Fred's P.O.V
Nike has been unconscious for days and Madame Pomfrey is getting worried, and so are the rest of us. Ever since I found here in the Prefects Bathroom that night I have been wondering what else she has been keeping from Draco, George... Me. How long has she been like this? Why didn't she come for help in the first place?
I shook my head grabbing her hand and giving it a tight squeeze. I was just starting to doze off when I heard the door to the Hospital Wing creak open and shut. I quickly retracted my hand from hers and looked up to see Professor Dumbledore walking towards me and Nike. I didn't move from my spot for Dumbledore couldn't see me due to the fact that I was wearing Harry's invisibility cloak, which I stole. Like Harry was going to let me borrow it. I scoffed internally as to not give myself away.
"I wasn't expecting you to be here." Dumbledore said, shocking me. How did he know I was here? I stole Harry's invisibility cloak. No one should be able to see me. Then again it is Dumbledore, the old geezer knows everything. As I was about to respond I heard a voice from behind me. A voice that was very different from the other professors at the school.
"I came to see how my warrior in training was in the wizarding world. She wouldn't tell me what had happened, except for the fact that she couldn't tell anyone for fear of her friends and families safety." The voice said. Turning my head I tried not to gasp in shock. Right behind me was the biggest, most majestic lion I had ever seen. It could have been the lion on the Gryffindor House Crest for all I knew. But what did he mean by warrior in training? I was very confused.
"That is the reason I came down here Aslan. To figure that out." I heard Dumbledore say. I turned my attention back to the old man just in time to see him pull out his wand and point it at Nike.
Suddenly, a bright light blue whisp came from her head. I soon realized that Dumbledore was taking a memory from her. I looked at Nike's face to see it scrunched up in pain and terror. Sweat beaded on her forehead and started to run down her face. Her breathing began to become heavy and her scared hands closed around the sheets, clutching them in her tightly closed fists. Nike started to turn her head away from Dumbledore as if he was hurting her, but that wasn't possible. Taking a memory out of someone's mind wasn't painful. Well, so I've heard from Hermione. "The only reason someone would be in pain was if the memory caused him or her physical pain." He remembered Hermione telling him the other day.
As soon as it had started it stopped. Nike went back into a piece full sleep and Dumbledore had the memory in a flask I didn't know he was holding.
"Come with me to my office so we can view her memories." Dumbledore said to soon as they left I got up and kissed nike on the forehead before making my way out of the Hospital Wing, and following the Headmaster and the mysterious lion back to his office. When I arrived the the Gryffindoor, the staircase was already starting to rise up. Quickly I got on the spiral staircase and waited for it to reach its destination.
I climbed the last couple of steps, making sure to not make a sound as I went so I wouldn't let Dumbledore know I was there. Of course fate wouldn't have it that way and I soon found the ground coming up to meet me as I fell to the floor at the lions, Aslan, feet.
"And what might you being doing up at this late hour Mr. Weasley?" I heard Dumbledore ask from my left. I glanced up and smiled innocently. I scrambled to my feet, making sure to grab the coat and hiding it behind my back as I did, and faced Dumbledore.
"I saw you take the memory from Nike's mind and was wondering if. I may view it also, so I may know what she went through to receive those scars and cuts sir." I said looking down at my feet, I couldn't meet his gaze as he stared me down. I know. Fred Weasley, looking down at his feet because he couldn't meet Dumbledore's eyes. That's not normal! But I needed to see her memories and this was the only way I could.
"Fine, Mr. Weasley. You may join us in viewing her memories, then it is off to bed with you. And no excuses from class tomorrow. I expect you to on time to all your classes. Do I make myself clear?" He asked, and I nodded. He handed me Nike's memories and motioned me towards the Pensive. I slowly dropped her memories in and watched as the light blue became a black, inky color. I looked back at Dumbledore and he nodded his head, allowing me to be the first to enter her memories. I looked back at the swirling blue black water and took a deep breath, plunging my head in.
-~-
It felt like I was falling and soon I found myself standing in Nike's bedroom at Malfoy Manner. She was on her bed reading a book. I could barley make out the title but it looked like it was called Throne of Glass. I walked over to her bed and looked at the page she was read, which was illuminated by her wand.
"You collect scars because you want proof that you are paying for whatever sins you've committed, and I know because I've been doing the same damn thing for two hundred years. Tell me, do you think you will go to some blessed afterworld, or do you expect a burning hell?"
I stood back, "Well isn't that book just peachy." I mumbled to myself as Dumbledore and Aslan joined me in the memory.
Suddenly I heard a soft Nox and the light from Nike's wand went out. It took my eyes a few moments to adjust and that was enough time to miss the black cloaked figure appear in the room. I heard the ruffling of sheets and saw Nike's silhouette move up from her bed and cautiously make it's way further and further from the man.
"You can run, but you can't hide." A deep, maniacally, voice said and Nike sprinted towards the bathroom, barely making it inside before locking the door behind her. The man rammed into the door, trying to break it down, but was not able to. He said Alohomora over and over but the door would not unlock. That's my girl, I though as I watched the scene unfold. But my praise was short lived as the door suddenly blasted into a million splinters.
A yelp of surprise was heard from inside as the cloaked man went in and grabbed Nike by her hair and dragged her back into the bedroom. I wanted to run to Nike and try and help her but I knew there was nothing I could do. This was a memory, it had already happened, it was in the past. Nike was kicking and screaming, trying to get away from the man but could not for his grip on her was to tight.
"Oh, shut up you bitch." The man snarled, "Curcio!" He shouted letting go of Nike's hair as she started to wither and scream in pain on the floor. This was repeated over and over again and each scream was louder and more terrifying then the last. I closed my eyes, not able to look at the scene before me. Suddenly, after what felt like forever the screams stopped. I opened my eyes to be greeted with a silent Nike, still withering on the floor in agony. I stood, shell shock as realization dawned on me. She ripped her vocal cords to shreds by screaming so loud for so long! After a minute Nike's body ceased it's movement. I was afraid she was dead, but I let out a huge breath as I saw her chest rising and falling taking in deep breaths of air.
"Come now pet, stand up." The mans think British accent filled the room. I looked back at Nike to see her shake her head no. "I said; Stand. Up!" He bellowed, kicking her in the ribs. Reaching down he grabbed Nike by her throat and lifted her off the ground. Nike clawed at his hand and arm, trying to get him to drop her but he only tightened his grip. Nike's lips started to turn blue at the lack of oxygen as he spoke.
"You don't know who your messing with, girly. You like playing games? Well I do to. And you know why that is?" He said leaning closer to her face, which was becoming paler by the second. "Because I always win." He whispered, and let her go. Nike fell to the floor in a heap and was gasping for much needed air.
"Now stand up." He said. Nike did as she was told and stood up, still breathing heavily. "Since you disobeyed me you will have to be punished." He smirked. Nike stood there scared and alone. She took a small step away from him but he grabbed her wrist tightly and twisted it back. Nike grimaced in pain. From where I stood it looked like her wrist was dislocated, maybe fractured.
I walked closer to Nike and the hooded figure as he dragged her to a chair and threw her in it. Nike didn't fight him as he toed her down, nor did she squirm away when he brought a sharp dagger to her collar bone, dragging it across her skin. The blood welled from the wound and spilled out of the cut and down her chest, seeping into her night shirt. He cut her over, and over again. Wherever he could cause her pain, he sliced it. Except for her face, he left her face untouched by the knife.
By the time he was done blood was everywhere. On her clothes, her skin, face, some of it had even gathered in a pool on the ground next to the chair. I felt something slide down my cheek. Wiping it away I realized I was crying, but who wouldn't. I was watching my best friend get tortured right in front of me and there was nothing I could do about it.
Shaking my head I tuned back into the memory, he was untying her now. He picked her up and laid her on the floor and straddled her. He took off her shirt and tossed it across the room. I looked at. Nike wondering why she wasn't fighting back when I realized she had passed out from the pain. A small shiny object coughs my attention and looking closer I realized it was a small dagger. The man smiled wickedly and started carving into Nike's abdomen.
Suddenly the memory faded and I took my head out of the pensive. Taking a few steps back I sank to the floor and pulled my knees to my chest. How could someone do that to her? I thought. I saw Dumbledore's shoes and looked up at him with teary eyes. He had tears in his eyes as well and extended his towards me. I took it and he helped me up, pulling me into a hug. Not being able to hold it in anymore I cried into the old mans chest. I knew I wasn't alone for he was crying too. I could feel the tears falling onto my head.
We stayed there like that for a few minutes until I finally pulled away, wiping my eyes. I looked back at Dumbledore who nodded at me. "Go to bed Mr. Weasley. We both will be needing as much sleep as we can get this evening. And you are excused from your classes until Mrs. Malfoy awakes. You may stay with her in the Hospital Wing, I will have some of your things brought down to you there. Tell Madame Pompfrey that I have allowed you to do so and I will inform your teachers tomorrow morning of your absence." He said, giving me a faint smile.
"Thank you sir." I said quietly as I left the headmasters office and went back to the Hospital Wing where I configured a comfy chair and sat down, grabbing Nike's hand and slowly drifting off to sleep.
