Clementine flew up the stairs of the school and into the infirmary. Her heart pounding hard in her chest. Arms feeling numb as she carried the limp Violet into the room. She saw Duck lying motionless on the ground, Madam Pomfrey torn to pieces in the corner, she shook her head as the unwanted images flooded her vision, clearing her thoughts and the room. The vision from her nightmares was replaced by a clean, sterile room. A new healer was busying herself, organizing medicines and rearranging furniture.
"Thank goodness!" Clementine gasped, laying Violet gingerly onto a bed, "I was afraid the new healer wouldn't be here yet. My girlfriend was cursed. I don't know what curse... help her... please." She looked up desperately as the new healer bustled over immediately. Waving her wand over the blonde. Clementine rubbed her arm unconsciously. The door to the infirmary opened up, Sophie and Brody helping a beaten Minerva hobble in.
"No! Get out of here!" Clementine screamed, stepping threateningly forward. Reaching for a wand that she only just realized she had left on the pitch. The healer's eyes widened, wondering what she had gotten herself into accepting this position.
"Have a seat dear, I'll get to you in a moment," The witch said, waving Minerva toward a hospital bed.
"Why did you bring her up here?" Clementine seethed, walking up to Sophie, fists clenched. Minerva flinched as she laid down on the bed next to Violet.
"She said she didn't do that to you or Violet, Clem... I believe her." Sophie looked into Clementine's eyes, standing between her and Minerva. "I can tell when she's lying."
Clementine growled in frustration, more angry now that she had no one to focus it on. The fear she felt over Violet's predicament was all the worse now that she didn't know who had caused it. She was hoping to beat the information out of Minerva, find out what spell she used. Now she was scared for Violet, with no one to blame but herself, no information on what happened and a new healer in charge that she didn't know if she could trust.
"If you aren't hurt, get out!" the healer yelled, startling the group. Sophie and Brody glanced at Minerva and she waved them out of the room, motioning that she didn't mind being left. Brody left, glancing sadly over at Violet as she went.
Sophie stopped next to Clementine. "We need to go." She reached for Clementine's hand, but Clementine pulled it away.
"I'm not going anywhere!" Clementine yelled, louder than necessary just as McGonagall walked in looking put out.
"Ms. Everett... The Head Boy has reported that an unauthorized duel took place this morning on the quidditch pitch. Unsurprisingly as of late you seem to have been involved..." McGonagall pinched the bridge of her nose as she talked. Clementine cursed under her breath. Stupid Gabe, can't keep his dumb nose in his own business. "I'm trying to be considerate of your situation... but we may need to start talking about the removal your Head Girl title." McGonagall looked pained to say it.
"You think I care about that title right now?" Clementine unpinned the badge from her chest and placed it in the Headmaster's hand. "Someone cursed Violet with something I've never seen before. If it wasn't Minerva then we have to find out who did it... You can have my badge, you can have my title. I don't care anymore. I'm tired of trying to impress everyone..." She walked over to Violet's bed and sat on the nearby chair, taking her hand and holding it, frowning at how cold it felt.
"She's right Headmaster... I've never seen anything like this before. The girl's stable now but we may want to get a healer in here that specializes in dark hexes and curses." The healer said, now fussing with Minerva's badly bashed in face.
"An investigation will be underway immediately." McGonagall insisted, turning to leave.
"Can I stay Headmaster McGonagall? With Violet?" Clementine asked, voice pleading. McGonagall looked from Clementine to Violet, she sighed before nodding and leaving the room, Sophie followed her out, glancing worriedly at her sister and Violet as she went.
Clementine spent all day by Violet's side with little to no change, but at least she didn't seem to be getting any worse. Her heart rate, temperature, everything was normal, she just would not wake up. The healer would shoo her away from time to time for an exam, but she never went further than the doorway. Clementine stroked her hair, "Vi... I'm so sorry I got you hurt... I should have listened to you." Clementine sighed, guilt settling in again like a long lost friend.
"Why do you keep talking to her?" Minerva grumbled, rolling over on the bed to face Clementine.
Clementine shifted in her seat to glare at the red haired girl whose face was all but healed now. "Because I love her."
"You've been talking to her all day and she hasn't responded once." Minerva sounded annoyed, "I'm trying to get some rest here."
"You look fine to me, why don't you go rest in your dorm?" Clementine shot back.
"The new healer lady said she'll release me around dinner time... which should be soon." Minerva sat up in her bed, turning so that her legs hung over the ledge. "Want me to... uhm... bring you something to eat?"
Clementine softened slightly, "...Thanks... but I'm not really hungry." Minerva shrugged, "Did you really not curse Violet?"
"No!" Minerva said firmly, looking straight into Clementine's eyes, "I swear, I mean, I tried to stupefy you, so she may have been hit with that mixed with something else?" Minerva stared at Violet's pale face, even paler than usual.
Clementine looked down, unsure, when the entire Gryffindor quidditch team came bursting into the infirmary. She was surprised to see a Hufflepuff boy following behind them. Sophie went to check on Minerva while Louis wrapped his arms around Clementine, pulling her out of her seat in a bear hug. "You're coming with us. We have quidditch practice."
Clementine shoved Louis away, a little rougher than she intended. "I'm not leaving this room."
Louis put his arm around her, pulling her to the side, away from the group. He whispered, "Do you want me to take over Captain duties until you're feeling up to it? We don't have another game until after Christmas, so we can manage without you for a while."
Clementine smiled, relieved, "That would be great Louis, thank you so much." She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. The infirmary door opened again, McGonagall walked in looking worn out and upset. Clementine's eyes focused on her for only a second before flitting to the three people behind her.
"No..." it came out as a breath, she pushed away from Louis, attempting to get as far away from the three people as possible, "No." she repeated, louder this time. Her friends all stood around, looking at her with concern, not understanding what was going on. Clementine's frantic mind raced as she backed up until she bumped into the wall. "nonononnono..." She repeated, not thinking clearly as the three figures approached her. The middle one a woman with a sneer on her face.
"Not so compliant this time hm?" She smirked at all the faces around her. "I knew we should have brought the dementor again..." Violet must have forgotten to mention the dementor when she told them what had happened because Clementine's friends sent one another worried glances at the mention of them. They knew Clementine had gone to Azkaban for a few days but as far as they knew dementors had been banned.
Clementine's breathing became irregular, her eyes darted around the room, looking for an escape. There was only one exit and it was blocked by the largest Auror. The woman Auror stepped forward, unfurling a scroll and reading "Clementine Everett, you have have been charged with the use of an illegal hex on one Violet Adlon. Your trial is scheduled for next week. You will spend the week in custody at Azkaban if you can not meet bail. If you do not have a magical defender, one will be provided for you." The Auror looked at Clementine, who appeared to only be half listening.
"V-Violet...? I didn't... I wouldn't..." Clementine said, heart palpitating wildly.
Headmaster McGonagall stepped forward, "What evidence do you have?"
The woman looked frustrated at having to explain herself, "You reported an unauthorized duel, Headmistress, a duel which resulted in the use of an illegal hex. Ms. Everett was involved in said duel. The medical reports that we received showed that Ms. Adlon was hexed from behind. Which is where Ms. Everett was reported to have been standing according to several witnesses."
"Witnesses? Who were your witnesses? I was involved and no one's talked to me yet." Minerva said in a hostile voice.
"We will talk to everyone in due time, for now we have enough evidence to make the arrest. Our witnesses are confidential. We can't reveal names to you." The Auror explained before looking pointedly at Clementine, "Bail is set at 5 galleons. Can you pay it?"
"I... I can't... I... don't have that much... I..." Clementine stumbled over her words, she was starting to feel light headed.
"Clem, I'll owl my dad, I'll get you the money okay?" Louis spoke up, determined to help his friend, "I don't have it with me, but I'll get it, I will."
"Then you will be spending the week in Azkaban." The Auror lady rolled up the scroll, "We'll be needing your wand for evidence and testing Ms. Everett." She held her hand out expectantly.
"I forgot it... on the quidditch pitch..." Clementine was monotone as she answered.
The Auror sighed at the inconvenience, "Fine, we will stop by the pitch on the way out." Then she nodded at the men behind her. They stepped forward, each grabbing Clementine by the upper arm and pulling her towards the door. The group watched in confusion, mouths agape.
"B-but... Violet..." Clementine fought against her captors. "I need to be here for her. I can't leave her!" Clementine ripped her arm away from the smaller of the two and elbowed him in the stomach, stomping hard on the bigger ones foot. Her arm was freed, she took a step away and crumpled to the floor. The woman stood in front of her, wand out, bored expression on her face.
"Just grab her and let's get out of here." She said, already walking out the door. The large Auror picked up Clementine with ease, holding her over his shoulder like a sack. Her hat tumbled to the ground.
"Hey, be careful you big...you big brute!" Louis yelled after him, picking up her hat and holding it against his chest. Silence filled the room as everyone stood shocked, no one really knowing what to do as the Aurors left followed by a fuming McGonagall.
When the door shut Minerva started applauding. All the Gryffindors plus James looked over at her. "Well done Gryffindors, what are you known for? Bravery was it? Good job standing there doing nothing while your 'friend' got dragged away terrified."
Louis glared, "I don't have time for this, I'm going to owl my dad." Louis set the hat down next to Violet's bed and hurried out the door, followed closely by James.
Becca stepped closer to Minerva, arms folded, "What were we supposed to do? Those were Aurors, magical police, we can't fight the police!" Minerva didn't back down but stepped closer.
"Stop you two. I'm afraid... I'm afraid I might know who did this..." Mari spoke, barely above a whisper. Her eyes were on Violet, as if she couldn't tear them away, haunted by the injured girl in front of her. "My brother... Gabe... he's a Hufflepuff and the Head Boy... He was really angry that Clementine had been less involved with their duties lately. He kept saying he was going to do something. Spent hours in the restricted section of the library doing research. I never thought he would, he's always just been a big talker. I should have said something. I'm so sorry."
"Come on!" Ruby grabbed Mari by the wrist, "We're goin' to talk to McGonagall right now!" Almost everyone left the room, leaving only Violet, Minerva and Sophie in the room with the healer who seemed relieved to have everyone gone.
"Thanks for trusting me Soph... even after everything I've done." Minerva said, sitting back on her bed and grabbing her sister's hand.
"You've done some horrible things." Sophie stared at Minerva, "I mean, some really horrible things." Minerva rolled her eyes, "but you wouldn't go this far... this is... this is scary..." Sophie's face dropped moving away from her sister and sitting next to Violet. "Do you think she'll be okay?"
"Honestly? I think you should be more worried about Clementine right now..."