Zelda - Chapter 4
Disclaimers: See chapter 1
Opening her eyes was by far the hardest thing Zelda had tried to do in a long time. No. She took that back. Trying to remember where she was and what she had been doing was the hardest. But as light finally began to seep through her eyelids she began to remember. Of course the pain throughout her body helped to speed the recollection process along. She couldn't turn her head, but as things came into focus she managed to figure out where she was. The sounds. The ceiling. The ceiling was unmistakable. She had woken up to that ceiling many times. She was back at Hogwarts. She tried to call for someone, but her mouth was too dry. She settled for tapping on the side of the bed, a trick she had learned after one of her many Quidditch accidents. Madame Pomfrey hated tapping, and she would surely come soon, annoyed.
Sounds like Miss Fenley is awake, Pomfrey said as she approached the bed. How are you feeling? Zelda motioned as best she could for water, but it was enough for Madame Pomfrey to get the hint. She handed Zelda a glass of water.
I'll live, said Zelda, after taking a long swig from the glass. Zelda noticed Madame Pomfrey's uneasiness as she handed back the glass. But then she realized that nothing was covering her left forearm.
I didn't choose this, Zelda said as she touched the tattooed skin. It's been there my entire life. I've never been a Death Eater.
said Pomfrey. I was informed before you regained consciousness. Severus Snape? Was he still teaching at Hogwarts? Who else would have been confident enough that she was good? The door opened before she was allowed anymore speculation. Albus Dumbledore entered.
he said. I see that Alastor Moody is already up and about. He turned towards Zelda's bed. And Miss Fenley. Did you take yet another bludger to the head? Zelda was glad that Dumbledore was still able to lighten almost any mood. She managed a slight grin as she attempted to sit up in her bed. Pain shot through her and the room began to spin, but she was determined to get up. She hated being an invalid. Dumbledore walked over to the bed and assisted her.
Thank you. So what day is it, anyway?
Oh, the day after, Dumbledore replied. You didn't sleep that much. But in your Quidditch days we could barely keep you from hopping right back on your broom, even if you had a broken bone. So I'm not surprised. Dumbledore immediately became serious. Zelda, were you hit with the Killing Curse?
Zelda tried to remember the events of the day before. The battle. Moody, herself, and the other three aurors. Lucius Malfoy. Avada Kedavra. The other three aurors. The other three Aurors?
It was the Killing Curse, sir. Zelda paused. Headmaster...the other three who were with me?
They did not survive. who exactly was hit with the curse?
We all were, said Zelda. She was fighting back tears as she spoke. I tried to counter the curse. I thought we were all dead.
You should be, Dumbledore replied, plainly. Countering a Killing Curse with the strength to kill five is not possible. Something else happened out there.
They sat in silence for a while. Zelda didn't understand what had happened. But much of Zelda's life was a mystery. Even to herself. She sported a Dark Mark that, from all she knew, could have been there from birth. She couldn't remember anything before she turned seven. Before she came to live with the Fenleys. But she knew that she would find the answers some day. Maybe it was time to search more seriously.
Miss Fenley, I can't let you go straight back out to the battle. Your injuries will take weeks to fully heal. I suggest you take this time to search your past. I believe there are some answers to very big questions in your memories. Answers that just may give us an advantage.
With that, Dumbledore exited the infirmary. Zelda fell back against her pillow. The investigation in her future just might be harder than the battle in her past.
