Harry was lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. Nothing else to do really,
except for his homework, and he knew that he didn't have to do it, that he
could dodge it by simply pretending it was not there, and that no one would
stop him. It really did not matter, the ceiling was beautiful in a Medieval
sort of way. Wooden beams supported the white vaulted ceiling, and more
than one cat was up there, pretending to sleep. He knew that if even one
hair on his head was harmed, countless felines would claw out the person's
eyes. It was a charming thought, and he was half tempted to provoke a
professor just to watch the cats rip him to shreds.
Before he could think overmuch about the notion, there was a knock at the door. "No visitors!" he called out, his throat scratchy from lack of use.
The door slid open slowly. It was Dumbledore and McGonagall both. There were tears running down her face unchecked, and Dumbledore seemed terribly upset. Harry was nervous. Professors in hysterics could never be good.
"Harry, I'm sorry to have to tell you this," Dumbledore said softly, "but there was an attack on Hogsmeade this afternoon. Four students died, including Dean Thomas."
Harry just stared at Dumbledore. Dean Thomas, his roommate who loved muggle sports. He, Seamus, Ron and Neville shared a room with Harry, at least for the past four years. He could not move, he could not breathe. He blinked a few times, so rapidly that his vision blurred, first by rage and then by tears. In the end, all he could see was a red blur that filled his vision, and it didn't matter whether salt water or anger were responsible. "Were any other Gryffindors killed?" he finally whispered.
"No," McGonagall said quietly, a tremor shaking her voice a little. "But many were hurt severely. Seamus Finnigan, Fred and George Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and two first years you have not met are all in the infirmary, from our house alone."
"...Ron...Hermione..." Harry couldn't even say it like it was a question. He did not want an answer, but he had to know. If they had died, he would jump out that bay window he was currently staring at, and no one would be able to stop him...
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Hermione was not at Hogsmeade. Ron was with Seamus and Dean, but he is fine aside from cuts and a few bruises. Ron was the one who brought back Dean's body." All Harry could see was Ron, his fiery hair mussed, stepping over a piece of rubble, with a bent and broken body in his arms.
"I want to go to Dean's funeral."
...
Before he could think overmuch about the notion, there was a knock at the door. "No visitors!" he called out, his throat scratchy from lack of use.
The door slid open slowly. It was Dumbledore and McGonagall both. There were tears running down her face unchecked, and Dumbledore seemed terribly upset. Harry was nervous. Professors in hysterics could never be good.
"Harry, I'm sorry to have to tell you this," Dumbledore said softly, "but there was an attack on Hogsmeade this afternoon. Four students died, including Dean Thomas."
Harry just stared at Dumbledore. Dean Thomas, his roommate who loved muggle sports. He, Seamus, Ron and Neville shared a room with Harry, at least for the past four years. He could not move, he could not breathe. He blinked a few times, so rapidly that his vision blurred, first by rage and then by tears. In the end, all he could see was a red blur that filled his vision, and it didn't matter whether salt water or anger were responsible. "Were any other Gryffindors killed?" he finally whispered.
"No," McGonagall said quietly, a tremor shaking her voice a little. "But many were hurt severely. Seamus Finnigan, Fred and George Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and two first years you have not met are all in the infirmary, from our house alone."
"...Ron...Hermione..." Harry couldn't even say it like it was a question. He did not want an answer, but he had to know. If they had died, he would jump out that bay window he was currently staring at, and no one would be able to stop him...
Dumbledore nodded slowly. "Hermione was not at Hogsmeade. Ron was with Seamus and Dean, but he is fine aside from cuts and a few bruises. Ron was the one who brought back Dean's body." All Harry could see was Ron, his fiery hair mussed, stepping over a piece of rubble, with a bent and broken body in his arms.
"I want to go to Dean's funeral."
...