Chapter 13: Explanations

Jacob POV

The Volturi were standing on the other side of the field, with about a hundred vampires, two thousand wizards, one thousand inferi and three giants behind them. They came nearer, and I knew that we had no chance; as they outnumbered us three to one.

I woke with a jolt. Phew, I thought. It was only a dream, I told myself. Only a dream. But I knew it was true. That was exactly what our battle would be like – a suicide mission.

I opened my eyes and looked around. Everything seemed so…..so white. My bedding was all white. I noticed that there were many other beds exactly the same in this room – why don't I remember this?

The last thing I could remember was doing the potions project with Ginny. We swam down into the Black Lake, and then….wait a minute, I think I can remember dragging Ginny onto the shore. I must have fallen asleep!

That's probably what happened. And someone must have found us, or we wouldn't be here.

I sat up in my bed. This was the hospital wing of the school. I remember it from a tour with Maggie. That means…..Carlisle must be here.

I got up and walked into the "lobby" of the hospital wing. Carlisle was sitting there waiting.

"Jacob, it's good to see you awake," he said.

"Yeah, you too, Doc. How did you find us?" I asked.

"Well, that's a long story. But to make it shorter for now, Harry and Hermione brought the three of you in," he replied.

"The three of us?" I asked. "We were only two."

"No, Nessie was there as well," he said.

"Why?" I asked.

"I think you will be able to remember what happened before her part comes in, so can you please tell me why you were lying on the shore freezing to death?"

"Sure, Doc," I said. "We were doing our project and went diving for Wickleweed. An ugly mermaid attacked Ginny and we must have passed out when we got to the surface."

"Ah, I see," Carlisle said, and paused.

"Very well. Nessie came looking for the two of you three hours after you left. She overheard Aro talking to the principal of Durmstrang," he continued.

I clenched my fists at the mention of Aro.

"It seems the Volturi really are planning an attack," Carlisle said. "They will try to penetrate Hogwarts next, and if Bella can shield them they might realize we are here, and that could lead to war. We have spoken to Harry and his friends, and they all seem to be fine with the whole vampire thing. We have sort of made a truce with them – they will help us fight the Volturi if we help them fight their enemy, who calls himself Voldemort."

"Yeah, Ginny told me about him," I said.

"When Renesme heard Aro she hid in a tree, and got ready to run," Carlisle said, continuing with the story.

"Then she saw Aro order Karkoroff to kill you and Ginny, so she attacked him."

"How could she do that!" I yelled. "She should have known she had no chance of survival!"

"I'm sure she did, Jacob, but she couldn't watch you guys get killed."

I sighed. "Go on," I said.

"Nessie obviously didn't stand a chance, and Karkoroff turned on her. Luckily Harry and Hermione arrived just in time. Aro and Karkoroff fled. Harry and Hermione brought the three of you in."

"Oh, are the other two out yet?" I asked.

Carlisle's expression darkened.

"No," he replied. "Nessie was bitten, but Edward sucked the venom out of her. Her arm broke, but that should be healed by now."

"And Ginny?"

"She is ill, but the Wizarding world has good medicines. She will be healed as soon as she wakes up," Carlisle said.

"Cool," I answered.