Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, if I did, I wouldn't be writing this.
Unexpected Guests – Flight of Darkness
Snow drifted slowly towards the snow on the morning of Ginny's funeral. The whole castle was in a depressed mood, even the Slytherins looked a little glummer then usual. "Look sharp, Ron. Everyone's expecting you to say a few words." Dean Thomas said with forced happiness, clapping Ron on the back in an effort to make him smile. It didn't work. Ron stared dully at his friend, not uttering a single word. "Ron," it was a softer voice this time. He looked up and into Hermione's worried face. "Are you okay?" she asked, patting him on the arm sympathetically.
"No! I'm not bloody okay!" Ron yelled, his voice bordering a shout. "Why the hell does everyone keep asking me that? My sister, my only sister, is lying in the Hospital Wing, dead! How am I meant to feel? Happy?"
Hermione looked stunned, tears threatening to break free. "Sorry" she whispered and moved slowly away, leaving her friend to himself.
"Children! Attention please!" Professor McGonagall said, her voice magically magnified. "Please proceed to the lawn. No pushing!"
As the school moved out, many stared to wipe their eyes. There, on a white marble alter, lay Ginny. Her form was covered with a white cloth, so only wisps of red hair could be seen. "Miss Weasly was a kind girl. She was pure of heart and soul. We remember her with the highest esteem." One of the Professors was saying, but Harry wasn't listening. His brilliant green eyes were staring out over the lake, as if they were waiting to the real Ginny to suddenly appear. He didn't know why, but somehow his gut knew she wasn't dead, and that the girl lying on the marble alter was a fake. Harry looked closely at the wisps of hair, noting they seemed a shade darker… almost an auburn colour, whether as Ginny's hair was more copper coloured. As he stared, the hair began to slowly change to a deep chocolate, stopping short of black. As the hair he was looking at were only a few strands, Harry noted that nobody else had noticed the change. "Stop!" Harry cried, leaping to his feet. Professor McGonagall looked shocked, if not scandalized.
"What is the meaning of this outburst, Mr. Potter?" She demanded.
"It's not Ginny! Look, I'll prove it to you!" and with that, Harry threw back the sheet, allowing everyone to see the girl in her true form. Her hair, almost black, was longer, and almost reached her small waist. The girl was petite, like Ginny, which was probably why they had chosen her. Opening her eyes and peering into them, Harry saw that one iris was green, while the other blue. "I knew it! I just knew it!" Harry crowed.
Suddenly a party of people in black cloaks arrived riding upon brooms. "Death Eaters!" a young boy cried, nearly wetting his pants in fright.
"Everyone inside! NOW!" Dumbledoor shouted, ushering everyone into the safety of the school. All except Harry, that is. The young boy whipped out his wand, and started aiming and sending curses in the direction of the Death Eaters. Two got hit and fell off the brooms, withering in pain as they fell, but that left four to fight still. And with the remaining men aiming Unforgivable Curses at him, that was proving to be rather difficult for Harry. "Hello Potter." A silky voice sneered. Harry looked up and saw that the Death Eaters had landed. As Harry aimed his wand at the tall man, the figure lent in and whispered quietly, but just loud enough for Harry to hear "You're pretty friend put up quiet a fight. But I got the better of her in the end"
With a cry of fury, Harry sent a curse hurtling the man's way.
"You… You didn't!" Harry spluttered, walking over and kicking the Death Eater hard. He groaned in pain. Harry bent down and lifted the hood. "Malfoy!" he hissed. Draco's father grinned coldly up at his raven-haired companion.
"She recognised me much faster then that!" Malfoy sneered.
"Gedista!" Harry cried, as a blue mist to shoot out of his wand, landing on Malfoy and causing Draco's father to wither in pain.
"Serves you right, picking on an innocent girl like that! You should be killed!" Harry cried, outraged.
"It wasn't me who wanted her. It was someone who got to know her very well in her first year. Remember who it was?" Malfoy panted, still fighting the after affects of the curse.
"Voldemort!" hissed Harry. Malfoy twitched.
"What? Scared of your little pal?" Harry said mockingly. That was before a spell hit him from behind.
o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"Harry! Are you okay? Can you hear me?" a shrill voice was shrieking. Harry stirred and mumbled something. The voice gave a shout, which pierced right through Harry's pounding headache, and many footsteps came closer. A sharp pain in his cheek became apparent. Harry's eyes fluttered open and looked around, a feeling of immense disorientation surrounding him. "Harry? Can you hear me?" Lavender was crying.
"Do shut up, Lavender" Harry mumbled, taking his head in his hands.
"Harry! Professor, he's awake!" she shouted.
"Harry? How do you feel?" a soft voice enquired. Harry's emerald eyes met those of Albus Dumbledoor as he looked up.
"I feel like crap," Harry mumbled, shaking his head and rubbing his eyes.
"Good to have you back." Dumbledoor said ruefully, his light blue eyes twinkling.
"What do you mean, Professor?"
"I mean, Harry, that you were hit with both a Memory Charm, not very effective, and an Unforgivable Curse." Dumbledoor said, peering at his pupil over his half-moon glasses. Harry stretched his tired limbs, noting that they moved with almost blinding pain.
"I'm guessing it was the most painful one" Harry smirked.
"Indeed" Albus said, getting up. "I'll let you rest, Harry, Poppy wasn't too enthusiastic about letting me visit." He said, leaving the bed. After the Headmaster had left, Madam Pomfrey bustled over, forcing vile-tasting potions down his throat. Harry grudgingly drank them, almost vomiting a few of the up afterwards. "You should be free to go in about a week or so. You'll be happy to know that they've put out a search party for Miss Weasly." Madam Pomfrey said, placing a tablet in Harry's mouth and handing him a glass of water. "Drink and swallow" she ordered, before attending to the other students in the Wing. As Harry looked around, it became apparent that the Death Eaters had gotten into Hogwarts. It seemed they had cursed quiet a number of small student, to make an impression, Harry reasoned. With a shock, Harry realised that one student, with read hair, was in fact his best friend. Getting up, ignoring the pains in his limbs, Harry tottered over to his friend. Ron was lying very still, his face was as white as chalk, and his face had a frown on it, as though he was being pricked with a pin. Next to him, Harry noticed, was Hermione. She looked terrible. Her bushy hair was lying about her face, which looked as pale as a wraith, and it was gaunt enough to belong to one. Hearing footsteps behind him, Harry whirled around and came face to face with Madam Pomfrey. "Get back into bed, Potter, you're in no shape to be wandering around." She scolded.
"What happened to them?" Harry demanded, ignoring the tears in his eyes.
"They got hit with curses trying to reach you," the Matron whispered. "The curses don't seem to be lifting, in fact, it seems as though the curses are sucking to life out of them"
"How long?" Harry asked hoarsely.
"For Mr. Weasly, a good couple of years, assuming we get the curse lifted, sure his life might not be as long, but he'll live."
"And for Hermione?"
The Matron bet her lip. "A few weeks, at the very most. The curse that hit her was much stronger."
"What was the curse?" Harry really didn't want to know.
"Ever-living Wraith."
Harry's breath caught in his throat. "Is there a cure?"
"Yes… But it'll stop the progress of the curse, but it won't lift any damage already done." Madam Pomfrey said, tears in her eyes as she told Harry. Blinking back tears himself; Harry brushed a lock of hair from Hermione's brow. Her skin was so cold. Harry felt a pull at his heart as he looked at his girlfriend. Suddenly he collapsed onto her bed, taking her lifeless hand and sobbing uncontrollably. "Don't go, Hermione, don't leave me!" he whispered, kissing her cheek. He felt her stir. As he looked into her pale face, her warm brown eyes opened. Only they weren't brown anymore. They were all one colour, grey, and sightless. "Harry?" she murmured. She sounded like her voice was filled with rusty nails.
"Yes Hermione. I'm here," Harry sobbed.
"I tried to save you. Truly, I did."
"I know. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" Harry whispered, still sobbing. With some effort, Hermione lifted her hand and gently stroked his raven hair. "What are you sorry for? You haven't done anything wrong." She said softly.
"I did this to you, though." Harry sobbed, stroking her face.
"No, Harry, they did. Never you." She said, her hand dropping.
"But if I had gone inside with you, you wouldn't be like this. You saved my life. But you shouldn't have." Harry said softly, tears choking his words.
"Harry. Do you love me?" Hermione whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"You know I do" Harry replied, wiping the tears off her cheeks.
"That may be so, but I've never heard you say it"
"Hermione…" Harry started, but his girlfriend put up a hand.
"Harry, please" Hermione cried, before the curse took hold of her system again and forced her to slip out of consciousness.
"I love you" Harry whispered into her hair. In her sleep, Hermione gave a little smile.
Yes, you probably hate me for doing that to Hermione, but it had to happen. So, sorry to all you Hermione and Ron lovers, but it had to happen.
Please review,
Flowerpot Munchkin.