Beta Reader: Cheryl
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended. The only things I own are the plot, any characters, spells etc that you do not recognize.
Author Notes: N/A
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Slumber
Harry was slow getting dressed into his robes the next morning. He had spent a good hour discussing Ron with Hermione and they had come to the conclusion that they needed to keep a check on Ron and really stick with him when he needed their support. Hermione, who could hardly believe the news, appeared to be exceptionally determined to help Ron move along and remain happy.
Harry was on his way to breakfast alongside Hermione when Ron stepped out of the Hospital Wing to join them. "Good as new," he stated, wiggling his left arm around. The trio walked side-by-side towards the Great Hall when Ginny approached them. Harry noticed the bags beneath her eyes and the stress she was suffering was etched on her face. "Hi guys, I'm not allowed in for breakfast yet, seventh years only apparently. See you in a bit." Ginny walked past them and Harry, Ron and Hermione entered the Great Hall, beams of sunlight greeting them as they took their usual seats around the Gryffindor table, helping themselves to some breakfast as it magically appeared before them.
"Wonder what's up?" said Ron, taking a sip of his Pumpkin juice.
"I don't know," answered Harry absently, he glanced across the staff table and couldn't see Dumbledore anywhere. Professor McGonagall stepped up however and cleared her throat to capture the students' attention.
"I have a couple of quick announcements to make. Firstly, the seventh year students of all schools," McGonagall glanced at the students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang, "will begin taking their N.E.W.Ts on May 1st, with final exams taking place on May 31st. I wish you all luck.
"Forget luck, I'm in need of a miracle," snorted Ron.
"Then, on June 1st, the last day of the school year, a ball will take place exclusively for seventh years, of course you may bring a guest from a lower year. That will be all," McGonagall re-took her seat.
"Oh great," Ron grunted. "Another dance, hooray," he said sarcastically.
"Well, it might be fun-" Hermione suggested, nibbling on a pancake. Ron snorted.
"Fun, fun! It's okay for you to say, you don't have to worry about it, and you've got a date."
"Well, maybe you can ask somebody to just go as a friend, you know, just for fun, it might help you to relax a little - what about Luna?" she suggested. Ron practically choked on his Pumpkin juice.
"Yeah, right, ha, ha. Why would I want to ask that weirdo?" Hermione didn't say anything, but looked at Ron seriously.
"Ron, I understand that it's going to be hard for you, I just thought-"
"I know," answered Ron smiling.
Neville then leant in to Ron. "Don't worry, I don't have a date either, we can play Wizard's Chess upstairs or something, or maybe give Trevor a bath," he suggested. Ron turned away and folded his arms, placed them on the table and collapsed his head in them.
Harry laughed but quickly stopped when he heard the familiar clonking sound on the marble floor, knowing instantly whom it was. He turned his head and spotted Alastor `Mad-Eye' Moody approaching him, his normal eye focused on Harry, his magical eye travelling along the staff table. "Potter," he growled, grabbing Harry by the shoulder and pulling him out of his chair. "Come with me," he dragged Harry along and Harry shrugged at Hermione and Ron's confused stares.
Harry followed Moody up to the second floor into an empty corridor in which stood the stone gargoyle leading to Dumbledore's office. "Clotted Cream," Moody muttered. He then turned to Harry, his magical eye remaining on the gargoyle. "Don't know where that nut gets his love of Muggle sweets from, I expect his love for Muggles on a whole." Harry, along with Moody stepped onto the platform, Harry still didn't know for sure why he was here but he expected it was to do with that sphere. Harry shuddered at the thought of the sphere and stepped off the platform and into Dumbledore's office.
"Here he is Dumbledore," barked Moody, pointing at Harry.
Dumbledore nodded. "Thank you Alastor, that will be all." Moody nodded and left the room. Dumbledore turned to Harry from the seat behind his desk and ushered for Harry to sit opposite him, which Harry did. "Hello Harry, how are you?" he said with concern.
"Not too bad," Harry lied.
Dumbledore nodded again. "I wanted to talk to you about what happened yesterday, and the death of Remus Lupin. I know it is a difficult subject, but I need to bring it up because we need answers. Mr Weasley told me about what happened, the sphere having a bizarre effect on you."
"Yes sir, as soon as Ron brought the sphere out I felt completely the opposite to what I was, as though I had no control over my body." Dumbledore nodded again.
"I see, the sphere, I have never seen before, but it appears to me that it was no coincidence that it was placed there, and that it could appear anywhere."
"Anywhere! You mean that could happen again!" Dumbledore held up his hand, as he usually did when he wanted Harry to keep quiet. "No! I won't stay calm; I killed somebody yesterday, somebody who didn't deserve anything remotely close to death. And now you're telling me that it could all happen again? How many more innocent people am I going to kill? There has to be a way to counter the effect it was having on me." Harry was breathing heavily as he perched on the edge of his chair, Dumbledore remaining calm.
"Harry, you said that you felt a change immediately when the sphere was near you, correct?" Harry took a deep breath and nodded. "Do you think in the time before the incident occurred you could have warned the people around you if you had known what was coming."
Harry nodded, calming down somewhat. "Yeah, I think I could. Thank you sir."
Dumbledore smiled brightly. "Thank you Harry, for trying."
Harry stood up from his seat. "Is that everything?" Dumbledore nodded. Harry turned and began to leave the room but Dumbledore's words caused him to stop and turn back around to face his Headmaster.
"Harry, good luck this year - with everything."
If Harry needed any more convincing that Voldemort's attack was imminent, this was it. "Thank you sir," he then exited the room and stepped onto the platform before descending to the ground level. As the gargoyle spread it's wings Harry stepped off the platform and was greeted by Ron and Hermione who looked slightly concerned.
"Is everything okay?" asked Hermione, her concern evident.
"Yeah, it was just about the sphere-"
"Just about the sphere!" Ron gasped.
"Dumbledore doesn't even know exactly what it is yet, and there is no known counter for it, but if I feel any different and scream at you to get away from me then please, do it." Ron and Hermione nodded, although looking a little worried after what he had said.
"As long as you're okay," Hermione finally added.
Harry grinned. "I will be, as soon as I've watched you in flying practice." Hermione groaned.
"I don't know if I can, my stomach hurts, I think I had one too many pancakes." Ron stepped up next to her.
"What's this, Hermione Granger skipping exam work? Never," Ron clenched his hand over his mouth in fake shock.
"Oh, okay, but go easy on me won't you…both of you," she said, turning to Ron. "Anyway, should you really be playing after your arm injury?"
Ron shrugged. "It's fine now, besides, I can't wimp out of using it for ever can I?"
*
Hermione didn't make too much progress during their practice session, although she did avoid Harry's bludger, which instead hit Ron directly in the stomach. "Now who has stomach ache!" he cried.
"Sorry," Harry called. "Right Hermione, last one. Try and dodge this bludger and hopefully Ron will catch it this time." Harry swung his bat full on at the bludger and it shot towards Hermione who quickly dropped down on her broom and the bludger raced through the air safely into Ron's arms. "That was great," said Harry, gliding over to Hermione, who looked a little absent.
"Are you okay?" asked Ron.
"No," said Hermione shaking her head. "My stomach really hurts…" suddenly her eyelids trapped shut and she fell forwards from her broom. Harry outstretched his hand and grabbed Hermione's hand.
"Ron, grab her other hand and pull her up," Ron did as told and between them they managed to drag Hermione onto the brooms, her head Harry's end, her feet Ron's. "It'll be easier once we are on the ground."
They lowered themselves slowly and when they reached the ground Harry scooped Hermione into his arms and made for yet another trip to the Hospital Wing, Ron behind him.
*
Madam Pomfrey immediately took Hermione into her arms and laid her down on the nearest bed. Harry and Ron waited on a couple of seats. "If I had a gold galleon for every time one of us came in here I'd be rich." Ron said.
Harry didn't respond, he was too concerned about Hermione, Madam Pomfrey was running over a few tests and this didn't do a thing for Harry's nerves. Once she returned, her face showed neither happiness nor sadness.
"Harry, Miss Granger is in a very deep sleep, I can't make her wake up at the moment-"
"What!" Harry and Ron said in unison, Harry leaping out of his chair. "Is she going to be okay?"
"She will be okay," said Pomfrey attempting a smile. "Somehow she has been poisoned, and cases like this can sometimes leave the victim in an unbreakable sleep for days, weeks or even months. And once the victim awakes, he or she will have little energy for a few more weeks, and will only be fit to talk, and only just. I will keep her here and give her a dose of potion every day until she awakes, and I promise you both that you will be the first to know when she does."
Harry nodded but didn't make eye contact with Madam Pomfrey; he walked out of the Hospital Wing with Ron behind him. "It'll be okay mate," reassured Ron.
"I know," began Harry, eyeing Ron. "Hermione said her stomach was hurting this morning, I guess that is where the poison started to take effect because of something she had eaten or drank." Harry began to walk ahead of Ron who was forced to break into a jog to keep up with Harry.
"Where are you going?" he called after him, still in pursuit. Harry stopped, giving Ron a chance to catch up.
"To the place where all the food comes from, the kitchens, I wonder if Dobby has any information for me?"
Harry quickly darted towards the kitchens, Ron chasing behind. Harry didn't stop until he reached the portrait of the giant fruit bowl. He began tickling the pair, which in turn began giggling frantically, before granting them access to the door the portrait. Harry entered, followed closely by Ron.
They stepped into the kitchens where the house-elves were busy preparing extra breakfasts. "I'll be right back," said Ron, in awe of the joint of steaming, sizzling sausages in the far corner. Harry ignored him and stepped between a few elves and into a large room storing loaves of bread. Dobby sped towards him from behind one of the shelves, wrapping his arms around Harry's legs. He broke away shortly after.
"Harry Potter sir, is sir well?" he squealed, his big eyes gazing up at Harry, a toothy grin accompanying it.
"I'm okay, but Hermione isn't doing too well," said Harry, wanting to get directly to the point of the visit.
"Miss is sick?" Dobby questioned, his eyes drooping.
"Yeah, strangely enough everything happened after she had eaten breakfast."
"You is accusing our food of making Miss sick?" Dobby looked deeply hurt by Harry's suggestion, two more House Elves joined him and they looked on the verge of tears.
"No, I wasn't accusing you," Harry said defensively, suddenly feeling very guilty for questioning the elves' loyalty.
"Thank you Harry Potter, sir," squealed Dobby again, the two other elves smiling and leaving. "Because we would never hurt anybody, especially not Harry Potter's…Harry Potter's…" Dobby trailed off, looking a little embarrassed. Harry brushed it off.
"Is there anybody else who has access to the food or drink?" he asked swiftly.
"Only the drinks are on the table before the students arrive," Dobby answered, his ears quivering with nerves. "Dobby is very sorry for Harry Potter's dismay."
"It's not your fault," Harry answered.
"We have some soup if you would like to take some to Miss, it may help her."
"Thanks Dobby, but she can't really eat right now." Ron then entered the room with a half eaten chocolate éclair down his chin. "Come on Ron, we're done now."
"What? I haven't got round to the sausages yet," cried Ron.
"There's time for eating later," said Harry sharply, dragging Ron along.
"Fine," mumbled Ron. "You should know," he began in a louder voice. "You get mad when you are upset, I'm just comfort eating!"
*
Harry explained to Ron everything that Dobby had told him, and for the next fortnight the pair spent a majority of the time pondering over whom, in the school, would want to do this to Hermione. Harry had visited Hermione three times a day just to be with her, and to talk to her, even though she couldn't hear him. He had attempted to heal her but the sphere had still apparently drained the amount of energy he needed to heal the ones he cared for. Madam Pomfrey had taken note of his visits, and felt that the visits were having a bad psychological effect on Harry, and had therefore banned him from visiting her for a while.
"Pomfrey has a point though," started Ron as he walked with Harry towards the common room. "I mean, with the war, Voldemort, and all of these things happening to her, it's got to be playing on your mind a bit. Your gonna have to try and find a way to cool off and not let it take over you, and you've heard what Madam Pomfrey said, she thinks Hermione will wake up within the next month, and that's any time within the next month."
"In all honesty Ron, yeah, things are getting to me, as they have been you. But because of recent incidents I don't think you are in a position to lecture me about psychological health. Pomfrey thinks Hermione will wake up, but she doesn't know for sure. What if Voldemort strikes before Hermione wakes up? I want to have the chance to say goodbye to her just in case I don't survive. My end may come sooner than I think." Ron remained quiet after this, and Harry was glad that he hadn't pushed the subject.
They entered the common room and Harry noticed a group of students gathered around the notice board, he and Ron joined them. "Hogsmeade trip on April 14th," said Dean Thomas excitedly. "Apparently to buy new dress robes for the ball if necessary - as if, I'm just looking forward to playing some football."
Harry remained silent, he loved Hogsmeade, but he wouldn't be able to enjoy himself knowing that Hermione was lying in a hospital bed.