Lizzie Heart and her Journey to Hogwarts (part 21)
A/N: "Only one more chapter" I said. Well, I have to apologise for lying. There will be this chapter and an epilogue. I hope that's ok. Mischievous Grin
I'm sorry for it being so late. I had writer's block.
Lizzie, Harry, Alex and Professor McGonagall reached the hospital wing at a fast pace. Lizzie held Alex as she was trembling with fear, scared at the prospect of Remus being seriously hurt. Harry's heart was beating heavily somewhere around his Adam's apple as they opened the oak doors to the hospital wing. The busy site fell upon them all as the doors swung open. There were so man beds full with injured wizards and witches waiting their turn to be seen and hopefully cured. So many were school children, first years who probably didn't stand a chance against the Death Eaters. Others were Order members, with much more serious injuries. Then they saw Remus, clutching his stomach in agony, his face was seared and red. It looked as if someone had burnt his cheek intensely. Harry, Lizzie and Alex rushed over to his bedside.
"Remus!" Alex said as she wrapped his arms around him and held him close while tears gushed down her cheeks. "When Minerva told me, I didn't know what to do."
Remus screwed up in face in pain and let out a gasp. Alex realised him.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry. Are you OK?"
"Yes, yes. I'm fine." Remus replied, his face tensing in discomfort. Harry, Alex and Lizzie all looked at him, gazing on his severed cheek.
"Remus, what happened?" Harry asked. "You're obviously not fine."
"I'm better then some." Remus said seriously. Both Lizzie and Harry gave him a disbelieving look. Remus sighed, "Take a look around you guys." They turned and stared at the awful scene upon them, "People died and most are seriously injured. Many have already been sent to St. Mungos." Remus' voice continued. "Voldemort got away, his Death Eaters too. All of this happened and us, the 'light' side, the only achievement we made was casualties."
Harry turned back around and looked at the last of his Father's friends. "But what happened to you? I ran because you told me too. The last thing I could remember was Malfoy running after me."
"Harry, Wormtail," Remus spat his name grimly, "He got a present from Voldemort remember? In the graveyard two years a go." Harry rattled his brains but could not think and gave Remus a blank expression.
"Voldemort gave Wormtail a silver hand." Harry still stared at him blankly, Alex started to cry and Lizzie let out a knowing sigh. "Harry, the one thing werewolves hate, apart from a full moon, is silver. I can't touch it as it burns my skin. I maybe a better wizard then Peter, but he had a bloody good advantage against me." Remus finished, gritting his teeth in anger. Harry stared at him, with a bemused expression.
Lizzie walked over to her weeping sister and embraced her into a hug. Harry drew his attention away from Remus, who was now speaking words of comfort to Alex, and noticed that Professor McGonagall was talking to an elderly man in a bed at the other side of the hospital wing. The man was in pain, tensing his face. He was lying down; his head propped up by a pillow. Lizzie walked over to Harry after realising her sister. She took hold of Harry's hand and squeezed tightly. Harry returned the grasp; bit still was gazing at Professor McGonagall standing at the elderly man's bedside. Lizzie looked in the direction that Harry was gazing and gasped at the sight. Professor McGonagall had moved slightly revealing a long silver beard and a pair of half-moon spectacles and therefore revealing the identity of the injured man. It was Dumbledore.
Both teenagers rushed over, not thinking of anything else. When they got there, they stopped and looked at their Headmaster. His skin was as pale as a ghost's and had bags under his eyes. His arms bandaged and his left arm in a sling. He did not look like the enchanted beloved Professor Harry and Lizzie knew.
"Professor," Harry said, alerting their sudden presence. Dumbledore looked up and with great strain managed half sit up. He looked at Harry and Lizzie and smiled faintly. Lizzie noticed the familiar twinkle in his bright blue eyes wasn't there, but replaced with dull, tired eyes.
"I'm glad you two are safe," Dumbledore said, "I was beginning to worry."
"Worry?" Lizzie asked.
"Yes, Miss Heart, I was worried for your safety. When I was informed that Harry nor you were in the castle, I worried, for I knew that the Death Eaters could attack you on a more personal level."
Lizzie nodded and Harry squeezed her hand.
"But what happened to you, Professor?" Harry questioned.
"I sadly was cornered and was struck by several different curses at once, and in my old age I'm not as fighting fit as I used to be." He paused in thought, sighed, and began talking once more, "Harry, Lizzie, I am sad to say to you that I will not live much longer."
Harry stared at him in shock, while silent tears appeared in Lizzie's eyes. Professor McGonagall took hold of Dumbledore's hand in comfort and tears came about on her cheeks also.
"This is why, Harry, I must tell you something." He looked seriously at Harry, "You have what it takes, and you have everything it needs around you. You must look at your parent's wonderful example, and the reality and knowledge will come to you. You are the chosen one. And I know that it will happen in someway you least expect it." Professor Dumbledore finished and smiled at Harry, who was left confused but didn't question him. The Headmaster turned and looked at Lizzie, "Lizzie, you have settled well here at Hogwarts, and I realise that you have had some tough times in the past. But now, I know that you could be the greatest witch of your age, if you only see what's inside you and let it influence you somewhat imaginably." He smiled at Lizzie, and lent his head softly back on his pillow and shut his eyes.
"Alright you two, I think you'd better are off back to Gryffindor Tower." Professor McGonagall suggested and they left silently, waving to Alex and Remus as they went by, thinking at the last advice Professor Albus Dumbledore was ever going to give them.
He died in his sleep later that night.
The next morning, there was silence in the Great Hall as the students ate their breakfast. The centre chair on the teacher's table was empty and the news of the Headmaster's death got around quickly. Of course, many didn't believe it until their saw it with their own eyes. Most seats at the teacher's table were empty, only Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick, Professor Snape and Hagrid were there, eating without noise.
The Great Hall was not as it should usually be. There was no enchanted ceiling and the windows no longer glistened but were broken and shattered. The hole in the wall had been repaired temporarily by a charm Professor Flitwick had performed. It was draughty and cold. It no longer had the warmth of the heart of the castle, but beared a ghostly feel and made the students shiver as they entered.
Harry and Lizzie were sitting across from Hermione and Ron, who were realised from the Death Eater's capture as soon as the Death Eater's fled. Luckily, they only got away with a few scratches and bruises. The only serious cut was that Ron was slashed across his cheek, but Hermione's curing charm quickly healed it. Lizzie looked up and down the Gryffindor table and noticed that hardly anyone was eating. Dean had a slice of dry toast on his plate and Seamus had a bowl of cold porridge. Lizzie then looked around at the other tables, and was surprised to see that neither the Ravenclaw table nor the Hufflepuff table seemed to be eating. The Slytherin table, on the other hand, although not talking, were munching on the plates of bacon and eggs and slurping their pumpkin juice. Especially Draco Malfoy, he was smiling at his 'bodyguards', Crabbe and Goyle, and was eyeing different students around the room and was glancing at Harry quite regularly.
Professor McGonagall lifted her knife to her goblet and tapped it gently. All of the students turned and looked up at the strict deputy headmistress. She rose, nervously and began.
"Students of Hogwarts, it is my duty to tell you some terrible news. Our beloved Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore has sadly passed on." She paused as the students digested this piece of information. "I'm sure we all will miss him greatly, for an era of goodwill and happiness has ended. Also, as many of you suspect and some know, that Lord Voldemort tried to cease the school. And thankfully, he did not succeed. Though, our beautiful castle has been torn apart and will need a lot of time to recover. Therefore, I make the decision that this school year will end two months early. For whom who have OWLs or NEWTs, you shall receive a letter explaining when and where your exams shall be taking place, as it is still in the balance." The Professor paused again, looking at the reactions of the students. "I wish for you all to have and enjoyable summer, and hope to see you all next September, where we shall start fresh with a new Headmaster or Headmistress. Thank you."
A/N: Man that was hard to write. I am so sorry for killing Dumbledore. I loved him as much as you lot do but it fits with the story.
This was the last ever 'proper' chapter. Next is the epilogue.
Thanks for all of you who have stuck by me through the story. You have all been a great help.
Again, reviews please and views on a sequel/prequel?