37

Chapter 37: Assistance Arrives

Charlie looked down at the precious bundle in his arms with a fond grin, the tremors and twitches that were caused by the Cruciatus curse damaging his nerves were almost completely gone thanks to the potion that Professor Snape had provided, now the effects were down to a twitch every twenty seconds or so. Closing his eyes he focused on the steady inhale and exhale of Harry's breathing, on the thrum of a healthy heart below his hand. Finally, Charlie could feel the tension and worry of the day finally begin to leave him as he was finally able to relax.

Sinking back into the bed Charlie mused at how it was even possible for his precious little mate to provide more excitement than even the most finicky of his beloved dragons. To think, he had chosen to work with dragons for the thrills and adventure; of course his love for creatures did help to make his choice much easier; little did he know that being on the wrong end of an angry dragons flame was not even close to the feeling of knowing that his mate could be in danger. An imminent threat to his life was nothing when compared to the mere thought that Harry was hurt and he could do nothing about it.

With a deep sigh Charlie finally allowed his tense muscles to loosen as he cuddled his precious bundle closer, drawing steadily closer to Morpheus' embrace.

"Charlie," Madame Pomfrey's voice drew his attention towards the privacy curtain that separated them from the rest of the world, stifling a groan Charlie carefully maneuvered himself so that Harry could lay more comfortably. A tense moment passed in which Charlie held his breath waiting for Harry to wake up from his slumber but apart from a small snuffle Harry did not wake, his face still smooth and untroubled in the blissful embrace of oblivion.

"Yes Madame Pomfrey?" Charlie asked as he slowly shifted off of the small bed, being careful to not cause the bed to dip and disturb Harry.

Madame Pomfrey gestured her chin towards the bottle of lavender potion nestled in the crook of her arm. "I thought the poor dear could use a dreamless night after today, but lets let the poor dear sleep. He seems to be doing just fine on his own." With a fond smile Poppy smoothed the unruly locks of raven hair back only to stifle a laugh when the stubborn locks merely bounced back into their previous positions.

"Minerva has gone to fetch the DMLE, I thought it would be best if we were all aware of what happened. The last thing that we need is to leave a whole for Albus to slither through.

With a weary sigh Charlie scrubbed his hands against his face before bending and placing a loving kiss on Harry's forehead hoping that he wouldn't wake before he returned.

"This is such a mess," Charlie breathed out, looking at Poppy with weary eyes that had seen far to much in his short life. It broke Poppy's heart to think that the look in his eyes was not likely to go away anytime soon.

Molly had forgotten just how much energy it took to climb all of the stairs that one must when traversing through Hogwarts. Not even half way up the stairwell Molly could feel her heart rate sky rocketing, her breathing becoming slightly harder, the air burning its way through her system as her muscles protested the abuse they were currently undergoing. However, judging from the huffing, puffing and cursing that was happening behind her the boys were doing no better than she was.

What seemed like hours later the top of the staircase was finally visible much to her relief, she could hardly feel anything outside of the ache of her muscles and the panic in her heart.

Just a little farther Molly!

Just a bit more!

Twenty more stairs until the top!

Fifteen!

Ten!

Almost there!

Finally!

Not slowing her speed in the least Molly sprinted across the platform, shoving the portrait on the other end out of the way and dashing down the corridor towards the infirmary, her wand drawn and a curse on her tongue for anyone foolish enough to get in her way.

"So what exactly happened?" Charlie asked the second the privacy curtain was closed behind him, looking around at those who were gathered, searching desperately for an answer. "He wasn't being left alone, not for a moment. He said that Neville's even taken to waiting for him outside of the loo!"

Pomona's head was bowed as she stared blankly at the steaming cup of tea that she had clutched in her hand. "They were ambushed. Neville and Harry were walking to the common rooms when they were attacked from behind, Neville was rendered unconscious in the attack. When he was found the school went on lock down but it still took us time to do that. Merlin only knows what could have happened had this been a weekend or had they left that library earlier than they did, who knows how long it would have taken us to find him."

A shiver of dread forced its way down Charlie's spine as the picture that Professor Sprout was painting worked its way through his mind like black ink seeping into the snow. Shaking his head in a desperate attempt to rid himself of the image Charlie spoke again, his voice rough with emotion.

"Isn't there something that keeps you aware of situations like these? Hogwarts is shrouded in wards!"

"There is," Severus drawled from where he was seated in the chair facing the entrance to the infirmary, ever aware and vigilant of possible danger. "It is located in the Headmasters office. When it went off Albus locked down his office and fled like the coward he apparently is."

Charlie let out a groan as he lifted his arm to rub and squeeze at the base of his skull where he could already feel a ball of tension forming.

"Alright. So, Quirrell, Vol-, Volde-, You-Know-Who, whoever that was! Took Harry and knocked out Neville, Dumbledore ran away, then what? All I know is what we went through."

"You don't know much less than we do I'm afraid," Filius said gently as he absentmindedly stirred his rapidly cooling tea thoughts far away in a time he had hoped to forget. "Two of us went to find and detain Albus while the rest went to get mister Potter. We left Hagrid with the Cerberus while we continued on ahead to start dismantling our defenses. You caught up with us in the potions room. You know everything after that."

Before Charlie could think of an appropriate response the sound of rapid footsteps met his ears. Drawing his wand and directing it towards the entrance to the infirmary Charlie waited. Friend or foe he would be ready.

As the doors burst open, a curse at the tip of his tongue, the first thing he saw was red.

Weasley Red.

Mother.

"Mom," Charlie called causing the Weasley matriarch to stop which then caused a man with black hair and one with tawny brown to run into her. "Sirius, Remus? Why? How?"

"Is Harry alright Charlie!?" Molly cut in over his confused questions. "We were sitting down for tea when I saw his hand-."

"Harry is alright mum," Charlie cut in, heart aching at the site of his mothers watery brown eyes. "He's here and he's safe."

"Oh thank Merlin," Molly said wearily as her body began to sag, Sirius and Remus moving forward to help steady her as Filius quickly conjured a plush ottoman for the witch to sink down on. "What happened?"

"Precisely what I would like to know," a stern voice said from the direction of the hearth. Spinning quickly Charlie was greeted by the austere countenance of one Amelia Bones dancing within the now emerald flames.

"Oh Madame Bones!" Madame Pomfrey said in surprise as she quickly made her way towards the fireplace, "Let me help you through, how many are coming?"

"Myself, Minerva, and a group of about twenty Aurors to sweep the grounds and castle." Amelia said before turning away, the indiscernible cadence of a conversation hidden in the slight crackle and popping of the flames.

As Poppy moved to tap her wand to the fireplace in order to allow them access to the infirmary Charlie straightened.

Tilting his head to the side he could faintly make out the sound of sobs, echoing and distant as though he were standing at the mouth of a very large cave.

"Harry."

With that Charlie spun on his heel and made his way towards the privacy curtain pulling it aside just in time for the gathered audience to hear the sounds of terror from within...

As Charlie worked to calm Harry from his nightmare and the other occupants of the room watched the scene in worry, Amelia had quickly dispatched the Auror's in teams of two and three to each of the common rooms, the headmasters office, out onto the grounds, and down to where everything had taken place that night. After all of the teams had left to their posts only one Auror had remained behind with her to ensure that the memories that she was to collect were untampered. It was going to be a long night...