Chapter Seven: Touch and Go


Draco Malfoy sat hunched over in a chair in the hospital waiting room, a crushed, long-empty paper coffee cup clenched in his right fist while his left hand gripped the armrest tensely. Replaying before his eyes was the expression on Hermione's face as he'd brought her to St. Mungo's: her features had been scrunched up with pain, her eyes squeezed tightly shut, and though unconscious, she'd continued to let out moans that left Draco terrified. With each passing moment that he was left alone out here to his thoughts, the sick knot of dread in his stomach grew larger.

At last, Draco heard footsteps approaching and looked up to see a Healer stride from the emergency ward, chart in hand. He faced him expectantly for an update.

"It's touch and go," the Healer said bluntly, shaking his head as he flipped through some test results on the chart. "She's been through a terrible trauma."

Draco stood up. "What exactly is wrong?" he demanded, feeling his features contort menacingly. He had the unfortunate habit, which his daughter all too frequently exhibited as well, of getting angry with anyone he came in contact with when he was worried. And he was really fucking worried right now.

"Her gut and head wounds are causing us trouble," the Healer, who had earlier introduced himself as Donovan Holloway, told him. "But the Minister is getting the best care possible," he assured Draco.

"What sort of trouble?" Draco growled. "Is it curable? Can you do anything?"

"We're doing as much as we can, Mr. Malfoy."

"Which is?"

"Well, we can't just reverse the spells," Holloway said slowly. "We're trying to get her vitals under control."

Vitals under control! They couldn't even maintain that? Draco swallowed hard, then glared at the other man.

"And if you get them stabilized?" he said gruffly.

"We'll try what we can to wake her up," Holloway replied. "We're still not sure what spells she got hit with, so we can't treat her specific injuries immediately."

"And if the vitals aren't stabilized?" Draco barked, even though he was positive he didn't want to hear the answer.

"She'll die," Holloway said shortly.

"Then what the bloody hell are you doing out here talking to me?" Draco burst out angrily. "Go back in and help my wife!" he snapped.

The Healer nodded and, turning on his heel, left Draco standing in the waiting room.


"Wake up, Rora," a soft voice said as Aurora felt a gentle shake try to rouse her. Aurora tried to pry her eyes open, finally succeeding and looking up to see Marcus peering at her worriedly. It took her a moment to figure out why Marcus had slept in her bed, but then with a start, the terrible events of the day before came rushing back to her.

"Mum!" she exclaimed, sitting bolt upright.

"Shh," Marcus said, pushing her back gently. "How are you feeling?"

Aurora gnawed her lip nervously, trying to recall everything Dumbledore had said yesterday. Her first instinct was to track him down and demand he give her a detailed update, but as her mind cleared, she realized it was no use trying to find him; he'd said he'd let her know as soon as there was a change in her mother's condition.

"Ror? Ror, talk to me. How are you feeling?" Marcus watched her with heightening concern.

Aurora glanced at him vaguely, still rather distracted by her thoughts.

"Rors, how are you feeling?"

She looked at him blankly for a moment, as if she'd only now heard the several times repeated question. "Like I got hit by a truck," she answered truthfully. After a battle between her unsettled, nervous thoughts and her extreme exhaustion, it appeared that with Marcus's arrival, she'd calmed down enough to let her tiredness win out, and had fallen asleep. But she'd slept fitfully; dreams of her mother in pain had haunted her all night long.

Marcus laughed hollowly.

"What time is it?"

Marcus glanced at his wristwatch. "Six-thirty," he told her. "We have a while 'till everyone wakes up for breakfast." He yawned, stretching and covering his opened mouth lightly with the back of a hand.

Aurora groaned and began to stretch as well, trying to work out the kinks that sleeping in a scrunched fetal position in Marcus's arms had left in her back and shoulders. "Why'd you wake me up then, you prat?" she growled.

"You looked like you were having a bad dream."

Aurora nodded solemnly then threw her arms around Marcus gratefully. "You're the best, Marcus," she whispered.

Marcus smiled fondly and hugged the girl back. "I know," he said lightly, trying to ease her nerves.

She half-smiled, chin still rested on Marcus's shoulder, and with a sigh let herself lean on him until she felt ready to leave bed and face the day.


James woke with a start, confused as to where he was until he heard Stella moan softly in her sleep. He smiled as his twin rolled over, her back to him as she inhaled deeply. She was still completely asleep, so James let himself relax again, staring up at the canopy as he reflected on all that had happened the day before. He'd befriended Aurora Malfoy.

He'd bloody befriended Aurora Malfoy.

What the fucking hell was wrong with him?

James sighed and raked a hand through his hair, cringing as he considered all he had told Malfoy. He'd let loose about a lot more than he should have. Letting her know those things…well, it was a recipe for getting attached. And James Potter didn't get attached.

So he'd needed a replacement Stella last night. Someone to talk to and let his emotions out to, who would listen and not think the less of him for it. The stress of having his twin upset with him and of feeling by and large overwhelmed both by how much he missed his parents and by the pressure to be exactly who the student body, the Harry-Potter-and-family-worshiping Wizarding world, and his sister wanted and needed him to be. He was allowed to lose it once in a while, wasn't he?

He groaned to himself. Sure, he was allowed. Just not in front of anyone. And most especially not Aurora Malfoy.

But she'd happened to be at the right place at the right time, and he'd revealed more to her than he'd probably ever even shown to his best friend…but then, he and Aiden hadn't spent as much time together as they used to…that was another reason for his weep-aganza the night before, no doubt. Since the bet, and since Aiden had for some reason stopped dating and decided to chain himself to his homework, they'd had a different relationship from ever before. Okay, and yes they'd sort of talked about it, and Aiden had made a half-assed effort at starting to behave like his old self. He was sleeping with Laurel again, anyway. But still, the sentiment behind it worried James…why was Aiden not bothering to date anyone in the first place? James knew things would be better if they could just get back to their usual double act, get back to joking, sneering, and breaking hearts. To being the badass Slytherin duo they had always been.

James shook his head to himself. He wasn't going to dwell on that. Things weren't really that bad between them, and he hoped all he would have to do was get Aiden to start lusting over some sexy Ravenclaw, not obligation-banging Laurel.

James's real problem was that he'd shown vulnerability to his enemy.

Well…I do need to get close to her to win that bet, he reasoned meekly.

And you're a fucking pansy, the voice in his head pointed out bluntly.

Well, yes, and that. But it was true; this would help him win the bet. Because in order to get close to a girl like Malfoy, he needed to earn her trust, a process that had probably gotten a jumpstart from last night. So that was all good and fine.

Then what the fuck was bothering him right now? He felt odd, shaken up, invaded.

With a sick feeling in the pit of his stomach, he realized what his problem was.

Oh, shit, he thought helplessly, closing his eyes as if that action could help him to forget the realization.

It was that he had liked being close to Malfoy.

She bloody infuriated him, and she was truly the most disgustingly responsible teenager he'd ever heard of, but he had found her presence comfortable, soothing, reassuring. He was looking forward to becoming Aurora Celeste Malfoy's friend.

He was fucking insane.

Beside him, Stella took another sharp breath, and James knew she was at last waking up. Distracted from his thoughts, he smiled to himself as he watched his sister—reveling in the fact that she wasn't mad at him anymore. She groaned quietly, her head pushing deeper against the pillow. With a mischievous grin, James put out a hand to tickle her, but upon contact, Stella's arm jerked out, hitting him squarely on the head.

"Merlin, Stell!" he exclaimed, wincing as he rubbed is forehead where several rings she wore had left painful indents.

"Huh?" Stella murmured sleepily. "James?"

James mock glared at her. "Look what you did, you brat," he accused, pointing at his forehead.

Stella clapped a hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry, Jamesey!" she cried, launching herself at him in exaggerated remorse. "Are you okay?" she asked worriedly, trying unsuccessfully to suppress an amused grin.

James socked her with a pillow.

Stella broke out into giggles. "Wimp."

James shot her another glare. "Stupid bitch," he muttered, turning away from her.

Stella giggled harder.

"Stella?"

Stella and James both froze when they heard the sleepy voice of Laurel Parkinson-Pucey. James's mouth twisted into a wicked smirk and, eyes gleaming mischievously, he motioned for Stella to pretend he wasn't there.

"Yeah?" she called, James grinning in amusement as he recognized she was trying to sound as if she were still half-asleep and hadn't been rudely tickled awake.

Stella stuck her tongue out at him.

"Who're you talking to?" Laurel's voice was wavering between suspicion and incredulity.

"What?" Stella asked, playing dumb.

There was a pause.

"Is someone in there with you?"

"What?" Stella exclaimed. "No! Of course there's no one in here with me!"

"Yeah," another voice said through a gigantic yawn. Camila Zabini. "When's the last time Potter had a boyfriend?"

Stella frowned angrily.

"Never, maybe?" Theodora Avery laughed with the careless tone of voice that only a girl who'd never ever had any troubles finding a boyfriend could possess.

James placed a half-comforting, half-restraining hand on Stella's arm.

"I—" Stella began, faltering slightly, "I must have been talking in my sleep."

"Oh, Stella, you're so adorable," Camila said affectionately through another yawn. "When will you let me set you up with Tommy?"

"Tommy's mine, bitch," Theodora said, her voice muffled like her face was pressed into her pillow.

"Oh, right."

Stella couldn't help but crack a grin. The couple had been dating for a year at least.

"Cole Hargrove, then. He's gorgeous, but he's kind of quiet, like you. Oh, Merlin, and he's a twin too. How cute would that be? Will you let me, Stell? Pleeease?"

Beside Stella, James was glaring murderously at the idea of his twin dating anyone.

"Cam, bloody shut up and let me sleep," Laurel moaned. "It's fucking seven o'clock."

"Beauty sleep's not going to help you any, darling," Camila called back sweetly.

"Shut up, you ugly cow," Laurel mumbled.

"Merlin's bloody beard," James snapped at last. "Is this what girls really talk about? How's a bloke supposed to get any rest? You all are so goddamn annoying!"

They could hear Camila, Laurel, and Theodora sit bolt upright in their beds as the bedsprings squeaked slightly and covers were displaced. Stella grinned gleefully at James.

"James?" Camila exclaimed incredulously, jumping out of her bed.

James grimaced at his foolishness, eyeing the curtains enclosing the twins nervously. They were suddenly ripped open and they saw Camila standing there aghast (and half naked), Laurel and Theodora behind her—Naomi Holloway must have spent the night in someone else's bed, James noted with relief. He wasn't quite sure Holloway realized that Camila had much more of a claim on him than she did, and he wasn't keen to spark a catfight this early in the morning.

"What are you doing here, James?" Camila asked at last, a coy smile stealing onto her lips as she carelessly flipped back her gorgeous mane of relaxed dark hair, shaking her head a little to get her long, eyelash-skimming bangs out of her eyes.

"Looking for Camila?" Laurel sniggered with her signature seductive smirk, her own luxurious golden hair escaping in frizzy pieces from the plait that trailed down to the lower part of her back. She wouldn't be caught dead flirting with James Potter if she could have gotten a glimpse of herself in a mirror at that moment, but whatever un-made-up state she was in, she was still more attractive than three-quarters of the girls at Hogwarts when done up to their very best.

Behind her, even Theodora was fussing with her distinctive strawberry-blonde hair, despite her protective devotion to Tommy Flint.

James rolled his eyes at the primping trio, smiling inwardly when he saw Stella's satisfied smirk. "No way in hell," he sneered at Laurel.

Stella swallowed a laugh, biting down on her lip.

Camila's large brown eyes narrowed. "God, you're a bastard," she snapped impatiently, her bitchy side emerging. "Just get out so we can sleep."

James tipped his head to her in mock salute. "With pleasure, Camila, love. Astronomy Tower tonight?"

"Ugh, in your bloody dreams, Potter," Camila said with disgust, but James knew she'd show. He hopped out of the bed in his boxers, pulling on yesterday's pants and grabbing his shirt from the floor while Camila rolled her eyes in exaggerated annoyance. "I'm out of here, Stells. See you at breakfast," he said, ducking to kiss her cheek. With that, he strode out of the room, leaving the four girls alone.


"Stella!" Laurel said with a pissy look as soon as James was out of earshot. "What the hell was that? You let James come in our room? And let him sleep in our room?"

"Like it's never happened before," Stella deadpanned with a pointed look at Camila, who flushed. Then she offered a large fake smile at the three as she bounded out of her bed as well. She grabbed a towel and clothes, carelessly calling back to the three girls, "I'm off to shower," as she walked to the bathroom.

The three infuriated glares she got in return made the moment priceless. She whistled lightly and bounced her way up to the showers. After she'd soaped and rinsed herself, she dried off and pulled on her favorite pair of stretchy black pants with a loose gray v-neck, muttering a quick drying spell and then letting her raven hair hang down loosely. She finally made her way to the common room, where James and Aiden stood talking.

"Come on!" she said cheerfully, linking an arm with each of them and leading them out of the dungeons.

"Someone's in a good mood," Aiden said dryly, rolling his eyes.

"Someone's not in a fight with her brother," Stella replied happily, sticking out her tongue. "Couldn't figure that out for yourself, Sherlock?"

Aiden grinned. "You have an answer for everything, don't you?" he mused, chuckling to himself. "Little wiseass."

Stella glared daggers at him, making his grin grow wider.

"I suppose that's our fault, though, isn't it, James?"

James laughed. "Might be," he said fondly, looking at Stella. "But I'd always thought she was smart enough not to be influenced by me."

"Not Stella-belle," Aiden sniggered, eyeing her sidelong. "She's too much like you—has to screw things up for herself before she figures something out."

"Ahem. I am here, you know."

"Exactly—what better way to get something through that thick skull of yours than by pissing you off?" Aiden said, his grin dangerously wide by now.

She glowered at him and halted. "Watch your mouth, Black," she growled, leaning in so her face was right in front of his, her grip on James's arm loosened so she could reach.

"What're you going to do about it, Potter?" he said, a brow quirking upward and not moving a centimeter away from her.

They were so close Stella could feel his breath on her cheek. "Let's just say it's not wise to upset the person who knows you used to have a lisp," she said with a cheeky grin.

"That's rich, coming from the girl who slept with a grubby stuffed horse until she was thirteen," he said with a roll of those heart-stopping icy blue eyes of his, but his cheeks had tinged pink. "And would have kept sleeping with, if we hadn't taken action." He shot her a cocky smirk, then his expression froze as he caught sight of Stella's rapidly darkening face.

"I knew it!" she screeched, pulling her arms from where they linked elbows with each of the boys and stamping her foot angrily. "I knew you two bloody took him! And you tried to blame it on the bloody house-elves!"

"Way to bloody go, Black," James laughed. "I thought we finally had her convinced it wasn't us."

"Shut up, James, I'll get to you later," Stella snarled with a quick look back at her twin before turning back to Aiden. "I can't believe you lied to me! I was devastated! I cried my eyes out for days!"

"Oh, come on—we did it with your best interests at heart!" Aiden protested, but he was trying hard not to laugh, as was James.

"Best interests, my ass!"

"Come on, Stell," Aiden said, suppressing a smile, "it happened years ago."

"Where the bloody hell is Splotch? What did you two do with him? If you ripped him apart, I swear, Aiden, I bloody swear—"

"Splotch!" Aiden repeated with a hoot, glancing at James, who was cracking up as well. "I forgot that was its name! I can't believe you named a fucking solid colored horse Splotch!"

"I…was…bloody…two…years…old," she said through gritted teeth, emerald eyes flashing. "Now what the hell did you do with him?"

"Relax, Stells," James laughed, grabbing her head and kissing her cheek. "Have you even thought of the brute since we did away with it? Just take it easy, will you?"

"Did away with it?" she shrieked in horror. "Tell me you didn't hit him with spells, James…" she whimpered.

"Merlin, Stell," Aiden said, looking almost alarmed at her reaction. "We're sorry, okay? He's up in James's closet, or something. Might have some battle scars, though," he said, grimacing a little at James, who smirked back. Aiden put his arm around her shoulder, but she slapped him away.

He smiled.

"Stop smiling," Stella snapped. "You kidnapped my horse! I bitched out an innocent house-elf because of you two!"

At this, both boys burst out in uncontrollable laughter. Stella watched them furiously for a few moments before she realized she couldn't keep from grinning. The whole situation was hilarious, really. And how could she be in a bad mood when she wasn't in a fight with James anymore? She started laughing too.

"Stella, this is why I love you," Aiden said, slinging an arm around her shoulders as the three began walking again. "You're the only person that can recognize that there's always good intentions behind mine and James's actions and forgive us." He shot her a grin.

She felt her heart jump dangerously. "I let you two get away with so much," she grumbled, but her insides were flip-flopping.

What's wrong with me? she thought hotly. Couldn't get a damn hold on her stupid somersaulting stomach and she could feel her heartbeat speeding up.

"I know. And that's why we didn't stop at just hexing the beast."

Her head snapped around to look at him, but she felt her anger melt with the sight of his trademark lopsided grin that showed he was joking.

Damn him, she growled to herself. Why does he have to have such a gorgeous smile?


James sat down at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, only half-listening as, having moved on from the Splotch row, Aiden and Stella bickered senselessly about where to find the best butterbeer in Hogsmeade.

"It's the Three Broomsticks," Stella insisted with an exasperated look on her face. "Everyone knows that!"

"Everyone's wrong," Aiden said stubbornly. "The Dragon Egg is far better; it's just lesser known," he argued.

Stella groaned in frustration. "Why do I even bother?" she muttered.

Aiden grinned triumphantly. "You'll see," he gloated. "Next Hogsmeade weekend we'll go and you can taste for yourself."

James rolled his eyes and turned his focus on the Gryffindor table, looking around anxiously for Malfoy. Never mind that he was pissed at himself for enjoying the girl's company—she'd been so upset the night before that he hoped she'd heard some good news on her mother's condition since then. He picked at his breakfast, looking up often to look for the blonde girl.

You're pathetic, said that damned voice in his head. Worrying this much about a stupid Gryffindor? Who cares about Malfoy?

And yet he continued to watch for her. But the mail arrived before she did, and owls abruptly flocked around them. His copy of the Daily Prophet arrived, as did that of many other students. The hall quieted as everyone read the headline: Attack on Minister of Magic Linked to Escape of Prisoner Lucius Malfoy!

The entire student body seemed to register the words at once, but before chaos broke out, Dumbledore stood and everyone silenced.

"Good morning," he said gravely. "I see most of you have heard the news. Lucius Malfoy has escaped from Azkaban, and has attacked our Minister of Magic, Hermione Malfoy."

"Malfoy?" Aiden repeated, jaw dropping and craning his neck immediately to glance at James' copy of the Prophet. "Merlin's bloody beard."

Stella had gone pale. "He's escaped?" she whispered hoarsely. "He got out of Azkaban?"

James just stared at Dumbledore, waiting for him to go on.

"Many of you know the Minister's daughter, Aurora. I would hope that you show her understanding and compassion during this difficult time," the wizard continued. "As for Lucius Malfoy, I want to reassure all of you that you are perfectly safe here at Hogwarts. The Ministry is hunting for him as we speak and the whole country is on alert. Now, please, enjoy your breakfast and go about your business like normal." Dumbledore sat down and began speaking to McGonagall.

Of course, no one could pretend they hadn't just heard the news. All the students, first-years to seventh-years, began discussing the escape, the attack, and Malfoy.

"Poor Aurora," James heard a girl from the adjacent Ravenclaw table exclaim. He recognized her as Midori Tanaka, one of his countless exes. "I wonder where she is. Probably wants to be alone. Poor girl…"

James turned to his newspaper and scanned the article for details, discovering the circumstances of the assault and more about the Minister's condition. He read aloud to Stella and Aiden, "The Minister is currently in a sleep-like state, struggling and seemingly plagued by nightmares. The head wound, possibly caused by the Cranortus Curse, is what has left the Minister in this condition, but she also suffered injuries to the stomach, lower leg, and forearm…" James muttered aloud from the article. "…When the Minister was discovered by her husband and another, she was cornered by at least a half-dozen Death Eaters. She had managed to fight off several on her own, but they proved too many for her, especially once she'd been hit by a hex from the infamous Lucius Malfoy…"

James put the paper down and glanced at the Gryffindor table. Thomas and Patil-Creevey were talking worriedly with one another, but neither Malfoy nor Weasley were in sight. He sighed and turned back to his twin and Aiden.

"The Cranortus Curse," Aiden said, shaking his head as he looked over James's shoulder to see what he had just read aloud. "I didn't think I'd see the day I felt sorry for Malfoy," he went on. "Fuck it, I'd better check if she's alright before Dad yells at me. No doubt he'll want me to write Uncle Draco as well." Aiden heaved a sigh.

"Pretty shitty situation," James put in noncommittally, although inwardly he was thinking about how much he wanted to do the very same thing—see how Malfoy was holding up. But he didn't have the familial obligation like Aiden did…he was just a sorry-ass baby who didn't want to see her upset. Why were these moronic thoughts taking root so strongly in his brain? He really had to get ahold of himself and fix this idiot behavior.

But he was soon distracted from his noisy thoughts when he noticed his sister's shell-shocked expression.

"Stell?" James asked worriedly. "You okay, Stell?"

Stella looked back at him suddenly. "Sorry?" she said, her voice quiet and with a slight waver.

James leaned closer to her. "Are you alright?" he asked putting his arm around her shoulders.

She nodded, looking down at her hands in her lap. "It's really great Dad helped rescue her," she said finally, facing forward again and her face neutral again.

James nodded as well, but continued to watch her with concern until his attention was grabbed again, this time by the sudden quieting of the Great Hall. James looked up to see Malfoy walk in, Weasley's arm around her shoulders protectively. James almost stood up in jealousy to see him comfort the girl, but he quickly snapped to his senses.

You can't be jealous of Weasley, he told himself incredulously. Besides, what do you care if she's alright? So what if you've declared a truce—you still have to go through with the bet!

James watched Malfoy freeze in the doorway as everyone turned to look her way. Weasley guided her reassuringly to the Gryffindor table, where she sat down uneasily next to Thomas. Weasley offered her some toast, but she shook her head and, elbows resting on the table, held her chin in her hands. She stared distractedly into space, and James tried to catch the girl's eye. When she finally looked his way, he saw with clarity the pain in her eyes. She looked at him expressionlessly, but he gave her a small smile before turning back to the Slytherins around him.

"You alright now, Stell?" he asked his twin, who was now picking at her eggs, a reassuringly normal antic.

She smiled at him. "I suppose," she said, sighing softly.

"Good," he said, but his thoughts kept drifting back to the Gryffindor sitting across the room. For some reason, he wanted to be the one to comfort her; it had felt good to help her yesterday, and what's more, he owed her for her kindness to him when he'd broken down. His heart clenched painfully when he saw Weasley put his arm around her once more and she lowered her head to his shoulder, burying her face against him.

Bastard, he thought angrily, eyeing Weasley. Why the hell do I wish I were him right now?


"Come on, Ror," Marcus urged. "Eat."

Aurora shook her head. "I don't feel like it," she mumbled. "I shouldn't have come down. Everyone's staring."

Marcus put his arm around her reassuringly. "Really, Ror, you should," he said gently.

"I don't care; I'm not hungry," Aurora snapped moodily.

Marcus knew better than to be offended by her remark. "Cool it, Uncle Draco," he said, rolling his eyes.

Aurora winced to herself. "Sorry," she said heavily, and slumped down on the table, lying her head down on her forearms. She sighed as she saw Marcus pick up an apple and begin slicing it, and grudgingly took a piece when he offered it to her. She gnawed on it sideways, head still on the table, and looked up at him. "Thanks, Marcus," she said softly.

He shook his head briskly, as if to say the idea of her needing to thank him was preposterous. "Stop," he told her firmly, and handed her another piece off the apple. "Eat."

Aurora did as she was told.

She slowly worked her way through the rest of the apple, still too pathetic to raise her head from the table, until she heard a familiar voice.

"How are you, Rors?" Liam asked quietly, taking a seat between her and Sam.

Aurora offered a small smile and reluctantly lifted her head. "Hey," she said, choosing to ignore the pissy look Sam was aiming at Liam for squeezing into his personal space. She knew Marcus and Sam, who didn't like the idea of her dating in the first place, were exceptionally annoyed that she was giving Liam a second chance. But they were overprotective gits and she wasn't about to let Sam's jackassery get her down when she was already having such a rough day.

"I wanted to let you know I'm so sorry about your mum," Liam told her seriously. "If there's anything I can do…"

"Thanks," she told him with a heavy sigh.

"We could go take a walk around the grounds…maybe it would clear your mind a little?" he offered.

Aurora considered. While she was feeling mopey and lazy enough to have spent all of breakfast with her head on the table, it would also be nice to get away from all the stares. She looked uncertainly toward Marcus, but he shot her a reassuring smile, not seeming offended in the least by the idea of her leaving with Liam. Or at least doing a damn good job of hiding it.

"Okay," she said, turning back to Liam. She let him pull her up then ducked to kiss Marcus's cheek before heading out of the Great Hall with Liam.

They slowly walked outside, Aurora shivering slightly despite it being an unusually warm morning. Liam wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and she leaned against the boy as they walked toward the lake.

"How are you feeling?" he asked gently.

She gnawed at her lip. "Scared," she answered truthfully.

Liam tightened his grip around her. "She'll be okay," he said. "The Minister of Magic gets the best Healers available. She'll be okay," he repeated.

Aurora nodded slowly.

They walked in silence a while longer until they'd circled the lake and were near the entrance once more. "Thanks for making me feel better," Aurora whispered as they paused outside the door.

Liam smiled down at her. "Anything for my girl," he whispered back, kissing her lightly.

He made to pull away but Aurora put her hands on his shoulders and pressed her lips more firmly to his. If she needed a distraction, there was no better form than this…


Aiden sat silently as the Great Hall buzzed around him, unable to make himself a thing after hearing the news about his aunt. He halfheartedly shoved at the scrambled eggs on his plate with a fork.

"Hey, that's my thing," Stella said gently, breaking into his thoughts. He glanced up at her in surprise to see her smiling softly. She cocked her head to the side. "You're the one who tells me not to be so stupid and to eat something," Stella said by way of explanation, but her tender tone was of teasing concern, not mockery.

Aiden felt a lopsided grin creep onto his face despite his mood. He couldn't help it; Stella just had that effect on him. He forced down a mouthful of eggs while she looked on approvingly. "Better?"

Stella grinned, nodding. "Much," she said smugly.

Aiden laughed, continuing to gaze sidelong at the girl as she turned back to her own breakfast. He was still affectionately studying her when he heard a whisper in his ear from the other side that nearly made him jump.

"Prefects' bathroom tonight?" Laurel said seductively, her lips brushing his earlobe.

Aiden managed not to roll his eyes and instead turned to face the girl, fighting the urge to sneer at her. Maybe he had a point to prove to James and himself, but this entire morning was not putting him in any sort of mood to put in quality time with Laurel. "Um…we'll see," Aiden said uncertainly. "Probably," he added quickly, seeing her eyes narrow in suspicion, and feeling his insides clench. "I'll find you after dinner, I've got to finish something before class," he added, standing abruptly to get out of there as fast as possible. He ducked to kiss her cheek before making his rapid escape. As he strode away, Aiden chanced a look back at Stella, who was already staring right at him, a knowing glimmer in her eye and a snigger on her lips. He made a face at her, trying to ignore the way her responding grin made his heart speed up, then turned back around to make his way out of the Great Hall.

Once alone in the corridor, Aiden felt the weight of the morning's news hit him once more and he sighed heavily. He was aimlessly wandering when he saw his cousin walking slowly in from the grounds with Owens. He watched as she waved him off, clearly insisting she could be trusted to be by herself, and Owens reluctantly agreed and kissed her goodbye. Not fully aware of what he was doing, Aiden began striding rapidly toward her. He was nearly in front of her when Aurora finally noticed him in surprise, and before she could say anything he had wrapped her in a fierce hug.

"Aid—" she started, sounding both choked and alarmed, but then silenced. Within moments, she had crumpled in his arms and was crying softly.

Aiden didn't know where this sudden affection for his cousin had come from, but he assumed it was something to do with the other day in Hogsmeade, when he'd seen her hurting just like his Stella.

Footsteps approached and Aiden heard someone exclaim, "Aurora!"

He and Aurora both looked up to see none other than Emma Weasley hurrying toward them, alternately looking concerned for Aurora then shooting threatening and suspicious expressions Aiden's way.

Aiden released his cousin and Aurora, smiling ruefully toward her tears, walked in Emma's direction. "Em," she breathed softly and Emma immediately threw her arms around Aurora protectively.

Aiden looked on dumbly at the pair and Emma stared right back at him with a hard, unreadable look. But unlike her usual look of malice, this one suggested she was trying to get a read on Aiden. It felt like he stood there for minutes, eyes locked on Emmy's, and maybe he did. When he finally snapped to his senses, Aiden turned around and began walking back toward the Great Hall to head to class with the departing Slytherins. But he could feel Emma Weasley's probing brown eyes boring into the back of his head.


"She's stopped her struggling! Quick, everyone!" Holloway barked while Draco looked on in disbelieving horror. There was such sudden chaos in the room that no one seemed to remember he was still present. They'd just allowed Draco to come see Hermione when she'd abruptly crashed. And painful as it was for Draco to watch, he couldn't make himself leave or look away.

"We're losing her!" a nurse shouted. "She's not moving!"

"What if it's just another part of her dream?" another Healer put in. "Her breathing rate seems regular, if a bit low," he added.

"No," another Healer said, shaking her head. "Heart rate's going down— we've got to get it back up!"

The Healers all got down to work, trying various spells to get the Minister's heart rate up.

"I'm going to do the Reambulate Charm," the fourth Healer told them, pushing up her sleeves.

"Go ahead," Holloway told her.

Suddenly, the door burst open and Elinor Zabini strode in, wearing her crisp lime-green medical robes like all the other Healers.

"Elli!" the nurse exclaimed. "Just in time; she's going through a stage of stillness…we might be losing her…"

Elinor whipped out her wand and muttered a quick spell to tie back Hermione's hair so she could massage her temples.

"Come on, Hermione," she urged, performing wandless magic as she muttered a quick spell, fingers still on the Minister's temples.

Draco watched, transfixed, and every fiber of his being praying for Hermione to be alright.

Hermione jolted slightly, and all the Healers froze to watch what Elinor was doing.

"Come on, Hermione," Elinor said again, closing her eyes and taking one hand off of Hermione's head to grab her wand. She opened her eyes again, wand poised over the Minister. "Have you tried the Reambulate Charm?" she asked, looking at the Healers.

A Healer nodded. "No dice," she added, shaking her head.

"How about Overrtus?"

"Not yet," Holloway said. "I was going to try the Jetterra Spell."

Elinor nodded. "Overrtus!" she exclaimed, flicking her wand.

Hermione jerked abruptly and her features contorted themselves into a frown, eyes still closed. Her shoulders tensed and she suddenly cried out.

"Heart rate's normalizing," another Healer reported. "Breathing is normal; temperature is high."

Elinor bent over Hermione again. "Tempus Stabilirus," she muttered. "How's her temp now?"

"Still above normal," the Healer told her. "It's rising…"

Hermione shuddered and a sweat broke out on her forehead, her pale cheeks flushed.

"Descendus Tempus!" Donovan Holloway boomed, pointing his wand to the artery on Hermione's neck.

"She's stabilizing," a Healer announced, relief evident in his voice. "All tests are showing regular readings."

Draco exhaled shakily as he watched Elinor continue to whisper charms over his wife.

Holloway came up to him. "Looks like she's back in her sleep, but she's stabilizing," he informed him. "I guess you have Elli Zabini to thank for that," he added, with a nod to Elinor, who looked up and nodded back in acknowledgment.

Draco looked over as well; Elinor smiled at him before turning back to Hermione.

He watched as his wife twitched again, a heart-wrenching sound of distress erupting from her throat. Come on, Hermione, he prayed. Pull through this


Please review! xo gryffindora