Chapter 11

Harry awoke in the infirmary. He blinked slowly as he took in the sterile and familiar surroundings. "Harry!" He heard Hermione's voice and held his breath as he felt her throw her arms around him.

"We were so worried!" She said, finally releasing him. "You fell so fast and even though Lady DuLac tried to rescue you, both of you just kept reappearing in air and falling faster and faster!" Her voice broke with emotion.

Ron looked pasty against the hospital surroundings. "We're really sorry, mate." He said grimly.

"Is Lady DuLac alright?" Harry managed to croak out.

Ron and Hermione shared a wary glance. Harry was immediately worried. Hermione started, hesitatingly, "Well, she's alive but both Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey were really worried….they put her in a bed behind those curtains over there and I think they put up a silencing charm."

Harry grabbed his glasses from the nightstand and looked to his left. He noticed that a section of the ward had been divided by curtains. Harry wanted to desperately know what was happening.

"Her leg was bleeding pretty badly," muttered Ron before he was elbowed sharply by Hermione. Harry's worry only increased.

Hermione, catching Harry's preoccupation, tried to distract him. "Well, don't you want to know what happened?"

Ron glared at Hermione and Harry felt a sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach. "We lost…didn't we?" He asked.

Ron sighed before answering, "Well…no one blames you, really Harry, even Fred and George said they felt really sick when the dementors swooped in…"

"But I bet they didn't fall off their brooms," Harry spat, bitterness lacing his voice. He didn't know why he was getting so emotional over the whole situation. He was feeling embarrassed, ashamed, and angry all at once.

Ron and Hermione were momentarily speechless.

"Harry," Hermione started talking in her most gentle voice. "it was really horrible what happened. I've never seen Dumbledore so angry."

Harry shrugged. He wanted to be alone.

"How much did we lose by?" Harry asked, his hands gripping his covers tightly.

"Diggory caught the snitch as soon as everything started happening," answered Ron. "He tried to call off the match, once he knew what happened but the game was already over when you fainted…sorry mate. I found some of your broom though!" He tried hard to inject some level of cheerfulness in his voice but Harry's insides turned cold as soon as he heard the words, "some of."

"What do you mean?" He asked, his voice low.

Ron gingerly placed the tip of a broom handle on Harry's bed. "Your broom flew into the whomping willow….and…well you know…" His voice trailed off.

Harry stared at the broomstick. Flying was his only escape sometimes. "I think I'm tried now." He said shortly.

Hermione looked stricken but Ron took her by the arm and led her out of the room.

Harry took of his glasses and lay against his pillows. He felt devastated and instantly regretted the loss of company even though he didn't feel like talking. Feeling tired, he shut his eyes, wishing that he could disappear.

He awoke later to find the infirmary dimly lit. Blinking to register his surroundings, Harry noticed Snape striding towards the divide that separated Lady DuLac's bed from the rest of the infirmary. Madam Pomfrey met Snape just as he was about to go behind the curtains.

Harry pretended to sleep as he made out their whispering.

"What is that?" Madam Pomfrey whispered harshly. "I don't understand why I can't just give her some skelegrow."

"Because, madam," Snape's sharp whisper carried through ward. "This is not an ordinary bone injury. The potion needs to be carefully tailored."

"Does this have to do with the splinching?" Madam Pomfrey sounded curious now.

"It does." Snape said shortly but gravely. "There is an old wound that has never healed and I have to be able to work around it."

"But, surely," began Madam Pomfrey.

"I'm sorry but I believe that my knowledge exceeds yours in this, madam. If you'll excuse me, we have only a narrow window before her injuries get worse." Snape strode briskly past the matron.

Harry had never seen this side of Snape. The harsh professor, with whom he had held a long and bitter feud, seemed different. Snape seemed worried. Harry wondered, not for the first time, at the relationship between him and Lady DuLac. Perhaps they were a couple. Harry grimaced at the thought of being related to Snape.

He opened his eyes a crack and noticed Madam Pomfrey pacing several times. She looked around the ward to ascertain that no one was around. Harry feigned sleep again. Madam Pomfrey then drew the curtains to the side.

"What are you doing?" Snape whispered.

"No one is awake and we could use the extra space," Madam Pomfrey briskly answered. "Now, tell me, what do we need. I'll bring the cart around."

Harry heard Professor Snape sigh. "Very well, can you get essence of ditanny, some rags, and the ingredients to make this poultice." Harry opened his eyes just a crack and could make out Snape's blurry figure appearing to hand something to Madam Pomfrey.

"This is most unusual," harrumphed the matron. "But, I'll get started on it anyways."

"Thank you for your forbearance," Snape's voice was sarcastic.

"Hmfph, " Pomfry huffed as she bustled about the wing.

Harry could make out a figure lying in the bed. In the dim light of the corridor, he saw a deep red stain on the otherwise pristine white sheets and had to stifle a gasp.

Snape's black blur appeared to be hovering intently around the figure in the bed. Harry wondered whether he had his wand out but could not tell from the distance without his glasses. Harry was overcome with a feeling of guilt for Lady DuLac's condition. If only he hadn't fainted and fallen off his broom…

Suddenly, the fireplace in the wing flared green. Harry remembered the floo system. Dumbledore stepped out of the hearth, or at least who Harry assumed was Dumbledore. Harry could only make out a purple blurry figure with a long beard.

"How are they, Severus?" It was Dumbledore.

"The boy is fine." Snape's short response only made Harry feel even more guilt.

"And the Lady?"

"Both Madam Pomfrey and I are working towards healing her injuries."

"Ah, yes. It is unfortunate. What is the nature of the injuries?"

"There are some old wounds that have made things…complicated," answered Snape.

"Should we inform her relations? Does she have any? I've already informed the deputy at WAND and the ministry, of course. Hopefully, this will sway the ministry's decision to place dementors here…"

"I've already sent an owl to her partner." Harry could tell that Snape's patience was wearing dangerously thin, having been the object of the man's ire for the past two and half years. Harry's brain registered the word, "partner," and wondered if Snape was referring to work partner or to a spouse.

Dumbledore tsked as Harry assumed he was examining the Lady. "These injuries are quite severe, Severus…will her family be visiting?"

"They will need to be escorted…as Muggle families are…"

"Muggles…really? I would not have expected it." Harry's curiosity was peaked. He also felt an inexplicable sense of disappointment. Lady DuLac already had family, so perhaps she didn't need to build a relationship with him. Harry felt a sense of abandonment, even though he knew that Lady DuLac had never promised to adopt him or anything of the sort.

"Nonetheless, that is the case. Her partner and child will want to see her. I can escort them when she is in a more stable condition."

"I will leave you to it, then." Harry noticed the purple blur approaching his bed and he shut his eyes. He felt Dumbledore's presence by his bedside. Usually, it gave him some sort of comfort. Harry didn't know why, but he had felt more distant from the headmaster since Madam DuLac's revelation this year. Dumbledore had left him with his relatives and urged him to go back each summer. He must have known the relationship. Harry realized that he was angry at the old wizard.

"Sleep, child," whispered Dumbledore.

Harry felt suddenly weary and drifted off to sleep.

When Harry awoke, he was startled to be staring into bright green eyes, similar in color to his own, though they were much rounder and less almond-shaped.

"Mummy!" cried the owner of the eyes. Harry groaned as the high-pitched noise caused a slight headache. He reached over to find his glasses and put them on. It was then that he noticed a young toddler with bright red hair standing by his bed. "The boy with the strange scar is awake!" yelled the girl. "Uncle Sev! Uncle Sev! The boy is awake!"

Harry was stunned as a lady with a large smile and kind hazel eyes walked over. Her auburn hair was tied up in a sleek ponytail. "Lillian, darling, we mustn't bother him! He's been ill." She gently chastised the little girl whom Harry assumed to be her daughter. She looked at Harry and smiled warmly. "You must be Harry. Cressie…that is, Lady DuLac, told me about you! How are you feeling?"

"Err..fine?" Harry was at loss for words.

"I'm Charlotte, Cressie's partner." The woman stuck out her hand at Harry. "It's very nice to meet you at last."

Harry weakly took her hand and shook it.

"I'm Lillian!" shouted the little girl, giggling. "We're here to visit Maman! She was hurt." The redhead looked sad for a moment but then she visibly brightened. "But she's awake now!"

Harry looked over at the side of the wing where Lady DuLac's bed was. The Lady was sitting propped up against numerous pillows. She was quite pale and looked a little sickly even as the sunlight streamed in through the windows.

"Come over here, love! Leave poor Harry alone. He needs to recover!" Harry heard her voice call over to the little girl. She smiled at Harry. "Alright there, Harry?"

Harry nodded in response. He watched as Lillian bounded over happily towards Lady DuLac. She stopped short of the bed before Lady DuLac reached over, wincing slightly and lifted the little girl into her lap.

For the first time, Harry noticed Snape hovering in the room. "Careful," he warned.

"Am I hurting you, maman?" Lillian sounded worried.

"Not at all little bug! You could never hurt me." Harry watched wistfully as he saw Lady DuLac hug Lillian close to her. He also saw her glare at Snape over her child's head. Snape glared back with challenge.

Charlotte said something. Harry didn't realize that she was talking to him and turned his head towards her. "What?" He blushed.. "Sorry, I meant…I didn't hear what you were saying."

Charlotte's eyes crinkled. "No worries, dear. I was just saying that I was so excited to be finally meeting you! Cressie has been mentioning you for years!"

"Err…she has?" Harry was dumbfounded.

"Oh yes! She was happy to finally meet you, too! You see, she thought she would get custody of you when your parents…" Charlotte trailed off, as she took in Harry's stricken expression. She looked chastened. "I'm sorry, I sometimes get carried away," she apologized. "Anyways, glad to see that you are feeling better." She turned awkwardly and walked towards her family. Harry felt abandoned again. He looked at the family in front of him. They surely weren't traditional but he longed for that kind of closeness. This was how he felt when he was with the Weasleys. He witnessed Lillian giggling as she was tickled by Lady DuLac while Charlotte fretted about whether the 'Cressie' had enough pillows. Harry shifted his gaze to Snape and was surprised by the man's expression. Harry could have sworn that Snape looked almost…wistful…as he also gazed at the little family. Harry couldn't believe his eyes and blinked to make sure he wasn't seeing things. As soon as he blinked, however, the professor met his gaze and a familiar sour look replaced his expression. Harry looked away. Feeling suddenly very out of place, he quickly gathered his things and quietly left the infirmary.