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Author: Sorting Hat Story: Harry Potter and the Hall of the Phoenix Rating: Young Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 1 Words: 23,753
Harry walked slowly toward the hospital wing, lost in thought, with Ginny trailing behind him. "I've spent enough time in the ruddy hospital wing," Harry muttered. Ginny nodded, but said nothing. He'd only just sat down with Ron and Hermione when Professor Dumbledore had called him to the high table, and he'd learned that Death Eaters had taken Dudley from Smeltings and now rested in the Hogwart's medical wing. There had been a vicious fight between the Death Eaters and members of the Order of the Phoenix that had left at least one member of the Order dead, and now Dumbledore had asked Harry to calm Dudley down as best he could, since "Harry was a presence Dudley was used to." Needless to say, Harry wasn't especially looking forward to the meeting. "Will you be all right?" Ginny asked softly, snapping Harry back to the here and now rather abruptly. "Sorry?" he asked. "Will you be all right, Harry?" Ginny repeated. Harry nodded, "I'll be fine," he said, setting his mouth into a grim line. "Are you sure?" Ginny persisted. Harry bristled, but relaxed just as quickly. She isn't trying to patronize me, he thought silently to himself. Harry stopped, and turned to her, just outside the entrance to the infirmary. "Yes, Gin. I'll be all right. Madam Pomfrey will be there, and what can he really do anyway?" Harry smiled grimly. "I guess so. We could still get Dumbledo-" she began. "No, Love. This is something I have to do myself," Harry sighed, and rested his head on Ginny's shoulder, while she hugged him. "See you when you get back," she said, before turning and walking slowly away. Harry took a deep breath and entered Madam Pomfrey's domain. He didn't see anyone right away, and was just about to call out, when Madam Pomfrey walked up from the back of the room. "Ah. You're here, then. Good. I don't know what good you'll be able to do, but the Headmaster seems to think this will help. Go on," Madam Pomfrey said, as she steered him toward a bed at the back of the ward, behind a wall of curtains. "Dudley?" Harry said, just outside the curtains. "GO AWAY!" Dudley yelled. "All right, Dudley?" Harry tried again. "LEAVE!" Dudley yelled again. Harry thought for a moment, and then slowly pulled the curtains aside. Dudley was sitting on the bed, his eyes puffy with tears, bruises about his face and arms. "GET OUT OF HERE, YOU...YOU FREAK!" Dudley screamed. Harry waited patiently, and as it became apparent to Dudley that Harry wasn't going to leave, he gradually stopped yelling, and then, in the end, just turned away from Harry. "I heard what happened to them," Harry said. Dudley said nothing, just sniffed. So. Dudley finally knew how it felt to have no parents. Served him right. He'd just let Dudley know. Harry opened his mouth to say something, but before he had the chance, his mind filled with an image from that time during the month after The Burrow had fallen. He'd heard a soft sniffling noise at the rear of Remus' house and gone to investigate. In the room at the end of the hall, where Hermione and Ginny slept, he'd seen Hermione sitting on the bed with her head cradled in her hands. "Hermione?" he'd said, softly. Hermione had looked up at his voice, and then put her hands back over her eyes and continued to cry. Harry sat down beside her, feeling fairly awkward. Nothing he'd seen or heard had really prepared him for such a situation. Harry sat there, as Hermione cried, and then, tentatively, began to rub his hand along her back. She turned to him and wrapped her hands around him, while continuing to cry. Harry, terrified at this point, said nothing. Eventually, Hermione's sobs began to slowly fade, until she was only sniffling. She mumbled something that Harry couldn't understand. "Sorry?" he'd asked. "They're dead, aren't they?" she'd said, more a statement then a question. "I don't know, Hermione," he'd replied. "I think they are," Hermione had said, beginning to cry yet again. Where's Ron? He's better at this…Harry had thought, careful not to say it aloud. "I hope not, Hermione. I really like your parents. I know Dumbledore is doing everything he can to find them. I hope they're alive. And if they aren't..." He'd trailed off, but then Hermione had looked at him, expectantly. "No matter what happens, Hermione, Ron and I, and the rest, will still be here for you. You're too important for it to be any other way." Hermione had nodded, and replied, "I know, Harry. I'm glad, I really am. No one should ever have nothing..." At this point, the memory faded, and Harry was back in the hospital wing, where Dudley had his back turned, ignoring Harry as best he could. Harry closed his mouth and mentally kicked himself for what he'd been about to say. Regardless of how the Dursleys had treated him, payment in kind wasn't the way to go. Harry was better then that, and Hermione was right. No one should ever have no one . So instead of the biting remark he'd had planned, Harry found himself saying instead, "It hurts, doesn't it?" Dudley mumbled something, and nodded. "I'm sorry about your parents," Harry said. "What would you know about it, freak?" Dudley retorted. "I know what happened to them. And I know what it's like to be without your parents." Amazingly, Dudley had the grace to look embarrassed. "Yeah." "Are you all right? Your arms and face I mean," Harry asked. Dudley grunted. "That b-" Dudley stopped, when Harry's eyes narrowed in warning. "Lady tried to give me some freak medicine," Dudley said, coldly. "You don't have to take it," Harry said. "Good." Harry stood, not really knowing what else to say. He was about to say goodbye, when Dudley spoke again. "Sorry about what Dad did to you," he said. "Sorry?" Harry asked. "You know, when he...hit you," Dudley said. "What for?" Harry asked, his temper flaring up for a moment. "You certainly never did anything to stop it!" "THAT WASN'T MY JOB, FREAK!" Dudley yelled, withdrawing into his shell at Harry's accusation. "Still-" Harry began "He was trying to help you, you ungrateful git!" Dudley snapped. Harry stood, stunned, for several moments. "What?" "Mum said some bad guy was after you. She and Dad decided the best way to save you was to get the...magic, out of you. And after being dumped on us, a good cuff around the ears was just what you deserved!" Dudley snapped. "Oh," Harry said. Uncle Vernon had been trying to help? "Thanks," Harry said, finally. Dudley shrugged. "Still, he could have gone about it better," Harry said, coldly. Dudley shrugged again. "Not my problem." Harry controlled himself with considerable effort. Silently, he closed his eyes, and then counted to ten in his mind, before opening them again. "Do you need anything?" he finally asked. "I'm hungry," Dudley said. "I could have some food brought-" Harry began. Dudley controlled his tongue with some effort."No! That...woman, will poison it," he wailed. "No, she won't," Harry said flatly. "Yeah, sure," Dudley said. "I'll get it myself," Harry said. "I don't tr-" Dudley began before Harry cut him off. "They've got chocolate here," Harry said. Dudley's eyes glazed over. "Chocolate?" "Yes," Harry said. "You'll get it? You won't let them poison it?" Dudley asked. "I'll make sure," Harry said. "Well, get me some then!" Dudley said. Harry pulled the curtains shut, and walked over to Madam Pomfrey. "Well?" the Matron asked. "He's hungry, and wants chocolate. He wont let anyone but me get it yet, though," Harry returned. "Chocolate? Absolutely not!" Madam Pomfrey said, firmly. "The boy needs good food, to help his body heal!" "He won't eat anything else, I think. Besides, I know him. Once he's sure the food's all right, he'll eat anything you put in front of him." Madam Pomfrey glared at Harry. "You could slip some restorative into it," Harry suggested. Madam Pomfrey glared at Harry for a bit longer, and then eventually sighed, and nodded. She went into her front office and got a large bar of Honeyduke's chocolate, using her wand to fuse a simple restorative into it. Harry took it, and walked back over to Dudley, who sniffed it, and then began tearing large chunks of it apart with his mouth, barely taking time to chew. Eventually he looked up and noticed Harry. "What are you still doing here?" Harry opened his mouth but Dudley continued before he could say anything. "Go on! Leave me alone!" Dudley snapped. Harry shut the curtain, and rolled his eyes. With a nod to Madam Pomfrey, he walked out of the medical wing, only to find Dumbledore waiting for him. "Any luck, Harry?" the old wizard asked. "He's eating some chocolate right now," Harry replied. "Ah, excellent. An excellent cure for most any injury I always say," Dumbledore said, his eyes twinkling. "I was going to make him sorry for how he and his parents treated me," Harry said. "Oh?" Dumbledore asked. "I didn't, though. I had a memory, from after the Burrow..." Harry trailed off. "Yes. Mrs. Granger discussed that period in time with me, some time ago. She's right you know. No one should ever have no one," Dumbledore said. Harry nodded. "A wise choice, Harry. You're growing into the excellent young man I know you to be," Dumbledore said, turning to look at Harry. Harry blushed. "Remember, Harry, it is our choices most of all, which define us," the old wizard finished. "Yes, Professor," Harry said. After walking for several more minutes, Harry and Dumbledore parted ways, Harry headed to Gryffindor Tower, and Dumbledore, presumably, to his office. Harry walked slowly toward the tower, lost in thought. He stopped suddenly when a voice snapped, "Password?" "Oblivioni Sacrum!" Harry snapped back. The fat lady huffed in irritation, and slowly the portrait swung open. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione were waiting for Harry inside. "How'd it go, mate?" Ron asked, "Did you get anywhere?" asked Ron, as though he thought that would be a true miracle. "Yes," Harry said. "Wow. Ruddy miracle if you ask me," Ron said. "Ron!" Ginny snapped, as Hermione kicked him under the table. "Ow!" Ron said. Harry smiled, and sat down. He then proceeded to tell the other three exactly what had happened, and been said. Ron looked jealous as far as the chocolate went, Hermione looked put out for Harry's having tricked Dudley, and Ginny laughed. "Professor Dumbledore was right, Hermione, and so were you. No one should ever have no one." Harry turned toward Ron and Ginny, "Thanks mates, for being there for me." Ron nodded, and Ginny kissed Harry's cheek. "Ugh! Would you two find somewhere else to-" Ron stopped, noticing Hermione's chilling glare. "Uh, right. How about some chess then, Harry?" Ron asked, and hurried off to get the board. "He's still thick," Harry said to his friends. The two girls laughed, nodding. That wasn't nearly as bad as I expected it to be, Harry thought to himself, preparing his mind to lose another chess match.
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