Headstrong

Chapter 19

Amanda remained in a state of between being conscious and unconscious as she was taken to the Hospital Wing. In one moment, she awoke once more with a gasp, as she regained a sense of clarity for a moment. 

Looking around, she saw Mr and Mrs Weasley watching over Ginny, who was asleep in the bed opposite. Amanda licked her lips and attempted to call out to them, but it came out as a quiet rasp. Luckily, in the silence of the Hospital Wing, Mr Weasley heard her, and motioned to his wife that Amanda was awake. The two quickly hurried over to her and Mrs Weasley wrapped her in a hug causing her to let out a groan of pain. She jumped back, clearly in fright that she had hurt her.

"It's...alright...Mrs...Weasley," Amanda gasped, "It looks...like I...missed the...conversation."

Molly giggled a little while Arthur brought Madam Pomfrey over.

"We feared you dead, Miss Potter. Your body is rejecting the tears of a Phoenix, but your body doesn't seem to be all that affected by the poison. We will have to get the Headmaster to see what he thinks, but you may have to go to Mungo's."

"No...I will...speak to...the Headmaster."

Shortly after, she fell unconscious once more as the adults searched for the Headmaster in question. When she regained consciousness once more, he was sitting in the chair next to her. 

"Amanda, please cry." Albus muttered gravely.

"Why?" Amanda gasped, her head tilting back onto her pillow as she let out a moan of pain. 

Her body spasmed, and Albus stopped the spasms with a flick of his wand. Amanda let out a cry as her body became numb, and her hands desperately grabbed at the sheets of the bed.

"I think it may be the only thing that will save your life."

In her state of pain, she was quickly able to produce some tears, crying from the aches moving around her body. Albus collected the tears, then poured them into the wound on her feet. Amanda instantly began to feel better, choking on a sob as the pain ebbed away. 

"That feels better." She choked.

"We will discuss this at a later time, Miss Potter." The Headmaster studied her. "I believe your abilities are starting to kick in."

...

It seemed that Albus had announced that she was in the Hospital Wing, and that people could visit her, because visitors were plentiful.

Still recovering, she was first visited by Harry, Ron and Hermione (who had been unpetrified) and the three discussed what had happened. Amanda wrapped a shaky arm around her little brother, glad he was safe, and kissed his cheek before the group left. 

Her second group of visitors were Fred, George, Lee, Angelina and Alicia. The six discussed class work, then when the others left and Fred and George stayed, the three discussed prank ideas.

She was then visited by Marcus, Draco, Theodore and Blaise. They closed the curtains off and shared sweets that Marcus had bought in Honeydukes. They discussed what the Slytherins had been saying about the Chamber. The four boys laughed at how awkward Marcus was around Amanda, because they were technically engaged, to which Amanda sang, "Not for long!", and ruffled his hair.

Marcus had glared at her, which made her burst into fits of laughter. Eventually the other boys laughed as well, but Amanda had to stuff her fist in her mouth to stop, then dumped a glass of pumpkin juice in Marcus's head when he continued to laugh. The two had had a glaring contest, which of course, Amanda won.

She was visited by Hagrid, with Ginny and Neville, and they had shared Rock Cakes which Hagrid had brought. Afterwards Amanda had to have a tooth fixed by Madam Pomfrey.

Her last visitors were Cedric, Luke, Sam, Declan and Sean. They discussed the petrifications and how the people had been cured. Amanda sighed with relief that Justin was getting along with Harry again.

...

Amanda was let out a few days after the feast. The rest of the summer term passed in a haze of blazing sunshine. Hogwarts was back to normal, with only a few, small differences: Defence Against the Dark Arts classes were cancelled ('but we didn't learn anything anyway with Lockhart' Amanda told Fred and George) and Lucius Malfoy had been sacked as a school governor.

Draco was no longer strutting around the school as though he owned the place. Amanda giggled when Draco winked at her as he walked past her in the corridor.

She knew that Draco didn't care and was actually quite pleased, but no one else was to know that.

Ginny was perfectly happy again and Amanda was glad, things seemed to be returning to a state of normalcy. 

...

Too soon, it was time for the journey home on the Hogwarts Express. Harry, Ron, Hermione, Fred, George, Ginny and Amanda had a compartment to themselves. They made the most of the last few hours in which they were allowed to do magic before the holiday by playing Exploding Snap, setting off the very last of Fred, George and Amanda's Filibuster Fireworks, and practising disarming each other by magic.

They were almost at King's Cross when Harry spoke up. "Ginny - what did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?"

Ginny giggled and Amanda smirked. Together, they said, "Percy's got a girlfriend."

Fred dropped a stack of books on George's head.

"What?"

"It's that Ravenclaw Prefect, Penelope Clearwater," said Amanda, then Ginny picked up the conversation, "That's who he was writing to all last summer. He's been meeting all over the school in secret. We walked in on them kissing in an empty classroom one day. He was so upset when she was - you know - attacked. You won't tease him, will you?" Ginny added anxiously.

"Wouldn't dream of it," said Fred, who was looking as if his birthday had come early.

"Definitely not," said George, sniggering.

Amanda giggled.

The Hogwarts Express slowed and finally stopped.

Amanda promised to write to everybody then left the station, walking to Francis and Melody.

Francis immediately lugged her trunk into the car he had brought and flung her a backpack.

As soon as Amanda was in the car, he took off, and when the car stopped, she saw a gloomy looking camp.

Francis chucked her backpack out of the car, and she got out after it. She turned to Francis,  and he growled, "Any funny business, you will be punished. I understand that they use the cane. If you leave, I will make your life a living hell."

He then drove away, leaving Amanda in the dust.