Chapter: Thirty-nine
St Mungo's
Hailey Potter, the girl who lived was abducted on 18 June 1996 by death eaters right after the death of her godfather Sirius Black. Her whereabouts were unknow for months until last morning when she was found in the ministry. Her body was blooded up and left on the place where she was last seen, the entrance of the ministry. She was rushed into St Mungo's as soon as possible. Only few limited people are allowed to see her, those include the Weasleys, Remus Lupin (James Potter's school friend) and a few selected aurors who are guarding her.
The ministry still hasn't given out a proper statement to what happen. But everyone wants answers. What happened that day? How did she come back? Ms Potter and her brother Harry Potter have been famous among the Witches and Wizards all around the world since they were infants. Folks of the Wizarding world have great respect and admiration for the twins. Not only are they exceptionally brave, but they are known to be kind hearted as well.
The abduction of Ms Potter took everyone by shock. It has been known from the healers that she was brutally tortured, and her being alive was a miracle. They called her a fighter. People all around are now raising their glasses and celebrating for the return of Hailey Potter- The girl who fought.
Hermione read out to Harry, Ron and Ginny. Harry had gotten a letter from Remus saying they found Hailey, who was barely alive. He had rushed to Dumbledore's office demanding to go to St Mungo's to visit her. Fortunately he did agree to let them visit her that day, but in the evening.
Somehow, everyone knew about it. Every newspaper headlines had her name. Everyone was whispering in the hallway about what happened. Making rumors and assumptions.
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Ginny were waiting in Dumbledore's office as he talked to a few people for all the safety. Hermione sighed as she folded the newspaper and looked up at everyone. Harry's face looked pale while Ron sat there with an unreadable expression. Ginny looked back at her and took a deep breath. She knew she wasn't the closest to Hailey. But it broke her hear to think about the things that happened. And she couldn't imagine how the three of them must've felt.
"Now, the four of you will be travelling using floo powder. First all of you will go to the burrow, then from there to St Mungo's." Dumbledore said grabbing all of their attention. He saw the look on their faces and gave them a small encouraging smile. "She's okay now."
No words were exchanged as four of them reached the burrow where Mrs Weasley and Bill were waiting for them. Mrs Weasley had pulled all of them in a tight hug.
"Where's Remus?" Harry asked before they got in the car the ministry had sent them.
"In hospital. He's been there all day. Refusing to leave even for a minute." Bill answered. The car ride too was quiet. Harry was beside Ginny who kept her hand on top of his. Words weren't exchanged, but this small gesture made him calm down a bit.
One by one they got down from the car, Nymphadora was at the entrance. She guided them to the room Hailey was in. Ron felt his heartbeat rising by the second. "Warning guys... Hold yourselves together."
"What do you mean?" Ron asked as she looked at Molly. "Mum?"
"It's a... Bit rough." She said. Nymphadora slowly opened the door to reveal Remus, who was sitting beside Hailey holding her hand. Ron took a deep breathe as he walked inside. The room was white with a sofa in one corner, a small chair, where Remus was in and some machines beside the bed which he didn't recognize. One of them was beeping.
Remus stood up once he saw the kids. But none of them were looking at him. All of their eyes were on Hailey who was still unconscious, hooked to one of those machines. Her hair looked like it hadn't been washed in months. Bandages covering up most of her arms, neck and head.
Harry sucked in a deep breath as he walked towards her. There wasn't any movements except her body slowly rising and falling. He extended his arms to move the hair out of her face as he tried to fight back the tears.
He felt is chest tighten, almost like a rock was on top of it. He hadn't seen her for almost four months. Hailey was barely recognisable. Except her strawberry blonde hair, nothing was the same. Her collar bone, jaw and cheek bones were popping out like she hadn't ate anything in months. There were small bruises, even on her face. She looked hurt yet so peaceful.
Ron for the first time in his life couldn't stop the tears from falling. He hated crying in front of anyone. But today he couldn't stop. Most of the people in this room had never seen him cry. He was that type of person. But seeing Hailey made his heartache. It was physical pain.
Molly pulled him in a tight hug. "Where- Where was she found?"
"Just at the entrance," Remus said. "The first few employees had found her. They weren't quite sure who it was... But her hair gave it. They soon called some healers. I received a patronus from Arthur about an hour later."
"Why couldn't we come earlier?" Harry asked. He was now holding Hailey hand.
"I didn't want you guys to have nightmares." He replied as Ron frowned.
"W-What do you mean?"
"Even us aurors were horrified seeing her Ron. You guys are just kids... And the messag-"
"That enough Dora." Remus interrupted her.
"What message?" Harry and Ron asked at the same time.
"Prof- Remus," Harry said looking him dead in the eyes. "What message?" The man sighed as he looked back at Molly and Nymphadora. "I want to know the message. Remus."
"It said..." The man was debating whether he should say it or not. He finally came to the conclusion that Harry was too stubborn, just like James and won't stop pestering. So he said it. "It said we warned you."
Harry felt his stomach drop as he stared back at him. He knew what they meant. It was Lucius's threat. Give it or she dies. He slowly turned his head back at Hailey. "It's all my fault-"
"That's exactly why I didn't want you to know," Remus said as Harry closed his eyes. The death eaters could've killed her, and it was all his fault. If he had given the prophecy faster, maybe she would've been alright.
"It's not you fault Harry," Ginny said keeping a hand on his shoulder.
"It is..." He moved her hand from his shoulder and abruptly left the room.
"I'll go after him," Tonks said as she went behind him. There was a small silence in the room before Remus spoke up again.
"You can come closer Ron." He smiled softly at the boy.
"I don't think it's a good idea... I mean... We- We weren't exactly on good terms-"
"Give it a rest Ronald. That was one god damn fight you had four months ago." Hermione said angrily. "She loves you. And just stepping closer to her won't harm anyone."
Ron sighed before walking closer to her as slowly as possible. Call it dramatic, but he couldn't stop thinking about that day when they fought. The look on Hailey's face was haunting him.
He slowly took her hand in his.
I'm so so sorry.
He kissed the back her hand. His eyes widened like a golf ball when he felt her ever so lightly gripping his hand. He looked up at Remus to confirm if he was hallucinating or not.
Ron couldn't help but grin when he saw the look on his face. He was not hallucinating. It was real.
"I love you." He whispered pressing a delicate kiss on top of her head. And he meant it from the bottom of his heart.
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