Split Second

Chapter 5

    “No magic can cure this,” Professor Dumbledore had said to Harry and Ron once he arrived and saw the mangled car. “They will need to be taken first to a muggle hospital. If, from there, they can get them started back to health, we may be able to take it from there. But for right now, they need to go.” Ron had nodded numbly, giving his ok. Harry clutched his arm around Ron’s shoulders to keep him from falling.

    “What about the Weasleys and Grangers?” Harry inquired, knowing Ron was too out of it to ask himself. Harry was still in the ‘this really is not happening’ stage.

    Professor Dumbledore glanced over to Harry. “They have been contacted and are on their way.” Harry felt Ron’s knees tremble as the tree was lifted off of the car.

    “GET A STRETCHER OVER HERE!!!!!!” screamed a medic, lifting Hermione out of the car. Harry grew rigid with hope. Please, please let her be alive, he thought. The surrounding students held each other. Some sobbed, some let the tears flow silently, and some bit their nails, but the feeling of hope and anxiety was the same for all of them. Draco Malfoy, who had returned in new outerwear with Crabbe and Goyle right after Harry and Ron had taken off to find the car, stood among the students, speechless for the first time in his life. Ron walked closer to the car, Harry right behind him.

    “Don’t go too close,” Dumbledore warned. But from their new view, it was easy to see Hermione covered in blood, her clothes torn. She wasn’t moving; her usually rambling mouth was silent. Her arms hung lifeless at her sides. The medics raced her to an ambulance standing by. Professor McGonagall went in with her, and the ambulance sped off.

    “They must be Hogwarts medics,” Harry said to Ron who didn’t even acknowledge the statement. He just kept staring at the remaining medics and Professors Flitwick, Sprout, and even Snape, who were trying desperately to pry the door off of the car in order to rescue Ginny.

    Just then, Hermione’s parents arrived, and Dumbledore walked up to them, escorting them into a building that Harry couldn’t see the name of. He assumed Dumbledore was going to tell them how to use Floo powder to get to the nearest building by the hospital so they could be there when Hermione arrived. Smart man, thought Harry sullenly. It could take forever for them to get there any other way. As expected, Dumbledore returned solo, back to his position waiting.

    “God, I never should have sent Ginny with her....” Ron said, his face streaked with tears. Before Harry could offer a comforting thought, the door tore off and a yell came from Snape.

    “GET A MEDIC, NOW!” Snape and Sprout hoisted a very bloody and beaten Ginny out of the car. Lavender screamed. Draco Malfoy actually reached out an arm in a comforting gesture to her. Ron fell to the ground in a heap of gut-wrenching sobs and tears. Harry’s stomach churned. Professor Dumbledore looked pale, and so did, Harry noted, Professor Snape. The medics raced to Ginny, kneeling down and beginning procedures on her.

    “SHE ISN’T BREATHING!” screamed one medic as the other lifted her onto a stretcher.

    “Oh God....” said Ron, sobbing.

    “WAIT! We got her. WE GOT HER BREATHING! MOVE!” With that, the medics raced to the other waiting ambulance and loaded her in.

    Dumbledore approached Ron. “Go with her, Ronald.” Ron didn’t budge. Dumbledore looked at Harry.

    “Come on,” Harry lifted Ron to his feet. “Let’s go. I’ll go with you. Come on.” Harry practically carried him to the ambulance, and both boys went in and off to the hospital with Ginny. Dumbledore would let the Weasleys know, Harry was certain.

    His heart was terrified and ripping apart at the thought of Hermione and Ginny not......nonsense. Both girls were alive, he thought. They’d be fine. And when he looked at Ron and the tears streaking his face he realized....

    ....They’d HAVE to be okay....