Twice Chosen | Esmerelda Potter

30. The Truth

I don't know where I am.

I wake up in a cold sweat, trying to remember the odd dream I had. However, I'm not in my bed, but in the Hospital Wing. 

So that means the dream was actually reality. 

I carefully pull myself into a normal sitting position and rub my eyes. Both of my hands are covered in gauze, and I have bandages all over my legs. 

"Esmerelda!" someone shouts. I rub my eyes again, trying to clear my vision. Harry is in the hospital bed next to me, his hands also covered in gauze. 

"Harry!" I shout. "You're okay!" I want to get and hug him, but when I get out of bed, I realize my legs are pretty weak. I wince and climb back into bed. 

As I glance around, I realize that no one else is in the Hospital Wing. I notice a ton of cards and candy on a table in front of us both. Harry notices as well and glances at me. 

"Good afternoon, Harry, Esmerelda," someone says.

I jerk my head up to see Professor Dumbledore standing in the doorway of the Hospital Wing. 

"Wait, Professor!" Harry shouts. "The Stone! It was Quirrell the entire time! He has the stone! Quick..." 

"Calm down!" Dumbledore says soothingly. "You have been out for three days! Let me catch you up. Professor Quirrell no longer has the stone." 

"Who does then?" I shout too loudly. Madam Pomfrey sticks her head out of her office and Dumbledore quickly apologizes.

"Both of you, please relax, or Madam Pomfrey will have to show me to the exit door!" Dumbledore stands in between our hospital beds. 

"Dumbledore," Harry begins. "Why does this table look like half the candy store is on display?"

"Tokens from your friends and admirers!" Dumbledore beams. "The whole thing down in the dungeons between you and Professor Quirrell, is a complete secret...so, naturally, the whole school knows!"

Harry and I look at each other with amused looks. 

"I even believe your friends Fred and George Weasley were the ones that sent you a toilet seat. There's no doubt in my mind that they thought that it would amuse you both. However, Madam Pomfrey took it away, due to the fact that it is not hygienic," Dumbledore smiles.

Harry and I burst out in laughter. 

"Wait a second! How are Ron and Hermione?"

"They are fine!" Dumbledore says. "They will be most relieved that you are okay, minus the cuts and scrapes and burns. They have been so worried!" Dumbledore shakes his head. "And now, about the Stone."

I sit up straighter in my bed.

"So, I'll tell you exactly what happened. When I found you both, Quirrell was reduced to ashes. Harry, you were passed out, with the Stone in your hand. I was afraid the entire effort killed you. You, Esmerelda, were covered in burns. I'm not sure how you got that way, but it was bad. I took you to Madam Pomfrey, and she was able to  completely heal you both."

I glance at myself and notice that the burns on my arms are completely gone, maybe except my hands and wrists, with are covered with gauze. 

As for the Stone, it has been destroyed."

"Destroyed?" Harry shouts.

"But, what about Nicolas Flamel?" I ask. "Doesn't he need it to live?"

Professor Dumbledore turns around. "Oh, so you know about Nicolas Flamel?"

We both nod. 

"I don't know how exactly you have come into this information, but yes, he needs it to live. We had a little chat, and he said that he had enough Elixir to set his affairs in order. He will die eventually."