𝑜𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑢𝑝𝑜𝑛 𝑎 𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑚 \\ 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗷. 𝗽𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

𝑋𝑋𝑋𝐼𝑋.

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙧𝙩𝙮-𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙚

— ✩ ☽ ✩ —

CAROLINE LAID ON her back in her bed in the hospital wing. She only had a sports bra on her top half, as her shoulder was bandaged in white wrapping around her arm, neck, and torso. Her hands were bandaged as well, resting above her blanket. Caroline hadn't spoken since she arrived in the hospital wing. She had barely moved. Everything hurt.

      Madam Pomfrey restricted all visitors until this afternoon, three days later. Caroline had barely listened when she asked her if it was okay if Harry, Ron and Hermione came to visit her after the other students went back to their own schools. Apparently, she nodded. They had a funeral for Cedric and Jacob. Caroline didn't want to be transported there. She couldn't move her entire left arm, and her hands were practically useless.

Caroline had given Madam Pomfrey a scare, as the first twenty-four hours since the incident she spent barely breathing. It took until the end of the second day for her to be in stable condition.

      Caroline hadn't slept at all either. She just stared out the window across from her bed. The window was the only thing that didn't remind her of her little brother. Two children united, but not with blood. They were united in no way now. She just couldn't believe that he was gone. He shouldn't have been gone.

      The door pushed open, Caroline heard it. "Hi, Madam Pomfrey." Hermione said quietly after a moment.

      "Oh, hello." Madam Pomfrey greeted. Caroline couldn't see them. Madam Pomfrey wanted to keep it that way for a moment.

      "How is she?" Hermione asked.

      Madam Pomfrey sighed. "Her wounds are healing, slowly, but she'll be okay. She wouldn't let me use magic to heal her. I think she's afraid, because of what that man did to her. I'm worried because she hasn't slept, or even spoken. She's barely even eaten."

      "Should we try to get her to sleep?" that was Ron, who clearly didn't know what to say.

      "Just talk to her." Madam Pomfrey said, and Caroline heard her footsteps walking away.

      A moment later, Hermione, Harry and Ron had made their way into her peripheral vision, sitting down in chairs beside her bed. Hermione and Ron sat beside each other, and Harry sat across from them. Hermione gasped quietly when she saw Caroline's state. Ron smacked her, and she cleared her throat.

      "Hi, Carol. How are you feeling?" Hermione said. Caroline didn't acknowledge her best friend. She was still staring out the window. Ron and Harry both gave Hermione dirty looks for the question she asked. "Sorry, that was a rubbish question."

      Ron reached into the bag Hermione packed that he had carried in. He pulled out a calico cat and a snow white kitten that both immediately found Caroline. "We brought you Penny and Marie. They've missed you." Ron said, putting Penny on Caroline's bed. Caroline changed her gaze to her right side where Penny and Marie were standing. She used her bandaged hand to pet her cats, who in turn crawled up on her chest.

      Caroline was finally focused on something other than the pain she was feeling. She stared down at her cats, barely able to pet them, but she tried. Harry knew she wouldn't talk, but he still wanted to try. "Do you want anything? Anything we can get for you?" Harry asked, shuffling his chair closer to her bed.

      Caroline stopped petting Penny and Marie. There was something she had been wanting since Professor Moody cursed her. "My parents," she said quietly, her voice croaking from not using it. "Where are my parents?"

      Harry's heart clenched, and he made eye contact with Ron and Hermione, who had the same expression on their faces. What could they tell her? Hermione sat up straight suddenly. "Professor Dumbledore apparated to your house to tell them the news. He just got back. Your Dad's missing, and your Mum didn't want to come, Caroline–"

      "Hermione!" Ron scolded, cutting his friend off. Caroline was looking out the window again. Her father was missing? Her mum didn't want to come?

      "What, Ronald? If you want to lie to our best friend about her parents while she's in this state, then be my guest, but I won't." she said, and Ron looked away.

      Harry sighed slowly. He was struggling, of course, but he didn't want Caroline to know. He was focused on her. "Remus is coming to take you home when Madam Pomfrey releases you. So you can rest." he explained, seeing Caroline begin to pet Penny again. Marie had climbed up to her neck. Harry noticed Caroline wince when Penny sniffed her hand.

      "I'm tired." Caroline whispered. She was, but she wouldn't sleep, no matter how much she wanted to. She refused to close her eyes if she was alone.

      Hermione nodded. She understood. "Of course, we'll get out of your hair, let you rest." she stood up, pulling Ron with her.

      "Here's your bag, Carol. Feel better." said Ron. He felt bad, but he didn't know what else to say.

      Harry got up to leave, sending her a smile, but Caroline stopped him. She kicked him with her leg, and he froze, eyebrows raised. "You guys go on ahead. I'll see you later," Harry told Hermione and Ron, who nodded and left the hospital wing. Harry sat back down. It was getting late, he noticed. "What's going on?"

      Caroline cleared her throat, coughing slightly. "I want to sleep, but I can't. Not by myself," she said, stopping to take a deep breath. "Can you lay next to me? Just until I fall asleep." it was embarrassing, and Caroline hated that she asked, but she just wanted to sleep.

      Harry smiled, nodding. "Yeah, of course," he said, standing up. Caroline struggled, but she shifted over to her left, leaving a space for Harry. He kicked his shoes off, about to climb into the bed.  "Are you..."

      Caroline nodded. She had grey sweatpants on, and grey socks. Harry climbed into the bed, covering Caroline with the blanket again. She laid her head on his shoulder, and he gently grabbed her right wrist, holding it. "I'll always stay with you." Harry whispered, brushing Caroline's brown curls out of her face.

      She had Marie on her neck, Penny on one side, and Harry on her other. Caroline finally slept. On and off, bad dreams in between, but she slept, because each time she awoke, she saw Harry next to her, and she felt safe. Harry had to leave in the morning, after Professor Dumbledore and Professor Mcgonagall came to check on Caroline. She was asleep. They were glad.

      And when Caroline next awoke, having been treated further by Madam Pomfrey, her godfather was there, sitting next to her bed. He smiled when she opened her eyes. "Come along, darling. Let's go home."

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