Chapter 4

He woke to a dull throbbing feeling in his chest, and then gradually he noticed whisperings coming from his left. He opened is eyes to see Ron and Hermione talking quietly. When they saw he was awake they hurried over,

"Harry! Are you okay? God you look awful!" Hermione cried. Her eyes moved over his chest, and he felt slightly embarrassed to see that someone had removed his shirt.

"Mate, he broke some ribs!" Cried Ron. Harry almost smiled to see the mixtures of anger, shock and worry etched across his friends faces.

"I put you in a body bind after you fell unconscious so you wouldn't roll over and do more damage. Then I cast a pain relief charm, I hope you're feeling okay?" Hermione asked, "I can't heal bones, we didn't know what to do!"

"I'm okay, really, just a little sore, but the pain relief charm is starting to ware off, I think I probably need to get to S.t. Mungo's."

"That's what we thought, but is that such a great idea? I mean me and Hermione were thinking, you know, Scrimgeour will probably be there at some point, along with every other bloody idiot who's been trying to get hold of you. It'd be very difficult to get away. Plus is it all that safe anyway, I mean you-know-who got to someone in there once, he can do it again, right?" Harry considered Ron's words, but he couldn't think of an alternative. His chest was becoming more and more painful by the minute.

"We can go to Hogwarts; Madame Pomfrey will fix you up in a minute!" Hermione cried suddenly, "Term starts in about two days so the teachers will probably all be there!" Harry suddenly realised she was right. He had a few misgivings, mainly having another confrontation with Mcgonagal, but also the place reminded him of Dumbledore, of Snape, and even of Ginny. Not to mention what he was missing by not going back, but he had no other choice. He'd rather go to Hogwarts than St. Mungo's any day. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak without groaning, Hermione's pain relief charm was fast wearing off.

"Are you going to be able to apparate?" Ron asked him nervously,

"Don't be ridiculous!" Hermione snapped, she was frowning slightly and Harry knew she was considering the best form of transportation. He lay there silently his breathing becoming more and more ragged as he tried not to concentrate on the throbbing pain building in his ribs. Suddenly Hermione sighed,

"There's no other choice, we'll have to side on apparate to the edge of the grounds and then put you in a body bind and float you up to the hospital wing."

"What! Hermione, no!" Harry gasped clutching belatedly at his chest as a sharp pain belted through him. He didn't want to be floated up, he'd walk. The embarrassment of all his professors finding out that he was beaten by his uncle and not in a heroic battle with twenty deatheaters was unimaginable.

"I don't need to be in a body bind! I am perfectly capable of walking!" Hermione frowned and Ron smirked, "I just need a little help with apparition is all." He amended, slightly less franticly. Hermione sighed,

"Fine, Ron go down to the kitchen and raid the fridge and get as much food as you can carry." Ron turned to leave obediently, "And be polite!" Hermione yelled after him.

"It's not like I'm going to be back, he can be as rude as he damn-well pleases." Harry grunted as he attempted to push himself up into a sitting position. He shut his eyes and gritted his teeth against the pain, hoping Hermione wouldn't notice. He really did not want to be floated up to the hospital wing. Harry sat leaning against the wall, breathing sharply and a few minutes later Ron was back, he had several carrier bags full of food in his hands which he dumped at Hermione's feet.

"Bloody heavy, they are!" he said rubbing his red hands. Hermione gave him a strange look, "What?" he cried. Silently she rolled her eyes,

"Wingardium Leviosa" she muttered, the carrier bags rose into the air, feather light,

"Oh…right" Ron grinned sheepishly. Harry stood up; he wouldn't say anything but he wanted to get moving as soon as possible, his chest was becoming more and more painful.

"You should apparate Harry with you, you'll probably manage it smoother than me," Ron suggested to Hermione, eyeing Harry concernedly. He was trying to hide it but the pain was slowly escalating and he was not exactly comfortable. Hermione nodded and moved over to Harry who was beginning to wheeze, despite his best efforts,

"Breathe slowly Harry we'll be there in a minute." She murmured. She gripped his elbow and turned on the spot, Harry followed her with great difficulty and found himself facing the great iron gates of Hogwarts grounds. A second later Ron was standing next to them.

"Where's the food?" Hermione asked slightly panicked, Harry looked at his friend and frowned. Ron grinned,

"Hermione, are you thick or something? We can ask the house elves for some from the kitchen before we leave!" Harry would have laughed at the look of shock on Hermione's face as she realised Ron was completely right, only he could barely breathe from the pain. He took a staggering step towards the gates and Ron and Hermione were jolted back to their senses from attempting to stare each other to death. They quickly fell into slow step beside him.

"Are you sure you're okay to walk?" Ron asked watching him stagger towards the gate. He put his arm under Harry's elbow, attempting to help him but Harry shrugged him off,

"Of course I am, Ron, don't be thick." They stopped in front of the gates. They were chained shut with a heavy duty padlock,

"Let me." Said Ron, he drew his wand. Hermione opened her mouth to stop him, but Ron was too quick,

"Alohamora!" he cried waving his wand at the locks. There was a blast like a canon and Ron was thrown backwards spectacularly. He landed with a crash a few feet behind them.

"Ron!" Hermione cried, panic evident in her voice. Harry twisted crazily, ignoring the searing pain in his chest that was slowly weakening him. His best friends ginger hair suddenly lifted up and Ron shook himself, standing up as Hermione rushed over. She began muttering under her breath as he dusted himself off, apparently unhurt. He walked back over to Harry grinning,

"Well that was fun!" he chuckled. Harry felt himself relaxing, and almost laughing as Hermione could still be heard grumbling under her breath,

"-completely ridiculous, anyone could walk up and do that spell…what he was thinking I'll never know!" Ron rolled his eyes,

"WILL you stop fussing!" he snapped at her. Hermione pursed her lips but said nothing more. Suddenly just as Harry felt the pain escalating again, and he was about to ask Hermione how exactly they were expected to get in, the heavy iron padlock vanished with a pop, and the gates slowly began to open as if some invisible force was pulling them. As soon as the gap was wide enough Harry staggered through. It was a long walk up to the castle, and he knew he needed to get there as quick as possible. He could here Hermione talking just behind them.

"I expect your alohamora alerted McGonagall to our arrival, she must have opened the gates for us."

"You see it wasn't such a stupid idea, was it?" Ron boasted,

"Like you knew that would happen!" Hermione tutted, as the entrance doors to Hogwarts came into view. Harry tried to block everything else out and focus on getting in those doors. He didn't want to think about the climb up to the hospital wing after he was in.

"-so pathetic sometimes!" He heard Hermione shriek at his other best friend. He was sure that Ron would have replied if it wasn't for Harry losing his footing at that exact moment. His foot scraped the floor and he didn't have the energy to pull his other foot out quick enough to regain his balance, with a sickening crash and a yell of pain he fell to his knees.

"Harry!" both Ron and Hermione yelled, they grabbed him under the armpits as he struggled to his feet, groaning in pain. He half staggered, and was half dragged a little further until blackness began to invade his peripheral vision,

"Don't you…dare…levitate…me…" he ground out, as he glanced up and saw a figure rush out of the doors to the castle. Suddenly the pain overcame him and with a painful groan the blackness engulfed him. Again.