You are viewing a story from harrypotterfanfiction.com View Online | Printer Friendly Version of Entire Story Chapter 5: Chapter 5: The Hogwarts Express [View Online] Wow. The fifth chapter. I can’t believe it. YAY! I hope you like it. Please review after. Thanks! :o) CHAPTER 5: THE HOGWARTS EXPRESS The next morning Ron woke up dreading the day to come. He would spend his entire day avoiding Hermione. Unfortunately, that would be hard to do, because they were heading back to Hogwarts. Harry was already up and most likely downstairs with everyone else. So, Ron got dressed and finished packing and headed downstairs. Making sure he wouldn’t meet up with Hermione along the way he glanced around corners on the way downstairs, and went on walking if he didn’t see her coming. Fortunately, he didn’t see her. When he got to the kitchen he sat down and kept his head lowered the entire time. He was sure Hermione was furious about what happened the night before. He left immediately after the meal, talking to no one, and headed upstairs until someone screamed his name for him to get his behind downstairs. Harry came up only once to bring his things downstairs, and when he saw Ron sitting on the bed with his head in his hands, he just smirked and shook his head. Finally, a shout came from downstairs. It was Mrs. Weasley. “RONALD WEASLEY!” she shouted, “Why aren’t you down here getting ready? Get down here! Now!” Ron rolled his eyes and picked up his bags that were lying on the bed. Sighing, he opened the door to his bedroom and walked into the hallway, and down the stairs. Everyone was crowded around the doorway, hustling and bustling to get ready for the trip. Mrs. Weasley gave him an irritated look and picked up all of the suitcases she could carry. She quickly walked out the door, and everyone followed. Two cars sat on the road, and every person climbed into them, fitting in quite comfortably due to a charm Mr.Weasley had put on it only a few minutes ago. No one really talked during the trip to Kings Cross Station. Ron kept his head down the entire time, in fear that Hermione would start yelling at him. After what felt like millenniums, they finally reached the train station with time to spare. Hermione and Harry helped Mr. Weasley with the muggle money, and they strode over to the area between platforms nine and ten. Harry and Ginny went in first, followed by Hermione, then Ron and finally Mr. and Mrs. Weasley. Everyone said their farewells, and all four friends boarded the infamous Hogwarts Express. They found their way down to an empty compartment at the end of the train and sat down. After a short while, Hermione informed, “Ron, I think we should go down to the prefect compartment. They’ll be waiting for us there.” So, Ron followed her out of the compartment and down the hallway. Suddenly, Ron felt the train give a violent jerk, sending him crashing to the ground. “What the…” he muttered, rubbing his knees. He looked up, only to see that Hermione was not there. He only witnessed the swish of a black cloak going around a corner. “Hermione!” Ron scrambled up and ran after the person. By then heads were popping out of compartments, but Ron just pushed them out of the way. He ran to the end of the train only to find the train door open. How can no one be helping? He thought frantically. He ran out the door and jumped on the tracks. Ron gripped his wand as he raced toward a dark figure that was quickly heading down the track. It the figure’s arms was another form. It seemed limp, maybe even unconscious. Ron knew it was Hermione. The figure stopped abruptly, turned and jumped right off the track. Ron froze. What is going on? he thought. He ran up to where the figure jumped and looked down. It was totally pitch black; it was already night time. Ron took a deep breath, crossed his fingers and jumped into the darkness Crack. Pain shot through his leg as he hit the hard ground, causing him to fall onto his knees. He broke his ankle. Ron cursed as he stood up with great difficulty and looked around. A cave sat before him, and a light barely illuminated the inside of the tunnel. Ron painfully limped to the entrance and walked inside. The cave walls were cold and slimy, dripping with water and filled with stalactites and stalagmites. A large spider crawled across the stone floor, and Ron inhaled a sharp breath but shambled on. He crept to a corner and peered around it. Hermione was slumped in a corner, and a man stood over her, wand in hand. He bent down and whispered, “Rennervate.” Hermione stirred. Her eyes fluttered open and looked up. When she saw the man, her eyes widened and she immediately began searching for her wand. The man cackled evilly and held out Hermione’s wand, twirling it between his gloved fingers. “Now now, little girl, I won’t hurt you. Unless, of course, you refuse to do what I ask of you.” Hermione sneered and spat, right at the man’s feet. He growled and whipped out his wand, pointing it at Hermione’s chest. “Never do that again, you filthy little mudblood.” Ron could recognize that voice from anywhere; the voice of Lucius Malfoy. Ron’s heart almost stopped. Did he escape from Azkaban? Ron tried to make a move towards him. He was frozen in place, however, and just kept watching. Hermione glared at Malfoy but he leisurely strode around her, hands behind his back. “I need answers,” he growled. “How much does Potter know? What is he planning to do? Tell me. Now.” He pointed his wand at Hermione again. It was now Hermione’s turn to laugh, only bitterly. “Do you really think I would give in that easily?” she snapped. Malfoy sighed dramatically. “I had a feeling you would make me do it the hard way. I would tell you I’m sorry, but I would be lying, wouldn’t I? I’ll give you one more chance, Granger. Do you choose to answer?” “Bite me!” “Very well. Crucio!” Hermione writhed in pain from the force of the spell, but seemed to start controlling it. Ron finally broke free from his mental restraints and quickly hobbled out of his hiding place. Malfoy noticed him immediately and stopped using the Cruciatus curse. Instead he sent Hermione flying into the cave wall, knocking her unconscious. He turned to Ron. Now, Weasley. You’ll be of no use to me. Goodbye. Avada Kedav-“ “Petrificus Totalus!” Ron’s spell hit Malfoy in the chest at full force. He went rigid and then fell to the ground. Ron frantically shuffled over to Hermione to see if she was alright. She was still unconscious, blood was running freely from the back of her head and her leg was twisted in an unnatural position. He picked her up and groaned from the extra weight put on his lame foot. I need to get her to St. Mungos, he thought. Then an idea struck him. I can apparate! He took a deep breath. Destination, determination, deliberation!. Destination, determination, deliberation! Destination, determination, deliberation... Suddenly Ron felt an immense pressure on all sides of him; he felt like he was being sucked through a rubber tube, only it was too small for him to be squeezed through it. He was holding on to Hermione so tightly that the circulation of blood was being cut off from his arms. Just when he thought he would implode… It stopped. A bright light hit his eyes and he could breathe again. He blinked to adjust his eyes and looked around. He found himself standing in the middle of St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies, right in front of a flowing water fountain. He swiveled his head around until he saw the front desk. When saw it, he ran towards the woman at the desk, screaming, “Emergency! Emergency! We need a healer for this girl NOW!” The lady sitting at the desk turned her head slowly and forced a sweet smile. “Hello, sir, what can I do for you?” Ron’s nostrils flared dangerously. He growled, “We need a healer. Immediately.” The woman smiled again. “And what is the cause of this injury, sir?” She said it slowly, as if she was speaking to a toddler. He bit his tongue to keep from yelling. “Spell damage, impact, etcetera, etcetera. She needs a healer now! This instant!” “Very well sir.” She spoke something, and put her wand up to her mouth. “We have an emergency situation at the front desk on the first floor. Thank you.” Just then there was a loud crack and four wizards popped out of thin air, all wearing healer uniforms. They looked around until they saw Hermione, levitated her, and quickly headed for a door just five feet away from him. Ron started to follow them, but the welcome witch stuck out her hand and smiled again which irritated Ron even more. “Sir, you are not permitted to go with them. However, you may go up to the Visitor’s Tearoom and Hospital Shop, which is located on the fifth floor. I am sure they will serve you in every way possible. Have a good day, sir.” Ron narrowed his eyes and stormed off towards the staircase. As he was walking up to the steps, he passed by a portrait that looked oddly familiar. “I do NOT have spattergroit!” he shouted at it, before the man could even say hello. ~*~ Before he knew it Ron was already standing in the waiting room on the fourth floor. He looked around. It wasn’t exceptionally cheerful or comfortable. The floor was marble, and the walls were light pink with various paintings hanging up every few meters away. He sat on one of the pinkish gray seats and tapped his foot on the hard stone floor. Restlessness overcame him, so he stood up and started to pace. He was worried for Hermione. He didn’t know how badly she was hurt. He was so frightful for her life when she smashed into the cave wall. Everything seemed like a dream to him. It all seemed to be unrealistic. Everything went so rapidly that anyone could have lost track of it. He stopped pacing and looked over at a door marked ST. MUNGO’S HOSPITAL CAFETERIA. The door looked so tempting. His stomach growled from hunger, and he just then realized he skipped lunch. Food was Ron’s refuge. He ate when he was happy, sad, mad, tired, nervous, excited, worried frightened, pained and even when he was bored. And now, when Hermione needed him, all he could think of was food? He was startled from guiltiness when a voice, out of nowhere, droned, “Ronald Weasley, please come to the Spell Damage Emergency Room Center on the fourth floor. Thank you.” How did the heck did they know his name? Before he could think about it any longer, he found himself racing down the hospital steps and onto the fourth floor skidding to a stop when he almost ran into a huge man walking down a hallway. Ron muttered his apologies and barreled into a room marked EMERGENCY CASES. When he closed the door he found there was an other waiting room, only much smaller then the one on the fifth floor. A healer was standing off to the left of the room, talking to an old man. She turned around and shone a warm smile at Ron. She was only a few inches shorter than Ron and had shiny black hair and soft, fair skin. She seemed vibrant, and Ron liked her immediately. She held out her hand. “Hello,” she said, “I presume you are Mr. Weasley?” When he nodded, she continued, “Good. I’m Katrina Walters and I am the healer for…” “Hermione Granger,” Ron said. “Oh, yes, Miss Granger. Do – do you mind if I ask a few questions about her injuries? It’s just standard procedure.” “Sure.” They both went over and sat down at a couch. Before Katrina could say anything, Ron blurted, “Is Hermione alright?” Katrina smiled. “Yes, she is fine. No extreme damage. She broke her leg in three places and has fractured two ribs. She also has a severe concussion to the head and a fracture in her middle back. It missed her spinal cord by a hair. That is one lucky lady you have there Mr. Weasley.” Ron let out a loud breath. At least she was fine. Katrina continued. “How old are you and Miss Granger?” “Seventeen,” answered Ron. “And what relation are you to her?” “Well, I’m her best friend.” Although I wish I could be more, he thought. “Will you tell me how all of this happened?” she questioned. Ron sighed. “You might not believe me, but…” He told her the whole story, from start to finish. Katrina sat and listened the entire time. When Ron was finished he looked to her to see what her reaction would be. “Well that’s quite a story, Mr. Weasley.” When Ron started to retort, she added, “But I do believe you. Now, you may go see Ms. Granger, but she is now asleep.” Ron responded, “I still want to see her.” “Very well. But first we need to get that ankle healed up.” She left and came back with a bottle of Skele-grow and bandages. Ron drank the potion and let her bandage his foot up. “I’ll let you walk on it, Mr. Weasley. It is not that bad of a break.” He nodded, got up and followed Katrina into hallway after hallway, finally ending up in front of a door, which they both went through. The only person in the room was Hermione. She was lying in a hospital bed, asleep. She looked so peaceful. Ron sat down in a chair beside Hermione and looked her over. She had a blue hospital gown on, but the lower half of her body was covered in sheets. Her skin was pale and her hair was even more frizzled then it usually was. “I’ll leave you two alone,” Katrina muttered quietly, heading out the door. Ron reached over and took her hand in his. It was cold and almost lifeless which made him clutch it tighter. He sighed and muttered, “Oh, Hermione, what are we going to do with you?” A loud noise was heard behind him and he whipped around, letting go of Hermione’s hand. “I don’t care if we’re not supposed to be in here! I want to know what happened to my baby! Where is …” Molly Weasley stood at the doorway, surrounded by the rest of the Weasley family including Harry, Remus Lupin and Nymphadora Tonks. “Ron!” She ran over to him and picked him up, hugging him. “We were so worried something happened to you! Are you alright? And… oh my gosh! What happened to Hermione?” Ron told them about what happened. They all asked questions and he answered. Finally everyone calmed down. They had to leave after a while so Hermione could be tended to, and went into the waiting room. Eventually many of them left but Ron refused to leave, despite their constant probing. He even snuck into her room in the middle of the night, just to hold her hand. Ron never did fall asleep that night. ~*~ Finally! This chapter was hard to write for me, because those kind of scenes are difficult to write for me. Even the placement of the words was easier said than done, as you probably have noticed. I hope you liked this chapter. Was it unrealistic? I hope it wasn’t; I tried to make it as realistic as possible. Please review. Thanx! ; ) http://www.harrypotterfanfiction.com |