A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks heaps, as always, for all of the reviews/alerts/favourites. I'm really sorry about the wait, but my exams and study is all over now! Wow, 138 amazing reviews; I feel so... I can't even think of the word! To be honest, I expected maybe, 20 reviews, at a push! To have nearly 140, with a few more chapters to go, is an amazing feeling. Thank you to everyone who has ever reviewed :D
Next chapter!
Chapter 20 (WOW)
Draco sat in the waiting room of St Mungo's, his pale head resting in his hands. Various Weasley's were dotted around, as well as their respective partners. Draco sat away from them all, hoping for some peace.
It had been half an hour since he apparated Hermione to the emergency room, and they still hadn't heard anything. The past thirty minutes had been tense for Draco; he felt guilty. He felt that it was his fault that Hermione had been hurt. He had never felt this strongly towards a person before; it scared him. Just the thought of losing Hermione had him shaking, though Draco would never admit it. It was not only the thought of losing Hermione that scared him, however, but the thought of losing his new-found friends and the Weasley family. He was surprised at how accepting they were to him - surprised but grateful. The hug he received from Mrs Weasley would be a moment he would forever treasure.
Oh great. Now I'm sounding like a bloody Hufflepuff!
"Draco?" came a timid voice.
He lifted his head slightly and saw Ginny looking at him, concerned. He smiled slightly to her. She gestured to the seat next to him and he nodded. She sat down.
"How are you holding up?" she asked quietly.
Draco shrugged. "I'm... okay, I suppose."
Ginny's deep brown eyes stared at him intently. Suddenly, she leaned over and hugged him. For a second, Draco tensed, about to shake her off. But the gravity of the situation hit him hard, and he rested his head on her shoulder, sobbing. Ginny made soft comforting sounds while she, too, cried for her friend.
The Weasley family and their partners watched the scene sadly. None of the people gathered envied Draco's pain. Mrs Weasley leaned into her husband's embrace, tears glistening in her eyes. She thought of Ron, and hoped that he, Harry and Percy had found Katie.
Three loud cracks echoed around the empty grounds of a dark house. Harry, Ron and Percy each pulled out their wands, concerned for what could be lurking in the shadows. Ron was terrified of the possibility of finding Katie's dead body. The three men crept closer to the house. When they reached the door, they all looked at each other.
"So, what do we do?" Ron whispered.
Harry rolled his eyes as Percy pointed his wand at the door.
"REDUCTO!"
The door blew into pieces.
"Why not just use an unlocking charm?" Harry asked as he stepped into the house.
Percy shrugged. "I've always wanted to do that."
Harry chuckled to himself, but then fell silent. By unspoken agreement, the three split up, lighting their wands as they walked. Harry went upstairs, Percy left through the door to what looked like a kitchen, and Ron went downstairs.
As he crept quietly, thoughts and concern swirled through Ron's head. What if she isn't here? What if she's dead? I can't handle this... What if she blames me? I couldn't even tell that my girlfriend actually wasn't my girlfriend! What is wrong with me?
Ron's inner dilemma halted when he reached the bottom of the stairs. Before him was a closed door. Behind the door, Ron could hear quiet shuffling. The red head inched closer, before whispering "Alohamora!" The heavy door creaked open, and Ron peered cautiously inside.
His heart stopped beating. There, lying unmoving on the cold, hard floor was his Katie. Patches of her beautiful hair were missing, her face and arms were dotted with bruises, and she was extremely malnourished. But it was his Katie. Ron dropped his wand and fell to the ground next to her. He gently pulled her head onto his lap.
"Kat? Katie? Wake up, beautiful. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry! I should have realised it wasn't you! Katie, please!" As Ron sat on the dirty ground, crying, Harry and Percy entered.
Harry crouched by his best mate, resting his hand on Ron's shoulder.
"C'mon, Ron. We have to get her to St Mungo's."
Ron nodded. "I'll take her. We'll meet her there." Harry nodded, and they all disapparated.
Everyone in the waiting room jumped when three cracks of Apparation destroyed the silence. Mrs Weasley gave a cry when she saw Katie in her youngest son's arms. Ginny and Draco jumped up. A group of Healers rushed Katie - and Ron, as he refused to let her go – out of the room. Harry looked wearily at Draco.
"How's Hermione?"
Draco shook his head and looked away. Ginny rested her hand on his arm and turned to her boyfriend. "We have heard nothing. It's been an hour, and nothing! What the hell are they waiting for?"
Just then, a trainee healer walked in. "Um, excuse me, but is Miss Granger's next of kin here? Her parents?"
Mrs Weasley stepped forward. "Her parents are muggles. They have no idea that she's even here. Can you not tell us, or at least her boyfriend, how she is?"
The trainee looked sheepish. "I'm sorry but only the next of kin can know. Besides, I don't think that death eaters –"
Draco let out a roar of frustration. He turned and kicked a chair into the wall. With his head in his hands, Draco slid to the floor. Ginny followed and comforted him again, glaring at the healer.
Harry sighed. "I'm gonna regret this," he muttered. "Right, Healer, do you know who I am?"
The Trainee nodded, "of course, Mr Potter."
"Okay and you know how I defeated Voldemort?" The healer nodded. "Yeah and how I had two people with me for those months of camping?" Another nod. "Well that girl in there was one of those people, and without her, I would probably be dead, which means you would be dead, and everyone here, would most likely be dead. And that man there," Harry pointed to an anguished Draco, "is on our side. He is one of the greatest wizards that was in that war and I suggest you respect him, okay?"
The healer, who was now looking worried, nodded.
"Okay, then. You will take me, and Draco, to Miss Granger's room, you will explain what the hell has been going on for the past hour, and I will make sure you will actually become a Healer. Got it?"
The trainee nodded, turned on his heel, and left the room. Ginny pulled Draco up, and he and Harry followed the man out.
As they walked down the silent corridor, Draco looked at Harry. "Thank you, Harry. That means a lot to me."
Harry gave him a small half smile and nodded. "It was all true."
The both fell silent again as the trainee stopped outside room 377. He opened the door and stepped aside.
"It's about bloody time!"
Draco and Harry were speechless.
A/N: Okay, please review! Why are the boys speechless?
