Chapter 6: Hopeful Healing

Draco sat next to Anna's pale form laying on one of the hospital beds in the hospital wing. Madam Pomfrey had gone over her very thoroughly and she did what she could, but Anna was in rather critical condition. She had been given a private room, as did all patients who were in the condition she was in, so she would be away from the hustle and bustle of the hospital wing to heal in peace.

Anna had suffered massive injuries, which included a badly broken left leg, internal bleeding and massive bruising, several broken ribs, and a concussion. Madam Pomfrey had brewed a potion and gave it to Anna to make her stay unconscious so she would not feel the great pain she would be feeling if she were awake. Draco had written a letter and sent it by owl to Goyle in Hogsmeade to let him know that he would be away from the shop for a while and to put him in charge until he returned. Draco intended to stay by Anna's side until she got better. Soon after the accident, Anna's parents had been informed of it and they came immediately to see her. They came to visit her, but they, unfortunately, couldn't stay for long because Anna's father had to get back to work at the Ministry of Magic and her mother had get home to look after Anna's eight younger brothers and sisters.

It turned out the cause of her injuries was the apparent ignorance of one of the Ravenclaw Quidditch players. One of them had secretly cast a spell on the Golden Snitch so it would be easier for the Ravenclaw Seeker to see and catch. During the game, the Snitch and Anna's rogue Bludger collided and the spell shifted to the Bludger, making it rogue andchase Anna. When this was found out, the player responsible was kicked off the Quidditch team and given detention for a month.

Draco gently held her hand in his, whispering reassuring words every now and then. Anna had remained in her green and silver Quidditch robes, but her protective arm and leg plating had been removed,as well as her heavy boots. Madam Pomfrey thought it best that she remain in her Quidditch robed because if they tried to removed them, they cause more damage to Anna. Draco took a wet rag out of the basin on the bedside table and gently wiped it across Anna's fevered forehead.

"Hold on, Anna...please hold on." Draco said.

Anna found herself wandering in a strange place. She was in a frightening world of feverish dreams and constant pain. She could see a faint ray of light ahead, but the more she tried to move towards it, the farther away it seemed to be. Every now and then, she would hear a familiar voice muttering through the shadows. As she ran through this frightening world, wraith-like shadows gropped and grabbed at her, trying to make her fall and loose hope. One of the shadows gripped her leg and made her fall to the ground. The grey dirt on the ground cut into her skin like she had landed in a sea of small shards of glass. She cried out and remained there on the ground, slowly slipping away...weakening...

Draco heard the door behind him open andsomeone stepped in. He looked around and saw Professor Snape. Snape walked around to the other side of the bed, holding a small bottle of a deep red liquid.

"How is she?" he asked, sitting down in another chair beside the bed.

"I haven't noticed much change." Draco answered, shaking his head.

"Well, I have something that might help." Snape said, uncorking the bottle.

"What is that?" Draco asked.

"A potion that I brewed. It should help." Snape answered.

He gently lifted Anna's head in his hand and carefully poured the red liquid into her mouth, gently massaging her throat so it would go down.

Anna felt a sudden coolness rush over her. Or rather, through her. The extreme hot that was raging inside her body was suddenly ebbed away and the blue coolness flooded her insides. She felt a tiny ray of hope and she stood back on her own two feet and headed toward the light she saw over the horizon. She knew her love, Draco, had to be on the other side, just waiting for her. She knew when she reached the other side, Draco would embrace her and kiss her, help her survive...

"There, she should wake within the next twenty-four hours." Snape said, re-corking the bottle and putting it inside his cloak.

As he left, he lightly patted Draco on the shoulder as an encouragement. Draco half-heartedly smiled and fixed his eyes back on Anna's pale, fevered face. He silently prayed deep in his heart that she would have the strength to pull through and survive...