Chapter 15
Siberia

Hermione and Ron followed Professor Dumbledore to the Quidditch field, where they were transported before to Romania and a beat-up frisbee lay on the ground. "This is the port key for Siberia." Dumbledore told them seriously. "You two have used it before so you know what to do. Correct?"

They nodded. "Professor--what if Marcelo Morbin isn't alive? I mean--he's got to be at least 100, right?"

"One never knows." Dumbledore replied. "Even if he is not alive, I am certain he has a stash of the ingredients for the potion in his cabin. Now--enough talk and get into position."

In her mind, Hermione thought 'I love you, Harry. Please hang on for us--we'll do the best we can.' She felt Ron's fingertips touch hers as he took hold of the frisbee, and both nodded to the headmaster. "We're ready, Professor." Hermione whispered.

Dumbledore began chanting a spell and suddenly Hogwarts disappeared completely from sight.

They were flying at lightening speed through a thick darkness, and just when Hermione thought she was going to be sick, the motion stopped. She was almost afraid to open her eyes, but heard Ron's "Bloody hell!" and did so anyway. They were standing on a snow-covered cliff, connected to an enormous chain of mountains. It took a few moments for Hermione to actually feel the biting cold against her face.

"This is a really bad idea," Ron whimpered. "This is a really really bad idea."

"Shut up, Ron. Come on--we're obviously not far."

"We have to climb around this thing, Hermione! Look!" Ron pointed ahead of them. Sure enough, they were practically an inch from the edge of the cliff, and it was like that for a good while. It was then that Hermione noticed something dark very high on top of the highest peak.

"I see it, Ron!" She cried."That's the cabin!"

"Where?" Ron called over the roar of the wind.

"There! See that speck of brown?"

"Son of a--he's not serious! The least Dumbledore could have done was dropped us a little bit closer to the cabin."

"Shut up, Ron." Hermione repeated. "Let's go. We're wasting time just standing here complaining. Be VERY careful--I see the route, but it's tricky--very narrow and slippery because of the snow. Don't look down, whatever you do."

"Okay." Ron squeaked. Heights was his second biggest fear besides spiders, and he felt like throwing up with the idea of having to tackle this mountain range. It was one thing to tackle a dry mountain but a snowy mountain was a death trap. "Hey--wait up!" He moved along the ridge, staring straight ahead over the wilderness. 'This had better be worth it, Harry.' Ron thought bitterly. He was not angry with his friend, but he secretly wished Sirius or Professor Lupin could have taken the job of going to see the enchanter. After all, he and Hermione were just 15.

"Ron! You all right?" Hermione called, turning her head. "Come on!"

Ron continued to follow her.

Back at the castle, Sirius continued to sit beside Harry's bed, blotting the boy's feverish forehead and cheeks with a damp cloth. Harry had not woken since the sponge bath earlier that afternoon, but the fever remained pretty much the same as it had been before. Madame Pomfrey came over to them, carrying another silver goblet filled with a cooling potion. "Let us try to administer this to him again. I know it didn't work well before and made him throw up, but we have to try everything we can until they return."

Sirius nodded, and gently woke Harry with soft words and a gentle shake. "Harry--you have to wake up and take your medicine." Sirius told the scrawny boy underneath the covers. Harry's eyes slitted open half-way and he didn't fight when Madame Pomfrey placed the tip of the goblet against his cracked lips. He weakly took the cool liquid in small mouthfuls, only finishing when the nurse thought he'd had enough.

"Too tired to even protest," She told Sirius.

Molly Weasley stood at the far end of the hospital wing watching through tearful eyes. She knew it would be a great blow to Ron to loose Harry only a short time after loosing his older brother. At the rate things were going now, Harry had a very slim chance of surviving this illness, unless the fever decided to disappear sometime soon.

"Mum--I'm cold." Harry whimpered, shivering under the thin sheet. Molly immediately took position beside him and rubbed his back in a circular motion.

"I know, love, but we can't put too many blankets on you or your temperature will go up." She gently kissed Harry on the forehead just as he broke into a fit of agonizing coughs, and had to be eased into a sitting position until it passed. Harry clung to Mrs. Weasley, choking on sobs when he managed to catch his breath. "Shhhhhh." She soothed. "Everything's going to be all right, Harry dear."

Harry's body soon went slack against her side, and he was immediately placed back atop of his pillows.

"It's so bloody cold." Ron shudderd. They had gotten through the worst part of the mountain range, clinging onto the wall of the cliff for dear life. Marcelo Morbin's cabin was still a great distance away, and the climb itself had taken nearly an hour and a half. Ron had looked down by accident and gripped onto the rock like a cat hanging from the ceiling, and he had to be coaxed by Hermione to move again. Herimone's lips, which were a faint bluish color from the cold, trembled.

"I know. I w-wish we c-could l-light a fire and t-take a rest." She leaned against the rock in a small cranny and kept her eye on the small cabin. "At this rate," She told him, "We won't reach the enchanter till dark. D'you have those flashlights Dumbledore gave us?"

Ron nodded. "In my pack." He set the pack on the snow and knelt down, ignoring the wetness that seeped through his bluejeans. He pulled out two black lights, provided actually by Sirius. "A lantern light would freeze in this." Hermione shuddered, taking hers and checking to make sure it worked. She accidentally shined it right in Ron's eyes and he cried out.

"Watch it with that thing!" He snapped. "Come on--I want to get to the cabin before it gets dark."

"Come on then." She stuck her flashlight into her pocket and they continued climbing.

Sure enough, by the time the pitch black of night fell, they reached the base of the mountain on wich the cabin sat. "Wish we could apparate," Ron sniffed. "Would make things much easier I'll tell you."

Hermione smiled to herself. "Now for the last climb. Come on." She took a deep breath and took the first step. She wasn't fifteen feet when she heard a cry and a sickening CRACK. "RON!" She screamed, whirling around. Ron had slipped on the slope and was lying in the snow a few feet away, his leg twisted in an unnatural angle. "RON! What happened?" She dashed towards her friend and knelt down beside him right away. "Your leg--oh God. It's broken."

"I-I know." He grimaced when he attempted to move it. Hermione took out her wand and pointed it at the injured leg. "Oculas Reparo." A bright light shot from the wand, but had absolutely no effect on Ron's leg whatsoever. "Oh--what are we going to do? I can't just leave you here! You'll freeze to death in the dark like this!"

Ron, shivering, looked up at her. "You have to go on. I can't--when you find the enchanter, bring him here. I'll be fine."

"No!" Hermione sobbed. "I can't--"

"Go, Hermione! Now!" Ron snapped. "Don't argue with me!"

Hermione, her cheeks tearstained, covered Ron with the thick woolen blanket she had in her pack, and hugged him. "Won't be long--it's just there." She whispered.

Ron gave her a weak smile and watched as she started to walk again.