Part 4:
Harry could hear voices around him, and as he tried to lift his head he realised he couldn't move. He opened his mouth to speak but no sound came out. He forced his eyes open and saw Albus Dumbledore.
"It's ok Harry. It's a potion which has paralysed your body while Poppy repairs the damage from the curses." Harry relaxed a little.
"You did well Harry. James and Lily would have been as proud of you as I am. The body arrived safely at Azkaban and phase two of the plan is going ahead as we speak."
There was movement at the end of his bed, but Harry couldn't move his head to see what was happening.
"Poppy, he needs to speak if we are to find out…"
Harry saw Madam Pomfrey's face appear above his and he felt a rush of air to his lungs and he gasped for breath and coughed as his voice returned.
"Thank you." He spoke hoarsely. She nodded and smiled tearfully at him before moving away. Dumbledore reappeared.
"Tell me what happened Harry. How did you survive the killing curse twice?"
"I'm not entirely sure…it was something my Mum said, in a letter, hate could never kill him, but the curse could be powered by love - that's the reason the curse worked when I spoke it but I really don't know why I didn't die." Harry said confused.
"Well, your injuries were relatively serious, but all you've got to show for it now are some rather spectacular scars, and once the paralysis potion is lifted I'd imagine some pain."
Harry smiled wryly at the Headmaster.
"Just what I need - more scars…Is there any news of phase two yet? Is everyone ok? Was anyone injured by all the magic out in the forest? -"
Dumbledore interrupted Harry's stream of questions with a hand on his shoulder.
"Please try and relax for a moment Harry. You've done your part. Your body needs to recover. Poppy would like to give you some dreamless sleep potion to give you a chance to heal."
"But…"
"It could be hours before we know anything more Harry"
"I - well, I just need to know that everyone's safe." Harry said softly.
Dumbledore nodded.
"I know."
"Can I just see Ron and Hermione first?" Harry asked.
Something in Dumbledore's facial expression changed as if a book was closing and immediately Harry was gripped with worry.
"What's wrong?"
Harry could now hear Ron's voice, and someone crying, someone that sounded a lot like Ginny.
Madam Pomfrey poured a potion down his throat and Harry gagged slightly at the taste, but was suddenly able to move. He abruptly pulled himself into a sitting position, ignoring the pain that ripped through his chest and back. Ron rushed forward and stood before his friend, he exchanged a look with Professor Dumbledore and Dumbledore and Madam Pomfrey left, leaving Harry and Ron alone.
They studied one another silently, Harry taking in his best friends bloodshot eyes and shaking hands. Ron took in the sight of Harry before him, a huge lightning blot bloody scar covering half of his chest, his face pale, his hair even messier than usual.
"Where is she Ron?" Harry chocked out, his voice cracking.
"We don't know what happened Harry…it's like…well - you know why you have the scar on your head…?"
"The curse didn't work because my Mum di…" Harry broke off and his head whipped up to stare at Ron in horror.
"She's…?"
"No…well, we don't know…no one knows what happened as she wasn't there so she can't have taken a curse - she just went mental and then she collapsed…"
Tears ran down both of their faces. Ron moved forward and helped Harry to stand up and move from his bed. Ron pulled open the curtains to reveal a small crowd of friends and family gathered in the hospital wing. A simple look from Ron stopped anyone from approaching, and stopped Madam Pomfrey from forcing Harry back to bed. Harry took a deep breath as they approached a bed surrounded by drawn curtains, and tears fell down his face as the curtains were drawn back and he saw Hermione lying motionless.
Harry sat down on the edge of her bed with Ron's help and the two of them looked down at their best friend. Her eyes were open and lifeless, the irises no longer a warm chestnut brown but a vacant white.
"Has someone gone to get her parents?" Harry whispered, reaching out to take her hand. Ginny moved forward to sit on the other side of the bed and nodded in answer to his question.
"Mum and Professor McGonagall have gone to get them."
They sat in silence for some time, watching Hermione, waiting, hoping for her to move, or show some signs of life.
"When will it be safe to move her to St. Mungo's?" Harry turned to ask Madam Pomfrey.
"Members of the Order will arrive to escort her." Madam Pomfrey replied. Harry nodded, and suddenly seemed to take in the other people standing in the hospital wing, his head was spinning and the pain was getting worse and worse.
Ron saw the colour drain from Harry's face, and beckoned Neville over.
"Can you help me drag that bed over here?" He asked Neville.
The two of them moved another hospital bed over to sit next to Hermione's; wordlessly they helped Harry over to it, knowing he wouldn't let them move him away from her.
"Thanks." He whispered, turning onto his side to watch her silently. He was so so tired, his eyes were closing, but he was so scared of falling asleep in case she was gone when he awoke. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out the other half of Voldemort's wand and looking at it for a moment he passed it to Ron.
"Will you give this to her?"
Ron nodded and placed the splintered wand in Hermione's open palm before turning back to Harry, who was now just saying quietly to himself -
"I did it for her…"
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