Chapter Twenty Two
Draco was sitting up in bed being fussed over by Madam Pomfrey who was slowly removing the layer of grim with her wand. Pansy was lying down, having already been de-grimed and changed into a pair of pyjamas, waiting for Madam Pomfrey to finish healing her. Harry was quickly engulfed in a hug from Narcissa.
"You got here quick." He said as she pulled away.
"We were here anyway." Lucius told him. He gestured to the furthest away bed which was covered with screens.
"What happened?" Harry asked.
Narcissa took his hand and lead him to the bed covered with the screens. Harry looked at Dobby, laying tucked up in the blankets fast asleep. He had a bandage wrapped around his head and bruised hands. Petal was sitting in the chair next to the bed wiping her long nose on a handkerchief. Narcissa knelt beside her and gave her a clean handkerchief kindly.
"We couldn't stop him." Narcissa said shaking her head, "He wouldn't listen to me at all. Suddenly he began to hurt himself, wouldn't stop going on and on about the voices telling him to do everything. He poured a kettle of boiling water over himself and then threw himself off the roof. Petal begged us to take him here rather than St Mungo's."
Harry sighed, "I think I can explain that."
They left the small cubical and huddled in the corner while Harry filled them in on his theory about Dobby being controlled.
"Well it would make a lot of sense." Lucius mused.
"And the dates fit..." Narcissa agreed.
Harry thought she might be about to say something else but was interrupted.
"Harry!" Lily cried coming into the room.
"Mum!" Harry spun round and ran into her open arms.
"Oh gods I thought…well I thought. But you're OK." she held his face in her hands and kissed his forehead.
"I'm OK." Harry smiled.
"Mr Potter would you please take a bed?!" Madam Pomfrey said stepping over and pointing to one of the few free beds.
Harry nodded, knowing better than to argue with her, and sat down on the edge of it. He looked over to see Pansy looking far better now having a cup of tea. Severus wrapped his arms around Harry.
"I should never have left." He said quietly.
Harry shook his head as Madam Pomfrey began to strip away the layers of dirt on his skin, "You didn't exactly get a choice."
"Well I'm back now." Snape smiled and took a seat, "I got an owl saying my suspension had been lifted and I was to return to work as well as telling us that we needed to come in to see you."
"Where's Danica?" Harry asked as Madam Pomfrey left them be, after ordering him to change into Pyjamas.
"She's with Lupin." Lily smiled, "We didn't want to bring her, we didn't know how you were.."
"You." Mrs Weasley said coming round a corner, "You are his mother?"
Lily nodded, "Yes, I'm Harry's mother. Lily Snape, can I help you?"
"You need to stop your child from spreading such horrible lies!" Mrs Weasley snapped.
"Mum I told you." Ginny pleaded pulling at her mother's sleeve, "He's telling the truth please just leave it. Everyone is fine now."
"I think you should listen to your daughter Mrs Weasley." Severus said softly but firmly.
"Come along Molly." Mr Weasley said leading her from the room.
"I'm sorry." Ginny told them, giving a sideways glance at her mother, before she was dragged from the room.
Harry was stuck the bed for hours with Madam Pomfrey repeatedly telling him to rest and get some sleep. Harry wasn't tired, he wanted to check on Pansy and Draco but had to content himself with writing messages on a notepad and holding them up when Madam Pomfrey wasn't looking.
"Well Mr Potter, Professor Dumbledore has arranged a feast and the potion to cure the petrified victims is ready so I think you would be all right to leave. But if you display any symptoms, dizziness, shortness of breath, anything like that you are to come straight back. Basilisk poison is very dangerous, best to be careful." Madam Pomfrey said checking him over one last time.
Harry all but jumped up from the bed, and changed into the clothes one of the house elves had gotten from his room. He was followed out the hospital wing by Lily and Snape who hadn't left his side.
"Do you want to come home early?" Lily asked as they made their way to the Great Hall.
Harry shook his head, "Honestly Mum I feel fine. Hungry, but fine."
Lily laughed and pulled him into another hug. They reached the hall to find it already mostly full. Harry smiled as he was jumped on by Danica who smothered him in kisses.
"Getting to be habit." She said crossly as he picked her up, "Bad Harry." and she smacked him on the head before leaning her head against his chest.
"Be gentle." Lupin told her softly giving Harry a hug.
"Glad you're OK." Sirius said, "Had us worried… again."
Harry smiled, "I'll always be OK. So where are we going to sit?" Harry asked, looking at the Slytherin and Gryffindor tables on opposite sides of the room.
"Well I should really sit at the teachers table. I think your housemates will be relieved to see that I am back as head of house rather than Lockhart." Severus smirked, he gave Harry a pat on the back and made his way to his normal seat.
"Slytherin I think." Lily smiled, "We are here as your guests after all."
Harry grinned and moved down the Slytherin table to find his friends. Lucius and Narcissa were sitting protectively either side of Draco who was looking like nothing had happened with new robes on and his hat at a jaunty angle.
Pansy was sitting opposite him with her parents, she was looking far better as well. Harry had never really met Lord and Lady Parkinson before, only seen them at the Malfoys' parties. Her father was a tall, bulky, strong man with shoulder length black hair, tide in a green ribbon. Her mother had waist length hair, also black, that curled down her back and she generally looked exactly how you would expect a pure blood Lady to.
Lady Parkinson smiled with bright red lips and held out a hand to Lily, "It's a pleasure to see you again Lily."
"You to Seraphine." Lily smiled giving the hand a quick squeeze and sitting down. Sirius and Lupin sat down more slowly. Danica playing with the folded napkins in front of her, held securely on Lupin's lap.
"Well what are we going to do with our children?" Lucius said with a small smile.
Lily laughed, "Very true, you lot are giving us grey hairs."
Pansy, Draco and Harry grinned to each other.
"Well there's no doubt they're in the correct house." Seraphine Parkinson joked.
"I think you'll all be getting bubble wrap and cotton wool for Christmas." Sirius grinned.
"Look!" Pansy squealed and jumped up from her seat.
Harry looked over to the large doors, as the petrified students came into the Hall. He stood up as well and grinned as Daphne ran over and threw her arms around Pansy. Hermione walked over more slowly.
"You worked it out then?" she smiled.
Harry nodded, "Well you did, we went and had a terrifying experience with spiders to get less information. Whoever would have thought books were useful?" he joked.
Hermione smiled and Harry wrapped her in a hug.
"I'm so sorry. I… I miss interpreted all the signs and I was sure that they were targeting me. Which was true but… well if I hadn't sent you away you might never have been..."
Hermione pulled away from the hug and wiped her eyes, "It doesn't matter. I don't really remember it, just being outside the library and then waking up in the hospital wing. Main thing is you worked it out and saved everyone." She gave him a little pat on the head and laughed as he rolled his eyes.
"Well remember that when we win the house cup. Even I'd struggle to loose 450 points in less than two weeks." Harry grinned.
"Challenge excepted." Draco and Pansy said together.
Hermione laughed, "Well, we shall see. I'd better go and sit down." she waved goodbye and went over to sit next to Neville who seemed very relieved to see her.
Dumbledore stood up and asked for quiet.
"SILENCE!" Danica shouted at some of the other Slytherins who were still whispering to one another. They smiled and apologised to the young girl.
Dumbledore cleared his throat, "Well I would like to welcome you all to this feast! An especially warm welcome to those who have been petrified and are only just back with us."
A round of applause filled the room.
"I have an announcement, I have discussed it with the teachers and we have agreed that all exams are to be cancelled. Instead your marks will be given based on your school work throughout the year."
There was another loud cheer.
Dumbledore raised his hands and the room fell quiet, "So now we shall all enjoy this wonderful feast and celebrate the end of what has been, a most trying time for the school."
The plates before them filled with food and they all tucked in.
"Never thought I'd get another Hogwarts feast." Sirius said, "Although it definitely tastes better on the Gryffindor table." he smirked.
Lupin smacked him round the back of the head sending Danica into a fit of giggles. She fell asleep at nearly eleven at night, curled up between Sirius and Lupin on the bench with Pansy's mothers soft fur cloak as a blanket.
She woke up though when, at three in the morning, the huge doors swung open to reveal Hagrid had returned. Harry jumped from his seat and ran to greet him.
Hagrid looked pale and tired, even in those two months he'd lost weight and his eyes looked haunted. He hugged Harry tightly and wiped away a few tears.
" 'Eard you was the one who cleared me name. Can'' thank you enough fer that." He smiled.
Harry shook his head, "Don't mention it. You should never have been blamed in the first place. Just never tell me to 'follow the spiders' again."
Hagrid nodded and gave Harry a smile. Danica ran over and hugged at his leg. Hagrid picked her up and gave her a big hug as she hid her face under his beard.
Harry began to clap, Danica joining in and quickly followed by the rest of the hall. Hagrid blushed, even the teachers had stood up, clapping until their hands hurt.
Harry lead Hagrid to where he was sitting. Lily and Narcissa had already filled up a couple of plates with food for him. Hagrid sat down gratefully, Danica refusing to let go so he had to eat around her, not that he wasn't used to that when Danica was around. Harry took deep breath as tiredness finally flooded his body. It was over.