Quit Before You Lose Everything

15. You came. Now stay.

November  2001 8:07 pm

Arthur held his son's shoulder underneath his hand firmly. Grounding him to the floor, letting him watch but not letting him act. As the bed flew by them, crashing through the doors to the emergency unit before the waiting room fell silent.

Arthur turned, his throat tightening as he took in the room.

He had forced everyone back onto the bus, the realization jolting through him-the feeling that he just simply knew, and he acted on instinct.

None of the boys breathed a word. Lining up in the first few rows of the bus, bags in their laps and their eyes on George.

Arthur had then directed the bus to the hospital, then called Sirius only for it to go to voicemail.

When Sirius did finally call him back, he was in the car racing to the hospital himself.

"She sent me the texts!" Sirius had shouted, then Arthur heard a car horn blare. "Why is she with them Arthur!?" He had shouted, overwhelmed. Panicking-but not from a therapist stand point, but rather someone who knew just what train of thought Hermione was following.

"The same reason we all go back." Arthur had replied easily. Sirius had gone silent, as if the realization had just settled in before he answered in a hum.

"The police are on their way-they already spotted their car swerving down main street, but they won't approach in case her father takes matters into his own hands." Sirius spoke, and Arthur choked on a sob.

The bus driver glanced over warily, but continued driving.

Now they sat huddled in the waiting room, Molly and Ginny having arrived just moments before. Questions in their gazes, but they turned to the boys. Offering to fetch tea and blankets from the nurses stations.

The boys were too stunned to question why, as they only watched Lee, Draco and Blaise-huddled in a corner and whispering furiously to each other. Hands flying, trying to solve a mystery they didn't have all the clues for.

An officer stepped into the room then, chest streaked with blood and face hard as he surveyed the room. Before his eyes fell onto a notepad in his grasp.

"I need Arthur." He spoke, lifting his gaze once more. The name having been provided to him by the nurse desk, that was the name on her emergency file. But he also knew Arthur-boys hockey coach for quite some years, that, and they had gone to school together as wee boys.

"Dad?" George pleaded, grabbing his father's sleeve but he shook his head.

"Stay here son." Arthur spoke apologetically, before following after the officer.

He was taken into a small room, where Sirius sat already speaking to an officer. Papers spread out before them, chest smeared with blood and Sirius eyes were wild, trying to sort it all.

"Hermione's aunt stabbed her in the arm, she's sustained significant injury but she will be alright." The officer spoke first, offering Arthur a chair. "Her parents and her aunt have been arrested, charges will be rushed forward after this horrific incident-"

"When can we see her?" Arthur interrupted.

In truth, he could give rats all about the charges and the money. It was Hermione, and her safety he was concerned about.

It was the raging question in his mind on why she had left his side. He had promised her he'd help, through everything. Why had she hid it all? Why had she faced it alone?

"Sir." The officer coughed, shooting Arthur a glance. "She's just endured something quite traumatic and being swarmed with people may not bide over well." He spoke softly.