SNAKE

15 | questions

Harry woke up in the hospital wing, feeling someone grabbing his hand. He sat up, rubbed his eyes and grabbed his glasses from the table next to him. After putting them on, he realized he was surrounded by get-well cards and candy. He also turned to see that the one holding his hand was Cora.

He smiled to her and she smiled back, but both smiles soon vanished when Harry saw Cora furrowing her eyebrows, seeming angry.

"Why, Harry? Why did you do it? It was so stupid! You could have died!", exclaimed Cora. Harry smiled awkwardly and muttered a small 'sorry'.

"You need to be more careful. I worry about you", said Cora. "You don't have to be everyone's hero and fight all evil. Besides, there is no good or evil, there is only power and—", she stopped herself.

Harry started to frown but before he could say anything, Cora continued. "All I'm saying is, take care of yourself and don't just run straight to danger."

Their conversation stopped due to Dumbledore entering the hospital wing and walking towards them.

"Hello, children. Now, Cora, you mustn't scold your brother. He showed great bravery and courage, just like your parents many years ago", said Dumbledore as he raised his eyebrows to Cora.

Cora didn't answer, but she took the hint that he was saying she wasn't brave.

"Ah, tokens from your admirers?", Dumbledore changed the subject.

"Admirers?", asked Harry confused. Cora sighed in frustration.

"What happened down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell is a complete secret. So, naturally, the whole school knows", said Dumbledore amused. Harry smiled while Cora slightly glared at Dumbledore.

"I see that your friend Ronald has saved you the trouble of opening your chocolate frogs", continued Dumbledore.

Seriously? You want to talk about candy after all that's happened? Get to the point please, thought Cora.

"Ron was here? Is he alright? What about Hermione?", asked Harry.

"Fine. They're both just fine", answered Dumbledore. Harry smiled relieved.

"But what happened to the stone?", asked Harry. This grabbed Cora's attention and she watched Dumbledore carefully to study him and what he was about to say.

"Relax, dear boy. The stone has been destroyed. My friend Nicolas and I have had a little chat and agreed it was best all around."

"But then Flamel, he'll die, won't he?", asked Harry.

Dumbledore paused for a moment before sitting down on Harry's bed. "He has enough elixir to set his affairs in order. But yes.. he will die."

"How is it I got the stone, sir?", asked Harry. Finally a relevant question, thought Cora. "One minute I was starring in the mirror and the next—"

"You see", interrupted Dumbledore. "Only a person who wanted to find the stone, find it, but not use it, would be able to get it. That is one of my more brilliant ideas. And between you and me, that is saying something."

Cora mentally high five-d herself. She knew there was a reason why the stone was at Hogwarts.

"Does that mean, with the stone gone that is, that Voldemort can never come back?", asked Harry.

"Will Voldemort ever come back?", asked Cora, being curious. She knew that in her dream, Voldemort had promised to return.

"Ah, I'm afraid.. there are ways in which he can return. Harry, Cora, do you know why Professor Quirrell couldn't bare to have you touch him?" Harry and Cora shook their heads.

Cora did noticed he had never touched them. She hadn't thought about it because Quirrell was a teacher and it wasn't weird to not be touched by him, but her mind went back to the day they introduced themselves... he hadn't given them his hand to shake.

"It was because of your mother. She sacrificed herself for you. And that kind of act leaves a mark", said Dumbledore.

Cora frowned thoughtfully as Harry went to grab the scar on his forehead. "No, no", Dumbledore continued. "This kind of mark cannot be seen. It lives in your very skin."

"What is it?", asked Harry.

"Love, children. Love", answered Dumbledore.

"Love? Seriously?", asked Cora. "But how can love protect us from the darkest wizard of our time? And why did he want us dead?"

"My dear Cora, those are questions for another time", answered Dumbledore.

"But I have many questions, sir. I don't understand how Voldemort can come back if no one else who is dead can do it", she said.

"In due time, Cora, all your questions will be answered", said Dumbledore.

Cora mentally rolled her eyes. "Then, sir", she continued. "I want to know about summer."

"What about summer?", replied Dumbledore with a hint of annoyance.

"Maybe there is a chance for Harry and I to stay here at Hogwarts during the summer. Our aunt and uncle are not nice to us and I don't want them to hurt us like they have our whole lives", she said. Harry also seemed to brighten up at the possibility of staying for the summer.

"I'm afraid that will not be possible. They are your family and you must go back to them", said Dumbledore.

Harry and Cora both looked disappointed. "But sir—", said Cora.

"Ah, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!", interrupted Dumbledore. "I was most unfortunate in my youth to come across a vomit flavored one. And since then I'm afraid I've lost my liking for them. But I think I could be safe with a toffee", he then popped one into his mouth. "Hmm, a shame. Ear wax."

Harry chuckled and Cora made a disgusted face. Dumbledore then turned around and left, thinking about how Harry was becoming the hero he wanted him to be, and also wondering how he could make Cora be the same.

"I'm leaving too, now that I see you're alive and well, brother. Please don't do anything stupid anymore", said Cora as she stood up to leave.

"You think it was stupid? It was brave! Dumbledore said so himself! I have admirers!", said Harry.

"Don't let it get to your head, Harry. You could've been killed. That's why it was stupid", said Cora a bit annoyed.

"You're just jealous because mom and dad would've been proud of me", said Harry without thinking.

Cora felt her heart drop and then her blood boil. Nevertheless, she kept calm and turned around, not wanting to get into a big fight because she knew she was a better witch, more powerful and could've done the same he did. Except she had thought it through and didn't want to get involved and be in danger because she trusted that the supposed best wizard of her time, Dumbledore, would be able to protect the stone. And what do you know? She was right.

"Sorry for worrying about you", she said as she left the hospital wing.

~