Soul Pieces

SOUL PIECES

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter.

Chapter 08: Third Piece Down

“Well, well, well. What we have here?”
Harry knew that was the end. He knew that was no way that he could fight against Bellatrix. Ok, he had his wand pointed to her, but that was useless. He was on the floor, holding Hermione and even if he didn’t want to admit Bellatrix was a very powerful witch.
Well, at least I know she can’t kill me so…Probably she will stupefy me then leave me to Voldemort. What wonderful thought!
Bellatrix had a vicious smile on her face. She was proud with herself. Harry noticed that she was about to say something, cast a spell…he didn’t know. He was holding his wand very tight. He was about to cry Expelliamus when he heard that same word but in another voice.
Of course de devious witch also heard that and, as a kind of reflex, she turned her face to see the source of voice (because the position he was, Harry couldn’t see) and cried with hate in her voice:
“Lupin!”
Harry never heard if his former professor answered or not, without a chance to react or say something, the young wizard felt someone grabbing him and Hermione. And then, when he looked around he was inside the Hogwarts Infirmary, on the floor, holding Hermione.
“What the hell…?”
“Mister Potter!”- He heard Professor McGonagall.
With her, were Hagrid, Madame Pomfrey, Ron and a young man who he didn’t recognized.
He suddenly realized how pathetic the scene must seem. Harry stood up quickly.
“Lay her in a bed, Mister Potter.”- Madame Pomfrey said.
Without say a word, he did what she asks.
When the Hogwarts nurse saw how were Hermione’s hands and arms, she almost yelled:
“What happening with this girl?”
Thank Merlin, Ron answered for him. Not a good answer, though.
“A thing exploded in her hands.”
Madame Pomfrey arc an eyebrow.
“A thing, Mr. Weasley?”
“Well, er…you see….”
But then, Hermione began to convulse again. Harry (despite the nurse protests) ran to Hermione and held her very tight until the moment the convulsing passed.
“What is this!!?”- Someone shout.
Harry started to feel a little frustrate. Why so many questions? Why they didn’t help her already?
“We are at Godric’s Hollow. She touched a thing; and this thing exploded in her hands and a kind of smoke entered her body! That’s it! That’s what happened! Now, could you please heal her! She is dying, for Merlin’s Sake!”
She is dying… She is dying
A loudly gasp was heard. Madame Pomfrey looked at the young man. He was crying.
“ Harry, I need to examined Miss Granger properly. I will take of her clothes to see if another part of her body was burned too. I don’t think that she will like if you or Mister Weasley were here.”
Harry smiled at the thought. Hermione would take his and Ron’s head off. He nodded and left Hermione’s side. Behind him he heard Madame Pomfrey closing the curtains around Hermione’s bed.
“She will be alright, Harry”
“Ron is right, ‘arry. ‘ermione is a strong girl”- said Hagrid.
“Now, Mr. Potter, if you please could explain what happened.”- McGonagall said - Because Mister Weasley here didn’t help very much (Ron, at least, had the decency, to look ashamed). He only said that Miss Granger was hurt (fact you explained so well) and you and her were corned by death eaters.”
“First, I need to know how…where is the guy that was here?”- Just then Harry realized that the stranger was no longer there.
“Mister Perkins is an Order Member, Potter”- answered the headmistress- “He used a Portkey to bring you and Miss Granger. He already went. He needed to attend another business.”
Another Business? Remus!
But before Harry could say a word, the infirmary’s door suddenly open.
I am starting to become REALLY irritated with this!
Remus Lupin, Kinsley Shacklebolt, Moody and Charlie Weasley had just entered inside the room.
“Charlie? What are you doing here?”
“Not now, Ron.”
“So, Alastor?”
“Luckily, there wasn’t any major damage. We could take one of Cadows brothers.”
“Tonks arrested him”- added Remus.
“But the others…”
“They disapparated .”
“Bellatrix?”- Asked Harry timidly.
“She escaped, boy. Now, tell me, WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING???”
“What do you MEAN?”- Asked Harry, in a cold tone.
“What do I mean? WHAT DO I MEAN? I want to know what the hell you were doing there!”
Ron Weasley closed his eyes. He knew his friend’s temper too well.
“WHAT I WAS DOING THERE? I WANT TO KNOW THE PLACE WHERE MY PARENTS DIE! I WANT TO VISIT THEIR GRAVES! BUT OF COURSE, THAT’S SHOULD BE DISCUSSED FIRST BY THE ORDER! THE FUCK (Mister Potter!) BOY WHO LIVES NEEDS TO GO TO THE LOO! OH, LETS MADE A REUNION AND DECIDED IF IT’S SAVE! I AM BLOODY SEVENTEEN YEARS OLD AND NEVER, NEVER WAS ALLOWED TO VISITED MY OWN PARENTS ‘ GRAVE! “
“Harry, calm down.”- Remus said with his hands on boy’s shoulder. “You have every right to visited James and Lily’s graves. It was my mistake too. I should have thought that Voldemort could try something. I am sorry.”
“Minerva!”- Madame Pomfrey had just reappeared.
“What is it, Poppy?”
“I think we have to transfer her to St. Mungus. I really don’t know what to do! We are losing her.”
“What do you mean we are losing her? You are the bloody healer!”
“Ron!”
“No, Charlie! She is a healer! It’s her job save Hermione’s life!”
“I know that is my job, mister Weasley. But I can’t do my job if I don’t know what’s inside Miss Granger body!”
Harry and Ron exchanged glances. Remus Lupin knew those boys too well…
“Harry…”
Harry closed his eyes. He needed to think. Fast. He and Ron knew what was inside Hermione’s body but they couldn’t say. And even if he said, no one had the knowledge about horcruxes. No one. No one except Voldemort and…
“Slughorn ! Professor Slughorn ! He is the Potions Master! Please, Professor McGonagall!”
The old professor looked at the nurse who shrugged.
“I will call Professor Slughorn, Mister Potter.”
***
About 7 minutes later, the fat professor was there. He, without compliment a single soul in the room, asked:
“Where is the girl?”
Madame Pomfrey opened the curtains around Hermione’s bed. The girl was very pale, wearing some hospital clothes. When Slughorn came near her, she began to convulse again. Remus and Charlie open wide their eyes (they hadn’t see that yet). Thank Merlin, that crisis wasn’t longer.
The potions professor continued to look at her. His face was expressionless.
“Horace?”
He turned around but didn’t look at Professor McGonagall. Instead of that, his eyes focused Harry.
“My memories…?”- It wasn’t really a question.
Harry only nodded.
“Can you help her, professor?”
“Yes, Mister Potter.”
“Which memories, Horace?”
“Some things are meant to stay unsaid, Minerva. Now I need to prepare potion. I don’t have much time.”- He said and turned to Hagrid- “Hagrid, I need some holly and lilies. If you could….”
“Of course, professor.”
“Please, bring those to my office. I must go.”
When the two men were leaving the infirmary they almost were ‘knocking’ (what in Hagrid’s case is something) by an irate Molly Weasley.
“Oh, boy”- Charlie and Ron said at same time.
“RONALD BILLIUS WEASLEY! THAT’S IT! YOU ARE GOING HOME! YOUR LITTLE ADVENTURE IS OVER! “
“WHAT?”
“YOU HEARD ME! YOU ARE COMING BACK WITH ME!”
“I think I am not, mother!”
“You don’t have to think or not! You are coming and it’s final!”
“No!”
“Ronald! I almost lose a son some months ago, I don’t…”
“What Gran Prewett said?”
“What?”
“What Grandmother Prewett said when you told her you were enjoying the Order?”
“Ron, I don’t see what this have to do…”
“This has to do with everything, Mom! What did she say? After all, she already had lost two sons. Two! Oh, don’t give that look, mom! We know very well that uncles Fabian and Gideon were orders members! Answer me, mom! What did she say?”
Molly Weasley looked down. Always hurt think about her brothers.
“She didn’t like.”
“But you enjoy the order even knowing this?”
“Yes”- she answered in a very low voice.
“You enjoyed the Order because you knew it was the right thing to be done! Even your brothers’ death didn’t stop you!”
“But it’s different, son. I already was a married woman. You are only seventeen. You don’t know the world, Ron. You are only a boy.”
“Oh, I am only a boy, a child! I am the child that, with another children, managed to alert the Order when Hogwarts was attacked. But lets not talk about me! Let me see…Neville! If wasn’t for him, Harry probably should had been murdered at Department of mysteries!”
That’s damn right.
“Oh! But that could be luck! No! No! I have a better example! A much better example! Let’s think about another boy. ‘Oh, he was a short lumped boy! Not very brilliant’. It was with those words you described him, professor McGonagall, wasn’t?”
“Whom are you talking about, son?”- Asked a confused Molly Weasley.
But Minerva McGonagall, Remus Lupin and Harry Potter knew exactly about whom Ron was talking about.
“PETER PETTIGREW! PETER PETTIGREW! THE RAT! THE TRAITOR! He is a adult now but he wasn’t those years ago when he enjoyed You-Know-Who!”
Ronald Weasley had defeat Molly Weasley. And Charlie Weasley was very proud of his young brother.
***
Harry didn’t know exactly how much time pass before Professor Slughorn returned with the potion. After gave that to Hermione, the professor said she should woke up in a few hours. Of course, Madame Pomfrey wanted that everyone left the Infirmary but Harry and Ron just said they would not move before Hermione woke up.
The two young wizards sit on the chairs besides Hermione’s bed. They didn’t move or said a word. Each boy held one of the girl’s hands.
I am so proud of you, my Hermione.
***
About 3 hours later, Hermione began to wake up.
“Hermione! You are awake!”- Exclaimed Ron.
Harry just looked at her.
Hermione looked at her friends and with a soft smile, she said:
“Third Piece Down.”