Disclaimer: I don't own this

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Chapter Nine: Arguments

Severus was drinking his third cup of coffee at the kitchen table when Dumbledore came downstairs.

"Good Morning, Severus." Albus cheerily said.

"Good Morning, Albus. Sleep well?" Severus replied while rubbing his eyes.

"It was a very restful night. Did Voldemort visit Hope last night?"

"Luckily, no. She was haunted by normal nightmares last night. In fact, she's in the living room reading a book."

"Oh, is she okay?"

Severus rubbed his head. "Okay from the nightmares? She's fine. From the attack, she's getting worse. I don't understand, the potions aren't working for more than five minutes. I can't get her to work with her leg because she is so tired. I can't help her being tired because she's having nightmares of the attack. I can't help her with the nightmares, because potions only work five minutes. It's an impossible situation."

"Severus, you do realize there is another way of healing her. It's old magic, almost forgotten, but completely safe."

Hope came into the room on her crutches. "Hey, what's up guys?"

"The headmaster was just telling me about an alternate way of healing you other than potions."

"Really?" Hope asked with a pointed look at the headmaster. "Would I not be the person that you told about that?"

The headmaster smiled gently at Hope. "I've already made sure you knew. I am aware of whether or not you read the material I gave you during the school year."

"Well, I don't remember reading about it. Sorry, sir. Would you tell me about it?" Hope asked with a look that dared him to actually explain the process.

"I still need to do more research, but then I will discuss it with you." Albus said, averting his eyes. "Maybe you and your father should discuss it right now."

Albus turned and left the room. Severus and Hope listened until they heard the roar of the fireplace. Then Severus turned to his daughter. "Do you know what he was talking about?

Hope considered telling him, but instead shook her head. "I haven't got the slightest clue." She responded.

Severus watched her carefully. "Are you sure?"

"Positive.' She said, looking at the ground.

Severus sighed. "Okay, maybe he'll be able to find some information on it."

Hope's head shot up. "Why?"

Severus looked at Hope like she was crazy. "Well, unless you like feeling bad then it would be nice to find some way to make you better."

Hope shook her head. "Potions will work on illnesses, just not on injuries. What's wrong with just waiting those out?" She was getting desperate to dissuade him from pursuing the idea.

"Hope, you're not getting better, you're getting worse. You're extremely tired because you have no energy left, yet you can't sleep because of the nightmares. You're grouchy because your tired and it's grating on my nerves. I can see from you're guarded movements that you are still in a lot of pain, and you're still having the after effects of the curses you were hit with. Plus, your leg is going to be difficult to train with."

Hope sighed. "It wouldn't work on my leg anyway."

Severus stood up and went over to his daughter. "Do you know something about it."

Hope tilted her head up so that she was looking into her father's eyes. She let the fear and worry shine through her own eyes. She kept their eyes locked as she replied.

"I know I don't want to try it."

"Hope…"

"No, we're not doing it, and that's final. You can't do it without me, and I refuse. End of subject." She turned around and left the room.

Severus shook his head and went to the bookshelf that held all the books Hope had used while she was training. He pulled one out titled Healing Powers and sat down on the couch to read.

Hope was sitting on the couch later that night when Dumbledore returned. She looked up and saw the headmaster, shot him a glare, and continued on with reading her book.

"Did you and Severus talk?"

Hope shrugged and turned the page.

"Hope, you're acting like a child. Just answer my question."

Hope glared at the older wizard. "You really were being mature when you went to my father because I didn't want to heal myself."

"You know that you'll die without it!"

"I will not! I was not hit with any life threatening curses. The Cruciatus Curse has some nasty after effects for a healer, but it will not kill me."

"But why put yourself through this if you don't have to?"

"It's none of your concern. You can't do it without my cooperation, because it would be my powers at work and nobody but me knows how to use them, so that rules out the Imperious. There's no reason for a conversation like this one to even be considered because I refuse to do it."

Dumbledore shook his head at the stubborn girl. "You could still change your mind. Give it a few days, wait for the full effects of the curse to take place. Don't think that Severus won't know either. As soon as I brought up the subject I knew he'd research it. All your books are kept on the shelf, are they not?"

Hope glanced at the bookshelf and saw that one of her healing books was missing. She shrugged and hobbled over to the shelf, grabbing a dark black one with silver writing. She turned back to the headmaster.

"He grabbed the wrong one, so I have nothing to worry about. Sure the book he has will explain the process of self healing, but this is the one that lists all the curses that could be dangerous, and the effects. I'll claim to be sick and he won't even know what's happening." Hope said with a smirk as she sat back down and tucked the book under the pillow next to her.

"Hope, think about it. I can get another copy of that book and say you left it lying somewhere. Or I can accio book."

The book flew from under the pillow and into his hand. Hope was enraged. "You can't do that!"

"It's for your own protection, child."

"I still won't do it. I refuse to."

"Why? What are you so afraid of, Hope?"

"Just go give him the damn book and leave me alone."

"Do you want time to tell him yourself?" He asked gently.

"Just get the hell away from me! I hate you!" Hope screamed throwing her book at him. He could see the tears about to fall from her eyes.

"Hope, it won't be that bad, I promise." He said before leaving the room.

Hope buried her head in a pillow and cried.

Dumbledore found Severus upstairs, closing the book. He rubbed his head and looked at a notebook.

Dumbledore cleared his throat to alert the younger wizard to his presence.

Severus looked up and motioned the headmaster into his room. He looked at the look on his face and sighed. "What's Hope done now?" He asked.

Dumbledore smiled. "She's mad at me for telling you about the healing thing."

Severus shook his head. "I don't understand it. I've read the book, and I have no clue why she's so afraid of trying this. I don't now what she didn't mention it."

Dumbledore pulled the book out of his robe. "This should make it a little bit clearer for you. It is all about self healing. Talks about the effects of it, the history, everything. Hope doesn't want you to read it, but I think it would help you understand her resistance, even if it still puzzles me. You do know her a little more than I do."

Severus took the book and set it on his desk. "I'll read it later, for right now, I need to go downstairs and get the kitchen ready for the Weasley's to begin planning their son's funeral."

Dumbledore nodded solemnly. "I'm supposed to meet them down there in an hour. They want to hold the funeral in two days at Hogwarts."

Severus nodded. "They're making the final plans tonight. I'm going to make sure that there is enough room and seats for everyone."

Albus nodded. "Talk to Hope before reading that. She's a little upset that I went behind her back. I'll be back in an hour."

Severus glanced at the book, put it in his drawer and locked it before heading downstairs.

Harry walked by Hope's bedroom and stopped. He put his ear against the door and was surprised to hear someone crying. He knocked softly before opening the door.

"Hope?"

"Harry?" Hope looked up from her bed. "Go away." She muttered, throwing her pillow at him.

He caught the pillow and sat down next to her on her bed. "Hope, what's wrong? Are you crying because of Ron?" Hope shook her head. "Then what?"

"He gave my dad a book. Now he'll want me to heal myself."

Harry was confused. "You can't heal yourself."

"Yes I can. But I don't want anyone to die. Too many people have died from a healer attempting to heal herself. If the healer or the people involved aren't strong enough, one of them end up dying. I don't want to risk it."

Harry smiled and pulled the girl up off her bed. He pulled her into a hug while being careful not to push her weight onto her hurt foot.

"You're surrounded by the most powerful wizards in all the world, and you're the most powerful witch. We're going to bring down Voldemort together. You don't have to worry about anyone being strong enough."

Hope smiled. "I guess so. I still don't want to try it."

"Wait a few days, then talk about it with your dad. It'll all work out."

Hope sighed. "I hope so."

Harry laughed. "It will. Take a nap, the Weasley's are going to be downstairs for the next couple hours and won't want disturbed. I'll intercept your father and tell him not to bug you."

Hope smiled and laid down. Harry pulled the covers over her and went to the door.

"Sweet dreams, Hope." Harry whispered before pulling the door closed.

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A/N: I got a yahoo group!!!!!!!!!!!! Since I've been so busy and life's been just crazy lately, there you can find (soon) updates on when the chapters will be posted, as well as previews for the next chapter, polls so you can have a say in what happens next in the chapter. Here's the link:
http://tech.groups. you all join!!

Kayla