Chapter 19: Aftermath
DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN HARRY POTTER. IT BELONGS TO
JK ROWLING.
A/N: Read, enjoy, and
remember not to take either life or my writing too seriously.
Madam Pomfrey felt utterly exhausted. Ever since the
first task of the tournament ended, the hospital wing had barely been quiet for
a moment. A full week had passed, and she still had not managed to get a proper
night's sleep.
First there had been the Weasley boy… and that
unfortunate golden egg.
She chuckled quietly to herself as the memory
resurfaced. The egg had been covered in blood and bits of skin when it was
finally removed. It had taken Molly Weasley no fewer than fourteen separate
cleaning charms before it was finally spotless again.
"Honestly," Pomfrey muttered under her breath, shaking
her head. "I must truly be tired if that image makes me laugh."
After the egg had finally been separated from Mr.
Weasley, she had quickly swallowed a strong anti-nausea potion and begun the
long process of repairing the damage to his backside. Although most of the
injuries had been successfully healed, it would still be several days before
the poor boy could sit comfortably again.
Then there was Professor Snape.
Madam Pomfrey glanced across the hospital wing toward
the bed where Severus Snape lay sleeping. The blankets rose and fell
dramatically with each breath he took.
Fortunately for him, the thick oil coating his hair
had been too contaminated to ignite during the explosion. Ironically, it had
actually acted like insulation, protecting his scalp and head from worse burns.
Even so, the aftermath had been dreadful.
It had taken Pomfrey two full days just to determine
which potions had exploded in his office and come into contact with him. In
total, forty-seven different mixtures had affected him in one way or another.
Her exhaustion had even led to an embarrassing moment.
She had attempted to shrink the swelling of his nose
eight separate times before Albus Dumbledore gently reminded her that
Snape's nose had always been that large.
And finally there was the third patient who had
suffered serious injuries.
Draco Malfoy.
Breaking the news to his parents had been unpleasant,
to say the least.
Madam Pomfrey had explained carefully that, at best,
Draco might regain only about thirty percent of the hair he had lost. The burns
had simply been too severe.
His left eyebrow might grow back eventually.
The right one, however, was gone permanently.
She had spent hours repairing his damaged ear. While
it did not perfectly match the other one anymore, at least it no longer looked
as though it had melted.
While Narcissa Malfoy sobbed quietly beside her
unconscious son, Lucius Malfoy had left the hospital wing muttering
something about needing to speak with the Bulstrode family before rumors began
spreading.
The Weasley Twins' Business
Meanwhile, Fred Weasley and George Weasley
had been extremely busy ever since the first task ended.
Inspired by their younger brother's unforgettable
performance, they had created a set of enchanted figurines similar to the ones
sold during the Quidditch World Cup.
One figurine represented a small yellow canary.
The other was a miniature Hungarian Horntail.
The dragon chased the bird across the table until the
canary's tail suddenly caught fire. At that point the little bird would drop a
golden egg onto the surface.
Demand for the toys exploded almost immediately.
All over Hogwarts students could be seen watching tiny
dragons chase miniature canaries across tables.
The twins' other inventions were also selling rapidly.
Their Canary Creams continued to be extremely
popular.
They had also introduced a new product called Horntail
Honeys, sweets that temporarily transformed the eater into a small dragon
complete with fake bursts of flame.
At every meal someone was turning into either a dragon
or a canary.
They had briefly sold another figurine as well — a
blonde Veela capable of launching small bursts of fire.
However, that product disappeared from their catalog
almost immediately after a certain Beauxbatons champion paid them a visit.
Rumor suggested the twins had required medical
treatment afterward for burns in some very delicate locations.
Ron Returns
The morning Ron Weasley was finally released
from the hospital wing, he walked slowly back toward the Gryffindor Tower
common room.
He carried the golden egg proudly under one arm,
making sure everyone could see it.
Unfortunately, most people remembered exactly where
the egg had last been seen.
Several students immediately rushed toward the nearest
bathroom to avoid losing their breakfast.
Ron misunderstood completely.
He interpreted their reaction as admiration and
excitement.
All around him students celebrated his "victory" by
transforming into canaries or small dragons using the twins' sweets.
The miniature dragon figurines constantly shooting
flames toward him were slightly irritating.
But Ron interpreted it as proof of his popularity.
My fan club must be growing,
he thought happily.
I should probably talk to the Creevey
brothers about taking more pictures… especially one of me with my egg.
When he entered the common room he saw Lee Jordan
and several older Gryffindor students gathered around a table.
They were watching the figurines recreate the
tournament scene.
When the tiny canary dropped the golden egg again, the
group cheered loudly.
Ron smiled proudly.
He never realized the cheering was actually for the
dragon.
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Thank you for reading!
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