Me: I don't think anyone likes me right now. :(

Amber: You just had to have Joy torture her. That's my BAF!

Me: I'm sorry Ams… But I don't own anything!

Amber: Oh whatever. (-_-)


Chapter Twelve: House of Answers

Nina's POV:

Suddenly, my eyes snapped open. I looked around and noticed I was in a bed in the Hospital Wing. All of Sibuna was there, including the Weasleys and Potters. Tarra and Sean were there too, as well as a few Ravenclaw girls.

"Nina?" Fabian whispered. He was sitting in a chair next to my bed.

"What - Huh?" I jolted up in bed, staring around at them all. Just as I held my head in my hands, trying to remember what had happened, Madam Pomfrey came bustling over.

"Oh, Nina, good. You're awake," she said. She handed me a goblet with something in it. "Here, drink this."

I did. It tasted like… pumpkin juice? I looked at her quizzically, then handed the half-empty goblet to Fabian, who placed it on the bedside cabinet. She walked away, muttering something about Unforgivable Curses.

"Guys?" I looked around at everyone again. "What happened?"

"Er…" Rose twisted a lock of her hair around her finger, and it was then that I noticed Scorpius standing next to her. "Well, you see, um…"

"That git of a girl Joy Mercer performed one of the three Unforgivable Curses on you, Nina," he said, shifting uncomfortably.

"What?" I asked. I felt so… dizzy. Disoriented. Lost. And I was really tired, too.

"She performed a Cruciatus Curse on you," Mara said softly. Mick put his arm around her, and I saw Jerome glare at them both before moving instinctively closer to Patricia.

"Do you remember anything, Nines?" Fabian asked me, gently taking my hand.

"I remember intense pain shooting through my body and vaguely hearing people yell… And I remember Mick, Albus and James holding you back from getting at Joy. She was being defended by a group of Slytherin girls. Then I blacked out." I shuddered, not wanting to relive the memory. A tear slid down the side of my face. Fabian reached up and gently wiped it away.

"That bitch!" Albus exclaimed, fuming. He looked pretty mad.

"Did she get punished?" I asked, slightly changing the subject.

"Oh yeah." Amber replied. "A hell of a lot."

"Really badly," Scorpius chimed in. "She got all of our House Points taken away, and she's under Dormitory Arrest for the rest of the term, plus having a hearing with the Ministry of Magic in about a week. Nina, sorry, but you have to be there too since you're the victim. We've been called as witnesses."

"How do you know this?" Mara asked.

"I'm a Slytherin Prefect. See my shiny badge?" He flashed his silver Prefects' Badge. "I know everything. I was on Prefects' Duty with Rose after you were cursed… I overheard Professor McGonagall talking to Minister Shacklebolt in her office via the Floo Network. Albus? I think your dad's here too."

"Dad's here?" Lily asked. "Where?"

"In the Headmistress' office. He said something about dark wizards…"

"Mate. Our dad's the head of the Auror Office," Albus pointed out. "Obviously he's here because of a dark wizard."

"Your dad's here too, Rose," Scorpius continued. "I guess he's helping Mr. Potter."

"Makes sense," Hugo said. "They're best friends."

"Uh, guys? Back to Nina?" Patricia said impatiently.

"Right," Rose took charge. "Nines, you'll be fine. Madam Pomfrey said she wanted to keep you here overnight for observation, and you'll be able to return to the common room sometime tomorrow. Alright?"

"Okay," I answered. "At least I'll be able to get some rest."

"That's partially why she's keeping you here," Tarra chimed in. "The other reason is because she didn't want you being swarmed with people questioning you about the curse. You'll be okay."

"Um," a girl with purple-streaked blonde hair spoke up. I think her name's Ashlie and I think she's one of Mara's roommates. "Maybe we should leave. You know… Let the eight of you talk? It seems as if you've had experience with Joy and you know what to do. It's just, it's as if there's something going unsaid."

"If you wouldn't mind," Jerome told her.

Ashlie nodded, and she, as well as the other Ravenclaw girls, the Weasleys, Potters Scorpius, and the Finnigan twins, all trouped out of the hospital wing. Now it was just me and Sibuna. There was an awkward silence hanging in the air before Amber finally said something.

"Nina… What did it feel like?"

This earned her glares from everybody, as well as disapproving sighs from Mara and Patricia. Ignoring them, I decided to answer as best I could.

"It was the most painful experience of my life," I replied, flopping back down against the pillows. "I'm glad someone managed to stop it."

"That would be me." Professor McGonagall stood in the doorway to the ward, her expression relieved. "How are you feeling, Miss Martin?"

"Really tired," I replied.

"I expected as much. Miss Mercer is in for the most severe punishments. Using an Unforgivable Curse at fifteen – I can't even fathom it. Nonetheless, you'll all be witnesses at her hearing with the Ministry in a week's time. Wear nice robes. I'm glad you're feeling better, Nina. Now, I must go talk to Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley."

She left, silently closing the door behind her. I turned slightly to face everyone. "So. We're going to the Ministry of Magic. This should be interesting."

"I have to find something to wear," Amber muttered. We all rolled our eyes and sighed at her cluelessness.

"Amber, this is serious!" Patricia shouted, throwing her hands in the air in exasperation. "Find something to wear later! Now, we have to deal with a dark witch who used to be our housemate and my best friend!"

"Patricia's right," Fabian said, holding his head in his hands. "This is going to be absolute hell."

"It might not be," Mara chimed in. "I mean, she broke Wizarding Law. Surely she'll be justly punished."

"Maybe she'll get her wand taken away for good!" Alfie exclaimed. He was always looking on the bright side.

"Well, it's getting late. I'm going to head back to Ravenclaw Tower," Jerome said, stretching. "Mara? Patricia? Care to join me?"

The girls nodded in agreement, and the three of them left the room.

"Feel better, Nina," Mara said before shutting the door. I turned to my housemates.

"Well?" I asked.

"Well what?" Mick answered. I sighed.

"Well I am absolutely tired!" Amber exclaimed, stifling a yawn. "Goodnight Nina, Fabian. Come on Alfie. Mick." She grabbed the guys by their arms, dragging them from the room and shutting the door. I yawned as well.

"Do you want me to leave?" Fabian asked, noticing my tiredness.

"Don't you have to?" I replied. "It's almost curfew."

"Professor McGonagall convinced Madam Pomfrey to let me stay as long as you wanted me to. I don't have to necessarily go now. Plus, James and Rose know too, so I won't get detention if I wander into the common room at a stupid hour of the night."

"Well, in that case…" I trailed off, yawning again. He chuckled, squeezing my hand. He leaned in and kissed my cheek.

"I'm guessing you want me to stay, then," he smiled, pushing his chair closer to the bed. I nodded. "Good."

"How so?" Now I was confused.

"Because I didn't want to have to leave."

Making myself more comfortable, I noticed something. We were still in our school robes. Before I pointed this out, he gestured to the cabinet where my pumpkin juice was.

I peered over at it, noticing a blue T-shirt and a pair of blue, purple and green plaid bottoms neatly folded next to the goblet.

I guessed Fabian noticed me eyeing my pajamas, because he got up and left, closing the curtains around my bed so I could change. I told him when I was done, and he opened the drapes again, returning to his chair.

"You look comfortable," he said.

"And you're still in school uniform," I pointed out.

"Oh well."

We ended up talking for a bit about classes, our roommates, and anything else that came to mind. I mentioned how I still had my Herbology and Defense Against the Dark Arts essays to write, and he said he'd already done his, but had neglected to write his Muggle Studies paper.

"I could help you with your essays if you'd like," he offered.

"That'd be great," I said. "Thanks."

"Anything. Don't mention it."

We continued talking for another few minutes until I started yawning again. I noticed my eyelids were getting heavier, and then, realizing how tired I was since the events at dinner, ended up falling into a very peaceful sleep.