Harry Potter and the Elements of Surprise
Chapter 7: Recoveries and Action
The group landed in the Hospital Wing. They all managed to keep their feet, except for Harry, who dropped to his knees in a coughing fit.
A Healer was immediately at his side, hands moving swiftly to assess the damage done to him. Seconds later, Harry was helped from the floor and, leaning heavily on the Healer, he was assisted into bed. Three more Healers came to help the first one.
Harry gave a soft, crooked smile, as Ginny's face suddenly appeared over his own. Reaching a shaking hand up to her face, he softly, lovingly, stroked her cheek and murmured, "My love."
And then, the world went back.
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Blaise walked softly into the curtained off area around the bed. Mike Potter lay on the bed, looking, for all purposes, like he was dead.
Stepping up beside the bed, Blaise softly stroked the hair from his face. Quietly pulling up a chair, she sat on the edge, holding Mike's hand in her own.
"Hello, Mike Potter," she said softly, "It's me, Blaise-well, Snake." A soft smile graced her features, "It's weird, I barely now you. But, I've seen you, the way you act so…nice and accepting, even with us Slytherins. Not even Harry trusts Slytherins as much as he does everyone else. I'm…I don't know, itt's like I'm drawn to you by some…unexplainable force."
She gave a soft, wry smile, "I have no clue why I'm even saying this. It's not like you can hear me, and even if you could, I doubt it would matter. I mean, look at you! You're extremely handsome, charming, kind, a little wacky-but hey, who isn't?- and, you have the best smile!"
During her little "speech", Blaise's eyes had been locked on her and Mike's entwined hands. As it was, she had missed his eyes fluttering open when she'd begun to talk. As she spoke, a small grin was slowly growing across his face.
Blaise gave a soft laugh, "And then you see me-"
"A beautiful, intelligent young woman, who's survived so much of life's bull shit with her smile and kindness in tact." Mike interrupted, gazing softly into her startled, raised eyes.
"Mike!" she gasped.
Mike laughed, teasingly replying, "Blaise!"
A smile burst onto her face as she exclaimed, "You're awake!"
Mike laughed, before his eyes suddenly softened. Raising a steady hand forward, Mike gently brushed the hair from Blaise's face, saying, "I meant what I said earlier. You are beautiful and intelligent. You have done one of the hardest things someone can ever do- stood firm in your beliefs even though your family's opinion differed. And yet you still live you smile and laugh and crack jokes."
Blaise blushed but smiled. "So you heard what I said, huh?" she asked, blush deepening.
"Every word," Mike murmured, his free hand coming to rest on the nape of his neck, the other still held by Blaise's own.
Blaise smiled sheepishly down at him, eyes bright, missing the mischievous glint in his eyes. Glint twinkling brightly, Mike pulled Blaise down toward him. Blaise's mouth opened to speak, but she never got a word out.
After all, it is hard to talk while you're being kissed.
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Ginny slept fitfully, moving restlessly between Lia and Harry's beds. Her ponytail had been demolished and her waist-length hair fell in tangles down her back. The bags under her eyes were dark purple, and overall, she looked quite haggard.
She sat by Lia's side now, smoothing the hair so much like her husband's off her child's face. As she was doing so, she suddenly remembered an old Muggle song Harry used to sing for the kids. Holding tight to her daughter's hand, she softly began to sing,
"You are my sunshine, my only sunshine,
You make me happy, when skies are gray,
You'll never know dear, how much I love you-"
From the next bed, a hoarse voice croaked out, " So please don't take my sunshine away."
"Harry!" Ginny screamed, a red blur as she raced to his side.
Gripping his hand, Ginny finally let the tears that she'd been bravely trying to hold in fall, "Oh, Harry, my love, I w-was so a-afraid I'd l-l-lost you!"
Ignoring his injuries (as well as Ginny's protests), Harry pulled her onto the bed, snuggling up close to her as he whispered softly, "No worries, my heart, I always find my way home."
Desperately, Ginny clung to her husband's shirt. Breathing in a would-be calm breath, a sob caught in her throat as she recognized the familiar scent of Harry-like earth and rain, with the slightest hint of cologne.
Suddenly, Harry tensed and the arms around her waist tightened. Burying his head in her hair, his muffled voice tentatively asked, "Our Lia?"
The tears welled again in her eyes as she whispered, "It's not good Harry." Sobbing, she gasped out, "They don't think she'll live."
"No," Harry protested in fear and torture, "Not Lia. Not our little girl." His breath caught in his throat and he tearfully begged, "Oh, dear God, please no!"
Ginny hugged him tightly, squashing her face into his chest as her own tears fell. The two cried-one silently, too spent for anything else, the other loudly, wracking sobs like he'd never done before in his life- both for their child who'd barely had the chance to live.
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Harry stood in front of his troops later that day, leaning heavily against Ron. Despite being too weak to even stand on his own, Harry insisted on being there now. Ginny had stayed by Lia's side.
"I want to thank you, all of you, for what you've done. I don't think I've ever been more proud of a group of people in my life. You have all risked yourselves time and again to save someone-be here Muggle or pureblood, man or child. The most recent example was my own rescue," Harry stopped suddenly, closing his eyes tight as he felt the tears prick. Suppressing them with difficulty, he continued, "You are all like a family to me. More so than the blood relatives that I grew up with.
"Because of this, I wanted you all to hear it from me, instead of an unreliable source." This time it was no use suppressing, as the tears flowed stubbornly free, "M-my daughter," a choked breath, "my daughter Lia…is-is dying. They don't think she'll even live through this night."
The silence was complete, as everyone gazed at Harry in horror, making it harder to continue, "As it is…I'm afraid. Please, for the love of God, keep your children close. Please, don't let them out of your sight."
The silence was broken again, but this time by Draco Malfoy. Staring solemnly at the ceiling, his strong voice carried through the Hall as he said, "Dear God, please don't let Lilia die. We need her here. She's our ray of hope, our symbol. But if-if you do-"take" her, please, grant her easy passage through the Gates."
"Amen," People whispered about the room, more than ¾ of them crying unashamedly.
Touched deeply, Harry left the room, his own tears following the no familiar trail of his face.
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Those closest to the Potter family sat a silent vigil that night. Most fell into an uneasy sleep within a few hours, necks hung awkwardly forward in the uncomfortable plastic chairs. Harry, Ginny, Ron, Remus and Mrs. Weasley stayed awake, fearfully watching the slight rise and fall of Lia's chest.
When morning came, however, Lilia Potter was still alive. The doctors said nothing had changed, that her end was still near. But both Harry and Ginny noticed Lia didn't labor for breath quite so hard as before, It wasn't much, but hope was hope.
"She's fighting it," Ginny whispered in breathless hope.
"Of course she is," Harry said tearfully, attempting to joke, "Potters on their own are stubborn as heel, but she's got Weasley in her too!"
"She'll live," Mike said confidently from the doorway of the private room where he was leaning casually against the frame.
Harry stood, staring at his brother with tears falling down his face as he whispered hoarsely, "You're alright."
Make gave a light laugh, with the barest hint of the tears suppressed, and pulled himself away from the door frame. Each one striding forward, the twins met up in the middle of the room, crushing each other tightly in a ferocious hug.
"Thank God," Ginny whispered in soft gratitude, standing to hug her brother-in-law tightly as Harry reluctantly let him go.
"She'll be alright, Ginny," Mike whispered comfortingly in her ear, "She's much too stubborn to let go."
Ginny pulled away, wiping away the stray tears as she gently murmured, "Thank you Mike."
"But how did you wake up? The doctors said their was an almost 0 chance that you ever would." Ron asked, after he, Mrs. Weasley and Remus had all hugged Mike, as the others were still asleep.
"They didn't count on me." Blaise said simply, stepping through the doorway, where she had stood unnoticed, nervously.
Ron blinked his confusion, but Harry voiced his, asking, "What?"
Mike smiled as he lightly pulling Blaise up beside him, answering, "Blaise woke me up."
"But-how?" Remus asked.
Mike laughed, "We don't know! One minute I'm in a coma and she's talking to me, the next I'm awake and talking back!"
The others contemplated this, but Ginny's eyes had zeroed in on the two's clasped hands. She gave an "ooh!" and rushed forward to hug the two of them.
"Oh, Mike, I'm so happy for you!" she said softly.
Mike laughed, hugging her back, before sobering as he said, "The only thing that could make this better would be if my niece were awake to see it."
As one, the three of them turned their eyes to the bed. Each one prayed for the recovery of t he small girl struggling for her life on that bed.
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"Harry!" Hope yelled, slamming into his knees.
Harry smiled, swinging his god-sister/daughter into his arms. Although he'd been awake all day, the fussy Madame Pomfrey as well as his Healers refused to let him out or any children into the Wing.
"Hey, little one" Harry smiled, kissing the crown of her forehead.
Hope gripped him tightly around the neck, burying her face into the hollow there. Harry gripped her back just as tightly, when he suddenly felt tears soaking his skin.
Running a soothing hand down her back, Harry asked, "Hey now. What's wrong, baby?"
Pulling back, Hope sobbed, "I don't want you to leave us!"
"Oh, baby, I'm not leaving." Harry soothed, crushing her in a hug again.
"Promise?" Hope sniffled, staring up at him with teary, hope-filled eyes.
Harry hesitated then sighed and walked over to the couch. Gently pulling Hope away, Harry placed her on the couch, kneeling infront of her.
Brushing away some of the hair from Hope's face, Harry said, 'I'm sorry baby, but I can't promise that. You know I have to fight Daemon, to make sure you're safe."
Hope's eyes flashed with anger and she said sullenly, "I hate him!"
"Me too," Harry agreed, then sighed, "But, you know, baby, even if I do…leave, I'll never truly be gone. I'll always be here, in your heart. And I'll watch over you, protect you, from above. I love you, Hope, and never forget that."
Hope flung herself into Harry's arms, sobbing, "I love you too…Daddy."
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More than half an hour later Hope had fallen asleep. Lifting her gently and carefully, Harry walked with her to her and Lia's room. Tucking her in, he pressed a light kiss to her forehead.
Walking back into the hall, he headed towards his and Ginny's room. Reaching the doorway, he heard the sudden cry of his son. Ginny immediately threw back the covers and stood, but Harry moved forward and pushed her back onto the bed.
"I'll go. You sleep." He said firmly, kissing her soundly.
Leaving a dazed Ginny in their room, he stepped back into the hall. Walking down to his son's room, he gently pushed open the door, stepping inside.
The room was small, done in a soft blue with silver stars and moons on the ceiling. The same dark brown wood crib and rocking chair set used when Lia was a baby was against one wall. A medium sized changing table and a small bookcase took up another. Toys and teddy bears were scattered haphazardly about the room.
"Hey, little man," Harry greeted, gently lifting James into his arms, "What's the matter Jamie-boy?"
James' crying stopped and he stared up at his father. Gurgling happily, the month old baby reached for his father's face.
Harry smiled and walked to the rocking chair. Sitting down, he cuddled the little boy into him. James grabbed a fistful of Harry's shirt, gumming it happily.
Harry laughed, "Thanks for the spit, little man."
Suddenly, Harry sighed, saying softly, "You know, I really don't want to go, not now. Your mother and I have known each other for years, but we've only been together for nearly two. Your sister Hope-and don't you let anyone ever tell you she's not just because the two of you don't have the same DNA- is old enough to remember me even if I do go. Lia, if she-if she lives, will at least have the vaguest memories of me. But you-you'll never remember me, no matter how much you hear about me, or the number of times you look at my picture. You won't remember that I love you so much I'd rather die than see you in pain. You'll know of course, because someone will tell you. Because, my darling boy, your mother will always be around for you. I promise you, that if I do get killed, I'll take him with me. You'll never be alone, my baby, I promise. Even if I can't be here to help your mom raise you and your sisters, I'll rid the world of Daemon, so you can be safe."
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Ginny leaned tiredly against Hermione's shoulder. Despite her shock at the news, Hermione immediately pulled the younger woman against her. The two were in Harry and Ginny's room, as Harry had left to talk with the Elementals and Mrs. Weasley was sitting with Lia.
"What am I going to do Herms? Lia's in the hospital, James is still so young, and Harry's so determined to get Daemon-more than he ever was to get Voldemort. And do I really want to do this? To endanger another life?"
"Oh my God Ginny, you don't mean-" Hermione said, horrified as she pulled away.
"No! No! I'm just…really scared." She sniffled slightly then met her friend's eyes, "How do I tell him Herms? Everything's so much worse lately, and he already worries so much. Oh, god Hermione, how am I going to tell Harry I'm pregnant?"
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A/N- Muahhahahaha! Lolz, I'm kinda mean ain't I? Lolz. But, see, I'm better with updating! Which reminds me, I'm going to try as hard as I can to get this story finished this week 'cause I want it done before HBP comes out and I'm going away next week. Plus, there's another 6th year story I've been working on that I want to atleast start before HBP comes out.
Thanks,again, to bleddingblack rose, again my only reviewer, despite the like 10 hits!- thank you, for your well wishes to my nana, I'll be sure to pass them on.
Next chap will be up either tomorrow or the day after. Catch ya on the flipz.
'My luv,
Red.