Twist of Fate

Chapter 3

Harry groaned as he sat down at the Gryffindor table for supper. Every muscle in his body was protesting at him. His knees still hurt from where he had cracked into the desk during the Defense against the Dark Arts lesson that Moody had put him through.

Hermione looked at him worriedly, "Harry, don't you think you should go see Madam Pomfrey? Professor Moody shouldn't have put you under the Imperius Curse so many times today-"

"I'm fine, Hermione, I'm just sore." Harry brushed off her concern. He looked at the table laden with food and felt his stomach turn. He slowly stood up, "I'm not hungry, I'll just go and study," as he bent over to pick up his book-bag from the floor the whole room tilted and he had to put his hand out to stop himself from falling.

"That's it," said Hermione decisively, she stood up and moved to support him. "You need to go to the hospital wing. I wish Ron was here, but he is still in detention. Let me help you-" Harry backed away from her arm.

"Okay, okay, I'll go, but you don't need to help me. People are going to think I'm sick or something." Harry tentatively let go of the table and was relieved that he was able to stand up without the room swirling.

"Do you want me to help you, Harry?" Neville asked starting to get up from the table. Harry sighed as he looked and saw all of the eyes from the Gryffindor table focused on him.

"No. I'll be okay." Harry turned and walked determinedly towards the doors. He had to focus on each step he took. Pain was shooting through his body and he fought to keep the blackness from obscuring his vision. He made it through the doorway and into the corridor. He could hear Hermione talking to him but the roar in his ears prevented him from hearing what she was saying. He was just focused on making it to the stairs that would lead to the hospital wing. With relief he grasped the railing of the stairway and pulled his protesting legs up the first step. ...and then everything went black.

Harry came to and realized that his head must have exploded. Pain was radiating in waves from the back of his head. His eyes screwed tight against the shimmers of light. Had he been hexed? He could hear people talking but couldn't figure out what they were saying. His hand reached up to feel his head but was caught by someone or something.

"Don't touch it. We stopped the bleeding for now but it won't do to feel it." the voice sounded like it was a thousand miles away, but sounded familiar. Harry dared to crack his eyes open a little, Cedric Diggory's face was peering down at him. Cedric smiled, "Welcome back. You fell on the steps. You've got a pretty good gash on the back of your head. We are going to have to get you to the hospital wing."

Harry nodded and closed his eyes again. He heard the rumble of people talking excitedly; realized that everyone must be coming out of the Great Hall from supper. Just another day in the life of Harry Potter he thought with a sigh. Another day, another trip to the hospital wing.

"Okay, Harry, we are going to get you up. Lean on me." Cedric's voice told him gently and Harry felt strong arms standing him up. Cedric pulled Harry's left arm over his own shoulder and wrapped his right arm around the boy. Harry sagged forward and he felt the waves of dizziness sweep over him and slumped against the tall boy beside him.

"I'm going to need help," Cedric grunted as he suddenly had to support all Harry's weight when he blacked out again. "Malfoy, stop snickering and get over here."

Draco Malfoy stopped laughing, "Why me?" he protested, "Plenty of Gryffindors here to help their poor little Harry."

"I asked you, Malfoy," Cedric said with the authority of a sixth year prefect. Hermione looked at Malfoy with surprise as he broke away from his friends without any more arguments. He put his arm around the unconscious boy and pulled Harry's right arm over his shoulders. Cedric nodded with satisfaction and together they started climbing the steps.