Rory Potter, the Girl Who Lived

The Betrayal Story

          I remain in the hospital wing for the rest of the weekend. Although I'm not complaining, of course. Both my head and my stomach cause flares of intense pain whenever I move too much.
          Within those two days, Madam Pomphrey manages to get my head to stop hurting, and also to partially heal the three reopened gashes that run from my left hip to the middle of my stomach. My midriff is still wrapped up like a mummy, but the wound no longer bleeds much. It just hurts.
          Ron, Hermione, and Harry leave my bedside only at night, mostly because Madam Pomphrey shoos them out. At night, however, I'm not alone. Both evenings after my three best friends leave, Draco sneaks down to visit me unbeknownst to everyone. He sits in the chair beside me and usually ends up falling asleep while holding my hand.
          The dreams, however, do not cease. I find myself jerking awake in terror at least twice a night because the screams of my mother as she spends her last moments pleading for our lives and the voice of Lord Voldemort haunts my dreams. Draco usually ends up holding me as I cry softly onto his shoulder until I fall asleep again.
          However relaxing me weekend in the hospital wing may have been, its nice to return to the hustle and bustle of the main school on Monday. I even find myself laughing when Draco taunts Harry about the fall to the point where Ron throws a crocodile heart at his face from across the dungeon. Although Snape does take fifty points from Gryffindor for it.

~~~~~~~~~~

After lunch, we have Defence Against the Dark Arts, and I'm the only one that knows Moony will be back today. So naturally, Harry and Ron are relieved that its Moony teaching and not Snape. He assures us that we do not, in fact, have to do the essay on werewolves, looking angry and terrified about the whole scene 
          We spend the class learning about hinkypunks: small one-legged creatures that lure travellers into bogs to kill them. When the bell rings, Moony calls Harry and I back to his desk, where he sits looling pale and beaten-down.
          "I heard about the match," he says.
          "Yes, I was the one who told you," I say.
          Moony smiles quietly but otherwise ignores my comment and continues, "And Rory told me about her broomstick. Was yours broken as well, Harry?"
          "Smashed to bits by the Whomping Willow," Harry says sadly.
          "Hmm . . . I've always hated that tree. Did you know it was planted in my first year at Hogwarts?" Moony asks.
          I shoot him a warning look, "You've told me before."
          "Anyhow, I heard about the Dementors as well," Moony says.
          "Why do they affect the two of us so much?" Harry demands. "Are we just weak? How come no one else faints every time?"
          "Neither of you are weak, Harry. You just have horrors in your past that no one else could ever fathom. They suck out all your happy memories and leave you with your worst fears, hottest angers, and darkest moments. No, it is nothing to be ashamed of."
          "When they're close . . . when they get near me . . . I - I - I can hear Voldemort murdering Mum," I manage in a small squeak, trying to ignore the sounds of my mother's dying words that resurface in my mind.
          Moony's eyes widen and he reaches out to grip my shoulder. I'm shaking slightly, and my body feels cold.
         "I can hear it too," Harry says.
          Moony looks concerned as he glances at my brother. His arm jerks as though he was going to grip Harry's arm, but he seems to stop himself partway there.
          "Professor?" asks Harry suddenly. "Do you remember - on the train - that you made the Dementor get away from Rory. Can you, well, will you teach us?"
          "Teach you how to perform a Patronus charm? I don't think you would be able to do such a complex spell at such a young age . . . But I could try."
          "I've read about them," I say suddenly. "In one of your books. You have to think of a really happy memory, right?"
         "You are correct, Rory. I don't know if either of you would be able to do it at your age, but I certainly could teach you how," Moony says.