Honey Bee

Chapter 43

"Its all right, kids, I've got you . . . come on ... hospital wing . . ."

"Dumbledore said stay," said Harry thickly, the pounding in my scar was making me feel as though I was about to throw up; my vision was blurring worse than ever as more sobs came out my eyes.

"You need to lie down. . .. Come on now...."

Someone larger and stronger than me was was half pulling, half carrying Harry through the frightened crowd and I followed not letting go of Harry. I heard people gasping, screaming, and shouting as the man supporting us pushed a path through them, taking us back to the castle. Across the lawn, past the lake and the Durmstrang ship, I heard nothing but the heavy breathing of the man helping him walk.

"What happened. Harry? Melissa?" the man asked at last as he lifted us up the stone steps.

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. It was Mad-Eye Moody.

"Cup was a Portkey," said Harry as we crossed the entrance hall. "Took me, Melissa and Cedric to a graveyard . . . and Voldemort was there . . . Lord Voldemort..."

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Up the marble stairs . . .

"The Dark Lord was there? What happened then?"

"Killed Cedric . . . they killed Cedric. . . ."

"And then?"

Clunk. Clunk. Clunk. Along the corridor . . .

"Made a potion . . . got his body back. . . ."

"The Dark Lord got his body back? He's returned?"

"And the Death Eaters came . . . and then we duelled. ..."

"You duelled with the Dark Lord?"

"Then.... Melissa and he.... duelled and.... she was hit by a curse...."

"Then what?"

"Got away . . . my wand . . . did something funny. ... I saw my mum and dad . . . they came out of his wand. ..."

"In here ... in here, and sit down. . . . You'll be all right now . . . drink this. ..."

I heard a key scrape in a lock and felt a cup being pushed into my hands.

"Drink it... you'll feel better . . . come on, now. Harry, I need to know exactly what happened, Melissa if you feel up to it your side as well. ..."

Moody helped tip the stuff down my throat; I coughed, a peppery taste burning my throat. Moody's office came into sharper focus, and so did Moody himself. ... He looked as white as Fudge had looked, and both eyes were fixed unblinkingly upon Harry and my face.

"Voldemort's back, Harry? You're sure he's back? How did he do it?"

"He took stuff from his father's grave, and from Wormtail, and Melissa, and me," said Harry. My head felt clearer; my scar wasn't hurting so badly; I could now see Moodys face distinctly, even though the office was dark. I could still hear screaming and shouting from the distant Quidditch field.

"What did the Dark Lord take from you?" said Moody.

"Ripped out Melissa's hair and took my blood," said Harry, raising his arm. His sleeve was ripped where Wormtail's dagger had torn it.

Moody let out his breath in a long, low hiss.

"And the Death Eaters? They returned?"

"Yes," said Harry. "Loads of them . . ."

"How did he treat them?" Moody asked quietly. "Did he forgive them?"

But I had suddenly remembered. I should have told Dumbledore or McGonagall, I should have said it straightaway -