Disclaimer : Harry is JKR's
Chapter 5 - An Answer from the Burrow
Present Day, American Quidditch World Series, near Ann Arbor, Michigan.
"Nice clear day to win the World Series," said Oliver Wood in his pre-match speech to the New York Skwerts Quidditch Team.
"Winner take all! Gie," he said to the Keeper, "Eye on the Quaffle."
"Quincy and Felisa, keep the Bludgers away from him."
"Troy, Sweeney and Moldov, remember the attack plans we practiced."
"And Harry, find the Snitch early. Any questions?"
"Yeah," said Gie, who was a rookie on the team. "I've been meaning to ask you Coach, but why do you call Phil 'Harry'?"
"Because he plays better if I call him that and I'm very superstitious," he said, winking at Harry. Wood recruited him and Harry agreed to play as long as he could play as someone else. He also made Wood swear he would never blow his cover.
And the game started. Twenty minutes into the fast paced game, their nemesis, the Los Angeles Nifflers were outplaying them 70-10, mostly because they were more experienced and were playing a bit dirtier than they were. Such a difference between amateur and professional sports, Harry thought, as he dived and crossed over to avoid a Bludger.
Then, out of the corner of his eye he saw something white fluttering towards him. Hedwig! The reply he had been waiting for. It must have been very urgent because Hedwig would never interrupt him at work like that unless…he stopped himself from thinking the worse. Wood was going to kill him if Hedwig caught up to him before he caught the Snitch, "Where are you?"
Then he saw it, just across the field from him. He accelerated towards it the same time the opponent's Seeker did. It was a race; the Snitch, two Seekers and a white owl on their tail. A Beater from the opposing team hit a Bludger right at him. Harry saw it just in time to hang from under his broom just with his legs as his fingers caught the Snitch. The crowd oohed and ahhhed. It missed him by not much and instead caught the other Seeker's broom, causing him to crash into the stands. Game over. The crowd erupted in applause and mayhem followed.
He touched down the edge of the pitch and his team joined him. He managed to extricate himself and found Hedwig patiently waiting for him to take the note off her leg. He quickly read it. Harry whispered something in Wood's ear and he nodded. Harry left the stadium in no time, clutching the note in his hand.
The note was in Ginny's hurried handwriting.
Harry,
Ron's at St Mungo's, and Hermione, well it's really bad. Best if you could come. Right away.
Ginny
There were a few ways to travel across the ocean; broom, Portkey, Floo Network or Apparition. A broom would take too long. A Portkey was usually by special issue to groups or families with young children .The International Floo Network was a bit unreliable because of the different ways people said destinations (one could be misunderstood depending on which Floo Network you were using). Apparition was the fastest.
It was safest to use International Apparition Centres in key cities across the world. Splinching was more likely to happen if attempts were made to Apparate outside its confines and because body parts would be in different jurisdictions, it could take forever to sort out which Ministry was responsible for the rescue.
However, he needed official travel documents to travel that way, preferably not as Phil Horton and definitely not as Harry Potter. He could not handle the questions. Not yet. He pulled out some documents from his safe and perused them, 'Norbert Stangemore, it will have to be you." With that he transformed himself to Norbert's likeness and Apparated to the nearest travel centre in downtown New York.
Standing in line, documents and travel fees in hand, he waited for about half an hour for a cubicle to be available so he could Apparate to the London Centre. He cleared customs and in no time at all, Harry was standing in front of a portrait of St. Mungo Bonham, founder of St. Mungo's Hospital For Magical Maladies and Injuries. Transforming back to himself, the Welcome Witch at information recognized him immediately and he learned that Ron was in the Spell Damage Ward on the 4th Floor.
Not good, he thought as he took the lift to where Ron was.
At the very end of the ward in a private room with curtains drawn across halfway he could see his red haired friend lying still on his bed. There was a Healer looking over him, wand in hand, murmuring an inaudible spell and deep in concentration. She did not notice when Harry came in and approached Ron on the other side.
Ron looked like he was asleep. On instinct he put his hand on Ron's shoulder, shook him to wake him up as he had done thousands of times before, but there was no response. The Healer looked up and recognized Harry.
"Mr. Potter. My name is Healer Frances. I lead Mr. Weasley's wellness team."
Healer Frances was a short, plump, middle-aged witch with stern features. She looked like she was in-charge and not one to get on the wrong side of.
Harry shook her hand, "Please, call me Harry. How is he?"
"Well, we don't really know," she said honestly. "He's been this way since they brought him five days ago. No scar, not even a blemish. We've checked for poisons, for any indication of a curse, but we have come up with nothing. We are afraid that usually means it's the work of the Dark Arts."
Harry looked at Ron; he could not come up with anything to say.
"I trust that you are here to assist in finding the cause of his condition."
"Can you tell me more about how it happened?"
Healer Frances took his arm and brought him away from Ron's bedside. "It is a matter for the Ministry to discuss with you. They are very anxious to meet with you to perhaps shed some light on the situation."
Harry was puzzled why they would think that.
"I wasn't even in the country when it happened," he countered.
She seemed not to hear him.
"We want to help Mr. Weasley get better, but unless we know what happened, we cannot do much about it for fear we might make his condition worse. He needs you, Harry, and if what I hear about you is true then he will not be disappointed."
"Harry!"
A familiar voice called out and as he turned he recognized the pretty red head rushing towards him and hugging him tightly.
"Thanks for coming. Harry, it's been a nightmare for everyone," Ginny said.
He could only imagine.
"When Hedwig came through in here it felt like a huge weight came off everyone. They all can't wait to see you. Mom and Dad are coming. Charlie and Bill were here the day after it happened but had to go back home. Remus and Tonks should be around later. Fred and George will be here after closing time."
When the one name he was waiting for did not come, he asked, "And Hermione?"
"Oh Harry! You don't know yet do you?" her brown eyes were full of concern and apologetic.
"Know what?" Harry replied, almost afraid to ask.
"They're saying she did this, to Ron and murdered her boss and possibly a co-worker! She's locked up in a secure area here at St. Mungo's and they will move her to Azkaban when she's well enough!"