Hospital of Death[1]
Harry was tired to death. He couldn’t recall when he’d last slept. The Auror at his side was grey with fatigue, too. Still he’d managed to get them to St Mungo’s without Splinching.
‘Are you sure this is necessary, Harry?’ Kingsley asked. ‘You’re exhausted.’
‘Oh, really?’ Exhaustion did nothing for Harry’s manners. ‘Look, Kingsley. She’s my best friend. And he saved all our arses.’
He’d intended to march up to the Welcome Witch, but he stumbled over the low step, and only just caught himself, hanging onto the edge of the desk. ‘Hi,’ he gasped. ‘I’m Harry Potter. I’m here to see Hermione Granger and Severus Snape.’
The witch’s pink lips formed an astounded ‘o’. But before she could say anything, a grey-haired Healer in lime green robes with teal borders and piping hurried towards them. ‘I am Professor Spleen. Mr Potter, Auror Shacklebolt. I’m sorry I wasn’t here but —’ About to say more, he caught himself and fell silent.
‘Who died?’ asked Harry. Fifty already dead at Hogwarts. Thirty-eight life-threatening injuries transferred to St Mungo’s. Twenty-four others crowding up the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts.
The professor sighed. ‘Lavender Brown. I’m very sorry. I was told that she was in your year.’
Harry just nodded.
‘But you are here to see two other patients,’ the professor stated.
‘Yes, please. I need to know …’
The professor nodded. ‘Follow me, please. They are in the Dai Llewellyn Ward.’
‘But Hermione wasn’t bitten by Nagini.’
The Healer led them into an office smelling of parchment and herbs. ‘She came into contact with the venom all the same. You see, she used Muggle methods to keep Professor Snape breathing until —’
‘Yes, yes,’ Harry interrupted. ‘She did mouth-to-mouth. But what has that to do with anything?’
‘Everything,’ the Healer said. ‘Along with Professor Snape’s blood and several stray memories, she swallowed Nagini’s venom. The venom burnt her lips, her mouth, her throat, her oesophagus, and her stomach. She tried to take some antivenin when she realised what was happening. However …’ Professor Spleen trailed off. He shook his head.
Harry swallowed. ‘And Snape?’
Professor Spleen cleared his throat. ‘We keep them asleep for the time being — magical sleep for better pain management. If you want to, you may see them now. But only for a few minutes.’
‘And … and …’ Harry swallowed again. ‘Will they live?’
The Healer would not reply.
[1] Textual allusion to ‘Hospital of Love’, a rebuttal of ‘La Belle Dame Sans Merci’ by Alain Chartier.
Juno, this is lovely and heartbreaking at the same time. As usual, Fudge is an incompetent arse, and jockeying for office. I liked that he couldn’t break their wands, and I felt sorry for Kingsley because he had to.
Harry, Ginny, and Luna have proven themselves to be true friends, and Ron is Ron.
At least Hermione and Severus have each other, but seven years exile seems so unfair.
I’m off to Act Two. *in awe*
Beth
I had a lot of fun writing this. Especially Fudge actually coming up with something that is – in theory – right, and getting it all wrong. And of course, not even being man or wizard enough to actually follow it through. *snerk*
Thank you for reading! 🙂 I am happy you enjoy the story so far!