CHAPTER THIRTY –
Introspection
The following morning, Hermione stood at the bottom of the stairs, looking up at the boys' staircase. Tapping her foot lightly, she glanced at her watch. This is curious... he's never this late. Not even on Sundays... Padma came down the stairs, tucking in her blouse and yawning widely.
"Merlin, I hate mornings..." She muttered, looking round the common room. "Harry not up?"
"Not yet." Hermione replied, checking her watch again. Maybe a couple more minutes... it's possible he got up early again to do another trip out.
Luna staggered down the steps, pulling her jumper over her head, before pulling her robes on. As soon as she hit the common room floor, she glanced round, her face scrunching up in confusion. Her eyes glowed silver for a moment, as she scanned the room. "Where's Harry?" She asked, her voice ethereal and dreamy.
"Not down yet." Hermione said, staring at her. This can't be good...She thought.
Padma cleared her throat. "Luna, can you tell us anything?"
For a moment, Luna didn't respond, until her eyes widened comically, and she bolted for the boys' staircase. "He's hurt! Move!"
The three began running, heading up to the second floor, then down the corridor into Harry's room. The instant they entered, all three girls recoiled at the smell of blood.
Hermione quickly took in the situation; Harry was laying on his back, facing the door, his wand lying next to his right hand. In his chest was a standard potions knife, buried up to the hilt, just above his heart. Surrounding Harry was a crimson pool, his robes soaked in blood, his face pale.
Fortunately for Hermione, her constitution was strong, as she managed to force the urge to retch down. "Luna, hospital wing, go!" The blonde vanished. "Pad', Flitwick!" The girl disappeared. "Stay with us, Harry..." Hermione muttered.
While waiting for medical assistance, Hermione quickly scanned the rest of the room. Harry's trunk, where he basically kept his clothes so the House Elves could easily access them, had been smashed, his clothing spread all over the floor. His textbooks from the previous day had been torn and sprinkled everywhere. Fortunately, the door to the Portkey box was shut, and she knew from experience that only Harry and those he authorised could get in there.
Taking a chance, she placed her hand on the door. The magi-lock clicked for a moment, before the door swung open. The lights inside were dimmed, making the console room look dark and sinister. That was not what distressed her, though. A single, tolling bell sounded, ominous in the darkness. This is not good. She thought to herself.
She stepped outside, closing the door firmly behind her. Harry was still lying on the floor, but she didn't dare touch him. She knew next to nothing about medicine, but she knew that pulling out the knife would only make the bleeding worse.
Slowly, she knelt down next to him, taking one pale and slightly too-thin hand in hers. "Harry... don't... don't die." A tear dropped from her cheek, splashing onto his shirt. "Don't leave me, Harry, please..."
Hermione's musing was cut off as several people appeared in the dorm room, Poppy appearing in the doorway, dashing forward and dropping to her knees next to Harry instantly. Her wand flicked as she performed basic diagnostic charms.
"Report, Miss Granger." Flitwick commanded brusquely.
"Harry didn't come downstairs this morning." Hermione said quickly. "We came up here, and found him like... that."
"Anything out of the ordinary?" Flitwick asked, flicking his wand around the room.
"His trunk's destroyed, sir. Fortunately, he keeps everything of value inside the Box. I don't think anything's missing."
"Hmm..." Flitwick murmured. "Curious... there's evidence of some rather... inappropriate spells." He shook his head. "Poppy?"
The Medi-Witch was working frantically. "The knife directly penetrated his heart. It's fortunate that whoever did this didn't pull it out. He'd have bled out long ago. As it is, he's in absolutely critical condition." She looked up. "We need to get him to the hospital wing immediately."
Hermione took a moment to think. "Can he be moved, just a bit?"
Poppy looked at Hermione. "It's very dangerous."
"Can you put him on his bed, and Portkey that to the hospital wing?"
Flitwick's jaw dropped for a moment and the sense and potential speed for treatment. "Yes. Yes, we can. Poppy, I'll levitate him onto the bed, then put the whole thing under a stasis charm." Flicking his wand again, he slowly raised Harry up. "It's a shame we can't use his moving cupboard..." He murmured as Harry settled on the bed.
"Poppy, lie down next to him." Flitwick commanded. "You know that Portkeys tend to be... shaky. You'll need to help keep him stable. Miss Granger, Miss Lovegood, you too." All three ladies scrambled onto the bed. "Miss Patil, please make your way to the Headmaster's office. His password is 'Maltesers'. Please ask him to head directly to the Hospital Wing." Grabbing hold of the bedpost, Flitwick tapped the bed with his wand, causing it to flash blue for a moment, before it disappeared in a blaze of colour.
Padma was already running out of the door, heading for the second floor.
It took Dumbledore just under a minute to race into the Hospital Wing, Padma hot on his heels. As he passed through the doors, his countenance wasn't that of a kindly grandfather, or a lemon-drop obsessed Headmaster. It was that of a warrior, of a general. "Report!" He barked as he entered.
"Severe blood loss. Massive damage to the heart." Poppy replied, without breaking stride. "He's gone into shock."
"Filius?"
"Evidence of high-level combat." The diminutive charms master replied quickly. "An extremely powerful Protego, beyond a second year. Some kind of Cruciatus-"
"Thank you!" Poppy exclaimed. "That's why his nervous system's lit up like a Christmas tree..." She quickly bustled to a cupboard, grabbing a potion and a rather large hypodermic syringe. "We're going to need to inject anti-Cruciatus potion into him. Whatever the curse was, it's still working on him."
Filius nodded, taking a step back from the bed. "As I said, high-level combat. A Cruciatus, with some kind of... of boost to it. It's not surprising Mr. Potter was overcome. Also, the room had been searched, Albus. Badly."
"And what of the weapon?" Dumbledore demanded.
Reaching onto the bedside table, Flitwick plucked up the small knife. "A standard potions knife, Albus. Every single student in the school has one of these. I've already checked. No skin traces, hair follicles or other identifying evidence."
Dumbledore swore, loudly and at length. Hermione raised an eyebrow at the language, before focussing on the important thing; Harry.
"Madam Pomfrey, you can help him, can't you?" She asked, a tremor in her voice.
Poppy looked up, her face blank. "I don't know, Miss Granger. I don't know... the damage is severe. These appear to be yesterday's clothes."
"Which suggests he's been unconscious all night." Hermione concluded.
"The stasis charm will be able to keep him alive as it is." Poppy informed her. "It's basically a null-field of space and time. In effect, he's not currently existing. But, to heal this kind of damage..."
"Phoenix!" Hermione blurted. "Professor Dumbledore, you have a phoenix, don't you?"
Dumbledore nodded. "I do, Miss Granger. However, he's not in the best of conditions at the moment. He's due for a burning day in the next few weeks, and-"
"He can't cry healing tears in the run up to his burning day." Hermione completed. "Bloody marvellous." She sighed. "Is there any way to repair the damage to his heart while he's in stasis?"
Poppy shook her head slowly. "No. The stasis field will basically prevent any changes. He's safe in there, but it'll stop us from working on him."
Hermione turned to Luna. "Get Neville, Susan and Blaise. They need to know about this." As Luna departed, she turned to Pomfrey. "Will Legilimency penetrate the stasis spell?"
Poppy blinked for a moment. "That's a restricted art, Miss Granger."
Hermione just waved her hand. "Never mind that. Will Legilimency penetrate a stasis spell?"
"No." Dumbledore said, stepping forward. "However, if we were to reduce the stasis spell, weaken it, it may be possible. Harry's mind, however, is impenetrable. He asked me to test his shields, and I could not get through."
I don't intend to penetrate his shields. Hermione thought to herself. I intend to knock on the door, and see if he answers. "Understood, sir. Madam Pomfrey, if Harry was able to slow down his life processes, would that give you more time to work on him? A sort of... self-enforced stasis charm?"
Poppy shrugged. "In theory, yes. However, I've never encountered anyone with that kind of bio-control. In theory, if Harry could slow down his heart beat, it would give us a little more time to work on him. Also, we'd be able to administer blood replenishment potions."
Hermione nodded. "Harry can do this. He has more self-control than anyone I've ever seen." She pondered for a moment. "When the others get here, lower the stasis charm. We'll go into his mind. He'll trust us. We'll see if we can get you some internal help."
Hermione opened her eyes slowly, feeling herself floating in the void that was Harry's mind. There was something different this time, though. Instead of floating alone in space, she found herself staring at the massive ship-shaped object that was Harry's mindscape. It was listing to one side, a large gash in the centre bleeding out oxygen.
To her left, Susan floated, the nearest person of their friends to a healer, since it was what she wanted to do after completing Hogwarts. On her right was Neville, brought along in case they needed some muscle. Without bothering to wait for a reply, Hermione willed herself forward, passing through the now non-existent shields, knocking on the door. After a moment, it opened a crack, just big enough for her to get her fingers in, and pull. Neville was there a moment later, gently pushing her out of the way as he jammed his fingers in the crack and pulled the door open.
Once the gap was wide enough, Neville leaned back, allowing Hermione to head into the crack, Susan falling in behind her. After the trio was inside the small room, Neville quickly hauled the outer door back into place, before opening the inner door.
Instead of the brightly lit corridors they were used to, half of the lights were off, while the others sputtered.
"This must mean that he knows there's damage to his body." Hermione pointed out to the others. "Come on... let's get to the control room. That's probably where he's hiding."
The deck they were walking on was skewed, leading each of them to lean against the walls as they crept forward.
"Anyone else think this is probably one of the weirdest things we've done on a Thursday?" Susan asked, out of the blue.
"It probably is." Hermione muttered under her breath. "God damn it, why is every door shut in here?"
"Containment protocols." Harry's voice sounded. "Designed to protect my mind even during a catastrophic emergency. Hang on..." The door to the bridge opened, revealing a whole array of battered consoles, and several of the Harry doppelgangers loitering.
"Harry!" Hermione squealed, wrapping the nearest figure in a hug.
"Hi, gorgeous." The normally-attired Harry, the true Harry, replied. "It's good to see you."
"And you." Hermione said sincerely. "Do you know what happened to you?"
Harry sighed. "My memories are a bit hazy. I was attacked by a disillusioned figure. Hit with me a Crucio and then stabbed me. I would hazard a suggestion that it was the Heir of Slytherin."
Another Harry stepped forward, clad in a green jumpsuit. "The stab wound penetrated the heart. I managed to slow down the bleeding, and increase production of red blood cells, but I'm at a dangerously critical condition."
Hermione cleared her throat. "Yeah... Madam Pomfrey had you under a stasis spell for a while, but she lowered it so we could come in here. Do you have any way of controlling your body?"
"Short answer; yes. Longer answer; for the most part." Medical replied. "What does she need?"
"More time." Susan said softly. "She believes that she can repair your heart, but it'll take too long. By the time the damage has been sealed up, you'll have..." She trailed off, not even wanting to mention it.
"Died?" The Harry in Hermione's arms replied bluntly. "Yeah, we figured that part out. What would we need, Medical?"
"Draught of Living Death would work." Medical replied. "It'd basically slow down the body down to almost suspension. One heartbeat per minute, respiration every hour. Do you know how long Poppy needs?"
"Probably a couple of hours." Susan said. "She basically needs to repair the damage, accelerating the regrowth of the damaged tissues. The give you a couple of blood replenishment potions."
"What about anti-Cruciatus?" Medical asked. "If untreated, that can cause-"
"Already done." Susan interrupted. "It'll take a bit of time to prepare the Draught. It's not something that's routinely kept at school. Too much chance of misuse."
Harry looked up. "Make sure that Snape's not the one to make it. I wouldn't trust him not to make it so potent I'll never wake up. Hermione, could you make it?"
She nodded slowly. "I think I could... but it's a pretty complex potion, Harry. Snape would be able to do it better than I can.."
"You can do it, Hermione. We both know that." Harry replied. "And I trust you. All the ingredients and a small lab are set up in the Box. You could make it in there, then bring it straight to the Hospital Wing. Once that's done, Poppy can work on the surgery, and get everything squared away in time for dinner."
"Men..." Hermione scoffed. "Always thinking with your stomachs."
"Yeah." Harry and Neville said in unison. "It's what we do!"
Hermione leaned forward and pecked Harry on the cheek. "I'll get right to work on that potion, Harry." She was about to turn away, when Harry pulled her back, staring into her eyes before leaning forward slowly. She knew that he was being noble and gentle, but she wasn't in the mood. She leaned towards him quickly, fusing her lips to his. A moment later, her small pink tongue pressed against his lips, making him gasp. She quickly surged forward, licking his tongue before they started to duel.
Both pulled back after a moment, panting. "I'll see you soon, Harry." Hermione promised, before stepping back.
The three interlopers vanished as they willed themselves out of Harry's mindscape.
"Damn..." Harry muttered, seeing the smirking Medical doppelganger. "Shut it, you!"
Medical held up his hands, the smirk still in place. "True love... isn't it grand?"
Harry nodded, before sobering. "I'd still love to know how the hell Ginny managed to get the drop on us."
Tactical appeared out of nowhere. Fortunately, Harry knew his mind, and didn't jump. "I have a few small ideas."
"Do share."
With a wry grin, Tactical said, "We both know that luck is a completely random factor. During our early years, we got lucky against Voldemort, even though he was far more powerful and trained than we were. Plus, we fell into the age-old trap of underestimating our adversary."
Harry nodded. "Yeah... I never thought Ginny would have the power or skill to cast a Cruciatus."
"It's been done for hundreds of years." Tactical said. "People have been casting that spell, regardless of power or ability." He sighed. "We were arrogant. We should have expected her to pull out all the stops. Then again, we know it's not her driving."
"But how's Voldemort managing to control her so early?" Harry asked. "I mean... it wasn't this bad the first time round... was it?"
"We just can't know." Tactical said. "Remember, we barely spoke to Ginny the first time until the end of third year, when we were spending time at the Burrow before the World Cup. She's never spoken of her time under the diary. From what we know, she doesn't remember it. It's possible it was this bad the first time round." With a combination sigh/shrug, Tactical carried on. "Also, with regards to the power, the Horcrux is carrying it's own portion of magic, since the core resides inside the soul. Combine the Horcrux and Ginny and it's a magical powerhouse."
Harry nodded. "Here's hoping Poppy's as good now as she was in the future." He blinked. "I'm fairly certain that sentence made more sense in my head."
"We're in your head." Medical replied with a smirk, ducking a swat from both Harry and Tactical.
Hermione opened her eyes, his senses reconnecting with her body. The stale, antiseptic smell of the hospital wing, the endless bright white paint... She sat up, staring at Pomfrey. "He wants the Draft of Living Death, Madam."
Dumbledore took a step back. "I will arrange for Severus to brew the potion immediately."
"No, sir." Hermione said firmly. "Harry specifically requested that Professor Snape not make the potion. He asked that I brew it instead."
Dumbledore frowned. "Miss Granger, Professor Snape is one of the foremost potions masters in the country. His skill is unrivalled. He'll be able to make a perfectly acceptable potion."
"No, sir." She said again. "Harry doesn't trust Professor Snape, sir, and neither do I. His actions towards Harry have been nothing short of criminal, and I will not allow him to proscribe medication to my boyfriend."
"Miss Granger, I assure you, I trust Severus and he-"
"That is your choice, sir." Hermione said firmly. "I, however, do not. And neither does Harry. I will make the potion, at Harry's request."
The Headmaster turned to Madam Pomfrey. "Poppy, surely you can understand the need for Severus to make any potions that Harry needs."
Poppy nodded. "I can understand the need, Albus." She saw the hurt look on Hermione's face, but didn't let it affect her. "However, the wishes of the patient take precedence over needs, sir. Mr. Potter is not mentally incapacitated, and has made his wishes clear. Miss Granger will make the potion that he requires."
Slumping slightly, Dumbledore shook his head. "I'm afraid I must insist, Madam Pomfrey. Harry is a student, and the school acts in loco parentis during term time. Professor Snape will make the potion."
"I will not administer it." Poppy said frostily. "The patient has requested Miss Granger, and that is the only potion I will administer." She drew her wand. "Now, sir... you are required to leave the Hospital Wing."
With a disappointed look, Dumbledore turned and headed out of the door, intent on heading to the dungeons and arranging for Severus to brew the potion.
"Quickly, Miss Granger." Poppy said, keeping her eye on the door. "Take Miss Bones and Mr. Longbottom and get brewing. If you need ingredients, come and see me, and I shall liaise with Professor Sprout."
Hermione grabbed Susan's and Neville's arms, and fled the hospital wing.
Collecting Luna, Padma and Blaise on route, Hermione headed straight for Harry's dorm-room, where the Box was ticking over.
"Er... doesn't this thing have defences?" Blaise asked, grabbing hold of Hermione's arm as she reached for the door.
"I'm keyed in." Hermione replied, pulling free and pressing her hand to the magi-lock. After a moment, the door opened with a creak. The box was still dark on the inside, the toiling bell sounding in the cavernous room.
"Okay... this ain't creepy." Susan said, shuddering slightly.
"Come on." Neville pushed forward. "Potions lab's just back there."
As the rushed forward, Hermione stopped at the console, her hand snaking out and flicking two switches unconsciously. The bell ended on the first flick, while the lights came on thanks to the second.
"How'd you know how to do that?" Neville asked, stopping in his tracks.
"I have no idea." Hermione admitted, blinking in confusion. "It's almost like... like it wanted me to." She shook her head. "Doesn't matter. Need to get this potion made."
Quickly finding ingredients, water and a cauldron, Hermione set the water to boil before adding ingredients. "Blaise, you've got a cool and logical mind." She said casually. "What do you make of this?"
Blaise paused from his chopping of the wormwood. "I can see several possibilities." He admitted after a moment, resuming his chopping. "First, one of the students didn't believe Harry's declaration that he isn't the Heir of Slytherin, and attempted to stop the attacks themselves."
Hermione nodded from her bench, where she was grinding root of asphodel. "Logical. But, Professor Flitwick said there were high-level curses thrown about, including the Cruciatus. That implies an older, more powerful student."
"Agreed." Blaise said. "Another possibility is that someone broke into the school, believing the same thing. Unlikely, considering Hogwarts is supposed to be secure."
"'Supposed'." Padma sniffed. She was grinding moonstone powder. "Yeah, wasn't Voldemort here last year?"
"Yes." The other five agreed in unison.
"You're forgetting the most obvious." Luna said from the other side of the bench, where she was sterilising stirring rods. "The Heir of Slytherin wanted to get Harry out of the way. Since we now know that Slytherin's monster is a Basilisk, and Harry's a Parselmouth, they may have wanted to get him out of the way."
Hermione paused her actions, looking up at Luna. "How accurate's your gift, Luna?"
"No, I don't know who it is." Luna replied. "My gift seems to mainly focus on ripples in time. I can't See who it is that is carrying out these actions, unfortunately."
Sighing, Hermione carried on. "What else do we know?"
Neville cleared his throat. He'd been washing beakers in the small sink. "We know that the Chamber of Secrets is not a myth. It's real. And the 'monster' inside is a Basilisk, the king of serpents. We know that there is a human behind the actions, although we don't know who that human is. We know that they must consider Harry a threat, since he's the only Parselmouth in the school." He corrected himself. "The only other Parselmouth in the school."
"How's it getting round?" Susan asked, out of the blue, looking up from the textbook containing the instructions. "I mean... Basilisks, as the 'king' of serpents, have to be bloody big. How else is it going to move around the school?"
"A good question." Hermione said. "Blaise, you got that wormwood ready?"
Passing across his chopping board, Blaise folded his hands together. "The other way, Hermione. Add the wormwood first." He took a moment to think. "Another question we can ask is 'how did this person gain access to Harry's dormitory?' Granted, the password system isn't infallible, but the portrait would have remembered someone else coming in, surely?"
"Yeah... Flitwick already asked him." Hermione replied absently, stirring the wormwood water. "Damn, I hate mysteries. Do you reckon Harry knows?"
No-one had an answer.
The potion was completed and delivered to Madam Pomfrey in short order. Once administered, she began work on repairing the damage.
While working, Poppy's mind raced. It's not right. She groused. The poor lad's had more trouble and strife in his twelve years than anyone else has faced in a life-time. Only Alastor Moody can come close to matching Harry's suffering...
She ran her wand down Harry's chest, neatly slicing through the skin, which she carefully peeled back. Another flick of her wand removed two of Harry's ribs, which plopped casually into a kidney-shaped bowl that was lying on the tool table next to her.
Finally, she could see it. The heart. It was twitching slightly, the Draught of Living Death slowing his body to an amazing degree. One of the chambers had been pierced all the way through, which would require some seriously deep healing on her part.
It's been a while since I've had to do this. She thought to herself, as she gingerly pushed her wand inside the rupture, and began to cast muscle-knitting spells slowly.
In the waiting room, Hermione Granger sat, chewing her fingernails down to the bed. She'd read up on magical medicine, of course, before she began attending Hogwarts. What she'd read had absolutely fascinated her. They were able to do so much!
In the Muggle world, you had to be anaesthetised, scrubbed and cut open to remove an faulty appendix. In the magical world, you took a potion, and had an uncomfortable bowel movement... and that was it! Broken bones could be put back together with a flick of a wand, destroyed bones could be removed and replaced overnight... It was a marvel.
However, stab wounds, serious stab wounds, required a little more work. It was necessary to repair each cluster of muscles, before regrowing the nerves. It was a lot of work, and was guaranteed to be extremely painful.
She was still pondering the cause of this attack. Granted, Harry was the 'Boy-Who-Lived', not to mention rich, powerful and handsome, but the sheer ferocity of the attack, not to mention the timing, was certainly a cause for concern.
Why now? She wondered. True, the Heir of Slytherin is attempting to attack Muggleborns, but what made them pick this time to stab Harry? A scary thought crossed her mind. Is it possible that the Heir has access to some of Harry's knowledge? Or worse, a Seer like Luna on their side?
She sighed. Introspection was all well and good, but she needed Harry awake before any answers could be gotten. Her eyes drifted to the waiting room doors.
Blaise was a cool, rational young man. Gifted, by many standards. But he was terrified out of his mind at the prospect that someone could calmly attack Harry. He'd only known the Ravenclaw for a year, but in even that limited time, he'd been impressed with how capable Harry was. If something could just sneak into Harry's dorms and near-kill him... What the hell chance do the rest of us have?
As a Slytherin, he knew an assassination attempt when he saw one. This wasn't even a warning. If it wasn't for Harry's truly impressive bio-control, he would have been dead for hours by the time they were found.
And that was another thing; how exactly did the attacker manage to penetrate all the security of Hogwarts? How did they manage to leave no traces of skin or hair on the weapon? How did they manage to use high-intensity Dark combat magicks in the school, without the Headmaster being notified?
He sighed. Introspection was all well and good, but he needed Harry awake before any answers could be gotten. His eyes drifted to the waiting room doors.
Padma sat next to Susan, clutching her hand. She'd never seen so much blood before! The prospect was like a blast of cold water to the face. Yes, she knew that Voldemort had near-ruled the country with a wave of terror just before she was born, but this...
It made it all real to her. She'd pledged with Harry to fight, but like all children, she didn't really understand the concept of fighting. To her, it was duelling, except with slightly more dangerous spells. Two opponents would fire spells at each other until one was down. The prospect of death, disease and destruction never occurred to her.
She realised, with a bit of morbid satisfaction, that she was better for this experience. Harry would live, they knew that now. But, she had received her 'trial by fire' in helping a dying friend. She knew what to expect the next time there was a fight, and she was better for it.
Like Hermione and Blaise, she was concerned over the timing and nature of the attack, but was prepared to wait for more information. Like the others, though, she had questions.
She sighed. Introspection was all well and good, but she needed Harry awake before any answers could be gotten. Her eyes drifted to the waiting room doors.
Susan had seen blood before. Indeed, since her Aunt was the Director of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, she'd come home several times injured and covered in blood. Seeing a close friend (practically a brother) dying on a stone cold floor in front of her had still shocked her.
Growing up the way she had, with an Aunt since both her parents were killed in the first war with Voldemort, she had been a very lonely child. Sure, she'd made a few friends as she grew up, notably Hannah Abbott, but she was never an open, outgoing person...
Until she met Harry. He'd breezed into her life courtesy of a marriage proposal. Instead of teasing her, as almost every other eleven year old boy would do, he told her honestly (and politely, another first) that he wasn't looking. Then he'd included her in his circle of friends, immediately dragging her into an adventure with a wayward dragon.
He'd been supportive, kind and friendly to a girl who at the time, frankly, wasn't worth cleaning dung off his shoes. He'd raised her confidence and abilities to an extremely high degree. Most notably... he didn't do anything extraordinary. For him, anyway. He just made her a better person.
And now, someone had attacked him. She knew she should send a letter to her Aunt, since a brutal attack of this nature really did require the attention of the Aurors, but she wanted to wait until Harry was awake, to find out what she should do.
She sighed. Introspection was all well and good, but she needed Harry awake before any answers could be gotten. Her eyes drifted to the waiting room doors.
Neville, like the others, was concerned.
Like most magical children raised in the 1980s, he'd been indoctrinated in the belief that Hogwarts school was an impenetrable safe haven, especially with Dumbledore there. An attack like this, considering that Harry was the Lord of an Ancient and Noble House, was truly terrifying.
Whoever the attacker was had managed to either get into the school, or even scarier, was already a member of that school, a fact that was enough to drive the old Neville out of his mind.
But Neville wasn't that scared, timid little squirt anymore. Ever since the trip out with Harry, where the annoying bastard had pushed Neville beyond his comfort, he'd been far more. He'd gained confidence, when he realised that he truly was a wizard, not a weak little squib. Harry's methods of gaining that knowledge were uncomfortable, true, but the result was worth it.
Unknown to most people, Neville knew that his mother was actually Harry's godmother, while Lily was his. Both he and Harry had been robbed of their true childhoods, and were both loners growing up. Harry was turning out to be the big brother Neville had yearned for all his life, even though he was actually a day younger.
Harry's confidence, poise and knowledge rubbed off on Neville, making him want to improve himself, especially considering their rocky start. He'd been following Ron Weasley around, since the family were confirmed light-wizards, but Ron's attitude had disgusted him. Harry had generously given him a second chance, and he intended to make certain that the banner of Longbottom once again flew alongside Potter.
But what could do something like this to a powerhouse like Harry? Especially with something as utterly mundane as a potions knife?
He sighed. Introspection was all well and good, but he needed Harry awake before any answers could be gotten. His eyes drifted to the waiting room doors.
The last of the six in the waiting room was Luna, and she was puzzled. Her gift of the Sight (not confusing it with Trelawney's short-sight) had never failed her to this degree. Why hadn't she seen such an immense change in the time-line?
She sighed to herself. Harry was a nexus point in space and time, she knew that for certain. Not to mention his actions were affecting near-everything. But to miss something so big...
Because of her gift, she was able to view certain moments from the original time-line, the one that Harry had neatly destroyed when he'd taken his Quantum Leap. In that time-line, Luna Lovegood had been a friendless loser, retreating too far into herself, and never managing to come back. She'd died in battle, not taking it seriously enough.
But as soon as she'd met Harry this time, he'd gone out of his way to befriend her. He hadn't known about her gift of the sight, not really. He knew that she was different, but he seemed to relish her differences as unique, instead of thinking her a freak. She was truly free to be herself with him, and that puzzled her.
He didn't want anything from anyone. Well, that wasn't strictly true. He wanted them all to become capable. He had no ulterior motives in gathering his friends. He'd simply accepted them as they came calling, of which Blaise was a prime example.
With her, though, he didn't expect her to use her gift to improve things. He didn't expect her to see what he wanted. He simply wanted her to grow into herself. And she was. The future she saw for herself was so different. She would be powerful, able to protect those who couldn't protect themselves. She had a gift that would be used to help others.
But, there were bad things coming, things even she couldn't predict. She'd need Harry's help, as well as the help of the rest of her friends. And she knew that she'd be standing by Harry's side through it all. Along with Hermione, Blaise, Susan, Padma and Neville.
Who had attacked him? She couldn't see the answer to that question. Oh, she knew that Ginny was carrying around a Dark magic item, true. She knew that she could try and take the blasted book. But that could have an inverse reaction on history. Future history.
She sighed. Introspection was all well and good, but she needed Harry awake before any answers could be gotten. Her eyes drifted to the waiting room doors.
Ginny Weasley blinked. She looked down at herself, wondering how the hell she'd gotten back to her dorm room, when the last thing she remembered was leaving Potions. She sat up in her bed, pondering the situation. This wasn't the first time she'd had a memory fade-out, and it was making her nervous.
She quickly grabbed her diary, and inked a quill.
Hey, Tom.
After a few moments, the diary wrote back.
Hello, Ginny. How are you today?
Nervous.
Oh? Why?
I... I've had another memory block.
Another one? So soon? What's the last thing you remember?
Ginny nibbled on her bottom lip as she thought.
I was leaving Potions, and my bag handle snapped. The next thing I know, I'm waking up in my dorm room. I don't know how I got here, or anything.
There was a pause for a moment, before the diary wrote back.
Is anything missing?
Ginny made a quick search of her dorm and bag, spotting nothing out of the ordinary.
Not that I can tell.
If it were me, and I was having black-outs like this, I'd probably run a few medical diagnostic charms on myself. Just to make sure. You never know what could have happened to you. Are you familiar with the spell?
I know the basic health charm. Mum taught me when I was younger.
Then cast it, Ginny. Better to be safe than sorry.
Nodding, Ginny pulled her wand and cast the charm. The results floated in the air for a moment, revealing that she was in perfect health.
It says I'm fine.
There is another spell, used for verifying your purity. It might be worth using that.
Ginny was familiar with that spell. It was something her mother cast on her brothers every time they came home from Hogwarts, and she knew that she'd be added to the roster when she returned. It was a status check for virginity. With a sigh, she cast the charm. She grinned to herself.
No, I'm still... intact. I don't know what to do, Tom.
There was another pause.
If it was me, I'd write down all the times you've had these 'black-outs'. Maybe there's a pattern. Maybe it's after you're exposed to certain Potions ingredients, or maybe even something a simple as one of the caretaker's cleaning products. You never know.
That's a good idea, Tom. Thanks.
She grabbed a piece of parchment, and began writing.
Inside the diary, a malevolent presence chortled to itself. Soon, you stupid little girl, you'll realise the truth. And then it will be too late. Without Potter around, there shall be none who can stop me... except, possibly, Dumbledore. Hmm... I'll need to get the old fart out of the school in order to be successful.
Soon... It thought. Soon...
In his office, Dumbledore was nearly crapping razor blades. His concern over the attacks was greater than anything he'd felt in a long time.
If Harry dies now... He could barely complete the thought. If Harry dies now, who will defeat Voldemort when he returns? He is the only one that is capable of destroying that monster.
Fawkes sang soothingly from his perch, but the noise wasn't nearly as comforting as usual.
How did someone cast a Cruciatus curse within the school, and I didn't know? This was another point that was bothering him. The wards of the school reported to him and him alone, and the fact that someone could casually cast Unforgiveable curses was more than a little disturbing.
Why didn't Hogwarts tell me?
He glanced at his watch, noting that Poppy had been operating on the boy for a good long while by now.
Another thing... why did Poppy side with Miss Granger? She knows that Severus is an expert potion maker. True, his grudge against James Potter is still very much alive and well and aimed at Harry, but he is a professional. It's almost as though they don't trust him.He sighed. He'd done as much as he could to protect Severus Snape. They know that he has my full confidence, even though he's been very childish with regards to Harry. That should be more than enough.
Live, damn you, Harry. Live. You are needed by the world.
Poppy sighed to herself as she ran her wand down Harry's chest, sealing up the two large flaps of skin. After almost nine hours of gently poking and prodding, she'd managed to seal the hole in his heart. His recovery wasn't complete, though. He still had a number of nerve regeneration potions to take, not to mention time to rest.
She went to the sink and washed her hands, scrubbing the blood off, before she cast a sterilisation charm on them. Going over to the potions supply cupboard, she pulled out several vials of a thick, mud-like potion. Holding her nose, she flicked off the stopper, pouring one down Harry's throat, before adding a second, then a third. Stroking his throat to induce swallowing, she casually vanished the vials, before looking down at her patient.
"What am I going to do with you?" She asked softly. "You're going to keep getting hurt, aren't you?"
She reached up, brushing some of his unruly hair away from his head.
"You get better." She said, smiling at him, before heading to the doors to the waiting room.
"I've finished." The words penetrated six sets of ears, as Harry's friends jumped to their feet and rushed to the doors.
Once inside the hospital wing, they quickly grabbed chairs and set up a vigil around Harry's bedside.
"He looks so pale." Susan whispered. She was set next to Harry's waist on the right hand side, with Neville to her left, sitting next to Harry's head, while Luna was on her right, resting a hand on Harry's knee. On the other side, Hermione had taken Harry's hand, while Blaise was across from Luna, Padma sitting across from Neville.
"He lost a lot of blood." Poppy said from the bottom of the bed. "I've sealed up the holes and repaired the damage, but he'll be bed-ridden for at least a week, and dreadfully weak for almost a month."
"No, he won't." The six chimed in unison. "You watch." Hermione continued. "He'll be out of bed within the next few days, and back to full strength within a fortnight." She snorted softly. "He won't let it be any other way."
On board a ship in a place that only existed in a mind, Medical grinned. "It's done. All systems are showing green. We're back and as good as new."
Harry nodded. "Excellent. Am I gonna be in pain when I wake up?"
Medical nodded. "Probably a little bit, yeah. Still, pain's good, innit? Means you're still alive. Now, get your lazy arse up there."
Harry's eyes fluttered open slowly, a groan building in his chest. Hermione was staring at him, the concern in those cinnamon orbs enough to send what little blood he had left in his body racing southwards. "Mornin'..." He slurred. "You look good..."
Hermione blushed prettily, before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips. "You scared the crap out of me!" She scolded.
The sounds of the Evil Queen of medicine approaching scuppered any conversational opportunities. "So, you're awake." Poppy said, smirking nastily. "Oh, I have some absolutely vile potions for you to drink."
Harry stared at her for a moment. "Love you too, Poppy."
Blushing like a school girl, Pomfrey ran several quick diagnostics. While she worked, she spoke. "You know, when you said you missed me, you didn't need to come in as a customer. I'd happily have had a cup of tea with you."
"Wanted to prove it." Harry said, wincing as he moved slightly. "I assume that you fixed the ragged hole in my chest?"
"Of course." Poppy replied, sounding scandalised at the impugning of her work, however inferred. "It took me a long time, too. I'd like to make a request."
He nodded, biting down on his lip as another wave of pain washed over him.
"Don't get stabbed again. It's rather... irritating, trying to stitch you up."
"No promises." Harry half-laughed, half-winced.
"Harry!" Hermione snapped. "Don't joke about things like that!"
I wish I was joking. Harry reached up to take her hand. "I'm sorry, Hermione. It's just... it's that whole 'if I don't laugh, I'll cry' bit. I didn't mean to scare you."
"How're you feeling?" Hermione asked tenderly.
Harry took a deep breath, wincing slightly as he felt another wave of pain in his chest. "Oddly enough, pretty lousy. But, a lot better."
"Good." Poppy said, handing him a vial of Blood Replenishing potion. "Drink this. You shouldn't need too much, but this should be enough to help you feel a little better."
Harry took the potion, swallowing slowly until he felt the strange gagging sensation that told him he'd had enough. He passed the half-full vial back to Poppy, who nodded. "So, what did I miss? How long have I been unconscious, anyway?"
"Approximately thirty hours." Hermione said. "You spent the first few of those unconscious on your dorm floor. We found you in the morning when you didn't come down for breakfast. I went up to your dorm-room, and found the place messed up."
"Anything missing?" Harry asked instantly.
"Not that I could tell." Hermione said, her eyes narrowing. "Your trunk was destroyed and a couple of school books had been ripped up, but nothing major. I know you keep most of your important stuff inside the ship, and only you and I can get in there, so..."
"Yeah." Harry nodded absently. Bugger... the Horcrux has gone then. Shit... Ginny must have it back in her possession by now."Any more attacks while I was out?"
"No, nothing. Harry, do you know who it was who stabbed you?"
"They were disillusioned." Harry replied. "I couldn't see their face. And they spoke in Parseltongue."
Hermione nodded. "Which means you didn't hear a voice. Any guesses?"
"Not at the present time." Harry replied. Since I already know who it was. "So, you found me on the dorm floor. What then?"
Poppy wandered over to listen in while she ran a few more diagnostic charms.
"Well, I sent Padma to find Professor Flitwick and Luna to get Madam Pomfrey. We moved you onto your bed and portkeyed the whole thing to the Hospital Wing."
Harry nodded. "Makes sense. You couldn't really carry me with a knife in my chest, and you couldn't remove it without causing me to bleed out." He grinned. "I love magic."
"Ah, you're awake, Mr. Potter." Dumbledore's voice came from the doorway.
Instantly schooling his face to impassiveness, Harry looked over. "Good... is it morning?" He asked. "Good day, Headmaster. You're looking well."
"Thank you, my boy. And yes, it is morning." Dumbledore glanced down at his watch. "For another twelve minutes, at least. Are you feeling better?"
Harry nodded. "It's remarkable just how good not having a hole in your chest can feel, sir. Any news on my attacker?"
"Alas, nothing." Dumbledore said. "I was hoping that you'd be able to provide us with some additional information regarding the attack. What can you tell me?"
"Practically nothing useful, sir." Harry replied dutifully. "The figure was disillusioned, meaning I couldn't see their face, and they only spoke in Parseltongue, so I couldn't even hear a voice. They did hit me with a Cruciatus, which completely knocked me off guard."
Dumbledore nodded sadly. "Yes... Professor Flitwick reported that. I'm sorry you had to undergo such a thing, Harry." He sighed heavily. "In that case, we are no further along in our investigation than we were before. There were no skin traces of follicles. No fingerprints on the attacking weapon. Nothing that can be used to tie it down to any particular person."
"What about Priori Incantatum, sir?" Hermione asked. "Surely that could be used."
Dumbledore's eyebrow shot up. "Indeed, Miss Granger. That's a rather obscure bit of knowledge."
"I like to read." Hermione said with a blush.
"Unfortunately, Priori Incantatum can only reveal the last few spells on a wand. If someone is in the know, and I believe that several people here at the school know about it, then it's next to useless. Simple charms, such as a Leviosa or even a simply personal grooming charm, can clear a wand. Unforgiveable curses have a way of lingering on a wand, which could be detected, but after this length of time, the trail will undoubtedly be cold."
"So... back to square one, with a potential murderer walking round the school." Harry replied, sighing. "Very well, sir. Can I ask that if you do get more information, that I be notified?"
"Of course, Harry. Any pertinent information will be shared with you in due time." Dumbledore nodded, before heading out of the door.
"And who the hell decides what's 'pertinent'?" Hermione muttered under her breath. "Harry, are you sure you want to..." She trailed off as she looked up at Poppy. "Er..."
"I understand, Miss Granger." Poppy replied softly. "I, too, have issues with Albus sometimes."
Harry nodded. "I'll play nice with him." He said slowly. "But I'll never trust him again. Not after what's he done."
"Understandable." Poppy said.
"Well..." Hermione sighed. "You did say 'no second chances'."
Again, Harry nodded. "Poppy, you mind if I get up? I've got an immensely full bladder here."
Poppy sighed and handed him a robe.
Less than a day later saw Harry on his knees in front of Pomfrey, his friends stood by the door laughing their arses off.
"No." Poppy said flatly.
"Oh, come on!" Harry grumbled. "Discounting the fact that I feel much better, I'm bored out of my mind here!"
"No."
"Please?"
"No."
"I'll pay you."
"I get paid by the school."
"I'll pay you more."
"I get paid enough."
"I've give you an extremely expensive present."
"No."
"I'll get you two extremely expensive presents!"
"No."
"I'll run away and tell everyone you were torturing me!"
"Do so."
"Please!"
"No."
Poppy was enjoying herself immensely.
Harry decided to bring out the big guns. He opened his eyes wide, and let his bottom lip quiver pathetically. As usual, Poppy couldn't resist the Potter charm, combined with a puppy-dog pout.
"Fine." She sighed. "It's on your head. Come back if you feel any weakness."
Harry shot to his feet, wrapping the startled matron in a hug. "Cheers, Poppy." He pressed a kiss to her cheek, and bolted for the bathroom to get changed.
Poppy's hand raised up to her cheek, which was glowing with embarrassment. She glanced over at the six laughing students. "Oh, be quiet!"
Once free from the lair of the Evil Queen of Medicine, Harry cheered up. "God, I hate the hospital wing. Don't get me wrong; I like Poppy, and I like that she's so good at her job... I just wish I didn't have to sit in there so bloody often."
Hermione had linked arms with him while they walked away, and pulled him into a hug. "We're all glad you're feeling better, Harry." She said softly, looking into his eyes. The other five turned away, not wanting to intrude on such a clearly private moment.
"Thanks, Hermione." Harry said, equally softly.
"Ah, Potter. Not dead yet?" Malfoy's hated voice boomed up the corridor.
Harry growled in his throat for a moment, before looking up. "No, not yet, Ferret. You'll have to wait a little longer for that."
"It's no skin off my nose, Potter." Malfoy said airily.
"It's odd that you were so concerned, Bad Faith." Harry said. "Then again, even with me in the Hospital Wing unconscious, I'm still better at Quidditch than you are." Flipping Malfoy the bird, the group walked past.
"Actually, that reminds me." Harry said. "I must have missed a couple of practices with the team."
"Oh, that reminds me." Padma said. "Davies said he needed to talk to you about something."
"Okay." Harry replied. "I'll go and find him later."
Two hours later, Harry came into the Ravenclaw common room, where the others had gathered.
"You find Roger?" Hermione asked, not looking up from her homework.
"Yep." Harry said shortly.
"And?"
"And I won't be playing Quidditch anymore." Harry replied, sitting on the couch next to Hermione.
"Oh? Why?" Neville asked.
"Because until the whole Chamber of Secrets mess is cleared up, the Ravenclaw team feel that having a potential Dark wizard on the team is a scandal they hope to avoid." Harry replied bitterly. "Cho Chang will be playing as seeker until further notice."
Hermione's face grew red as a towering inferno of anger built up. "Are they out of their bloody minds?" She hissed furiously.
"Hermione." Harry said, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Let it go."
"This is wrong!" Hermione snapped. "God damn it, Harry, you know that!"
"It's only Quidditch." Harry replied. "I still have my broom. Besides, at the risk of sounding arrogant, Cho's not as good a seeker as I am. And when this mess gets cleared up, I won't go back."
Luna chuckled evilly. "Oh, I don't think they have any idea what they've done." She let out a vicious cackle. "It's a shame that Davies is too blind to see it."
Said team captain chose that moment to enter the common room. He looked over at the sofas near the fireplace and cringed.
"Ah, Davies." Hermione said brusquely as she stood up. "I'd like a word with you."
"Hermione." Harry said, reaching up to grab her arm, only to have it shaken off.
"What the bloody hell do you think you're playing at?"
"With what?" Roger asked, clearly scared of the little girl.
"Why have you banned Harry from the team?"
Roger looked at Harry, who shrugged as he put his feet onto the coffee table, leaning back. "I-I told Potter. Until the scandal's cleared up, it's better for the team if he doesn't play."
"Oh. I see." Hermione snarled. "Even though Harry already told everyone who the Heir of Slytherin is? Even though you should know him better than this? Even though we're going to lose now that Chang's the seeker?" Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "Do you have any explanation for your stupidity?"
Roger drew himself up to his not inconsiderable full height. "I'm the team captain, Granger. If I make a decision for the good of the team, that decision stands. Besides, when the scandal's cleared up, we'll allow Potter to come back, nothing else said. It's not permanent."
Harry scoffed, but didn't say anything.
"Your loss, Davies." Hermione said icily. "I just hope you realise what you've lost."