Chapter 7

Rose numbly heard voices above her, but they were very far above her. They were just a dull murmuring – not making any noise, not really having a pattern or a rhythm, just there. Her head and back hurt a lot – they were stiff and the very bone ached, as if she had been running like she had to in her old muggle gym class. Suddenly, someone opened her mouth – she immediately tried to close it, but she couldn't. An odd, thick liquid was forced into her throat. Panicking, Rose thought to stop it – this must be the people who attacked her! They were poisoning her! Rose tried hard to stop the liquid from slithering down her throat, and almost succeeded; but as soon as she spit it all out, more was back. Finally, after what seemed like centuries, it stopped.

She wasn't in one of those bright, sunny rooms she had heard stories about when she was younger; she was in a dark, red and black nothing – she wasn't floating, she wasn't falling, and she could feel nothing under her – or in any direction, for that matter.

This went on for quite a long time – but Rose didn't get bored, or think of past events, or any of that – she was just there. Until, suddenly, the muffled voices became clearer. "What happened?" One voice yelled. "What happened to my Rose?" Gasped another. This conversation continued for several minutes, but Rose didn't react; there was no need. She was exhausted from the effort of keeping the poison out. Unfortunately, her senses were becoming sharper; she could feel the pain in her neck and back even worse (if that was possible), along with the rawness of her throat and tongue, the nauseatingly sanitary smell of whatever room she was in, and the much to loud sound of people arguing.

"Shut up," she tried to shout; her head felt like it was going to split. But it only came out as a whisper. The voices only got loader. She tried to roll over, but the pain on her left side was too great. Extremely annoyed, Rose opened her eyes and glared at up at the voices.

The room she was in was much too white and much too clean. There were a row of white beds with white tables and white lamps. EVERYTHING was white. Suddenly the voices stopped. "Rose!" cried one in relief, turning her head slightly, Rose watched her mother come over and squeeze her only daughter. Soon Ron joined his wife, relief clearly visible on his face.

"Merlin, Rose, you scared us there," another voice commented. Rose looked over and saw Uncle Bill standing at the foot of her bed. Focusing more closely, quite a number of people were gathered around. Aunt Fleur stood by Uncle Bill, looking lovely as ever. 2 beds over, Louise lay on a bed of her own, apparently sleeping, though a book lay open on her bedside table. Across from Rose's own bed, Albus sat upright in bed. He seemed to be (for the most part) unharmed, as he was chatting to Uncle Harry, Aunt Ginny, and Uncle George, who were yet to notice Rose was awake. Next to Albus and across from Louise was Cameron, who was staring at his sister's sleeping form, obviously deep in thought.

Rose turned her attention back to her parents. They were watching her closely, as if trying to determine if she was ok or not. She gave them a week smile. As Ron opened his mouth, the now elderly martin came bustling over with a potion. "Ah finally, miss Weasley," she said. "You have awoken. Of course if you had accepted the potion I gave you earlier, you would not have taken so long." The nurse sounded annoyed. 'The poison!' Rose thought. 'It must have been Madame Promfry! Well, not poison then…' Madame Promfry tipped the contents of the goblet into Rose's mouth and hurried over to check on Albus.

Rose's throat began to work and her head began to clear as the potion took effect. She wanted to ask them what happened, but she wasn't sure how. It didn't seem right for some reason. "Is everyone okay?" she asked instead.

Hermione nodded. "Yes. It was just you, Albus, and your friends who got hurt. They're all being released tonight, but you'll have to stay," She added. Rose scrunched up her nose.

"Why?" She demanded. It was her first day of school! Well, night, she thought, looking out the window. There was no way she would be stuck in the hospital wing.

"Because you've just been out cold for 7 hours! Your system refused to accept Madame Promfry's potion and you may not accept this one either." Ron said sternly.

"But daddy! It's my first day of school!" Rose pleaded.

Ron hesitated; he could rarely say no to his little girl. "Rose," Hermione warned. "You'll do what Madame Promfry tells you to, no more. If she says you can go, you can. How's that?"

Rose sighed but nodded; it was impossible to argue with her mother. Ron had tried once, trying to convince his wife that Hugo could fly on his new toy broomstick in the back garden without supervision. Let's just say he never argued with her again and leave it at that. Rose looked over at Albus. Uncle Harry and Aunt Ginny had just noticed that she was wake; Ginny walked over as Harry nudged George. They soon joined the group gathered around the young girl's bed, smiling widely.

"Glad to see your back with us, Rose," Harry smiled.

"Glad to be back," Rose said in an indifferent tone. Hermione watched her daughter carefully. Rose was normally quite happy and outgoing; something was wrong. Very wrong. Even when Rose was younger, she would try to hide her feelings, pretending nothing was wrong. She didn't like sharing her problems; she was very independent. Hermione glanced at her sister-in-law and saw her own fears mirrored in Ginny's face.

It might as well have been written across Rose's face. The attack had hurt her. Very, very much.