect me …"
"No, they were in his way. They were trying to protect the whole wizarding world."
Harry couldn't say anything. He just sat there and looked at Luna's face. She looked pale. Then Harry spoke in a whisper, "Shouldn't we take her somewhere? Get her some help, that's an awful big gash on her head."
"Yeah, Madame Pomfrey should be here by now."
"Good." Harry said then went to pick her up.
"NO!" Lupin said sharply. "Let me, you are hurt and you could use a once over too."
"Yeah I guess so." Harry could feel the soreness again, he hadn't felt it due to the excitement going on.
They headed up the great halls stairs then up to the second floor. They headed in the direction of the Hospital wing. Harry was amazed at how effortlessly Lupin carried Luna up the stairs. When they reached the door they knocked first, they were relieved when they heard footsteps coming towards the door.
"Yes…" They heard Madame Pomfrey say as she opened the door. "…who is it…Oh, hello Lupin. Mr. Potter." She didn't seem to notice that Luna was in Lupins arms and that Harry was barely able to stand. "What happened?"
"Voldemort." Was all Lupin said as he stepped through the door, Harry followed behind.
From the look on Madame Pomfrey's face they could tell she understood and was following closely behind. "Well give me all the details." As Lupin walked away with her he explained everything. Harry stayed and laid in the bed next to Luna.
"Well Mr. Potter seems like you have started the year on a rather sticky note." Madame Pomfrey said while returning with a green bottle. She poured what was in the bottle into a cup for him to drink. It glopped out into the cup, turns out it wasn't the bottle that was green it was the substance in it. "Here drink this." She said while shoving the glass under his nose.
Harry nearly barfed at the smell of it. But he took it and forced it down, he decided that this was worse then the bone growing substance he had to consume a couple years back. "Now lie down and get some rest, it sounds like you had a hard night."
"What about Luna?"
"Don't worry about her Mr. Potter she should be fine. Now get some sleep." She said firmly. Harry laid back and closed his eyes, he heard her walk off and waited a while then sat up in his bed. Too much had happened for him to sleep.
He got up and walked over to the window he looked out across the green grass and he could just see the pond from the window. Then he heard a noise and turned around. It was Luna she was shifting in her bed, she's waking up! Harry thought. He walked over to her bad and looked at her.
She slowly started to open her eyes. "…harry…" she said in a faint whisper.
"Yes, it's me." He answered. She didn't answer she closed her eye's again soon she was asleep. Harry couldn't blame her he decided to lay down to. "good night." He said and then lay down and closed his eyes.
Harry slowly opened his eyes. Everything was a blur. He reached over and picked up his glasses that were on the table. The Hospital Wing?…then the events from the days earlier came flooding back. Voldemort had come back and attacked him and Luna. Luna! At that thought he whipped around but her bed was empty.
"HARRY!" at the sound of his name he whipped around in the other direction. It was Hermione and Ron. They came almost running towards Harry. "We were so scared you would never wake up." Hermione said while sitting on the edge of Harry's bed.
"What do you mean, Hermione?"
"Well you slept through the first couple of days of school."
"You should see it, the school has hardly any students and we aren't doing school work this year." Ron added excitedly.
"Yeah there is like two people from Slytherin here." Hermione added.
"How's Luna, where is she?" Harry asked. Ron and Hermione were shocked that Harry had completely brushed off what they said and asked about Luna.
"Well she woke up a couple hours after you brought her here, she took some medicine slept for the night and left the next morning." Hermione said.
"Oh…okay." Harry said. "So I missed it, did Malfoy fly?" Ron and Hermione smiled and looked at each other. "Well…"
"No he didn't even bother to come…" Ron said. Hermione finished his sentence, "…but Crabbe and Goyle did and they were so stupid they tried to get in the school over and over again."
"It was bloody brilliant I tell you what." Ron added while having fits of giggles.
"Ron! …Well I guess it was funny." Hermione said trying to suppress a smile.
"Well, when can I go?" Harry asked putting on a huge fake smile.
"Well, we don't know. You've been asleep for a while, I thought you were in a coma." Hermione said.
"Yeah, we thought you were in a coma." Ron added trying to sound brilliant.
Hermione leaned in and whispered, "It took me three days to get the concept of a coma through his head." Harry laughed while Ron shot Hermione a look. "What…well it did." She started to laugh as well.
Just then Madame Pomfrey walked in, "Well Mr. Potter, I'm glad to see you finally awake. You had us all quite worried, we didn't know exactly what Voldemort had done to you."
"Well, I am felling really, pretty much better now." Harry said reassuringly.
"I'll give you a look. Then I'll tell headmaster, he's wanted to speak with you."
"Dumbledore!... but I thought…." He looked up and Ron and Hermione who had smiles on their faces, they were slowly shaking their heads up and down.
"He made it Harry, he made it." Hermione said.
"He's a strong man, that Dumbledore." Madame Pomfrey said.
"When can I see him?" Harry asked.
"Right now if you like." It came from o voice near the door.
"PROFESSOR! What…how did y…why!"
"No questions now please, first and foremost we must worry about your health." Dumbledore said.
"But I'm fine! Plea…" Harry said. He was interrupted by Dumbledore, who said, "NO! No questions…please…"
Harry met is gaze. His eyes were pleading with him not to ask anymore. Harry understood and didn't ask another question, so he decided to change the subject.
"So when do I get out of here?" Harry asked.
"As soon as Madame Pomfrey says you can." Madame Pomfrey noted the hint that Dumbledore had dropped and added. "Well, you seem fine to me. You can go as soon as your ready."
An hour later Harry was stepping out of the Hospital Wing wit Ron and Hermione. They stepped into the hallway. When Harry was in the hall he took in the scenery. The walls were still old and were filled with moving pictures. Harry took in the scent, the smell of old bricks and books. The smell of potions being brewed in some far off place. He took in the statues, the moving stairs, and the long hallways. He took in everything that had to deal with where he was from…everything that had to deal with his home.
They walked own to the great hall. Ron had suggested getting some late lunch because it was now three and they were quite hungry, especially Harry who hadn't eaten in forever. As he ate his warm meal, and drank his pumpkin juice he thought about the events that had happened over the pats couple of days.
Voldemorts back. Dumbledore is ALIVE! I'm alive. Luna's okay, but why wasn't she there. Why should I care if she wasn't there or not? If she wasn't there she wasn't there, I have no special connection with her like Ron or Hermione. But I wanted… her… there. No stop it, she was there for me all summer then she doesn't show up after an encounter like that?
"What's up mate?" Ron asked, interrupting his thoughts. Harry looked up from where he was staring at his plate. Ron was looking at him with a questioning look. "What's so interesting on your plate?"
"Nothing, I'm just thinking."
"About what?" He asked.
"Nothing, it's stupid…really." Harry went back to staring at his plate and missed Hermione giving Ron a sharp look. Ron shrugged is shoulders and went back to eating his supper. Harry slowly stood up from the table and I think I'm going to go to the common room and lay down."
"Would you like us to come with you?" Hermione asked.
"No, you stay here and finish eating, I think I'm going to take Hedwig out."
"Tell Snape." Hermione added before Harry turned to leave. Tell Snape?
"What do you mean tell Snape?" Harry asked.
"He's supposed to watch over you when you go out on the school grounds. You also need to talk to him about blocking out those dreams of yours."
Harry groaned inside. He remembered last year when he had to go to weekly sessions. He had to block out dreams, visions, which Voldemort had. It was those dreams that got his Godfather, Sirius, killed at the Ministry last year. Harry had also snuck a glance at Snapes most vulnerable, personal, thoughts and learned that his father was a bully to Snape and that Lily, Harry's mother, seemed repulsed by the very site of him. He blocked the thoughts running through his head out.
"Maybe I'll just let her fly out the window."
"You can't put seeing Snape off." Hermione said sternly.
"I know I just don't want to now." Harry added. Snape was Harry's least favorite teacher at the school, well except for last year when toad lady from the ministry came to take over. The ministry had sent her because they didn't think Dumbledore was fit to run the school anymore. Of course it didn't help that Harry was already on the ministry's bad side due to the attack that happened in the alleyway in London, she was present during the trial. She kept getting special notices that allowed her control over certain things until at last she had complete control over Hogwarts.
Snape had always been Harry's least favorite teacher because it was as though Harry was his least favorite student. He had never given him any special attention that everyone else had, even though he didn't even like the attention that much. Snape also looked for ways to get Harry in trouble. He never let Harry off of the hook because of what his father did to him when he was in school.
"Okay, but be sure to soon. Okay." Hermione looked at him with concern in her eyes.
"I will, I just don't want to put up with Snape today. Tomorrow, I promise." Harry said, letting Hermione know that he understood. Hermione smiled to Harry, and to herself, and then turned back to her lunch.
Harry stepped out of the great hall. He walked up the stairs and went to the fat lady's portrait. Oh know I don't know what the password is. He sat down under the portrait, is legs held against his chest. He laid his head on his knees and closed his eyes. HE heard footsteps coming but didn't bother to look up.
"D.A." he heard the voice say.
"What." Harry said.
"D.A., that's the password." He looked up to see Hermione standing in front of him.
"What are you doing here? I thought you were going to eat your lunch." Harry asked confused.
"I was but then I remembered you didn't know the password and I also knew you wouldn't guess the D.A. I suggested it. I thought it would be appropriate."
Harry thought about last year when the D.A. was formed. The D.A. stood for Dumbledores Army. It was a secret group Harry, Hermione, and Ron had set up in order to learn spells to defend themselves from Voldemort. Harry felt so happy then seeing everyone trying and seceding at the spells he had taught them.
"Yeah, sounds great." Harry said with a big smile. Hermione smiled back.
They walked into the common room together and sat down on the couch in front of the fire. Once again Harry took in the surroundings. He missed it, he missed the place he called home. It looked the same as always, hadn't changed a bit, which was just how Harry liked it.
Harry didn't seem to notice that Hermione was looking at him. He just kept looking around the room with such excitement, such caring in his eyes. There was a love there deeper than any other before, the feeling of warmth and comfort. "What are you looking so happy about?"
"I'm home, surrounded by the people I care most about." Harry said dreamily.
Harry also did not notice that after he said that Hermione's cheeks flushed a pink color. "Home? Why do you call this place home?"
"Because it's the only place I look forward to going, it's the only place I'm happy, the only place I belong." Harry turned to look at Hermione and looked straight into her eyes. "…the only place I belong…" Harry repeated. He saw tears start to well up in her eyes.
"What's wrong?" He asked confused.
"I just…I just never knew you felt that way. It's so…it's just that…" She looked up a tear streamed down her face. "It's okay, I don't think anyone knew." Harry said while reaching up to gently brush the tear away.
"So what have you been up to?" Harry asked quickly changing the subject. Hermione took the hint and started filling Harry in. They sat there by the fire talking and laughing until it got dark outside.
"I wonder where Ron is?" Harry said.
"I don't know I didn't see him come in." Hermione added.
"Maybe he did but we didn't notice. I'll go check." Harry got up and went to the boy's dormitory. He went over to his bed and sat down. I missed this place so much.
He glanced over to Ron's empty bed. I wonder where he could be. I probably shouldn't have left the great hall, he could be down to the Quidditch pitch. He got up and looked out the window to see if he could get a glimpse of the Quidditch field, but all he could see was the pond. The creature that lived in it had just surfaced the water that was still on it gleamed in the moonlight. It's really dark, I wonder where he is. What if Voldemort got him! OH. MY. GOD!
He ran out of the room and down the stairs. He collided with a figure at the bottom. He fell to the ground and jumped back up again to yell something and take off again when he realized that it was Ron.
"Where were you?" Harry gasped.
"I was with Neville and Seamus." Ron said confused.
"Oh, okay well, you scared me." Harry said looking into his eyes. His tone had dropped a little so only Ron could hear.
"I'm sorry mate, I didn't realize…I'm sorry." Ron said.
"It's okay, it's just that Tonks…Sirius…Moody…almost Dumbledore, I didn't want to lose anyone else."
"I understand." Ron answered.
Harry looked up at Neville and Seamus who looked like they felt out of place. "Hey that goes for you two to!" Harry told them with a smile.
"I've lost to many people I care about, to many friends."
"Okay, we'll try." They answered. "So how was it?"
"What?" Harry asked.
"Your little encounter with Voldemort?" Seamus asked shamelessly.
"Maybe later, don't want to relive it quite yet." Harry said.
"Okay, sorry."
They made there way up the stairs to the boy's dormitory. When they were all settled they heard a frantic tapping at the window. Harry looked out to see Hedwig. When Harry went to open the window Hedwig fell into the room. She was scraped everywhere, and she had a lot of broken feathers. She was gasping for air. Harry saw her grasping a note in her beaten up claw.