Chapter Thirteen
Professor Dumbledore made his way over to Harry, his face a mask of worry. Hermione Granger was already there looking frightened and also rather helpless. She didn't know how she could help. It was her fault, she knew it. If she had just gone to the feast then Harry wouldn't have had to come and save her.
Blood surrounded Harry's leg. It was a horrific sight. Muscle tissue and bone could be seen as his trousers and his leg had simultaneously been ripped apart. Dumbledore quickly bent down beside Harry and examined any other injuries he may have sustained. He noticed Harry was cradling his chest and thought Harry may have broken his ribs. Madam Pomfrey suddenly arrived at the scene and made her way swiftly to Harry. She had brought a Blood Replenishing potion which she now knew was a good idea. After administering it to him she conjured up a stretcher and they lifted Harry onto it carefully.
After Harry was placed on a bed in the Hospital Wing, Madam Pomfrey immediately started trying to repair his tattered leg. Unlike last time Harry injured his leg, there was now magic to help him. She started to perform spells over his leg and the skin began to regenerate itself. Harry had to look away as the sight was not at all pleasant. His eyes burned in pain as he felt his skin bubble and stretch. He was barely conscious and after Professor Dumbledore saw how much pain he was enduring he tapped Harry on the head with his wand and Harry immediately fell back onto his pillow unconscious. Madam Pomfrey gave Professor Dumbledore a stern look and Dumbledore then left Harry's bedside to check on Hermione.
Hermione was sitting on a bed down the other end of the wing. Professor McGonagall was trying to calm her down and also check the cut over her eye. Hermione instantly stood up when she saw Professor Dumbledore heading her direction. "Professor is Harry alright?" she asked pleadingly. "Yes, Miss Granger. Harry should recover," he said quietly. "It's my fault. He came to get me. But I was too stubborn and wouldn't listen to him," she said self reproachfully. Tears had been in her eyes since she had entered the girl's toilets early that morning. They had stopped during the incident with the troll, but now they fell freely onto her robes. She moved back onto the bed her face in her hands. "Ms. Granger, the fault lies with no one in this particular situation," consoled Dumbledore.
Professor McGonagall cleared up the cut over Hermione's eye. Madam Pomfrey had finished with Harry. He had a bandage wrapped around his chest after giving him a potion to help broken bones, especially ribs as they protected some vital organs. His leg had been cleared up and another bandage had been wrapped around it. The bandages had magical properties which helped heal skin from scars and disfigurations. Harry now lay peacefully in his bed, he was slightly pale but he was recovering quite well considering the extent of his injuries. Hermione stayed with him for a few minutes before Professor McGonagall brought her back to Gryffindor Tower.
Professor Dumbledore asked Snape and Flitwick to examine the toilets and the troll for any evidence which might help in discovering the culprit who let the troll in. There were no major clues as to how the troll entered the school, but they confirmed he was a mountain troll. They were surprised to find that Harry had actually been able to stun the troll. Usually because of their size and magic they would be extremely difficult to put into am unconscious state.
Hermione climbed through the portrait hole and was quite surprised to see Ron Weasley sitting on the couch in front of the welcoming warm fire. It was quite late, darkness had covered the castle and all the students had gone to bed. Ron stood up when she entered and then his face took on a disappointed expression, he had obviously been waiting on Harry. "Is he okay?" he asked rather apprehensively. "Professor Dumbledore said that he was going to recover," Hermione answered quickly. She didn't think there was any point being evasive or rude. After all she had been through that night she was too tired to be angered by Ron Weasley. So, she told him what had happened and also about Harry's injuries. She was shocked to hear that Ron had actually informed the teachers about Harry's actions, hence their timely arrival.
After they finished telling their stories an awkward silence fell between them. Hermione just stared into the depths of the warming fire while Ron fidgeted with a hole on the battered couch he was occupying. It was only when Ron cleared his throat that Hermione snapped out of her reverie. "Er….I'm sorry about….about what I said…earlier on." He looked very uncomfortable and it seemed a very hard thing for him to do. Hermione decided that she didn't want to fight with him, at least not tonight. She was too worried about Harry. Also he was Harry's friend and he must have had some good in him.
"It's alright," she murmured. "You don't know me, that's why it hurt me so much," she added hoping he could at least learn something from this. Ron looked as if he would like to argue but then he gave up and made his way up the spiral staircase. Hermione went up to her own dormitory a few minutes later, but she didn't sleep very much
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When Harry awakened the next day he felt a bit stiff but also much better than he had felt before he had become unconscious. Madam Pomfrey was extremely satisfied with his recovery. His chest still felt tight with a sort of lingering pain but Madam Pomfrey had him on potions to relieve most of the pain. His leg was almost completely healed which was a shock for Harry as he remembered the last time he had suffered with his leg. Madam Pomfrey insisted on having Harry rest as much as possible, so he slept for most of the day. During his sleep he missed all the visitors who had come to see him. Hermione had been first, early in the morning. Madam Pomfrey felt obliged to let her into see him because she was with him when it happened. She stayed with him for about half an hour and then rushed off as she realized she was missing her first class of the day.
Hagrid entered the Hospital Wing in floods of tears. Madam Pomfrey warned him to stay quiet as Harry was sleeping. Hagrid spent most of the time whispering about how Harry looked very vulnerable and also told Madam Pomfrey about the time when he had brought Harry to the Dursleys and how he had slept just as he was sleeping now. "Look a' him. Poor thing," he said sorrowfully. "Hmm," said Madam Pomfrey thoughtfully. "As I heard it from Professor Dumbledore, he seemed to give the troll a right good fight," she said nodding her head in Harry's direction. She looked as if this was a very distressing piece of information but also seemed impressed. Hagrid chuckled to himself as he left the wing. "An' he thought he wouldn' fit in," he muttered to no one in particular.
And so when two days since the incident with the troll had gone by Harry woke up feeling quite refreshed. He gingerly climbed out of the surgically white bed and walked across the cold floor to the other side of the room. At first his going was slow but then he gradually found that he could now walk fine except for the fact his chest still hurt a bit. Madam Pomfrey entered the room heatedly and berated him for getting out of bed as he was her patient. So Harry returned disappointedly to his bed, he was hoping he could leave soon.
When Hermione came to see him that day she was absolutely delighted to see him sitting up against some pillows. Harry asked her questions relating to what happened after he had fallen unconscious. She told him everything, even about her conversation with Ron. "He isn't that bad. He's just really hot-headed and can't keep his mouth shut," he said with a lopsided smile.
Harry was extremely relieved to find she was alright. He had been worried when she had fallen and the troll was advancing towards her. Her cheeks pinked slightly when he told her this. "I'm sorry for acting like such a…a stubborn fool," she said guiltily. "And I hope you can forgive me. And that we can start over again," she added. Harry held out his hand and she shook it, both of them laughing at their actions.
As she got up to leave, throwing her bag over her shoulder, she stopped and gave him a serious look. "Thank you," she said sincerely. "I wouldn't have lived if you hadn't come to get me." Harry felt a bit embarrassed; he couldn't remember being thanked so honestly before. Most people just muttered their thanks or used other things to convey their feelings such as cards or chocolates.
Two days later and Harry was released. Classes resumed as normal. The students didn't know the full story of what had happened on Halloween night and Harry nor Hermione told them. Hermione had stopped ignoring Harry and they did their homework and study together at Harry's small table at the back of the library. Harry found that Hermione was brilliant to work with as unlike Ron she actually wanted to learn. He sat beside her in all of his classes and they now communicated in Potions which meant that both of them improved.
Professor Dumbledore asked Harry to retell the story of what he did to the troll. Harry explained that he didn't want to kill the troll so he just stunned it. He also told him how he knew that they disliked fire and decided to use it against him. Professor Dumbledore was very impressed but he didn't want to openly express this. He did however award Harry and Hermione twenty five points each. Madam Pomfrey had told Harry that to completely recover to his full fitness that he should continue his Quidditch practices much to Wood's delight as he feared that Harry wouldn't be able to play in the upcoming match against Slytherin. Harry also went on an early morning run. He loved the fresh air during the cold morning hours and also it was great exercise.
And so October ended and November began bringing with it lower temperatures and occasional frost. The Quidditch season was about to start. Oliver wood was holding daily practices now and his hope in his team's chances of winning the cup this year were very great. His enthusiasm was almost contagious yet sometimes to the rest of the players it was wearisome. Harry had told Hermione about being Gryffindors seeker one night while they were in the silent library. "You must be the youngest seeker in almost a century," she said quite amazed. "Yeah, that is what Wood said," Harry replied. "Hang on. Wait one minute," she said thoughtfully standing up and going into the aisles full of books. After a few moments she returned carrying an old green leather-bound book. "Quidditch through the Ages," Harry read. "I heard a boy in our year talking about it. He said it was interesting. Maybe you could use it before you're first match," she suggested. "Thanks Hermione," Harry said, amazed by her consideration.
Harry had also told Hermione about the package that Hagrid had took from vault 713. She was very interested in hearing this and also Harry thoughts about the Gringotts break in. "I did wonder what that three headed dog was guarding. It must be really important if they're going to put something that dangerous in the school. I wonder what that package could be," she said, her brow furrowed in concentration as if she trying to remember something. "I think I was there the day you were in Diagon Alley with Hagrid,' she said. And suddenly Harry remembered the man who had stopped him in Gringotts. He was Hermione's father! He must have been. "Hermione," Harry started cautiously. "You…you've never seen anyone get hit by a car?" he said cursing the fact that whatever way he had asked the question it still sounded extremely blunt. She looked up startled at him. "How…how did you know?"
"It…it was me. Who got hit by the car, I mean." He stopped for a minute. "I met you're dad in Gringotts. He told me that he was there and that he helped me." Hermione thought for a moment. `Yes, he did say he had met you that day. I never saw you're face that day. We never knew what had happened until my dad met you," she said pensively. "Small world isn't it?" said Harry trying to lighten the mood. "Yes, it is," said Hermione forcing a smile. They talked for quite a while about the car incident. Hermione told Harry how agonizing it had been, not knowing how Harry had been or how injured he was. Harry then told her about his recovery. It was only when he had finished that he realized that he had actually spoken about his life before Hogwarts.
Alright, I just wanted to tell you what happened after the troll incident. The next chapter will have Gryffindor against Slytherin. Well, I hope you like this chapter. It's not the best as nothing huge happens, but anyway, thanks for reading,
Take care,
Radagast.
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