Well, this is it. The end of this story. I wanted to get this out before the HBP comes out on the 16th. I can't believe I made it under the wire. Two more days! Thank you to everyone who reviewed. Your kind words are much appreciated. :o)
I am going to edit the entire story again and maybe add stuff and repost on other websites as well as this one. If you wish, please re-read it! Enjoy!
Lisa :o)
The Value of Friendship
By LisaRosa
Chapter 8
Friendships Most Dear
"Harry, it's me, Remus," he said softly, his voice nearly breaking. Lupin laid a hand on the side of Harry's face to turn his feverish eyes toward him. "Stay with us, Harry. Sirius can wait for awhile."
"Sirius?" Harry said in a very weak voice, closing his eyes and losing consciousness once again.
"Harry?" Ron moved from his seat beside Ginny and quickly grabbed his friend's wrist to feel a pulse, albeit a weak one. The redhead sighed in relief and sat on the edge of Harry's bed. Lupin also sighed in relief, letting his head fall in his hands. After a moment, he glanced up Ron.
"I've meant to ask you this, Ron, but... and don't take this the wrong way... but why aren't you sick?"
"I don't know," Ron answered, shrugging, still glancing down at Harry in worry. "I kind of wondered that myself."
Suddenly, Harry sat up with more strength than anyone thought he had and backed up against the headboard, his eyes wide, staring straight ahead. "NO!"
"Harry, what is it!" Remus reached for him, trying to keep the boy from hurting himself. Harry immediately backed off again, nearly falling out of bed. Ron tried to grab him as well, but Harry once again pushed himself further against the headboard of the bed in fright.
"No, you can't! Leave them alone!" Harry shouted as he started to jump off the bed. Remus caught him, subduing him. Both of them fell back on the infirmary bed.
"Harry, calm down! There's nothing there!" the werewolf said loudly over Harry's screams. "Ron, get Madam Pomfrey!"
Ron, still wide eyed, shook himself out of his stunned disbelief and turned to run toward the nurse's office. He didn't have far to go before the woman came running out with a cup in her hand.
"Remus, hold him still!" Pomfrey waited until the man had wrapped his arms around Harry from behind, trapping the boys arms to his sides. "Weasley, hold his head!"
Ron, knowing what the nurse was about to do, grabbed hold of Harry's head and forced his mouth open. Madame Pomfrey poured the sleeping potion down Harry's throat, forcing him to swallow. It was only a few seconds before the boy ceased his screaming and went limp in Remus' arms.
"Thank you, Poppy," Remus gently laid the boy back on the bed and tucked him in. Collapsing exhaustingly into his chair once more, Lupin gazed at Harry anxiously. "What was that? The fever?"
"Yes, a couple of the other students also had delusions as well... right before..." She stuttered to a halt.
"Right before they died," said soft voice behind them. Amanda Andrews slowly walked up to Remus' side, laying a hand on his shoulder. "I'm sorry, Remus. . ."
"He's not dead yet," Remus looked up at her, meeting bright blue eyes.
"Always the optimist. . ." Amanda gave him a sad smile then pulled a chair next to him, glancing briefly at Harry before turning back to Remus. "That was the one thing I liked about you when we were school. You're optimism."
"Harry isn't going to die, Amanda, so please keep your realistic ideas to yourself!" Remus angrily stood and walked away from her to look out a window. The woman bowed her head for a moment before looking up at Ron.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset him," Professor Andrews sighed and stood to leave.
"Professor?" Ron called to her. Amanda turned back to Ron, her blue eyed gaze seeming to stare right through him. He squirmed slightly, feeling uneasy under her eyes. "Professor Lupin isn't normally like this, it's just with Harry and all. . ."
"I understand, Ron," she reassured him, giving him a slight smile. Ron noticed that when she smiled, it was always gentle and never fake. "I've known Professor Lupin since our school days here."
"You did?" Ron stared at her in shock. "Then you knew Sirius and Harry's parents too?"
"Yes, I did, but not very well." Amanda sat down again, glancing at Remus then at Harry before returning her attention to Ron. "I liked being in the background, not bringing too much attention to myself when we were students. I was more like your Hermione." She gestured toward the sleeping girl in the bed behind her.
"Nose always in a book?" Ron smiled at Hermione fondly, thanking every deity that she had made it through the illness. He returned his gaze back to his best friend in the bed. "Harry is like one of my brothers. . . he has to make it. I couldn't stand it if. . ." He tried to swallow the lump in his throat.
"We can hope, Ron. That's all we have." Amanda sighed. "How is your sister?"
"Not much better than Harry," Ron answered, turning to check on Ginny behind him. He could not imagine losing her, losing either of them. Harry and Ginny belonged together. He had known it since the year before. Ginny whimpered in her sleep, turning her face away from Ron.
Ron quickly went to her, sitting on the edge of the bed and picking up the cool cloth to dab at her forehead to help cool her down. "It's all right, Ginny. Ron's here," he said to her comfortingly. Ginny immediately calmed.
&&&&
Remus listened to the conversation, remembering the shy girl that used sit in the window seat of the common room, reading a book that was propped up by her legs. He smiled at the memory of Sirius always trying to get her attention by waving his hands in front of her or calling out to her in a loud voice. Amanda had ignored it all until one day she had closed her book, stood up and looked at Sirius in the face and frankly told him he was making an idiot of himself and if he wanted her attention, all he had to do was ask politely. This had been met with a stunned expression on the then teenager's face. Remus and James had nearly fallen over in their chairs laughing. Sirius never pranked her again and had gained respect for the book enthusiast. For a moment, Remus wondered what Sirius would have done if he had run into the woman she had become.
Lupin was immediately brought out of his reverie when Dumbledore came rushing in. "Remus, gather the teachers and all seventh year students who aren't ill. The Death Eaters are here and we need to mount a defense."
He stared at the headmaster in shock. "How? The barriers. . ."
"Are down," Dumbledore finished for him. "I don't know how. " He took a quick glance at Harry. "If Voldemort is with them, he'll go for Harry first. We can't let that happen." He paused for a moment. "How is Harry?"
"Not good," Remus answered, his face filled with worry. "Not long ago Poppy had to dose him with a sleeping potion. The fever reducing potion isn't working either. He's in bad shape, Albus. Severus is still working on the cure down in the dungeons."
"So much depends on Harry. . ." Dumbledore murmured before sighing and turning back to Lupin. "He's strong, Remus, but I wonder if it's all been too much. Harry has dealt with burdens no child his age should have to shoulder."
"His friends are here, Professor," Ron spoke up suddenly as he walked up to join them. "He has us to lean on and I won't let him forget it."
The boy's determination gave Remus a small bit of hope. Harry considered his friends his family and would listen, even in the state he was in.
"Thank you, Mr. Weasley. Remus, Amanda, shall we go?" Dumbledore started for the door. Remus took one last look at Harry then left, followed closely by Professor Andrews.
&&&&
Ron listened to the battle waging outside, his insides turning at the thought of who might be lost on their side. Madame Pomfrey was checking over Harry once more, a sad expression on her face which alarmed Ron.
"What is it?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"It's nothing, dear," she answered Ron softly before giving Harry a kiss on the forehead.
"Tell us the truth, Madame Pomfrey, please?" Hermione pleaded from where she was propped up in her bed.
"It won't be much longer," she finally said after a brief moment of consideration. "He's dying, and I'm not sure if Professor Snape can come up with a cure in time."
"No!" Ron shouted grabbing hold of Harry's hand. "Harry, don't you listen to her, you hear me!"
"Mr. Weasley, please lower your voice!" the nurse chastised him in a loud whisper.
Hermione struggled to get out of bed, tears flowing down her cheeks. Leaning on her bed table then a chair next to Harry's bed where she sat down heavily then grabbed hold of Harry's other hand. "Harry, stay, please," she begged, holding his hand against her cheek briefly before holding it tightly in her own.
Madame Pomfrey choked back a sob and walked swiftly to her office.
Ron held out his free hand to Hermione who grabbed it, completing the link between the three of them, the trio that had been through so much in their years at Hogwarts.
"Harry? Ron and I are here, you're not alone," Hermione reassured her ill friend, trying keep her voice steady.
"She's right, Mate," Ron joined in, moving to sit on the edge of Harry's bed. "You're not alone. You can't leave us."
Harry's head moved slightly to one side, his lips forming a word that they could not hear. Ron moved his ear closer to Harry's mouth. When he caught what Harry was saying, his face turned to anguish.
"What is it?" Hermione asked desperately.
"He's calling for Sirius," Ron answered softly, swallowing hard. He turned back to Harry. "Remus was right, Harry, Sirius can wait. Stay with us, please."
&&&&
"Sirius? Where are you?" Harry called out in the mists surrounding him. He knew he was dying, he could feel it. It meant he was free. . . free to be with his parents and Sirius again. Sighing in frustration, he looked around again, trying to see thru the gray mist.
"Sirius! Where. . .?" He stopped in mid-sentence, feeling the cold chill that signaled a Dementor was near. "No, not here. . ."
Turning quickly around he saw the, flowing black, tattered cloaks, gliding not toward him, but toward his friends who were all, suddenly, standing a few feet away. "No! You Can't! Leave them Alone!"
Harry tried over and over to conjure a Patronus but to no avail. He screamed and tried to reach them, but the mists surrounding him clawed as his arms and legs, holding him back. He screamed again then saw his world go black.
"Harry?" Someone was calling to him, a familiar voice. "Harry, wake up."
"Who's there?" Harry slowly opened his eyes and saw a sight that overjoyed him. "Sirius!"
&&&&
"Someone should fetch Professor Lupin," Hermione suggested through her tears.
"I'll do it." Ron stood, giving his friend one last look. Hermione quickly reached for Ron's hand kissing the back of it.
"Be careful, I love you," she said softly. Ron, shocked by this admission, leaned down and gave her a kiss on the forehead before running out the infirmary door.
&&&&
The fighting was terrible, but so far they had only seen Death Eaters and no sign of Voldemort, which Remus thought very strange. Something was telling him that he needed to get back to Harry. Something was not right here.
"Remus!" shouted someone near him as he cast a last stunning spell then a binding spell at a Death Eater. "Watch out!" He quickly turned and saw another Death Eater aiming at him. "Stupefy!"
The man went down, out cold. Remus quickly cast the binding spell, wrapping him in tight cords. "Rather uncivil of you," he quipped at the unconscious man.
"Are you all right?" Amanda walked up to him, disheveled and out of breath.
"Yes, thanks to your warning." He put a hand on her shoulder. "How are the others doing?"
"Not so well," she answered, looking around at the Ministry and Order members still fighting. "How did Voldemort recruit so many in so little time?"
"Like he always does." Remus sighed, feeling exhausted. There were so many of Voldemort's men and so few of theirs.
"I think I have an idea, Remus," she said softly, looking out onto the grounds. "Get everyone back to the castle."
"What?" Remus was sure she had lost her mind. "What are you going to do?"
"Watch," she said simply, rushing toward the remaining fighters.
Remus just watched as she stopped and closed her eyes a moment before she started to grow taller and her skin turned dark. In the days to come, Remus knew he would remember what came next.
The woman's body began to expand, growing ever taller. Her face became reptilian, elongating into a snout out of which grew fangs. A tail grew next along with wide leathery, bat like wings from her back. Remus stood in shock at the scaled creature overshadowing all. A dragon, a very large Hebridean Black dragon. The creature's roar reverberated loud enough that the entire group of human's below her covered their ears. The Death Eaters began to flee in terror when she squelched one under a large clawed foot. Her spiked tail took out another group of Death Eaters behind her.
As it became apparent the beast was not on their side, the Death Eaters made a run for it, heading toward the gates.
Shaking himself out of his shock, Remus ran up to Dumbledore who was staring up at the transformed Astronomy professor.
"Amanda, I think that's quite enough showing off for one day!" the headmaster shouted up at her, the corners of his mouth twitching. She looked down at him with brilliant purple eyes then blinked before starting to shrink.
"Did you know she could do that?" Remus asked, amazed, still watching the creature as it shrank back down to a human female.
"Yes, I did," Albus smiled slightly as he and Remus ran up to her. Amanda stood before them, exhausted, starting to fall toward the ground.
"Told you I could be full of surprises. . ." she said softly before her eyes rolled back in her head as she lost consciousness.
Albus caught her, gently lowering her to the ground. "Always one to show off new skills," he said, shaking his head. "She shouldn't have tried it no matter how well it worked."
Others were coming up to them, wondering what to do now that the fighting was over.
"Kingsley and I will take them to Azkaban, Dumbledore," Moody said, kicking the nearest bound Death Eater.
"Thank you, Alastor. Where are Tonks and Professor McGonagall?" He searched the surrounding area.
"Helping the students that were hurt," Answered Kingsley, magically dragging a few of the prisoners behind him.
"Good, then all is in order with one exception." Albus stood, conjuring a stretcher and laying the unconscious woman on it as it hovered above the ground. "Where are Voldemort and his main guard?"
"I don't like this, Dumbledore, not at all," Moody mutter, searching the grounds again. "Voldemort wouldn't miss this chance."
"No, he wouldn't and that is what is worrying me." Dumbledore made a gesture and they headed back up to the castle.
&&&&
Sirius took Harry in his arms, holding the overwhelmed boy close.
"So when do my parents get here?" Harry asked excitedly, looking around them.
"They're not coming, Harry, not yet at any rate," Sirius answered, stepping back from Harry. "I'm just here to guide you back to where you belong with your friends and family."
"No. . ." Harry shook his head. "I'm dying, Sirius. I heard Madame Pomfrey say it."
"You still have a chance, Harry. You need to go back and live a very long life before you can follow your parents and I. We want you to have the life we should have had if it hadn't been for Voldemort. More than anyone, you deserve that at least." Sirius leaned against a wall, his arms folded in front of him.
"But what if I don't want to go back?" Harry said softly, his eyes dropping toward his feet.
"You don't mean that," Sirius answered, tilting Harry's chin to meet his sad eyes.
Harry sighed and turned away. "No, I don't really, but it's been so hard, Sirius. . . After you died."
"You have your friends, Harry. They're your family too." Sirius bumped Harry's shoulder in a teasing manner. Harry could not agree more, but at the same time he wanted his real family. He felt torn.
"Remember when I told you your grandparents sort of adopted me like a second son?" Sirius put his hands on Harry's shoulders.
Memories of his time with Sirius came to mind; the both of them talking about the Black and Potter families in front of the Black family tree. Harry smiled.
"Yeah, I do. They were great people, weren't they?"
Nodding, Sirius smiled and good naturedly put an arm around Harry's shoulders. "The Weasleys and Hermione are very much like them. That is the value of good friendships, Harry. They become family; brothers, sisters, parents, grandparents. Don't give up on them."
Just as he was about to say more, Harry froze as he heard a very familiar and very unwelcome voice.
"Hello, Potter."
Turning around slowly, Harry felt his blood freeze. It was Voldemort, his red eyes fixed on his nemesis.
&&&&
Ron was out of breath as he ran into Dumbledore and the others in the Entrance Hall. "Professors. . ." Ron took a deep breath. "Come quickly. . . it's Harry."
Lupin felt his heart drop into his stomach, the last hour out on the school grounds forgotten. He rushed pass Ron, taking the stairs two at a time, but when he reached the Hospital Wing door, he hesitated. Did he really want to see if Harry was gone. It would make the nightmare true. Taking a deep breath, gathering what Gryffindor courage he could, Remus opened the door. He found Hermione sitting in a chair, holding Harry's hand, tears flowing down her cheeks, and Madame Pomfrey trying to cool the boy down with a cold cloth on his forehead.
Remus willed his feet to move, taking a few steps toward his charge. "Poppy?"
The nurse straightened and gave the professor a heartbroken expression. "Remus, let's go into my office." She held out a hand for him to follow, like she had so many times before when he was student and she led him to the Shrieking Shack to transform.
With the gentleness he remembered, Poppy sat him down in a chair in her office before taking the one in front of him. Reaching for his hand, she began to tell him her opinion on Harry's condition.
"Remus, I'm not going to lie to you," she said gently, trying to catch his eyes with hers. "Harry is not good and Severus is a long way from a cure. The fever is so high that it's taking what strength he has left to survive this."
"So. . . he's dying?" he asked in a broken voice.
"Yes, I'm afraid so." Poppy's own voice sounded like it was being pulled from her, like she did not want to say the words.
The tears fell down his face to drop on their joined hands. The very last of his friends and a boy he had come to think of as he own was dying. A void in his heart threatened to open into a chasm.
&&&&
Before Harry could move, he saw Sirius block the path between him and Voldemort.
"You can't save him, Black. Leave us. Go back to the death you so richly deserved." Voldemort's voice came out in slight hisses as he seemed to walk a little closer.
"He's going back, Tom, where he belongs and I'm staying to make sure that happens." Sirius remained steadfast. Harry tried to peer around Sirius' shoulder but the man pushed him behind again.
The use of his real name infuriated the man. Raising his hand, he made a gesture toward the pair. Harry's head exploded in pain. Screaming, the boy fell to the floor. He had felt the pain in his scar before but nothing like this.
"Harry!" he heard Sirius scream, clutching at him. "Harry! Don't let him. . ." his godfather started to say, but the arms left him. Opening his eyes painfully, Harry saw Sirius flung into the mists surrounding them.
"No, Sirius!" Harry tried to reach out, tried to follow, but the pain was increasing.
"Now, Harry, it's time for you to die!"
&&&&
Remus sat on the edge of Harry's bed, holding the boy's hand, a finger on the pulse point in Harry's wrist. His heartbeat was slowing, Remus could tell, but still there, still alive. Despite the nurse's words to him earlier, it gave Remus a small mediocre of hope.
"Harry, you can't leave us," he whispered to the boy, trying not to wake Ron and Hermione who were sleeping in the next bed, holding each other. Normally, Remus thought, he would have woken the two up and moved them to separate beds, but in these circumstances, he would allow it. They needed each other as much as all of them needed Harry.
"Remus?" asked a soft voice behind him. Lupin turned around to find Molly Weasley standing next to him, tears flowing down her cheeks.
"Molly? When did you get here?" Remus rubbed at his eyes with his free hand.
"A few minutes ago. Dumbledore told us that Harry. . ." she let out a sob, bringing a hand up to cover her mouth.
"He's still with us, Molly." Remus gestured for the woman to take the chair beside the bed. "How is Ginny?"
More tears fell down from Mrs. Weasley's eyes. "Not good. Not as bad as Harry, but still not good." She looked over at her daughter who was sleeping in the bed on the other side of Harry.
"She's a strong girl," Remus tried to smile. "Just like her mother."
Molly had to smile tremulously at this too. She liked to think that Ginny took after her. Both adults were quiet for awhile then Remus sat up straight, taking Harry's wrist more firmly in his hand.
"No. . Harry. . ." Tears poured down his face.
"Remus, please don't tell me. . ." Molly begged, shaking her head. "Please. . ."
"Harry, no. . ." Lupin picked the boy up in his arms rocking him back and forth.
&&&&
"You can't have him!"
Ginny? Harry could only turn his head a little but it was enough for him to see the bright red hair of the girl he had come to know. . . to love. At the thought, he felt the pain increase, but instead of the screams coming from him, they came from Voldemort.
"Stop it!" the Dark Lord screamed, clutching at his head.
"Stop what. . .?" Harry sat up slowly, his head and body still ringing with the pain, but that was slowly fading. He turned to Ginny whose eyes were sad and desperate.
"Harry, let's go back." She knelt beside him, and then tried to help him stand.
"Back where?" Harry was confused, gazing at Voldemort who was slowly recovering.
"Home," Ginny answered, supporting Harry as he stood. "To your family, my family."
"Sirius. . ." Harry felt like he was in a daze. He turned in the direction he had seen Sirius disappear.
"Sirius would understand. He wants you to live." Ginny tried to pull Harry away. "Come on, Harry, let's go!"
The desperation in her voice made Harry once again glance at the Dark Lord. The wizard was on his feet again, his lips moving in a curse that struck Harry ripping into soul.
Harry was screaming once again, and Ginny's screams began to grow distant.
"Harry, I love you," came a soft, familiar voice close to his ear. "But it's not time for you to come to us."
"Mum?" Harry struggled to open his eyes, but only caught a glimpse of auburn hair. "Please. . ."
"Your father and I love you, Harry, but we can wait. Go with Ginny." The boy felt a whisper of a hand on his cheek. A sense of being loved and cared for filled him, erasing the pain. He quickly opened his eyes with his renewed strength, but no one was there, except Ginny, her hand on his cheek, tears in her eyes.
"Harry, look at Voldemort!" She turned to look behind him. Harry turned as well. Voldemort was retreating, limping away with moans of pain. "You won."
"No, not yet." Somehow Harry knew it was not over.
"Let's go home, Harry." Ginny stood, holding out her hand to him. Standing with her help, Harry once again glanced around.
"I thought I heard my mum," he said, his gaze turning back to the girl next him.
"No one was here but us and Voldemort." Ginny took his hand.
Sighing, Harry took her in his arms. "Thank you for you did. If you hadn't come for me. . ." He stopped mid-sentence to stare at her in worry. "What are you doing here? You can't be dead!" Harry clutched onto her.
"No, I'm not dead," Ginny reassured Harry, holding him closer. "I don't feel dead at any rate." Harry took her face in his hands, searching her eyes.
"I'm not going back without you, Ginny." He took her hand in determination, looking for a way back to the living.
&&&&
"Remus, lay him down," someone urged him a few moments after he could no longer feel Harry's pulse. Remus did not want to listen. He wanted to hold on.
"Remus, he can't breathe!" Finally the words sunk in. Breathing? Remus quickly laid Harry back down on the bed. Laying a hand on his chest, the werewolf wilted in relief. The boy was breathing, if only weakly. He turned to find Madame Pomfrey standing next to him. "Sorry, Poppy," he said, rubbing his eyes in exhaustion.
"That's quite all right, but you need to rest, Remus, and it seems our Mr. Potter is as strong as his friends say." Madame Pomfrey looked down at Harry fondly. The boy's face was covered in sweat, and the ashen color it had only a few moments ago was giving way to a normal color. "His fever has broken and is going down."
"Going down?" he asked in disbelief, glancing from the nurse to Harry and back again.
"Yes, going down," she gave him a smile and a brief hug. "He's going to be fine. Harry beat this on his own."
"Of course he would, he's a Potter." Severus walked in with a potion vile in his hand. "Madame Pomfrey, here is your cure." Snape handed the potion over to the nurse who took it and quickly headed over to the Weasley girl.
Rather than following the nurse, Remus reached out and touched Harry's forehead, feeling that indeed the fever had broke. "You beat it, Harry," he said softly with a tired grin. Coming back to the world around him, Lupin spared a glance over at the bed that contained Ginny Weasley. Arthur and Molly were holding each other in support. Ron and Hermione were holding each other as well, both couples watching in hope as the nurse fed the potion to the youngest girl. Ginny's face was as gray as Harry's had been only a few minutes ago. He returned his tired eyes to his charge, to his surrogate son and thanked every deity he could think of, and one big black dog named Padfoot.
&&&&
Opening his eyes, Harry groaned, feeling every ache and pain in his body. Letting his eyes search the room to his left, he smiled. He was alive and his favorite professor was snoring in the chair next him. Then he turned his head to his right and saw his nightmare coming true. Hermione was sitting there, tears on her cheeks.
"Harry? You're going to be all right." She touched his cheek, giving him a chaste kiss on the forehead. When she pulled away, Harry noticed that her eyes were red and puffy. "I just wish she was here to see you…" Hermione's eyes turned to the bed beside him. When Harry looked as well, he was horrified to see Madam Pomfrey pull a sheet over Ginny's head then back down again to fold it just below her chin then she added a blanket over the girl as well. He breathed a sigh of relief.
"She?" he asked, confused. "Who died?"
"What? No one died, I just meant that I wish Ginny was awake so she could give you a proper greeting," Hermione gave him a teasing smile.
"Then why are you crying?" Harry was completely confused, wondering if the fever had addled his brain and hearing somehow.
"Oh, because Fred and George were just here to see the both of you and started making up jokes to make everyone laugh." Hermione chuckled. "My eyes always tear up when I laugh so hard my sides want to split. The twins said they would be back later when you and Ginny are stronger."
"How's Ginny?" Harry glanced at the sleeping red head again, feeling so relieved that they both made it. It seemed like hours before they finally realized that "other" world of mists was fading. He had not been afraid because he heard Sirius in the distance saying goodbye.
"Much better," Hermione answered. "Her fever broke not long after yours. You both had us very scared." Anxiety showed for a moment on her face.
"What about Wormtail? Did they get him?" Trying to catch up on the news around school. Harry had many questions.
"Yes, we got him and he's being handed over to the Aurors as we speak." Dumbledore walked in the door giving Harry a fond grin. "How are you, Harry."
"Very Tired, but all right, I guess." He tried to sit up but gave it up when his head started to pound. He glanced at the still sleeping Remus Lupin. "Is he okay?"
"Yes, just exhausted. Let him sleep." Dumbledore waved his wand and floated Remus to the vacant bed across from Harry. Lupin curled up around the pillow, snoring again. The headmaster chuckled and took the empty chair.
For the first time, Harry noticed that the ward was nearly empty. "What happened to everyone that was sick?"
"Professor Snape found a cure using Wormtail's blood," Hermione answered before the headmaster opened his mouth. "Voldemort put Chizpurfles on him that would make only the students sick and not the adults. Somehow he charmed a virus into the insects then planted them on the rat. Malfoy brought him."
"That explains how he got sick first then." Harry pondered this.
"Draco has been questioned and has no knowledge of Pettigrew ever being with him, and, with no proof, there is nothing we can do." Dumbledore shrugged.
"But—" Harry started to say but the headmaster raised a hand.
"Harry, there is nothing we can do but watch Mr. Malfoy more closely." He said patiently.
"Yes, sir." Harry sighed in frustration, glancing again at Ginny, feeling very sleepy again.
"We'll leave you to rest, Harry." Dumbledore stood, giving Harry a pat on the hand. "Miss Granger, I suggest you return to your dormitory to rest as well."
"Yes, Professor," she gave in, standing. "Harry? Ron and I will come by later tonight."
Harry nodded, letting his eyes drift close again.
&&&&
The next morning, Harry woke to find Remus, Ron, Hermione and Professor Andrews talking quietly beside him.
"Good Morning, Harry," Remus grinned, moving from the window to sit beside him on the bed. "How are you feeling?"
Harry quickly assessed himself and smiled back weakly. "I feel better than yesterday. I still feel like I could sleep for the next year, though."
"It's to be expected." Remus patted him on the shoulder. "Madame Pomfrey said it may take a few days before you're feeling right again."
"Unless Voldemort decides to attack again. . ." Harry yawned hugely, rubbing his eyes.
"How did you know he attacked?" Lupin asked as everyone listened carefully to the conversation.
Harry thought back, or at least tried to think. His mind was muddled with the positions Madame Pomfrey had given him. He remembered Voldemort trying to kill him, Ginny trying to save him. . .
"When I was with Sirius in the strange place," Harry answered, turning toward his friends. As he told them the story, Ron and Hermione moved closer, the latter put a hand on his arm to comfort him.
"Ginny was with you?" Ron's face went white. "I didn't know she was that close to dying." He turned his head quickly to check on his sister.
"She's fine now, Ron," Professor Andrews assured him. "Harry, was You-Know-Who defeated?"
Harry shook his head. "No, I don't think so. He just seem to walk away. Something was causing him great pain. . ." Harry tried to think about that, to solve the mystery.
"Love is the most powerful force in the world," Amanda said sagely, smiling somewhat.
Blushing, Harry laughed softly. "Yeah, that will do him in all right." He turned to the professors again. "So what happened here? I heard someone say that Death Eaters attacked."
"Yes, they did and it will never happen again. Dumbledore has seen to that," Remus replied with a smile before turning to Amanda again. "And we have our own personal Dragon to insure it as well."
"Dragon?" the students asked in amazement.
"He means me," the woman answered, rolling her eyes. "I'm an Animagus, which was supposed to be a secret." Amanda mock glared at Lupin.
"Does Hagrid know this?" Harry chuckled, teasing.
"Yes, he does and we have an appointment for tea later on after he comes here to visit, Harry. He's been very worried about you." Amanda shifted in her chair to pat Harry on the leg.
"Are you staying?" Harry asked, remembering what Remus had said.
"Yes, I am. I can't very likely go back to my job right now with all the rebuilding in the Department of Mysteries," she responded without thinking.
"You're an Unspeakable?" Hermione inquired, giving her friend in the bed a quick glance. Harry thought he would feel the same sorrow and depression he had been feeling for weeks, but it did not come. Instead he felt at peace with that part of his life. He knew Sirius was watching out for him in his own way.
"Yes, I'm sorry, Harry, I didn't mean to bring up the past." Amanda sighed.
"It's all right. What did you do in the Department of Mysteries?" He changed the subject to relieve the tension that was suddenly in the room.
"Were any of you in the room with all the planets?" she asked searching their faces. Ron nodded, having been the only one besides Luna and Ginny to have seen it. "That was my subject, my study."
Ron gulped. "I'm sorry."
Amanda laughed softly. Harry liked this side of her rather than the controlled veneer she presented most times. Out of the corner of his eye, Harry caught Lupin staring at her as well. A passing thought crossed his mind, wondering if there was more between them than met the eye.
"It's nothing that can't be rebuilt, Ron." She started to yawn. "I believe I need to rest some more myself. Turning into a Dragon is not something I can do easily." She grinned at them mischievously before standing. "All talk with all of you later." Saying her goodbyes, Amanda left the hospital wing.
"Well, that was an eye opener." Ron commented taking the vacant chair. "Why would they keep it a secret that she's an animagus?"
"Ronald, think, she's an Unspeakable." Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Umm, yeah." Ron's face turned pink before turning to look over Hermione's shoulder. "Hey, look who's awake."
Harry turned his head to see Ginny grinning at him. He grinned back. "How are you?"
"Probably the same as you," Ginny responded, letting Ron lead her over to Harry who made room for her by moving his legs. Gingerly sitting on the bed, Ginny leaned down and hugged him. "We made it."
"Yes, we did." Harry returned the hug, but then both of them pulled back embarrassingly when the others cheered and clapped.
"Oh, hush," Ginny said, hitting her brother on the arm, but soon joined in the laughter. Harry did as well, feeling more at peace than he had for a long time and he knew the reason why. He was surrounded by not just his friends, but his family.
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That night, after all the visitors had left, Ginny softly got out of bed and slipped under the blankets with Harry so they could talk.
"I'm so glad you're all right." Ginny put her head on his shoulder. Harry in turn laid his head on the top of hers, keeping an ear out for Madame Pomfrey.
"You saved me," he whispered in her ear. "If you hadn't been there, Voldemort. . ."
Ginny lifted her head and laid a finger on his lips. "It's over, he knows he can't even defeat you when you're the most vulnerable, because your family will always protect you."
"It's not over, Ginny." Harry shook his head, sighing. "He'll try again, like he always does."
"If he does, we'll be ready. I refuse to lose you." She wrapped her arms around his waist, laying her head on his shoulder again.
Harry kissed her forehead, holding her close. "Then we'll keep watch on each other, Love."
Ginny nodded, kissing his cheek. "I love you."
"I love you, too." Harry closed his eyes, knowing he was ready to face the world and Voldemort again.
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