Thank you to everyone for the wonderful reviews! My Dad is finally home after the weeklong trip from Afganistan to Alberta (Support Our Troops!), and I'm in such a good mood, here's a double posting!
Chapter 4
The next day, after all the nurses had taken my temperature, and looked me over, I decided I wanted to go for a walk. I wasn't aware of what the rules were on this, but I figured I would soon find out. I walked into the bathroom first and tied my hair up in a small twist at the back of my head, a few pieces hung across my non-punctured skin on the right side of my face. I examined the scarred skin on the opposite side for a moment before applying Chap Stick and turning away.
The hallway was a little less eerie than the night before, and the wandering did me good, except for the fact that I had to stop every few paces. I hadn't slept well the night before—Harry's screaming kept ringing in my nightmares, echoing my own. I walked past his room without looking in. If he wanted to talk to me, he would find me. I left the floor I was on, and traveled to the Fifth towards the cafeteria. The hospital was quiet, and I found no complications along the way.
After getting some pumpkin juice and a small container of fruit, I sat down by myself beside a window. I was quite cozy and deep in my own thoughts when a soft tap on the shoulder withdrew me from them.
"We'd like to apologize."
"We weren't aware-"
"That you and our friend Harry had so much in common-"
"These-"
"Are for you."
As I watched this amazing turn of events, Fred and George Weasley made a quite unexpected apology, and handed me a bouquet of flowers.
"Umm, thank you. I know it must have been weird to see a," I gulped, "Deformed girl out of no where."
They looked at a loss for what to say, so they changed the subject.
"May we sit?" requested one.
"Be my guest," I replied. Each sat on one of the square seated red and white chairs.
"I forgot to introduce myself-"
"And I!"
"Fred Weasley," said the one in the green jacket.
"George Weasley," said the other (his jacket was red).
"Beth." I gave them a small smile and turned my head toward my fruit.
I had a feeling that these two boys were judging me quite closely. It was as if their eyes followed my every movement, so when I dropped my fork and one jumped to grab me another one, I was quite baffled.
"So Beth, how'd you get down here all by yourself?" asked George.
"You do not really seem in the condition for walking," said Fred.
"Well, I needed to get out of that room. It's disgustingly white, however," I motioned to the cafeteria, "I can't truly say this is much better." It was true. The cafeteria had such a combination of fifties, sixties, and seventies drab that it made my head spin.
"Can we escort you back to your room?" asked Fred. I nodded and gave a polite smile in response. As I stood up however, my ribs gave a squeak of protest.
"One moment," I said with a grimace. The pain passed altogether to slowly and I stood upright.
"A girl of your outward show should definitely not be walking unassisted," said George.
"I could not agree more!" said Fred.
Without a thought further one moved to each side sticking a hand around my waist and under my shoulders. They then proceeded to lift me to the elevator, and all the way back to the Survivors wing. As I had quit protesting five minutes in, I rather enjoyed the walk seeing as I didn't have to do any walking. Once in the hallway they placed me down at my request.
"I'd like to check in with anyone who's left around," I said. "And I did get out for a walk this morning."
"I do believe that our dear brother checked out this morning, but he is probably still hanging around somewhere."
Fred sighed and added, "The poor boy is lovesick for Hermione you see. He most likely won't leave until she does, and Hermione probably won't leave until Harry does, so they both might be here for a while."
"Hermione's parents might force her out though," added George.
"She's a tough cookie that one. Never could quite get her straight," said Fred.
"I like her," I said. "She's nice."
"Well, this is our stop." The twins pointed to the door to my left. "You could join us if you'd like. I'm sure Charlie wouldn't mind. He's still asleep you understand."
"I love to join you. Where is your other brother? I think his name is Bill?" I questioned. I understood that his bite had taken place a few years ago, and that the injuries he sustained during the fight had not been too bad.
"He checked out two weeks ago and went back to work."
"He can only work about two weeks a month, but he loves it. Poor guy. Heart broken."
I nodded my head and followed them into Charlie's room.
It was white like mine, but nowhere near as blank. Hundreds of cards were scattered about the room and I instantly felt a surge of emotion. Flowers were strewn about as well. George and Fred walked up to his bed.
"Hey Charlie old chap!" said Fred. The thin man on the bed didn't move. A small scar above his eyebrow was all that could be seen of his grievances. His red hair was clipped closely to his head and a few placed freckles were scattered across his nose, which looked like it had been broken not once but three times.
"We're back," said Fred. "And guess what Charlie, we've brought a friend. Meet Beth. She's blonde with blue eyes, and quite pretty."
I flushed at the complement even though I knew it not to be true, and stumbled around the side of the bed. "Erm, Hi Charlie. You've never met me, but I know all about you. I know you like dragons a lot, and that you're going to wake up soon… so anyways, it was nice meeting you." The body remained motionless.
"Well Fred and I are going to continue our chat with Charlie. You can stay if you want."
I shook my head. "It's a nice offer, but I think I'm going to go for a stroll. Thanks for the lift guys." I stumbled out of the room. It was kind of them to invite me, but it seemed like a personal affair to speak to one's brother who might not ever respond back. I proceeded down the hall past the nurse's station, and onto the rooms closer to mine. Hermione came out of a room and saw me walking.
"Oh! What are you doing out of bed?" she said. "Are you allowed?" She had a pink flush to her cheeks and was hastily doing up her buttons on her chocolate brown sweater.
"Who are you talking to, love?" came a voice from inside the room. Ron walked out with a suitcase in each hand. He flushed when he saw me and looked down. "Hi Beth."
"Hello. Have you been discharged as well Hermione?" I asked. My heart had dropped to the pit of my stomach when I saw those suitcases.
"Well, yes, but we'll be here everyday until Harry gets out. And you too of course!" she added hurriedly.
"That's great that you two can leave together. Erm, I'll see you later. I think I'm going to go for a nap." I turned dejectedly for my rooms.
"Bye Beth! We'll see you later."
§
The white doorway looked odd to me. It was almost as if something was wrong, and even though this wing was relatively quiet most of the time it was almost too quiet. I turned through my doorway and found my healer standing there.
"Ah Beth, just the person I've come to chat with. We need to talk about our situation I think." He smiled and patted the bed beside him.
"I'm fine here thanks. What do you need to know?" I asked politely. He seemed oddly happy.
"Well, nothing in particular. You see, I really need to contact your guardians to let them know you are well."
I looked at him and frowned. "I remembered yesterday, they're both dead. Sorry." I was lying of course, but maybe he would leave me alone if I did. I stood quite guarded and placed my hand on the wall.
"Ah, well you see Beth, you must have a guardian out there somewhere, and so I need to let them know. It's part of the job you understand. So I thought we'd give a try at the Legologists. They'll just bring up some information see, and then it will all be over, in a snap."
"No."
"Now really Beth, I don't want to have to—"
"Absolutely not. You can't go poking in my brain."
"Your memories Beth. Not your brain. No come now, it's a very positive thing!"
"I'll yell."
"What? You can't yell Beth."
"I'm afraid I can and I will. It's my right to keep my memories to myself." I looked him up and down.
"Well, I'm afraid it's not Beth," Healer Presley stood up and rolled from the balls of his feet to his heels. "You see, you are under age, and the law states—well there is no point going into that now is there? The thing is, it's my job to inform your guardians of where you are." He walked towards me, and withdrew his wand.
"Help!" I screamed "Hel—"
"Silencio!"