My Pile of Ashes
A/N: Hey! I'm really sorry this took so long! As usual, stuff happens. It's easier for me now, though, because I have a word processor in my room so I can type in there also. Thank you all so much for the reviews! I got a tonof them! 'Thank you' can't even express how I feel. Thanks also to my beta, MorphManiac; she makes my story so much better.
Disclaimer: Oh yes. I own this. Along with the entire universe!
Characters will be OOC
Chapter 5: What a Night
The Hospital Wing was deserted when Hermione entered it. Even Madame Pomfrey was no where to be seen, but Dumbledore appeared to know what to do. He found a bed for Ron, Snape, and Harry; afterwards briskly walking into a room that Hermione hadn't even noticed before. The door, which was the same color as the wall, had a small brass doorknob that was hardly noticeable.
After what seemed like forever to Hermione, Dumbledore and Madame Pomfrey both walked out, each wearing the same expression: urgency. Madame Pomfrey did not ask any questions of the headmaster, but instead went straight to work.
She first went to Ron, who was bleeding heavily. Madame Pomfrey looked thoughtful; then, looking at Dumbledore, barked out some items that she needed.
While Dumbledore was retrieving the items from Madame Pomfrey's medicine cupboard the Medi-witch gently eased Ron's shirt off of him. She said a spell and the wooden sliver disappeared with a 'pop'. She said another spell and the bleeding ceased. Then she waved her wand again and the blood was cleaned off.
As Dumbledore returned Madame Pomfrey took the potions from him without hesitation. The first one was a pain reliever that she forced down Ron's throat. Another one was a balm that was applied topically to Ron's wound. There was a faint glow of red where Madame Pomfrey had applied the balm. Hermione recognized it as an anti-bacterial balm. Dumbledore handed Madame Pomfrey a long cloth bandage and Madame Pomfrey carefully wrapped Ron's shoulder up with it. Dumbledore handed Madame Pomfrey one more potion, a Blood Replenishing Potion, and she administered it to Ron. A little color returned to his face.
After she was done with Ron she moved on to Snape. Looking him up and down with apprehension, she waved her wand and a blue light swept over him. Madame Pomfrey sighed with relief as the blue light turned green.
"Nothing too serious. No concussion at least. Has a pretty bad break in his arm and a black eye, although I have seen him in worse condition," Madame Pomfrey said to Dumbledore. She said the same spell to stop the bleeding on Snape's head and then, like Ron, said another spell to clean the blood off. She wrapped a bandage around his head. She looked at him again, and with one last wave of her wand, his black eye was gone.
Then Madame Pomfrey delicately pushed up Snape's left sleeve and began inspecting his arm. She said a charm and Snape's broken arm was mended.
"His arm will be sore for some time so he'll have to be careful when using it," Madame Pomfrey stated. She gave one last look at Snape before proceeding to where Harry lay.
Pomfrey waved her wand and the same blue light fluttered over Harry's body. Unlike Snape, though, it turned an alarmingly bright red. Madame Pomfrey and Dumbeldore both gasped at the same time. Hermione looked on in confusion.
"He's in a very critical condition, Ms. Granger," Dumbledore explained, sensing Hermione's bafflement.
"Is he...will he be...?" Hermione could not bring herself to finish.
"I'm not sure, but we'll do everything that we can for him," Madame Pomfrey said gravely. Tears sprang to Hermione's eyes and she lowered her head. Pomfrey examined Harry a bit more and sighed.
"Albus," she began, turning away from the distraught girl, "I hate to say it...but I'm at a loss. The only thing I have in mind is a stomach pump but I don't know how well he'd be able to handle that due to his malnourishment," Pomfrey said in distress.
"Do you know how to perform a stomach pump?" Dumbledore asked.
"Well, yes, but-"
"Do it," Dumbledore interrupted. "He is strong enough. He can handle it," the Headmaster said with determination in his voice. Pomfrey looked hesitant.
"But Professor, what if Harry doesn't-doesn't..." Hermione asked, her voice cracking from emotion. Dumbledore realized she had been listening and turned his gaze to her.
"In all the years that you've known Harry, when has ever given up? Never; and he's not going to give up this time."
"Isn't there anything else we could do? What about at St. Mungos? Couldn't they do any more for him there?" Hermione asked.
"The only thing they could do for him at St. Mungos is give him a separate room and leak the information of what happened to the press." Dumbledore said bitterly. Hermione, who had never heard Dumbledore talk so coldly before, was taken aback.
"I'm sorry Miss Granger. It's been a long day. Why don't you go on to bed. I'll notify you of any changes," Dumbledore suggested. It was more like an order. Hermione left the Hospital Wing without protesting. Madame Pomfrey and Dumbledore both looked at each other.
"Let us begin," Madame Pomfrey said.
Harry felt like he'd been hit by a truck. Everything hurt. Muscles that he didn't even realize he had hurt. He tried to open his eyes but they felt incredibly heavy. In fact, his whole body felt heavy.
When he finally did open his eyes all of his surroundings were blurry. It was also very dark. He tried to reach for his glasses but when he tried to lift his arm up a sharp pain went through his hand and something tugged it back down.
Harry started to panic. He hated being held down. Especially since it was dark and he couldn't see anything.
"Calm down," said a soothing voice from somewhere in the darkness.
"Professor Dumbledore?" Harry asked, but regretted it as his throat felt like it was on fire. He coughed, which only made things worse. Suddenly he felt his glasses being pressed onto his face. Everything became clearer and he saw Dumbledore sitting next to him. He also saw big machines sitting on the opposite side of his bed.
"What-what's all this?" Harry asked in a raspy voice.
"Well, Harry, the one that beeps measures your heart beat, and the other one is an IV," Dumbledore explained. Harry thought for a minute. He was trying to remember what happened. He didn't remember being at Quidditch practice.
'Wait, what's Quidditch again?' Harry thought to himself. He began to panic again. 'Why can't I remember things?' he thought in alarm. He heard the beeping of the heart monitor speed up.
"Harry? What's the matter?" Dumbledore asked.
"I...I can't remember what Quidditch is. Or why I'm here. I can't remember!" Harry stated frantically. The heart monitor was beeping out of control.
"Try to stay calm Harry. Memory loss is common." Dumbledore explained.
"But what happened?" Harry asked.
"I'm disappointed to say that you were out in the Forbidden Forest smoking pot. You overdosed on it and Professor Snape found you and brought you to my office. Madame Pomfrey had to do a stomach pump, which is why your throat hurts so bad. " Dumbledore said.
Harry was quiet. He was shocked to learn that Snape, of all people, found him smoking pot. Why was he doing that in the first place? He didn't see any reason to do drugs.
'Hold on a minute. Didn't something happen at the Dursleys this summer? And didn't something happen last school year?' Harry thought with confusion. Dumbledore sighed sadly, as if he could read Harry's thoughts.
"Your memory will return soon Harry. And when it does return, don't forget that I am here for you. Professor Snape, although it may seem unlikely, won't turn you down either if you need someone to talk to," Dumbledore said sincerely. Harry smiled a half smile at the headmaster before feeling his eyelids start to droop. He fell into a deep slumber.