Esprit de Corps

Chapter 4

Albus Dumbledore looked up from his table as two figures appeared on the floor of his office. His face became white with anger when he saw who they were.

Hermione Granger, his brightest student, was sitting on the floor, cradling his favourite student, Harry Potter. Harry's shirt was stained with blood and Dumbledore could see the wound from which life-blood seeped constantly from the young boy...

"What happened?" he asked, moving faster than anyone thought he could.

"It looks like he was stabbed...I found him like this in his bedroom...I made a Portkey and brought him here..." she said tonelessly. Her face was nearly as white as Harry's. Dumbledore nodded at her and threw some powder into the fire.

"Poppy!"

Madam Pomfrey's head appeared in the fire.

"Albus?"

"Come to my office right now. It's very urgent," he said.

She nodded and her head disappeared. Dumbledore conjured a couch and levitated Harry to it. He led Hermione to a chair and gave her a cup of strong tea.

Madam Pomfrey came in and ran to Harry.

"Oh dear!" she said, staring at the wound, "Straight through the heart!"

She whipped out her wand and began working immediately. The tea awakened Hermione from her stupor and she related everything to her Headmaster. Dumbledore nodded gravely.

"I'll see to it that you don't get a letter for underage magic," he said. Hermione's eyes widened.

"Do you think I even care for that right now? When Harry's in such a critical state?" she shouted at him, something people would not believe until they saw it with their own eyes. Hermione Granger shouting at a Professor - and none other than the Headmaster.

Madam Pomfrey suddenly uttered a cry.

"What's wrong?" Hermione asked anxiously, "Is he - is he -?"

Madam Pomfrey shook her head vigorously.

"There's no heart in here!" she said in a terrified voice, pointing at Harry's chest, where the hearts of humans lies within the rib-cage.

"What?" cried Hermione and Dumbledore together.

"And yet he has a pulse..." the nurse continued.

"Is he okay?" asked Hermione. The nurse nodded.

"I've healed him. I'll give him a Strengthening Potion and he'll be right as rain in half an hour, but why doesn't he have a heart?"

Hermione's mind suddenly flew back and past memories came alive in her head...Harry getting upset...very upset...and clutching his chest in a desperate gesture...right side of his chest...several similar images passed through her head. It was always the right side...

"I know!" she looked up at the two adults, "Dextrocardia!"

Madam Pomfrey immediately turned to Harry and did something. She nodded as he glowed.

"You're right. Lucky for him that he had his heart on the wrong, or the right side. He'd have been long dead otherwise."

"What was it, Poppy?" asked Dumbledore.

"Stabbed through the heart, or where the heart should have been, with a steak knife. Muggle way."

"Do you know who did it?" Dumbledore asked Hermione. She shook her head.

"Maybe Ron does."

"Hmm."

"Come with me, dear," said Madam Pomfrey, "I'll give you something to soothe you and I'll get the Potion for him."

Hermione followed her out of the room. Albus Dumbledore turned to the fireplace again.

"Remus!"

Remus Lupin's head appeared in the fire.

"Professor?"

"Remus, get Harry's things from his room. And get Hermione's car from there as well. And pick up Ron on the way before you come here."

"Is anything wrong with Harry?" asked the werewolf anxiously.

"I'll tell you when you get here."

Remus nodded and disappeared. Dumbledore walked back to his Golden boy and passed a gentle hand through the untidy dark hair.

"Why does it always happen to you, my child?" he cried softly.