The Healer | Part 2: The War

The Battle Begins

Madam Pomfrey and I flew through the corridors, fighting against the current of students and teachers making their way to the Great Hall to get to the Hospital Wing.

'I want to make sure we have everything we need before we need it,' Madam Pomfrey told me as we hurried into the Hospital Wing. She opened the store cupboard and began handing me vials and bottles. I opened my rucksack and shoved them inside.

'Put this on,' she handed me a piece of cloth with a red cross on it. I blinked at her. 'I don't know if it will do us any good, but it's better than nothing.'

She pulled out another one and secured it around her upper arm. I did the same with mine. She rummaged in her desk and procured a cloth satchel into which she dumped an assortment of vials and then swung over her shoulder.

'That should do it,' she double checked the contents. 'You've no idea how pleased I am to see you, Ms Falconer.'

She crossed to the other side of her desk where I was standing and wrapped her arms around me tightly. I had never seen her so worried before. She was normally very calm and composed, and she still appeared so on the outside. But as someone who knew her better than most, I could tell she was at least a little afraid.

'Madam Pomfrey,' I said, hugging her back. 'I'm really just happy to be of help.'

'Heaven knows we're going to need all the help we can get,' she stood back and took one last look through her satchel. 'Right, we're meant to be evacuating the younger students, we need to go to the Great Hall.'

We hurried back out of the Hospital Wing, the corridors were practically deserted now save for a few ghosts.

I know that you are preparing to fight.

A bone-chilling voice filled the air. Madam Pomfrey and I stopped in our tracks and looked around for the source. I pulled out my wand, she already had hers drawn.

Your efforts are futile. You cannot fight me. I do not want to kill you. I have great respect for the teachers of Hogwarts. I do not want to spill magical blood.

There was no apparent source for the voice. My heart stopped when it realized it was You-Know-Who's voice that seemed to be penetrating the entire school.

Give me Harry Potter and none shall be harmed. Give me Harry Potter, and I shall leave the school untouched. Give me Harry Potter, and you will be rewarded. You have until midnight.

'Come on, quickly,' Madam Pomfrey beckoned me and hurried up the corridor. I looked at my watch, it was eleven-thirty. We only had half an hour until the battle began. I picked up my pace and followed Madam Pomfrey down the corridor towards the Great Hall.

By the time we arrived in the Entrance Hall, it was already filled with underage students hurrying to safety. There was a lot of screaming and panic, Professor Sprout was trying to shepherd the group up the stairs with great difficulty.

'Everyone, follow me, please!' Madam Pomfrey blocked students from coming down the corridor and instead directed them up the stairs. 'To the Room of Requirement, we'll get everyone out safely.'

I weaved my way through the Entrance Hall to stop older students from sneaking out the front doors.

'It's not fair!' A fifth-year Gryffindor boy shouted when I redirected him back inside the castle. 'I want to fight!'

'I'm sorry, it's not up for debate,' I took his elbow and guided him back inside. 'Your courage is admirable, but the fact remains that you are underage. Inside with you, now.'

He grumbled all the way back up the steps. I found a few others hiding in the grounds. It was pitch dark outside, so it wasn't an easy task, even with my wand lit.