All I Have Left

Chapter Ninety Six

At first, it's difficult for me to figure out where I am.

My mind is still reeling from the vision I had. I'm finding it hard to bring myself out of everything I've just seen about Voldemort and his soul, and to ground myself to where I am now— which I realize is the Hospital Wing.

I groan, attempting to raise myself in the bed I'm laying in. My arms are shaky and unstable, and I'm barely even capable of lifting myself. I huff as I flop back into my spot on the bed, shutting my eyes in frustration.

"You're awake!" I hear a voice from my right announce— a man's voice— and when I slowly turn my head to see who it is, I'm surprised to see Harry sitting up in a bed. In another bed beside him is Ronald. "Madam Pomfrey! She's awake!"

I open my mouth to speak, but when my voice comes out, it's alarmingly croaky and weak. "Why are you guys here?"

"Oh, dear girl!" Madam Pomfrey exclaims, nearly running towards me in a hurry. Her face is painted with worry yet relief, and as she heads over she begins to run diagnostics on me. "Finally, you're awake. Tell me, how do you feel?"

My hands come up shakily to cup my throat, and I swallow thickly. "My throat. My voice, I can't—"

"I understand, I understand." Madam Pomfrey coos, brushing my hair back as she turns to a student standing a bit further behind her. It's a seventh year student who must be shadowing under Madam Pomfrey. "Go get Pepperup Potion, Strengthening Solution, and a Healing Potion, Miss Buford."

The girl rushes to a cabinet in the corner and comes back with the potions. I open my mouth slowly as Madam Pomfrey gently lifts the beaker to my lips and carefully pours it into my mouth. My throat aches as I swallow and I twist my features up into a grimace. She repeats with the next vials.

Almost immediately, I feel my muscles regain some of their strength and my lethargy begin to fade. The soreness in my throat slowly ebbs away and I sigh with gratitude.

"That should work for you, dearie. Help restore some of your energy." Madam Pomfrey says softly. "How's your throat?"

"Better." I say, my voice still quiet and lacking the power it typically has. "What day is it?"

"Saturday." She tells me.

"Saturday?" I ask, taken aback. "I've been in here for two days?"

Madam Pomfrey purses her lips almost remorsefully. "No, Miss Knight, today is not the sixteenth of February."

"I— what?" I ask, perplexed.

"You've been in here for..." Pomfrey sighs, running a wrinkled and thin hand down her face in exhaustion. "A bit more than three weeks."

"What?!" I nearly shout, my voice scratchy. "Three weeks? But— how—"

"Don't worry about that now." She says, gesturing for Buford to come towards her. "You need to rest."

She whispers into Buford's ear, cupping her hand over her mouth to prevent me from seeing the words her lips form, but Buford seems to not understand discreetness. "Dumbledore?"

Pomfrey sends her a vicious glare, making the Buford girl recoil and nod hurriedly before scurrying out of the Hospital.

"I don't need Dumbledore." I insist hastily, sitting up in my bed as panic begins to swarm in me. "Really, I'm fine. It's not that serious."

"The Headmaster ordered me to let him know once you awake." Pomfrey states, brows cinched as she stares at me. "You caused quite a bit of hysteria amongst the staff, Miss Knight. Not to mention all of your friends. The Headmaster just wants to ensure your safety and get an account of what happened."