The Forgotten Potter; DM

XLII. Hospital Mornings

A/N: Still on holiday, week left. Thought I'd upload this little chapter I had written and waiting from before.

[2161 Words]

⚡️

Bright sunlight peered through the windows, causing Ivy to scrunch her face. She blinked herself awake, stretching a bit as she frowned at the ceiling.

"Good morning, Miss Potter."

Ivy turned her head to the left to see Madame Pomfrey walking towards her with a smile of concern.

"Morning," Ivy croaked out in confusion and went to sit up in the bed.

"What do you remember happening before you fell unconscious?" Pomfrey asked, adjusting her pillows.

Ivy had remembered everything with the task, and sneaking about, and Draco. She remembered racing out the library with him before everything seemed to stop. She remembered the concern in his voice and worry on his face being the last thing she heard and saw before passing out.

"I was in pain. I passed out," She simply answered.

"It's a good thing, oddly enough, that Mister Malfoy was with you. He brought you straight here. Do you know what happened? What caused this?" Madame Pomfrey hadn't asked in an unsure tone, just sounding as if she wanted to know if Ivy was aware.

"No. I don't."

"Do you remember during your first year here at Hogwarts, Miss Potter? You had the same incident then. The symptoms you are currently showing are the same you showed last time. Your- let's call them attacks- seem to be repetitive."

"Yes. It seems so," Ivy agreed. "I don't know why."

The older lady placed her hands on her hips, "Explain to me what happens. Do you know when you're about to have these attacks?"

Ivy nodded, "Yes. Sort of. I get this hollow feeling in my chest. Not pain, emptiness. Like my heart, my soul, has been dug out, as dramatic as it sounds. That strange feeling lasts a while, usually some days, maybe weeks. The attacks happen briefly but repetitively. It starts with some chest pain and struggle of breath. This time, it started the day before yesterday.

It wasn't too bad until last night. The pain increased and so did the symptoms. My whole body felt weak and I was trembling and having hot and cold flashes, I could barely hear or see or even think. It was like- like I was on the brink of death. Or, at least, what I imagine dying to feel like."

Madame Pomfrey watched her with a look of pity before looking away. She quickly cleared her throat, "Just as last time, Professor Dumbledore has been made aware of your situation. We are still unsure what causes this or why it only happens this time of the year but it is safe to assume the reason is magic related.

There is a potion I can give you, same as last time, that you can take daily which may not get rid of your symptoms, but will reduce the pain. It could prevent you from passing out again. Along with this, Miss Potter, I need you to make sure you take care of yourself. Are you getting enough sleep? Eating enough?"

"No, she's not."

At the third, unexpected voice, Ivy turned her head to the other side of her bed to see Draco sitting there all comfortable and scruffy like he had been there a long while. He had a book open in his lap- the book on poisonous plants.