SECTUMSEMPRA
The students sat in the Great Hall with anxious expressions. It wasn't like Dumbledore to call everyone out of class for an announcement. Nissa chewed on her lip as she watched the other students. Whatever this was, it couldn't be good.
"Ladies and Gentleman if I may have your attention please" Dumbledore's voice boomed through the hall. "All Hogesmeade visits have been cancelled until further notice. Furthermore, I feel it is imperative to remind you all that students are not allowed to be outside of the castle after 7pm and must travel in pairs at all time. As your Headmaster, I must press upon you the severity of the dangerous times in which we live. Last night, the Dark Mark was seen above Hogemeade village."
Nissa's eyes widened, and she drew in a sharp breath. 'Had Lucius done that?' she thought as a shiver passed through her. Beside her, she felt Draco stiffen, and saw his hands were clenched in fists under the table. "Draco?" she whispered, but he just shook his head. As she watched, Draco stood up and stalked out of the Great Hall. Nissa rose to follow, but felt a tug on her robes. "Leave him be" Danielle whispered. "He'll come to you when he's ready." Nissa was about to agree when she saw Harry Potter leave his spot at Gryffindor table and head out in the same direction. Nissa had never trusted Harry, bad things seemed to happen whenever he was around. Nissa nodded towards his retreating back before whispering to Danielle 'I'll leave Draco be, but I'm going to keep an eye on that one".
Nissa slipped quietly out of the Great Hall in search of where Harry had gone. She started off in the most likely direction when she heard a commotion coming from Moaning Myrtle's bathroom. She opened the door, and barely missed getting hit with a flying hex. Quickly, she darted around one of the stalls and looked underneath. There were two sets of feet in there, two people, she mused. But what on Earth were they dueling about? Nissa was about to call out and make her presence known when she heard the unmistakable voice of Harry Potter. "You set that mark didn't you? You killed those people!"
"No" the other voice said. "It wasn't me. I wasn't there". It was Draco she realized.
"If it wasn't you, it must have been your dear old dad. Everyone knows he's a –" "SHUT UP ABOUT MY FATHER POTTER!" Draco shouted suddenly raising his wand. Draco had always been good at hexes, but this time, Harry was faster "Sectumsempra" he yelled, and the room fell silent. Cautiously, Nissa stepped around from her hiding place, and saw an image that would stay with her the rest of her life. Draco laying on the wet floor, blood soaking the front of his shirt and staining the water red. Harry stood speechless over him, having obviously not known what the curse was when he used it. "CRUCIO!" Nissa yelled and watched Harry collapse on the floor with some satisfaction.
"Miss LeStrange!" Nissa jumped at the sound of Severus Snape coming from behind her. She whirled on him, ready to curse him too, but he pushed past her and knelt at Draco's side. He ran his wand over Draco's wounds and murmured something, too low for Nissa to hear, but as she watched the wounds began to heal. "Where did you learn that spell Potter?" Snape asked menacingly. "In… a book… in the library" Harry stammered. "Do not lie to me Potter" Snape spit out. Go get me your school books. ALL OF THEM." As Harry rushed out of the bathroom, Snape looked at Nissa as if realizing she was still there. "Get out of here Miss LeStrange. Go and get Madame Pomfrey. Quickly"
"Are you sure you're alright?" Nissa asked hovering over Draco's bed in the infirmary. "Yes" Draco said wearily "For the hundredth time. Yes". "I was so scared for you" Nissa admitted surprising them both by sitting on the edge of his bed, and throwing her arms around him. "I thought I was too late". Draco attempted a weak smile "Its going to take more than Potter to end me". Draco patted Nissa on the back, comforted by the feel of her in his arms.