Chapter 17-Overcoming Obstacles
Hermione sat rocking in her chair next to Harry's bed with her knees pulled up to her chin and her wand in her hand. She wanted to find the CD player and listen to their music. She didn't want to hear the world around her anymore. A constant stream of tears poured down her face. Madam Pomfrey and Professor Dumbledore were lying to her. She knew it. Harry was not okay. Whether he died today or another, she would never let Harry go without her.
She couldn't look around her. She heard the buzz about Dean, Luna, Ron, and Ginny. Death and torture were all around her. She couldn't cope.
She hadn't slept in over 24 hours and Harry had not awakened. Her eyes burned a hole into the floor.
Madam Pomfrey had kindly given Hermione a glass of water a few minutes before with a mixture of sleeping draught to help her relax. In her current state, Madam Pomfrey was afraid to use enough of the sleeping draught to put her to sleep. It could be dangerous. Hermione was in a state of mania that pushed the body's ability to go without sleep.
Mrs. Weasley looked at Hermione with such compassion. She knew her own daughter would probably face the same thing with Ron gone and everything else that had happened. "Hermione, dear, look at me if you can hear me."
Hermione slowly turned her eyes toward Mrs. Weasley. Her vacant expression caused Molly to cry. "Come to me, honey," she said.
Hermione didn't move.
Hermione's parents were notified only this morning. They would come to Diagon Alley tomorrow and Percy would drive them to Hogwarts to see their daughter. They had been shocked. Their only delay was their patient load today, but they would cancel everything else.
The infirmary was no longer abuzz as it had been yesterday and earlier today. Molly moved her chair closer to Hermione and sat rocking with her. Slowly the rocking motion caused Molly to fade off into a fitful sleep. She hadn't been asleep more than a few minutes when a sudden movement startled her.
Hermione was crawling up in to the bed with Harry. She was careful not to disturb his position as she laid down with her arm over him and closed her eyes. Molly was startled at this picture, but she realized that it probably was the only way Hermione would sleep. She called Madam Pomfrey to see if it was okay. She nodded yes.
Finally, Hermione was at rest.
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After breakfast, Professor Dumbledore addressed the entire student body in the Great Hall. He began with a short prayer for the safety of all students at Hogwarts.
"It is my wish that you all know what we know at this point. Five of your fellow students are in the infirmary from wounds and other maladies caused by last night's attack. One of them is Draco Malfoy. He was returned for no known reason. His condition is guarded and it will take some time for him to recover. The others are progressing as well as can be expected. We suspect that there is at least one traitor in our midst. Someone aided the attack last night. The investigative team is here and you will all be kept here until the investigation is finished. At that time your parents will have to decide whether to take you out of school. There may be cause for the cessation of classes for the time being as well. You will hear more as these decisions are made. Thank you."
The heads of each of the houses shuffled their respective students off to their residences. Again a search was conducted through each trunk, locker and bed. The only things found were some letters to Dean Thomas from his parents, a letter that was addressed to him but had nothing on it, and a cryptic note stating the location where Miss Lovegood and Dean had been found. This was not to be divulged to anyone, by order of Professor Dumbledore and Inspector McDougall of Scotland Yard.
"Professor Dumbledore, how do you intend to cover so much ground today during the investigation?" asked Professor Flitwick.
"I will have to make do with the staff and the Scotland Yard investigators." Professor Dumbledore had spent most of yesterday interviewing the staff to see if there were any inconsistencies in their stories that could lead to suspicion. The staff appeared to be safe. Today he would discuss the events of the night before with Mad-Eye. Strangely, the auror who had been assigned with him had vanished. Again, only Mad-Eye and Dumbledore knew this.
"Thank you, sir. I had best be running off with my students then." Replied Flitwick as he scurried off toward his corner of the castle.
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The meeting of the Order of the Phoenix was less spirited than last night. What had appeared to be strength in Hermione had turned into sadness for everyone. They had been discussing how she was dangerously close to hurting her own health by not sleeping.
Molly Weasley arrived after everyone else and the discussion about Hermione. Dumbledore asked, "How are the children, Molly?"
"Better now I think. I saw an amazing thing just before I came up. Hermione crawled into the bed with Harry and went to sleep. I don't think I've ever seen a greater demonstration of love in my life." Molly cried openly in front of everyone for the first time. Arthur moved closer and held his wife. There was a long silence out of respect for her emotions.
Once she gathered her composure, Molly apologized. "I am sorry everyone. We have all been through a great deal. I thought how sad it was that Ron isn't here for Luna and I couldn't hold it back." No one commented, but there had been no need to apologize.
"Friends," said Dumbledore. "I say friends, because we are being shown by the courage of these young people the value and strength of friendship." With this, Dumbledore paused, "Eh-Hem." Holding back his own emotions, he continued. "It will be our bond that allows us to defeat Voldemort. There can no longer be any doubt about the source of these terrible acts. We will all face the danger and threat of death together."
"Professor," said Percy with a brave look on his face. "If I have to leave the Ministry to join the Order and help to find my brother, I will." This was an amazing statement for someone who just six months earlier denied everyone in the room to promote his own career.
"Percy, if needs be, then you will be accepted whole-heartedly." Dumbledore said.
"First, we must sort out our strengths and weaknesses. Our plan will be restricted by these," continued Dumbledore.
"We sure could use Harry, couldn't we?" Arthur interjected rhetorically. "Harry has proven himself time and again. While he is the object of hatred that Voldemort focuses on, he never expects anyone else to fight his battles." He was speaking of what Mad-Eye had reported about Harry defending Malfoy and Hermione. Even if all he saw was Harry being knocked to the ground.
"I think I got a reasonable account of what happened in the corridor near the entrance from Hermione, when I got to them." He paused. He had related this story to Dumbledore just before the meeting. "Hermione said that they found Malfoy badly injured and bloodied when they got to the first floor. Apparently, Harry and she stopped the attack with a series of disarming curses. She remembers a green flash from the wand in Harry's hand. And the man fell dead. Our investigation has proven that the "killing curse" was used, but it came from her wand. Only Harry can confirm her story."
"Do you think that she is blocking it out? Or do you think Potter did that curse with her wand? It is extraordinary for a wizard so young to be able to use the Avada Kedavra curse with their own wand, let alone the wand of another." Stated Snape.
"I am certain of one thing. She would not let anyone take Harry away from her. She said over and over again. 'He had no choice. He had no choice. We'd be dead if he didn't do it. You can't take him away.' I can't imagine her saying that if she had done it. She fought against me when I tried to move him. That's when I had to have her sedated." Mad-Eye recalled.
"Well, that will have to be decided by the Wizengamot. No one here can absolve who ever used the curse of their crime without a hearing." Dumbledore asserted.
He continued. "Arthur and Molly, I think we will need Charlie and Bill. They are very strong wizards and younger than most of us. To the point about Harry, it is true that he may be as magically-powerful as any fully-grown wizard. However, his power comes from a source that can be used against us-namely, Voldemort. His power is raw and often he doesn't know he has it until he uses it. I hesitate to say this, but Hermione is the key. She keeps him from using his skill and power out of anger and hatred. She may be the only one he trusts."
The looks on the faces of all in attendance were sullen. The realization of Professor Dumbledore's suggestion was clear. If she were suffering from an emotional breakdown, Harry may not be able to concentrate on anything but revenge.
"You are assuming then that Potter could be a loose cannon of sorts," posed Snape.
"Exactly. I know you don't like Harry much Severus, but please don't judge him by the treatment you received from his father and I," interjected Remus Lupin from the upper chamber at the top of the staircase. He had been brought back to health by Dumbledore in his office. Dumbledore wished Lupin would have been on guard that night.
Snape curled his lip at the sound of Lupin's voice. "I would appreciate it if you would keep your own counsel on those matters, Remus."
Remus obliged. He provided an option. "I had a reasonable amount of success with Harry. He and I have remained fairly close. I think that Hermione may recognize me as his friend and respond. May I talk to her?"
"Of course, if it will help poor Hermione recover from her ordeal and help Harry." Molly said. She realized she was assuming responsibility for the welfare of the children. She had done that for all of her children and felt qualified to make that decision.
Dumbledore smiled at Molly's forceful pronouncement.
We will divide up the countryside and begin looking for Ron tomorrow. We will start up north with Bill and Charlie when they arrive. We will begin on the Isle of Man.
Everyone nodded their assent and the meeting concluded.
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In the infirmary two hours later--Molly, Arthur and Remus looked in on their young charges. Hermione was asleep with Harry. Ginny had turned on her side which was a good sign. And, it appeared that swelling in Draco's face had come down with the help of Madam Pomfrey's skill. Luna was another story. They let out a collective sigh as Molly caressed Luna's lifeless hand. Her breathing was better this afternoon, but nothing else had changed.