Black's Lost Daughter//A Harry Potter Love Story (Book Two)

CHAPTER SEVEN - REUNIONS AND GROWTH

"Eliana-Hope," Harry gasped out, grasping one of her hands tightly and only letting go when Poppy cleared her throat loudly, pulling him gently away from the bed.

Poppy looked at the children, watching Harry stare wistfully at Hope, who was struggling to sit up, her wild and fearful gaze latched on the nurse's eyes, breathing laboured. "Harry," Poppy called out, finally tearing his stare away from the hospital bed, "you need to go and tell Headmaster Dumbledore what's happened, tell him to get Sirius and Remus."

"But, I can't leave her," Harry argued, holding onto the bed tightly, his knuckles beginning to turn white.

"I need to help her, Harry, and I can't do that with you stood here watching me," Poppy explained, "now go and find Dumbledore. Wait there until Sirius and Remus arrive, and then you can come back, okay?"

Defeated, Harry nodded his headed, stepping back from the bed and out of the room. "Hope, I know you're probably confused, but I need you to calm down. Breathe with me," the mediwitch took some exaggerated breaths, waiting until the girl copied until she continued speaking, "are you okay?"

"Can I have some water?" Hope asked, coughing harshly and wincing at the pain that shot through her throat at the action. Poppy spun around, grabbing a plastic cup of water and handed it to the witch, who smiled thankfully, gulping down the water. "What happened?"

Poppy sighed lightly, "a poisonous snake bit you," The mediwitch moved forwards, pulling down Hope's blanket and showing her the bite marks covering her arms. "Mister Crabbe and Mister Goyle from Slytherin House conjured it. They were working for somebody else, though. The man they working for then held you under the crruciatus curse for a long time."

Hope was silent for a while, shifting slightly before whining in pain. "How long?" She asked, causing Poppy to look at her in confusion. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"It's been about six months. It's late May now," Poppy answered, making Hope sigh deeply. Poppy was frowning at Hope, watching her with uneasy eyes. "You don't seem shocked about any of this. Why?"

"I knew him," Hope muttered, coughing harshly as she glared at the white bed linen, "the man who attacked me. I can't remember why but I knew him. I remember flashes of Goyle and Crabbe leaving, but they looked scared as they ran away."

As Poppy went to respond, the doors blew open, with Remus and Sirius rushing in. Harry and Dumbledore trailed behind them. Sirius stopped in shock, staring at Hope with a soft and warm expression. He approached the bed, tears welling in his eyes. "Hi baby," he muttered, drawing Hope into a gentle hug, "thank you."

"What for?" Hope asked, melting into her father's hug. Remus came up next to her, resting a gentle hand on her head and stroking her hair.

"For saving me. For waking up. Just for everything," Sirius murmured, his voice soothing as he sat down slightly on the bed, keeping his arms wrapped around his daughter. He vaguely heard Harry's protest as Poppy urged both him and Dumbledore to leave the wing.

Sirius shifted, wrapping his arm around Hope's shoulders as Poppy gained the trio's attention. "Now, with both of your guardians here, we can discuss some other health concerns and treatment." Poppy began, making Hope squirm uncomfortably on the bed. "One of the main reasons you were unconscious for so long was because you physically couldn't wake up. Your lack of sleep and nutrients made your magical core deplete."

Hope looked around uncomfortably, raising her hand to her chest and growing panicked. Poppy tried to calm the girl with soothing noises, picking her necklace off the side table and handing it to Remus. The wolf carefully clipped it back around her neck, sighing in relief when the child completely calmed down.