It had been six long weeks since the death of Quirrell and Harry's falling into a coma, six long weeks. Dudley had been to visit him every day without fail, his other friends had been fairly often as well, but Dudley was the only one who was yet to miss a day. He was walking there now, having finished his Herbology homework, just lost in his thoughts.
As he turned the corner to get into the Hospital Wing, he was grabbed and pulled to the side. Startled, he pulled his wand out and saw Blaise, but before he could say anything to him, Blaise started.
"You've won. I'm going to leave you alone now. We are not friends, I want to make that clear to you, I'm just sick of wasting so much time on you." He blurted out in a single breath, before turning and leaving. That ended up being the most interesting event of the day for Dudley, as Harry still didn't wake up.
When it had reached week seven of Harry being in a coma and nothing changing with his condition, Dudley was getting restless and losing hope. His friends had noticed this and they all sat with him on the grounds, trying to get Dudley to enjoy himself, but to no avail. His mind was constantly on Harry and Voldemort and what had happened. When his mind wasn't on that, he was training in magic, having decided that he didn't care to search for the Lost Diadem of Ravenclaw. He would become a better wizard through study, practise, and with support from his friends. If he did find it, then brilliant, but if he didn't, then at least he would still be wiser than he was now.
While Dudley and friends were out on the grounds, the only other being who regularly visited Harry was with him. The Grey Lady, also known as Helena Ravenclaw, was floating next to Harry and talking to him, not expecting any replies. She sat and spoke for hours before she floated away sadly.
Exactly eight weeks after the death of Quirrell saw the awakening of Harry Potter. He woke up alone and sat up, seeing many gifts scattered around him and even spreading onto the beds around him. The sight made him smile and for a moment he was full of joy. The bubble of joy was burst by the sudden appearance of Professor Dumbledore, who immediately began to smile and then started talking.
"Harry my boy, how are you doing? You know that when Professor Snape gave me the news that Quirrell was going for the Stone, I never thought I'd find you on the verge of death. Forgive an old man his questions, but I must know, The Stone?" He finished, looking at Harry, peering over his half-moon spectacles.
"Destroyed when Quirrell destroyed the Mirror, I assume. Watching Quirrell die like that..." He shuddered and paused for a moment. "I can see it when I close my eyes. Is that normal, sir?" At hearing this, Dumbledore's heart broke. He had never expected to find Quirrell in pieces, nor did he expect to find Harry in an unbreakable coma.
"You have to take some time to process all of this, I'm sure Professor Snape would be happy to listen and offer advice, if you want it." His voice coloured with even more sorrow. "It will be a shame to have to tell my dear friend Nicholas Flamel that his marvellous Stone has been destroyed, still he should have enough Elixir to put his affairs in order." He smiled at Harry for a moment before the boy spoke.
"How many people know, sir?"
"What happened between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret, so naturally the entire school knows about it." His eyes twinkled and he left Harry to the care of Madame Pomfrey.
A few hours later Dudley appeared for his daily sit with Harry, this time Draco was with him, and they both jumped with joy upon seeing Harry awake. Before Dudley could say anything, Draco got the first word in.
"Eight weeks of beauty sleep and you still look the same Potter, honestly I'd sue." That made the trio laugh before Dudley managed to say.
"I'm glad you're awake, thanks for rescuing us before anything too terrible happened." Dudley's face was solemn as he thanked Harry and the boy smiled the widest he ever had, the bonds of friendship being strengthened by their life threatening adventure.
"Honestly, I never expected you to literally put yourself between us and danger, I guess I owe you a Life Debt." Draco had a look on his face that couldn't be described, only that it could resemble wizards of old performing a ritual.
Harry nodded slowly before his brain caught up to his ears.
"No, that isn't necessary, Draco." Harry pleaded, but it was too late.
"You nodded and thus accepted the Life Debt already, to take it back is impossible. Sorry." Draco's tone indicated he wasn't sorry at all.
They left after a few hours, promising to bring the rest of his friend group here tomorrow, and Harry sat there thinking.
It was just like him to end up with a Life Debt he never asked for. Come to think about it, everything in his life was thrust upon him. Many grievous things have been forced into his life against his will, the most infuriating was that cured shack of filthy muggles. Harry's unnatural anger bubbled up, more so than at any point in his life. He felt it begin even as he fell into the icy grip of the most intense, icy cold rage that was unlike anything he had ever felt. He felt his grip on it slip and fell further into the depths of rage. He felt the shard of Voldemort, that flew into his scar eight weeks ago, reach out and sew his threads throughout his mind. Relying on the rage and even coaxing and manipulating it out of him, his scar burned with an intense pain that added onto his already insurmountable levels of rage. Harry's eyes turned red before he gained some sense of self.
"This isn't me" He screamed inside his mind, before he grabbed his wand from the side and focused on Christmas and the joy he felt in being loved for once, drawing as well on his hope that this would work to calm him before Voldemort took control for good, and cried out.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"
The end of book one.
Thank you so much for joining me for this journey as I tried to challenge myself to write something other than poetry. I do intend to begin the second book soon. Thanks again for reading.