Don't Leave Me ((Ari))

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony ran down the path as her breathing hitched in her throat, her pounding of her heart driving her adrenaline onwards. She needed to get home. She needed to face her fears. She had to be strong, had to move on… Harmony’s face was determined and unwavering. Her talk with Miss Johnson had re-ignited her usual will for life, and now she wasn’t planning on letting go and giving up any time soon. Even if Ari couldn’t find her way back yet, Harmony would wait, and try and do it herself to the best of her capabilities. And possibly even help her sister. That sounded foreign in Harmony’s head. She rarely ever helped Ari, it had always been the other way round. Well, things were about to change. Things were already changing.

“Because life keeps going on, the earth keeps spinning without you. It doesn’t wait for us, Harmony.”

It was when Harmony was tearing past the meadow nearing her home that she heard the first scream. A scream that chilled her to her very core. ”Ari? The voice did indeed sound like her sister. Maybe she was hearing things… Maybe she was just tired, especially after what she had been through. ”Must’ve been my imagination…” Harmony assured herself inwardly, before picking up her pace again, without another glance at the fields to her left. But then it came again. She heard that same voice, that same scream, coming and echoing from the distance. Harmony halted once more, feeling that familiar feeling of fright crawl up her spine. What if it was Ari? She just had to check it out. What if Ari had tried to follow her? Maybe she was out there somewhere? ”Oh no…” Harmony’s thoughts whirled in fear as she made a turn and altered her route, dashing past the gate and into the meadow where she remembered Ari and her used to play during peaceful afternoons of bliss. Those memories seemed an age ago.

Harmony thought she heard another cry again, this time weaker, dying, fading. This only spurred her on, as though she knew she were losing something, and she had to catch it up before she lost it altogether. Finally, Harmony reached the cluster of trees near the back of the field, where the vegetation was the wildest, and the branches overhead extended so high you could barely make them out against the blue sky. Looking around frantically, Harmony prayed she could hear the voice again, because she had lost track of where it was coming from. Suddenly, another whimper drove Harmony to her right, her mind pumping with the sole thought that she was almost one hundred percent sure that these noises could only have come from Ari’s mouth. It had to be her. ”Where are you, Ari? What’s happened?” Harmony tried to ignore the rising fear in her throat. She had to get to her sister.

Suddenly a familiar smell hit Harmony’s nose, almost causing her to grind to a halt in surprise and awareness. Was that…? ”Blood?” Harmony thought to herself in alarm. She could smell the recognisable stench, that coppery, death-indicating scent. Eyes widening, Harmony continued to run in the direction she felt the noises and smell were emanating from, and finally reached a spot where from a distance she could see something violent had occurred. Approaching the area, Harmony could already see clearly the red splatters against the surrounding trees, the blood that trickled along the earth and soaking the brownness into a dark maroon. Horrified at what she was seeing, Harmony only just managed to force herself to walk forward, nearer the scene of crime. And what met her eyes, lying on the floor in pools of blood, caused her to scream so loudly that the birds in the clearing scattered, flying up into the azure sky, seeking safety and turning a blind eye to the happenings below.

[Harmony Chan H6]

”It’s fine. She’ll probably make it… Now we have to wait and hope she comes around.”

The hospital was not the most cheerful of places. Harmony had rarely visited one, and she felt the moment she entered those glass double doors that death was littered everywhere. Everywhere Harmony passed she could hear pained cries and nurses scurrying around in hushed tones. Ariane’s designated room wasn’t too small, but neither was it particularly big, and unlike many other patients, her bedside table was not crammed full of get well soon cards and gifts of chocolate and flowers. On it lay a single daisy in a small jar, handpicked by Harmony herself. For an entire week, Harmony had stayed vigilantly by her sister’s bedside, while her sister drifted in and out of consciousness several times during that long period. Not once did Harmony shed any tears, her hand clasped with Ariane’s considerably colder one. Every day Harmony would pray that Ariane would be all right, that she would survive this. They always had. They had always made it in the end. Harmony had never been one to pray, didn’t believe in it, like Ari; but when you were desperate, you’d do anything.

”Pray for her, okay? Maybe she’ll be able to hear you.”

It was the seventh day since Harmony had discovered her sister and father lying in a deep pool of blood in that secluded forest, since Ariane had been transferred in a hurried frenzy to the nearest hospital. Harmony had been here ever since, having barely eaten or drank anything in her worry. Jenny and George came to visit everyday, bringing food and other such materials, but most of the time, Harmony barely registered what they were saying to her. She’d merely smile faintly, nod in agreement, and soon the adults would be on their way again. The kindly wrapped food they brought was soon tossed into the bin without a second thought. At the time, when she had initially discovered Ariane, Harmony had been terrified. There was her supposedly dead father, lying beside her sister, who was obviously severely injured, a knife protruding from her stomach, blood gushing everywhere, both looking on the brink of death… Or already dead. Harmony would never forget that scene for the rest of her life. She honestly thought that she had lost her sister and father (again) too, and would be all alone in the world.

”The wound is pretty deep… And she lost a lot of blood. That’s why she’s even paler than before. But no worries, once she wakes, which I’m sure she will, she’ll soon return to her normal skin colour.”

Harmony still had no idea why her technically dead father and her sister were lying there together in that forest. How did Ariane even get there, and why was her father here? Soon after discovering the pair, Jenny had confirmed that apparently the body of the dead man in the Chans’ house was not Henry Chan, but somebody else with similar features to him. So had it been Ariane who had done the damage, or had it been Henry who had stabbed his daughter? Was it also Henry who had murdered their mother, aunt, and that man? There were so many unanswered questions related to the situation that Harmony had given up on trying to piece it together to make it make sense. She didn’t care about that right now. As long as Ariane didn’t leave her too. Didn’t leave her alone in this world with nobody. Standing on her own two feet.

”Please don’t leave me. Please. I can’t do this without you.”

Harmony’s father had been transferred to another hospital on that day. His injuries had been more serious than that of Ariane’s, and he needed immediate expert attention to save his life. He had literally been on the brink of death. Thankfully, the doctors had managed to save him, but like Ariane, he too was still unconscious, and wasn’t expected to wake up any soon. The doctors had informed the Chans that Henry would survive, like Ariane, if he too had a will to live. It was completely in their hands for now. Harmony didn’t know why, but she was relieved her father had made it too. Even if he was the one who had done this, she still couldn’t find it in herself to hate him. Even if he been the one to take away her precious sister, Harmony would forgive him. But she had yet to visit him. To see him again, clean of that dark red blood. She didn’t plan on moving from this position until Ari woke up. Ari just had to wake up.

”She’s lucky you alerted us at the time you did. Any longer, and she would’ve bled to death.”

Harmony bowed her head over the bed as the morning sunlight streamed into the stuffy hospital room. Silence hung heavily in the air as Harmony struggled to keep her tired eyes open. Lack of sleep was making her vision blur now and again, but her determination to watch her sister always drove her on. Harmony barely realised how much school they were missing than intended, but at least she had managed to send Atalanta to Aurora back at Hogwarts, informing her of the dire situation. The loyal black-feathered owl had arrived by herself at the right hospital room that day, obviously realising what danger her mistress was in, and had been more than happy to oblige to Harmony’s requests, despite not wanting to leave Ariane’s side. Harmony was aware that Jenny and George had probably already contacted school, so she needn’t too. Quite honestly, she didn’t know if she had the strength to. Would be able to face her classmates and teachers when she arrived back at Hogwarts, a transformed person. Had her experience changed her for better or for worse?

”Don’t worry, Harmony. Your sister’s a strong one. She’ll be back in no time.”

Harmony awoke with a start as she felt something hit her head gently, and she bolted upwards with surprise. She had fallen asleep from exhaustion and anxiety, her head having fallen onto the bed and black locks spread across the white linen covers. Cursing herself, she shook her head several times to make herself more alive, before looking up to see what had hit her. Her eyes widened in shock as she watched a sitting up, smiling Ariane look at her fondly, despite her brow wrenched together in slight pain, one hand clutching her bandaged stomach whilst the other lay limply in Harmony’s hands. She was still in pain, still hurting, but awake, alive, and breathing. It was over. The ordeal was over, and Ari was back. Harmony felt a wide smile creep onto her face, tears pricking agonisingly at her eyes as she grinned in return at her sister, gently squeezing her hand.

“Welcome back, Ari.”

[Ariane Chan]

Ariane felt the bright light approaching in the midst of the darkness surrounding her. Blinking her eyes open, she felt her vision hit her like lightning, and she sat there for several moments, gathering her senses together. She felt like she had been asleep for a long time, having had no movement, and her stomach felt so empty. Trying to stretch one leg a little, she tried not to cry out in pain as she felt a shock of pain shoot up her abdomen. Realising now that she was rather severely injured, and wondering why she was, Ariane looked around and realised she was in a hospital, lying on one of those notorious beds you often saw on TV in muggle programmes like Casualty. Confused, her gaze finally fell on a familiar head lying on the white sheets, hand entwined with hers tightly. Harmony was sleeping quietly, her eyes closed and breathing steady. Ariane gazed at her for a few seconds, before remembering what had happened in a rush of information. Groaning aloud, she tried to shift herself into a better position on the uncomfortable bed, and attempted to sit up against the back of it. The pain was not too immense this time, and Ariane easily adjusted to trying not to move her stomach, where she felt the bandages were wrapped. Finally, she had propelled herself enough to sit there and look around the hospital room properly, absorbing the sight of the medical equipment scattered around; judging from the sunlight peeping in through the windows, it was mid morning, and one glance at the clock hanging on the wall confirmed Ariane’s estimation.

Thinking back on what had happened to land herself here, Ariane closed her eyes in pain and disbelief, wanting to hit herself but knowing if she would, she’d be in a lot of pain. She could recall lots of blood everywhere, screams and shouts, a mixed up jumble of words in a short lived conversation. Images of her father and tall trees scattered around her mind and made her brow frown with the memories. Ariane couldn’t remember how she and her father had injured themselves, but they had, and pretty badly. A flash of a knife passed her mind, and suddenly she looked down at her torso. That was the wound which was hurting her so much at the moment. They must have extracted the implement already. A part of Ariane wondered if her father had survived the ordeal, but tried not to think about it. Her emotions concerning that man were still in turmoil, because she remembered clearly that when she thought he was dying, she was absolutely terrified. But she had always wanted him dead, right? It didn’t make sense. Sighing aloud, Ariane’s eyes fell on Harmony’s head again, and moving a little, tried to make her sister more comfortable, reluctant to wake her up, but because of how sleepy and unreactive her body was being, Ariane’s free hand hit Harmony lightly on the side of the head.

Flinching at the accident, Ariane watched as Harmony slowly woke up. From the looks of it, the poor thing had barely gotten any sleep. Had she been waiting for her all this time to wake up? Ariane suddenly wondered how long she had been trapped in this hospital room. What day was it even? Meanwhile though, Ariane could barely resist a bright smile as she watched Harmony, and finally, the younger girl’s eyes landed on Ariane. Her pale face broke into a grin, and the moment she uttered those three words, Ariane knew that Harmony had been extremely worried all this time. Tilting her head a little, Ariane tried to return the squeeze of the hand positively. “Sorry. I really worried you, didn’t I?” She asked in a quiet, hoarse voice. It obviously had been a long time since she had spoken. Harmony smiled at her words though, and shook her head.

“No. I’m just glad you’re back.” Harmony pushed her seat back and stood up, excitement replacing her fatigue. I’m going to go get the nurses and doctors. They’ll contact Aunt Jenny and Uncle George as well. They’ve been so worried too!” Before Ariane could protest, Harmony was out of the room and flying down the corridors. Smiling to herself, Ariane made herself comfortable against the hospital bed, and closed her eyes. It certainly was good to be back.

[Harmony Chan H6]

“So, what happened?”

It was midday now, a few hours since Ariane had come round from unconsciousness. Ariane had had to have several medical checks, before Jenny and George had burst into the room in excitement and worry for their awoken niece; they had only left moments before. A still rather tired and in pain Ariane slumped into her bed and turned to a smiling Harmony, asking the question with a pleading need to know look in her eyes. Harmony tried to shrug casually, as though not much had gone on, as though the situation hadn’t been too serious. “I heard you… ya know. When I was going home. And then I found you and… um, Dad. I ran back home and called for Aunt Jenny and Uncle George, and they called the ambulance. It was all so hectic, I’m not really sure what was going on during that time.” Harmony gave a strained laugh at the memory. “All I remember is lots of shouting and sirens, and I wasn’t allowed into the ambulance with you. So then Uncle and Auntie drove me to the hospital behind you, and for a long time I wasn’t allowed to see you. I remember someone saying they were performing surgery on you or something. I’m not sure.” Harmony gave a tense, nervous laugh. “Apparently you were in a life threatening situation. Something to do with losing lots of blood.” Harmony’s voice was beginning to sound rather choked, and she bent her head to prevent Ariane from seeing her pricking tears. “And…”

”I really thought I’d lost you.”

Ariane didn’t seem to need to hear what Harmony wanted to say, as though she had read her sister’s mind. Her eyes moved to stare at the ceiling, and she closed them momentarily, breathing in and breathing out, savouring each breath with care. “I’m sorry.” She finally whispered, eyes reopening, moist.

“It’s not your fault.” Harmony’s voice was tight. “It’s not. It’s fine now, though… so… Everything’s fine. I was a bit worried though. A whole week of waiting is a long time!” She tried to laugh, her sleeve rushing to meet the edges of her eyes in haste.

“I’ve been unconscious for a week?!” Ariane exclaimed, wanting to sit up but the pain from her stomach preventing her. Eyes widening instead as they stared at Harmony, she gave a growl before swearing to herself, ignoring strands of messy black that fell over her eyes. “I was that injured, huh?”

“Yeah.” Harmony nodded quietly, hands wringing themselves subconsciously on her lap. A silence settled over them for several moments, until Harmony broke it with a question of her own.

“So, what happened?”

Ariane turned away from looking at her sister, half in shame, half in turmoil. She wasn’t sure what to tell Harmony. That she had gone mad and almost killed her father and herself? But that she didn’t actually want her most hated father dead? It was too confusing. Much too confusing. “I’m… not sure.” That was the honest truth. Ariane really wasn’t sure what had transpired between her and Henry Chan at the time. “I just… remember lots of blood. Lots of it. I don’t know where he even came from, he was just there. I think I was angry. I don’t know!” Ariane’s hand slammed into the bed angrily, as her voice turned bitter and rough, which alarmed Harmony, causing her to glance up in fright at her sister. Shaking from her emotions, Ariane tried to calm herself down, before shaking her head tiredly. “I’m sorry, Harmony. I just… don’t know what happened.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.” Harmony spoke up carefully, hands reaching forward and grasping Ariane’s tightly. Her young face was suddenly wiser, more mature, more all-knowing. As though she understood. “We can move on from this. It’s over. It doesn’t matter what happened then. It happened. Just forget about it. you’re alive, and that’s all that matters, right?” She tried a strong smile, determined, wilful. Ariane stared at Harmony for a minute, before nodding slowly, the same smile reflected on her face.

“Yeah. You’re right…” Ariane squeezed Harmony’s hand gently, before asking a question she had been wondering since she had woken up. “Where is he? Is he alive, or dead?”

[Ariane Chan]

“This way please.”

Ariane and Harmony followed the nurse wordlessly along the unfamiliar hospital corridors, other doctors passing them by, the clicks of their heels vibrating against the white floor. This hospital wasn't much different than the one Ariane had stayed in, except for a different colour of walls, different faces everywhere. The same scent of death stil hung in the air. Ariane’s eyes flickered around nervously, observing her surroundings almost suspiciously, but her movement was laboured, and she was obviously in pain from walking as she winced now and again. Finally, when Ariane had to stop and whimper in pain, hand clutching her wound, Harmony asked the nurse to halt a moment and help fetch a wheelchair.

“No, Harmony, I don’t need—“

Butt despite Ariane’s many protests, Harmony was purposeful in her mission, and pushed her sister into the wheelchair firmly with a determined expression. “No more buts,” Harmony interrupted, ordering in an uncharacteristically demanding tone of voice, “The doctors told you that you couldn’t walk yet. You’ll just injure yourself even more. You do what the doctors say, meaning you have to listen to me!” Folding her arms across her chest in defiance, Harmony glared Ariane into submission, before grabbing the wheelchair handles from behind and apologising profusely to the nurse. “Sorry about that. Let’s get going, shall we?”

The rest of the short journey was done in silence, as the trio passed several hospital rooms and wards. Finally they arrived at the correct area, and the nurse turned to them with a bright smile. “He’s in here, but like I said, he probably won’t wake up any time soon, so don’t get your hopes up for today—“

“Don’t worry. I haven’t.” Ariane growled gruffly, her head turned with irritation in the other direction as her fingers gripped tightly on the wheelchair arms. Blinking in surprise, the nurse stared at Ariane in the tense moment, until Harmony shattered it with a nervous, embarrassed laugh, and thanked the nurse for her kindness.

“No problem. Remember, visiting hours between 3pm to 5pm. Don’t overrun, or the doctors won’t be pleased.” Smiling, the nurse left the two sisters at it. Ariane turned to Harmony then questioningly, and with a nod, the Hufflepuff carefully steered her sister into the fated room.

Harmony stared at the face of the man that was her father, and felt her heartstrings wrench inside. He looked so similar to Ari, now that she was looking carefully. When she was younger, she dare not set her eyes for too long on him, in case he felt she was staring too much and launch into an unstoppable temper. Henry had been frightening like that for a while, for no particular good reason. But now looking down at his injured, sleeping self, he seemed so fragile and small, so unlike that scary, angry man Harmony had once known and feared. Henry looked vulnerable, just like her mother had done on that bed, lying dead and cold. Harmony slowly walked forward, leaving Ari’s wheelchair and stopping by Henry’s beside. Staring down at his unconscious face, peaceful and relaxed, Harmony felt tears rise within her, threatening to spill out. ”Oh, Dad…” Numbly, she felt for a chair behind her, before sitting down on it, her eyes never leaving her father’s face.

Meanwhile, Ariane remained still and silent behind her sister. She watched Harmony settle down, though most of the time she was watching her father too. Ariane was holding mixed emotions within her, and she didn’t know what to make of them. Somehow, that blazing hatred she had stored up for Henry Chan in the last six years had burnt out, leaving dying cold embers. All Ariane felt now was emptiness, and a large sense of loss. She couldn’t find any love for the man, but she couldn’t hate him either, because… he was her father. Henry had given her life, had brought her into this world. That somehow dissipated her anger. Forced forgiveness on. Whatever Ariane thought, she could never be as cruel as she wanted to be, or tried to be. Somewhere in her heart, Ariane still held on to that memory of a loving father.

[Harmony Chan H6]

Harmony gladly watched as Ariane made her way out of the hospital room in her wheelchair, ignoring the rather large scowl on her sister’s face as she approached her. “I. Hate. Wheelchairs.” Ariane growled, disgruntled at her position. She didn’t have to remain in one, but it was for the best if she wanted to heal quicker. Harmony merely smiled in understanding, and grasped the handles at the back. Turning, the sisters thanked the nurse who had been looking after Ariane for the last two weeks, before they began their leave of the hospital. ”Finally.” Ariane folded her arms against her chest and watched her surroundings in mild silence, until she decided to speak again. “I’m so glad to be out of here.”

“Same.” Harmony agreed, before signing out at the reception desk. Five minutes later, the sun was gleaming on their backs as they made their way towards the guest car park, where Uncle George and Aunt Jenny would be waiting to take them to the train station. “Don’t worry. I won’t make you once we’re on your way back to Hogwarts.” Harmony grinned, before seeing her relatives waving from beside their parked car. “We’re coming!” She waved in return with a bright beam. She was just so glad her sister was well again, that nothing could faze her right now, and Ariane could see that. Smiling to herself, Ariane got herself ready to leave the wheelchair behind, hopefully forever. She was sick being confined in it all the time, and she felt so reliant and weak. There really wasn’t any point in returning to Hogwarts now that there was only a week or so of school left, but Ariane wanted to go back anyway, especially to see Aurora; her best friend was worried sick, she could tell from their frequent letters via Atalanta and Helix.

“Let’s go…” Harmony trailed off, trying to find the correct words as they neared the car. “Let’s go home.” She finally mustered up firmly. Glancing upwards at Harmony, Ariane could only just about make out her falling short hair, and those determined eyes. She suddenly realised how much older Harmony seemed, how much she had grown up during this time, and felt slightly guilty. It was because of her. But perhaps good would come out of this… Perhaps Harmony would be stronger now. Ariane couldn’t shield the Hufflepuff forever. One day she might have to let her go. Finally reaching the car and exchanging greetings, Ariane carefully lifted herself up from her wheelchair with triumph and slotted herself into the back car seat, joined soon by Harmony, who went to return the wheelchair. “We’re ready to go.” Harmony spoke to her uncle and aunt as they climbed into the car with her. She glanced over at Ariane for confirmation.

Ariane thought about everything that had happened. Losing Aunt Vanessa, losing her mother. Not really knowing the identity still of the man that died with them, and her father still unconscious and unable to provide answers. Was he really the bad guy, or innocent as he had claimed back in the forest that day? Ariane sustaining that knife wound, and how it had happened. When she would recover from it. Finally, Ariane nodded her head slowly, with a small smile on her face. Those memories… were merely memories. “Yeah, we are.”