First of all, I want to wish a very happy birthday to Teah (my ungrateful sis! Forceofhobbit)
So the next installment is here! *cricket noises* I know, I don't expect any applause, but considering I've been juggling homework, prepping for college, Homecoming, illness, and the butt-load of reading I've had to do, I think one day late isn't going to hurt anyone. So'sies...here's the next chappie!
Chapter 12- Calm Before The Storm
*********************************
"I don't understand, Albus. He should have awaken by now. I've tried everything..."
"A bit longer, perhaps...No student has ever endured the pain he's gone through. He may wake today, or he may wake tomorrow. We can only wait."
"But...what if something..." Madam Pomfrey couldn't bring herself to say it. //What if whatever you did to the boy harmed him?//
"He needs much rest."
"Albus..."
As if on cue, Harry slightly moaned in his sleep. Madam Pomfrey let out a thankful 'oh!' and bent over him, trying to wake him. Dumbledore smiled and felt rather relieved.
"Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes, dear. It's me."
Harry looked straight into the face of what he was sure to be Madam Pomfrey. He couldn't see straight because his glasses were off. He groped around for them, and felt a strong hand offering them to him.
"Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, Harry. That's right. At least we know your memory to still be in working order." He smiled down at Harry.
Harry felt disoriented. All the pain, he remembered. All the sights he'd seen as, what, Dractnox form? He couldn't get them out of his head. Malfoy actually coming to see him? //Is the world going mad?!//
"How do you feel, young man?"
Harry looked at the concerned face of Madam Pomfrey. She looked tense and without enough sleep. "Thirsty."
She laughed, experiencing intense relief, and went off to get him a fresh glass of water.
"Professor..." Harry didn't know where to start.
"It's alright, Harry." The old wizard placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. He always knew how to make a person feel better. "Just take it easy. You are still weak."
Harry noticed it was night out, and wondered what exactly Dumbledore was doing there in the hospital wing, and what hour it was. Madam Pomfrey came back to Harry with a glass of water, plus several bottles of potions, cutting his musings short.
"You need to rebuild your strength, and I'm sure you're hungry, being out as long as you were. Take this, and this, and don't look at me like that, Mr. Potter. You need those vitamins, unless you want to end up permanently residing in this wing."
Harry thought he heard Dumbledore chuckle as he downed all the potions to Poppy's satisfaction, which were less than tasty in the least. He handed her the discarded bottles and she put them away in her cupboard.
"Professor Dumbledore...?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Just how long was I asleep for?"
Dumbledore smiled expectantly at Harry. "Two days."
"Two days?! But how can that be? I've only been here a night-" Harry stopped and realized he'd just said too much. He wasn't straight in his own head yet, and here he was making himself confused once more.
"What do you mean, 'one night', Harry? Did you wake before?" Dumbledore looked intrigued, if not a bit worried, and watched Harry intently. Madam Pomfrey suddenly felt like an eaves-dropper and went to busy herself with her cabinet.
"I didn't actually wake, sir. I was sort of...gone." Harry leaned in conspiratorially. "With them."
"The Dractnoxes?"
"Yes. I -was- one for a bit, sir. I don't know how. All I know was that it wasn't a dream."
"How were you one of them, Harry?" Dumbledore looked positively worried, mulling over his talks with Snape he'd had in the past few days about whatever it was that Voldemort could be doing.
Harry was quiet for a moment. Even -he- wasn't sure why he had become one for one night. //Oh yeah, they said it was because of whatever Voldemort did with that glass thing//
"I was forced, sir."
"What do you mean, my boy?"
Harry didn't want to tell him. He could just imagine how he'd make it sound. //Oh, well Professor, you see, the thing is that when you 'helped' me, you forced me to be one of them. Just forced me out of my human body as I know it. No big deal and all. I'm perfectly fine now, so no hard feelings. It probably would've happened anyway...//
"I'm not sure." Well, at least it wasn't entirely a lie. "But I do know that it happened because of Voldemort. He was playing with something...I don't know what. He was really happy to have it, though." Harry then went in to a full-scale narration of the things he had seen, the pictures that had been shown, the description of the glassy thing Voldemort had had, and how he had passed out in the end. He didn't, however, mention Malfoy himself in this version, or why he had been there. He still had to think a few things to figure out for himself. Besides, as long as he told Dumbledore what was important, it didn't matter. He could talk to Malfoy later.
"This is very serious, Harry," Dumbledore said after awhile. He looked very anxious to Harry.
"Is there anything I can do, Sir? I...I can ask the Dractnox-!"
"No, Harry." He looked at Dumbledore skeptically. "Not until you at least regain your strength. I'm not sure if it's a good idea for you to ask them anything right now."
"Okay..." He relaxed into the mattress defeatedly. He heard Madam Pomfrey making busy noises with her cabinet, and suddenly he had a thought. "Sir. Why aren't Ron and Hermione here?" He felt a little depressed by the fact that they weren't there, waiting for him.
"It's past curfew, Harry." Dumbledore smiled at Harry's understanding. His friends wouldn't be allowed out this late. "Besides, Madam Pomfrey had to threaten young Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger to keep them out of her hospital wing. They've been in here every chance they've had. Ron was caught trying to sneak in here night before last."
Harry laughed at Ron's determination. His heart was warmed by what Dumbledore had told him, and he couldn't wait to see them. They must've been very, very worried.
"How are they?"
"Very worried about -you-. Everyone has been." Dumbledore's eyes flicked to a table with get-well cards and candies on it.
"Everyone...knows?"
"More or less." His eyes twinkled. "They believe you've suffered a rather nasty Blinkerbug bite."
"Blinkerbug?"
"Little creatures with mean bites. Similar to a doxy."
"Hmm..." Harry tried to stifle a yawn. Even with all the sleep he'd had, his mind was still exhausted.
"I believe it is a late hour, Harry. And I must leave you to your rest." Dumbledore got up from Harry's bedside and was quickly joined by Madam Pomfrey. "I would hope Harry will regain his strength under your excellent care, Poppy."
"Not with you pestering him, Albus," she said jestingly. Actually, she was very pleased that everything was okay with Harry, and that everything had worked out. Even if it was rather late.
"Yes, Poppy. I will leave him in your care." He bid Harry goodnight, and left the wing.
"Drink this, Harry. It will grant you dreamless sleep and give you back your strength." She gave Harry yet another potion. He cautiously sniffed it. "I think you'll find it better tasting than the others."
With this incentive, Harry took a testing sip from the phial, and downed it, finding it to be of a rather pleasant chamomile-taste. He felt his eyelids getting droopy as he settled into his blankets, and barely registered the creak of the doors as someone entered the hospital wing.
"Right on time, Severus." He tried to open his eyes to see what was going on this late, but could only slightly hear as he drifted into sleep. "Oh my. It just won't heal, will it...?"
***********
"Gr...rr...rr..."
Harry growled in his sleep as he felt the morning sun's rays fall upon his head. He sat bolt upright upon hearing a chewing noise near his bed.
"HARRY! You're awake!"
"Ron? Is that you?" Harry felt hands hand him his glasses and he put them on. Looking around, he couldn't see Ron anywhere. "Where are you?"
"I'm under here." It sounded like Ron was right next to him, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Ah hell, I don't care if Madam Pomfrey does see me!" Ron's form suddenly appeared as he threw Harry's invisibility cloak off of himself.
A smile played at Harry's lips as he saw chocolate bits on the edges of Ron's mouth. It was his chewing that had woken him up.
"It's bloody hot under there!"
"What were you doing?"
"There's no way Madam Pomfrey would let me be here during class. I've been hiding under your invisibility cloak for nearly forty-five minutes, waiting for you to wake up. You sure took your bloody time." Harry smiled at his friend's feigned annoyance.
"I see you've been enjoying yourself, though." Harry pointed to his lips, and Ron wiped the chocolate off his own.
He grinned and then pounced onto Harry's bed and gave his friend a great big bear-hug. Then he quickly jumped off him. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"I'm fine, Ron. I've never felt better, actually."
"So you've just been lying here enjoying yourself a little holiday while us chumps attend classes?" Ron looked mock-insulted.
"Just about. Speaking of classes, where is Hermione?" //She wouldn't actually prefer to go to class than see me, would she?//
"We had Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing this morning. She's taking notes for us both while I'm up here. She's been an absolute wreck. I thought she should keep busy, and hey, Hermione's notes are -the- notes to have, anyway." He smiled at Harry, but his worry could be seen from his eyes. "We were sneaking in here, both of us under the cloak, but Madam Pomfrey nearly caught us when Hermione..." He couldn't bring himself to say 'couldn't stop sobbing'. "When Hermione kept making noises." Harry lifted an inquisitive eyebrow. Ron hugged him tightly once more. "We're so glad you're okay!"
"Is that you, Mr. Weasley?!"
Harry and Ron simultaneously turned their heads toward the sound of Madam Pomfrey's voice. She was standing in the doorway of the hospital, and she looked rather annoyed.
"What is this? The sixth time I've caught you here?"
Ron looked guilty, but adamant. "Eighth..."
Harry grinned at Madam Pomfrey, who couldn't resist the smile that came to her lips. "Shouldn't you be in class, Mr. Weasley? You shouldn't be bothering my patients." She tried to sound annoyed, but she was rather impressed with Ron's determination.
"Ummm..."
"He's not bothering me, Madam Pomfrey. I feel fine. Great actually." Madam Pomfrey came round to his bed and checked Harry. She seemed satisfied with his diagnosis.
"You can leave the hospital after afternoon classes. Then I don't want to see you back in here ever again."
Harry smiled at her. She may have used a roundabout way of saying it, but she cared greatly for his well-being. "I hope I won't need to be here again." She nodded at them both, allowing Ron to stay, and left the hospital to go about some errands.
"She didn't kick you out," Harry stated matter-of-factly.
"Of course not. We Weasley's have our charms." He puffed out his chest proudly.
Harry snorted. "Yeah, and it's called my invisibility cloak." They both had a good laugh for awhile until their sides started burning.
"Yeah...That was great. It feels good to laugh again," Ron told Harry.
"Yeah."
"Oh Gods! Harry! You're awake!!" Hermione burst in through the hospital wing doors.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted. She jumped onto the bed and engulfed him in a giant hug, practically knocking him off of the bed.
"Careful, Hermione! You're going to bruise him!"
"Don't worry, Ron! I won't hurt him!" Ron's face turned red and she buried her face into Harry's shoulder, hugging him tightly. She held on for a bit, and Harry felt her shaking. It was then that he realized she was crying.
"Hermione?" Harry pulled back to look at her, and saw tears glistening on her cheeks. Ron looked at Harry with scared eyes. He didn't know what to do about her. "Are you okay?"
Hermione wiped at her eyes and sniffled a few times. "I'm just so glad you're okay!" She started crying again, and Harry and Ron both hugged her.
"Don't cry, 'Mione."
"It's just...y-you're okay!" she wailed.
"Oh, Hermione..." Ron didn't know what to do to calm her down. He had looked to Harry, and saw him looking right back for help. "We've been very worried about you. Dumbledore wouldn't tell us what happened...All we've heard is Blinkerbug bites..."
"I'm fine, really." He looked Hermione straight in the face. "I'm absolutely fine. What happened to me...There wasn't anything you could've done. It was Voldemort again." He thought she might start crying again at the mention of -his- name, but all he saw was a severe loathing. "It's all rather complicated."
Ron handed Hermione a tissue and she mopped at her eyes.
"...Sorry...I-"
"Don't worry about it, Hermione." They were all silent for a bit, hearing only the slightest sniffles from Hermione, and just enjoying the calm of the moment and one another's presence. Harry hated having to do it, but he broke the silence.
"Dumbledore told me I couldn't speak with the Dractnoxes anymore..." He looked longingly at one.
Ron and Hermione both gasped. "WHAT?! WHY?!"
"He thinks it might be dangerous...From the things I've seen, and from what's happened to me, he says it wouldn't be good to use them for anything..."
"But why, Harry?" Hermione sat on the bed looking hungry for information. Her tears had long since stopped, but her eyes were still red and puffy. "What happened to you?"
"I-" He wanted to tell them, but had remembered that the consequences for them knowing information could be dire. "For your own protection, I can't tell you..." Hermione's face fell. "It's not that I don't want to! It's just that, things are very dangerous right now, and I don't want either of you getting hurt."
"We understand, Harry." Those words from Ron's mouth earned a look of shock from both Harry and Hermione. It wasn't like Ron to not press him for info. "What? You told us why you can't, and I believe you."
Harry beamed at Ron.
"Ron's right. We trust you, Harry, so I suppose you don't have to tell us."
"I just want you guys to be safe. There's no telling what Voldemort could do to you. Either of you."
Hermione shifted on the bed and they heard a crackly sound. She sat up and pulled crumpled notes out of her pocket.
"What is that, Hermione?"
"Notes from charms...Ohmigosh!"
"What?"
"I've just skipped class! Arithmancy started thirty minutes ago!"
"Hermione!" Ron looked sternly at her. "You can skip your classes for one day!"
"Ron!"
Harry laughed at them both bickering once again. Hermione's dedication to school was truly amazing. It was just like the past two days hadn't happened.
"I think Madam Pomfrey is definitely going to kick the both of you out when she returns." They both stopped and put their attentions back to Harry.
"It's really good to have you back again, mate." Ron grinned. The all-too-familiar noise of the hospital doors creaking open caught their attentions. "Now we're in for it..."
Who walked in, however, was not Madam Pomfrey
*********************************.
Yes, I had to leave it there. Sure, I could tell you who walks in, but what kind of Cliff-Hanger Queen would I be then? Extra points to who figures out who it is! I think I'm going to try to get each chapter up at one-week intervals, but probably sooner. I've had so much to do. Things should chill down about November, but I won't stop writing! You guys just won't allow it, will you?
Love to my most loved peeps of all :YOU'S GUYS!
ParanoiaIn2005: I'm getting more and more well everyday! I'm still minorly sick *cough cough* but, yeah...I'm really your fav author?! I really don't know what to say...*tears out prepared speech* I'd like to thank the academy, my teah(don't ask), and Jebus! Also....
mrs-osbourne's-class: Something must be goin' around. Damn under-weather! I'm so happy I gave you something fun to do! Yay for me!
A.M.bookworm247: Yay! Great work! Do i daresay I am master of suspense? *little voice inside her says 'no'* Fair-enough.
Katani Petitedra: Damn. I'm now one Dractnox short. But that thing about the Dractnox...Brilliant. You gave me a good laugh!
PhoenixPadfoot89: Glad you liked it! Yay for me!
callas-and-ivy: Never seen you before. Glad ur part of the team! Hope I keep ya interested! *gives you welcome-hug* Thanx! I'm glad you guys think my fic is cool:)
So the next installment is here! *cricket noises* I know, I don't expect any applause, but considering I've been juggling homework, prepping for college, Homecoming, illness, and the butt-load of reading I've had to do, I think one day late isn't going to hurt anyone. So'sies...here's the next chappie!
Chapter 12- Calm Before The Storm
*********************************
"I don't understand, Albus. He should have awaken by now. I've tried everything..."
"A bit longer, perhaps...No student has ever endured the pain he's gone through. He may wake today, or he may wake tomorrow. We can only wait."
"But...what if something..." Madam Pomfrey couldn't bring herself to say it. //What if whatever you did to the boy harmed him?//
"He needs much rest."
"Albus..."
As if on cue, Harry slightly moaned in his sleep. Madam Pomfrey let out a thankful 'oh!' and bent over him, trying to wake him. Dumbledore smiled and felt rather relieved.
"Madam Pomfrey?"
"Yes, dear. It's me."
Harry looked straight into the face of what he was sure to be Madam Pomfrey. He couldn't see straight because his glasses were off. He groped around for them, and felt a strong hand offering them to him.
"Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes, Harry. That's right. At least we know your memory to still be in working order." He smiled down at Harry.
Harry felt disoriented. All the pain, he remembered. All the sights he'd seen as, what, Dractnox form? He couldn't get them out of his head. Malfoy actually coming to see him? //Is the world going mad?!//
"How do you feel, young man?"
Harry looked at the concerned face of Madam Pomfrey. She looked tense and without enough sleep. "Thirsty."
She laughed, experiencing intense relief, and went off to get him a fresh glass of water.
"Professor..." Harry didn't know where to start.
"It's alright, Harry." The old wizard placed a comforting hand on Harry's shoulder. He always knew how to make a person feel better. "Just take it easy. You are still weak."
Harry noticed it was night out, and wondered what exactly Dumbledore was doing there in the hospital wing, and what hour it was. Madam Pomfrey came back to Harry with a glass of water, plus several bottles of potions, cutting his musings short.
"You need to rebuild your strength, and I'm sure you're hungry, being out as long as you were. Take this, and this, and don't look at me like that, Mr. Potter. You need those vitamins, unless you want to end up permanently residing in this wing."
Harry thought he heard Dumbledore chuckle as he downed all the potions to Poppy's satisfaction, which were less than tasty in the least. He handed her the discarded bottles and she put them away in her cupboard.
"Professor Dumbledore...?"
"Yes, Harry?"
"Just how long was I asleep for?"
Dumbledore smiled expectantly at Harry. "Two days."
"Two days?! But how can that be? I've only been here a night-" Harry stopped and realized he'd just said too much. He wasn't straight in his own head yet, and here he was making himself confused once more.
"What do you mean, 'one night', Harry? Did you wake before?" Dumbledore looked intrigued, if not a bit worried, and watched Harry intently. Madam Pomfrey suddenly felt like an eaves-dropper and went to busy herself with her cabinet.
"I didn't actually wake, sir. I was sort of...gone." Harry leaned in conspiratorially. "With them."
"The Dractnoxes?"
"Yes. I -was- one for a bit, sir. I don't know how. All I know was that it wasn't a dream."
"How were you one of them, Harry?" Dumbledore looked positively worried, mulling over his talks with Snape he'd had in the past few days about whatever it was that Voldemort could be doing.
Harry was quiet for a moment. Even -he- wasn't sure why he had become one for one night. //Oh yeah, they said it was because of whatever Voldemort did with that glass thing//
"I was forced, sir."
"What do you mean, my boy?"
Harry didn't want to tell him. He could just imagine how he'd make it sound. //Oh, well Professor, you see, the thing is that when you 'helped' me, you forced me to be one of them. Just forced me out of my human body as I know it. No big deal and all. I'm perfectly fine now, so no hard feelings. It probably would've happened anyway...//
"I'm not sure." Well, at least it wasn't entirely a lie. "But I do know that it happened because of Voldemort. He was playing with something...I don't know what. He was really happy to have it, though." Harry then went in to a full-scale narration of the things he had seen, the pictures that had been shown, the description of the glassy thing Voldemort had had, and how he had passed out in the end. He didn't, however, mention Malfoy himself in this version, or why he had been there. He still had to think a few things to figure out for himself. Besides, as long as he told Dumbledore what was important, it didn't matter. He could talk to Malfoy later.
"This is very serious, Harry," Dumbledore said after awhile. He looked very anxious to Harry.
"Is there anything I can do, Sir? I...I can ask the Dractnox-!"
"No, Harry." He looked at Dumbledore skeptically. "Not until you at least regain your strength. I'm not sure if it's a good idea for you to ask them anything right now."
"Okay..." He relaxed into the mattress defeatedly. He heard Madam Pomfrey making busy noises with her cabinet, and suddenly he had a thought. "Sir. Why aren't Ron and Hermione here?" He felt a little depressed by the fact that they weren't there, waiting for him.
"It's past curfew, Harry." Dumbledore smiled at Harry's understanding. His friends wouldn't be allowed out this late. "Besides, Madam Pomfrey had to threaten young Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger to keep them out of her hospital wing. They've been in here every chance they've had. Ron was caught trying to sneak in here night before last."
Harry laughed at Ron's determination. His heart was warmed by what Dumbledore had told him, and he couldn't wait to see them. They must've been very, very worried.
"How are they?"
"Very worried about -you-. Everyone has been." Dumbledore's eyes flicked to a table with get-well cards and candies on it.
"Everyone...knows?"
"More or less." His eyes twinkled. "They believe you've suffered a rather nasty Blinkerbug bite."
"Blinkerbug?"
"Little creatures with mean bites. Similar to a doxy."
"Hmm..." Harry tried to stifle a yawn. Even with all the sleep he'd had, his mind was still exhausted.
"I believe it is a late hour, Harry. And I must leave you to your rest." Dumbledore got up from Harry's bedside and was quickly joined by Madam Pomfrey. "I would hope Harry will regain his strength under your excellent care, Poppy."
"Not with you pestering him, Albus," she said jestingly. Actually, she was very pleased that everything was okay with Harry, and that everything had worked out. Even if it was rather late.
"Yes, Poppy. I will leave him in your care." He bid Harry goodnight, and left the wing.
"Drink this, Harry. It will grant you dreamless sleep and give you back your strength." She gave Harry yet another potion. He cautiously sniffed it. "I think you'll find it better tasting than the others."
With this incentive, Harry took a testing sip from the phial, and downed it, finding it to be of a rather pleasant chamomile-taste. He felt his eyelids getting droopy as he settled into his blankets, and barely registered the creak of the doors as someone entered the hospital wing.
"Right on time, Severus." He tried to open his eyes to see what was going on this late, but could only slightly hear as he drifted into sleep. "Oh my. It just won't heal, will it...?"
***********
"Gr...rr...rr..."
Harry growled in his sleep as he felt the morning sun's rays fall upon his head. He sat bolt upright upon hearing a chewing noise near his bed.
"HARRY! You're awake!"
"Ron? Is that you?" Harry felt hands hand him his glasses and he put them on. Looking around, he couldn't see Ron anywhere. "Where are you?"
"I'm under here." It sounded like Ron was right next to him, but he wasn't anywhere to be seen. "Ah hell, I don't care if Madam Pomfrey does see me!" Ron's form suddenly appeared as he threw Harry's invisibility cloak off of himself.
A smile played at Harry's lips as he saw chocolate bits on the edges of Ron's mouth. It was his chewing that had woken him up.
"It's bloody hot under there!"
"What were you doing?"
"There's no way Madam Pomfrey would let me be here during class. I've been hiding under your invisibility cloak for nearly forty-five minutes, waiting for you to wake up. You sure took your bloody time." Harry smiled at his friend's feigned annoyance.
"I see you've been enjoying yourself, though." Harry pointed to his lips, and Ron wiped the chocolate off his own.
He grinned and then pounced onto Harry's bed and gave his friend a great big bear-hug. Then he quickly jumped off him. "I didn't hurt you, did I?"
"I'm fine, Ron. I've never felt better, actually."
"So you've just been lying here enjoying yourself a little holiday while us chumps attend classes?" Ron looked mock-insulted.
"Just about. Speaking of classes, where is Hermione?" //She wouldn't actually prefer to go to class than see me, would she?//
"We had Defense Against the Dark Arts first thing this morning. She's taking notes for us both while I'm up here. She's been an absolute wreck. I thought she should keep busy, and hey, Hermione's notes are -the- notes to have, anyway." He smiled at Harry, but his worry could be seen from his eyes. "We were sneaking in here, both of us under the cloak, but Madam Pomfrey nearly caught us when Hermione..." He couldn't bring himself to say 'couldn't stop sobbing'. "When Hermione kept making noises." Harry lifted an inquisitive eyebrow. Ron hugged him tightly once more. "We're so glad you're okay!"
"Is that you, Mr. Weasley?!"
Harry and Ron simultaneously turned their heads toward the sound of Madam Pomfrey's voice. She was standing in the doorway of the hospital, and she looked rather annoyed.
"What is this? The sixth time I've caught you here?"
Ron looked guilty, but adamant. "Eighth..."
Harry grinned at Madam Pomfrey, who couldn't resist the smile that came to her lips. "Shouldn't you be in class, Mr. Weasley? You shouldn't be bothering my patients." She tried to sound annoyed, but she was rather impressed with Ron's determination.
"Ummm..."
"He's not bothering me, Madam Pomfrey. I feel fine. Great actually." Madam Pomfrey came round to his bed and checked Harry. She seemed satisfied with his diagnosis.
"You can leave the hospital after afternoon classes. Then I don't want to see you back in here ever again."
Harry smiled at her. She may have used a roundabout way of saying it, but she cared greatly for his well-being. "I hope I won't need to be here again." She nodded at them both, allowing Ron to stay, and left the hospital to go about some errands.
"She didn't kick you out," Harry stated matter-of-factly.
"Of course not. We Weasley's have our charms." He puffed out his chest proudly.
Harry snorted. "Yeah, and it's called my invisibility cloak." They both had a good laugh for awhile until their sides started burning.
"Yeah...That was great. It feels good to laugh again," Ron told Harry.
"Yeah."
"Oh Gods! Harry! You're awake!!" Hermione burst in through the hospital wing doors.
"Hermione!" Harry shouted. She jumped onto the bed and engulfed him in a giant hug, practically knocking him off of the bed.
"Careful, Hermione! You're going to bruise him!"
"Don't worry, Ron! I won't hurt him!" Ron's face turned red and she buried her face into Harry's shoulder, hugging him tightly. She held on for a bit, and Harry felt her shaking. It was then that he realized she was crying.
"Hermione?" Harry pulled back to look at her, and saw tears glistening on her cheeks. Ron looked at Harry with scared eyes. He didn't know what to do about her. "Are you okay?"
Hermione wiped at her eyes and sniffled a few times. "I'm just so glad you're okay!" She started crying again, and Harry and Ron both hugged her.
"Don't cry, 'Mione."
"It's just...y-you're okay!" she wailed.
"Oh, Hermione..." Ron didn't know what to do to calm her down. He had looked to Harry, and saw him looking right back for help. "We've been very worried about you. Dumbledore wouldn't tell us what happened...All we've heard is Blinkerbug bites..."
"I'm fine, really." He looked Hermione straight in the face. "I'm absolutely fine. What happened to me...There wasn't anything you could've done. It was Voldemort again." He thought she might start crying again at the mention of -his- name, but all he saw was a severe loathing. "It's all rather complicated."
Ron handed Hermione a tissue and she mopped at her eyes.
"...Sorry...I-"
"Don't worry about it, Hermione." They were all silent for a bit, hearing only the slightest sniffles from Hermione, and just enjoying the calm of the moment and one another's presence. Harry hated having to do it, but he broke the silence.
"Dumbledore told me I couldn't speak with the Dractnoxes anymore..." He looked longingly at one.
Ron and Hermione both gasped. "WHAT?! WHY?!"
"He thinks it might be dangerous...From the things I've seen, and from what's happened to me, he says it wouldn't be good to use them for anything..."
"But why, Harry?" Hermione sat on the bed looking hungry for information. Her tears had long since stopped, but her eyes were still red and puffy. "What happened to you?"
"I-" He wanted to tell them, but had remembered that the consequences for them knowing information could be dire. "For your own protection, I can't tell you..." Hermione's face fell. "It's not that I don't want to! It's just that, things are very dangerous right now, and I don't want either of you getting hurt."
"We understand, Harry." Those words from Ron's mouth earned a look of shock from both Harry and Hermione. It wasn't like Ron to not press him for info. "What? You told us why you can't, and I believe you."
Harry beamed at Ron.
"Ron's right. We trust you, Harry, so I suppose you don't have to tell us."
"I just want you guys to be safe. There's no telling what Voldemort could do to you. Either of you."
Hermione shifted on the bed and they heard a crackly sound. She sat up and pulled crumpled notes out of her pocket.
"What is that, Hermione?"
"Notes from charms...Ohmigosh!"
"What?"
"I've just skipped class! Arithmancy started thirty minutes ago!"
"Hermione!" Ron looked sternly at her. "You can skip your classes for one day!"
"Ron!"
Harry laughed at them both bickering once again. Hermione's dedication to school was truly amazing. It was just like the past two days hadn't happened.
"I think Madam Pomfrey is definitely going to kick the both of you out when she returns." They both stopped and put their attentions back to Harry.
"It's really good to have you back again, mate." Ron grinned. The all-too-familiar noise of the hospital doors creaking open caught their attentions. "Now we're in for it..."
Who walked in, however, was not Madam Pomfrey
*********************************.
Yes, I had to leave it there. Sure, I could tell you who walks in, but what kind of Cliff-Hanger Queen would I be then? Extra points to who figures out who it is! I think I'm going to try to get each chapter up at one-week intervals, but probably sooner. I've had so much to do. Things should chill down about November, but I won't stop writing! You guys just won't allow it, will you?
Love to my most loved peeps of all :YOU'S GUYS!
ParanoiaIn2005: I'm getting more and more well everyday! I'm still minorly sick *cough cough* but, yeah...I'm really your fav author?! I really don't know what to say...*tears out prepared speech* I'd like to thank the academy, my teah(don't ask), and Jebus! Also....
mrs-osbourne's-class: Something must be goin' around. Damn under-weather! I'm so happy I gave you something fun to do! Yay for me!
A.M.bookworm247: Yay! Great work! Do i daresay I am master of suspense? *little voice inside her says 'no'* Fair-enough.
Katani Petitedra: Damn. I'm now one Dractnox short. But that thing about the Dractnox...Brilliant. You gave me a good laugh!
PhoenixPadfoot89: Glad you liked it! Yay for me!
callas-and-ivy: Never seen you before. Glad ur part of the team! Hope I keep ya interested! *gives you welcome-hug* Thanx! I'm glad you guys think my fic is cool:)