Chapter 14:
Emma ran across the common room and into her mothers arms. "Your alright they said you left the hospital. We didn't know what was going on."
"I'm sorry hun. I wake up in the hospital and panic once a realized where I was. I had to get out of there and find out if you girls were OK!" Hugging Emma and kissing her head.
Emma looks up at her mom "You don't remember what happened mom?" Emma asks.
Misses cardigan frowns down at the daughter "do you know hun?"
Emma bites her lip turning to glance at Hermione and Ginny who are standing behind them by the stairs. She turns back to her mother. "there's been some rumors going around not that we believed any of them." Emma replied knowing that her mother doesn't believe her.
Her mother lets it slide. "so where's your sister? Is she busy studying?" Miss Cardigan says sitting on the couch.
Emma hesitates for a moment not sure what to tell her. Emma sits down on the couch beside her mother. "There's been a bit of an accident, we don't know what happened but she won't wake up."
Miss Cardigan stands up quickly just as Harry enters the common room. Emma makes no motion that she notices his presents as he walks past the couch smiling at Ginny before heading for the boys dormitory. Miss Cardigan looks around sniffing the air "Has your father been around too?" She asks looking at Emma.
Emma shakes her head "No mom, we haven't seen him since we left for school.' She says getting up 'Come on I'll take you to Julia." Heading for the door of the common room leading her mom to the hospital wing.
Upon entering the wing miss cardigan rushes to the side of Julia's bed. "oh hunny" brushing the hair out of Julia's face. Their mom notices the cuts on Julia's arms that are above the sheets. "what is going on… what is happening to my family?"
Just then Snape comes rushing in "Elizabeth I heard you were here."
"Severus you promised they would be safe here. You and Septimus both promised me!" Miss Cardigan says rushing to Severus
"Elizabeth calm down…" Severus starts but miss Cardigan cuts him off
"Look at Julia, she looks like she got into a fight. This is Julia we are talking about. Neither of my girls get into any kind of trouble at the other school. We got to get the girls out of here!" Miss cardigan says.
"Mom I'm not going anywhere, I like it here." Emma says from Julia's side.
"You girls are coming home with me in the morning.' her mom says without turning to Emma. 'there's no talking about it."
"Mom you don't understand I can help stop this if we just stay a little longer." Emma says.
"Your sister is unconscious; shes got cuts all over her arms and your telling me you want to stay here?" Her mom says.
Emma opens her mouth to speak but snap holds up his hands. "OK OK…. Well talk about this in the morning. This is to much to take in at one time. Come with me." Snape leads miss Cardigan and Emma out of the room and to bed.
The next day Emma walks into the grand hall with her mom at her side. As she gets closer to the group she notices Harry sitting next to Ginny again. She stops just behind Harry greeting everyone. "Hey guys this is my mom, mom this is Hermione, Ron, Harry and Ginny" She introduces everyone before the two of them sit down to eat. Hermione and Ron say hello while Harry just gives a little nod. As miss cardigan sits down she once again gets a swig of her husbands scent.
Miss Cardigan doesn't eat anything she just kind of pokes at her food with her fork. Everyone up to this point had stayed quiet before Hermione speaks up "So you own a book store?"
Miss Cardigan looks a little surprised at the question. "well yea. Its mine and my husbands. We opened it when the girls were little, they always like to hang out in it when after school."
Emma blushes a little "oh mom,' she says covering her face a little. 'her store is the most popular on the street. Mom does a little reading corner for the little kids in the neighborhood very afternoon."
Miss Cardigan smiles "you and your sister loved those little reading sessions to you know.' She says frowning a little 'Who's been looking after the store in my absence do you know?' She asks turning to Emma 'Has Narcissa and Luscious been tending to it.?"
Emma hesitates not sure what to say at first not exactly sure if it has actually been cleaned up after the incident . "No they just decided to shut it down for the time being." Emma says to her mother.
Her mother smiles changing the subject "I'm so happy you and you sister are making friends here. I know its hard to start at a new school after so many years at another place." She says giving her daughter a hug.
Hermione smiles "Yes its been great having Julia and Emma here this year.' She says avoiding a confused look from Ron. 'We've been trying to make them as comfortable as possible."
Ron opens his mouth to add to the statement when he jumps away from the table falling to the ground beside the table. Hermione and Emma sit there confused as they watch him freaking out looking around him like he is surrounded. "Get away, get away." Hermione walks around the table "Ron what is it?"
"Don't you seem them, they are everywhere' Ron replies backing up until his back is against the wall. 'They are everywhere."
Hermione walks over to him as others in the room start to laugh at Ron 'nothing is there hun' she says placing a hand on his shoulder making him jump so more "Come on get up."
Harry gives a laugh covering his mouth as Ginny gives him a weird look "That is your best friend you know!' she whispers to him 'This is not like you Harry!" She says as miss Cardigan looks around confused leaning over to Emma "Is this some kind of joke?"
"Why don't you go find uncle Snape mom? I'll meet you with you later.' Emma says leading her to the grand hall doors and watching her walk away before coming over to Ron and Hermione "Is he OK?"
Ron frowns again as Emma speaks "don't you see them," he says pointing to the ground around him 'there's spiders everywhere."
This just makes the laughter in the grand hall get louder. Hermione and Emma both frown as Hermione speaks "Ron there is nothing there come on lets get out of here" she says reaching out to help him up.
"But they are right there' he says pointing once more as he get up and stops 'wait they were right there!" he says.
"Sure they were Ron, come on" Hermione says. As the trio and Emma head back to the common room. Ron trying to get her to believe him the whole time before resting on the couch pouting.
"Guys think about this;' Emma says once they are settled. 'this is exactly what happened to Julia a couple weeks ago remember?' she starts 'She thought she was drowning and trying to get out of a pool that wasn't there.'
Hermione nods "yes" she says "but Julia ended up spiting up water and being wet.' She says 'we have no prove that Ron actually saw the spiders."
"Come on' Harry finally speaks up 'we all know that Ron is terrified of spiders what else could it have been' he replies
Hermione nods "true true." She says sitting behind Ron "Sorry I didn't believe you hun."
Emma starts to pace "Yea, OK; but what does this all mean?' She says without stopping. "To prove that 'he who must not be named' can do whatever he wants with any of us? I mean he is giving Julia the cuts from who knows where. Then she has her greatest fear come true. Then its Ron's turn."
Harry gets up stopping Emma "Even if that is what he is doing we have got to be smart about this.' He says sounding like himself for the first time in a while 'we can beat whatever he throws at us!"
"But we have to be more ready next time.' Hermione states. 'we know I hate flying, and Harry greatest fear is to have someone else he loves die.' She pauses 'what about you Emma?"
Emma stays quiet for a while before speaking up. "My fear would be to not be able to find my way out of the darkness. Like being surrounded by smoke and not knowing what way was up." Normally Harry would have wrapped his arms around her at a moment like this, or that is what she would have like him to do. But she know what was not likely.
Hermione nods "OK, we all have to be careful now. I know it could happen at any moment but if anyone notices anything unusual let the others know right away."
Miss cardigan came across Snape in his potions class room mixing something up. "Is that for Julia?" She asks into the silent room.
Snape doesn't look up from what he is doing "Been trying to find something that would take care of those cuts." he says.
"I'm surprised she didn't come to you already about them." miss cardigan replies coming into the class room and walking to the front desk.
"She is so like her father.' He says looking up 'do you really believe that? Emma perhaps but not Julia. I'll be surprised if she even told Draco."
Miss cardigan sits on one of the front desks. 'I guess your right' she starts 'is Draco here I haven't seem him yet' she asks.
"He is away from the school at the moment.' Snape answers pouring the last of his cauldron into a bowl. 'come on lets go see your daughter." Miss cardigan nods following Snape out of the room and to the hospital wing. As the enter they find a bunch of nurses around Julia's been and Julia laying there wide eyed.
"mom" Julia says seeing her mother and Snape enter the room.
"oh baby' her mother says running to the side of the bed to hug her.
Julia wines a little at the hug 'watch the chest mom it hurts." she says.
"Oh hun I'm so sorry.' her mother says sitting on the bed beside her 'What happened sweet heart?" she asks moving some hair out of Julia's eyes.
Julia frowns trying to remember "I was walking back to the Gryffindor common room and suddenly my chest hurt and I just blacked out." Julia says looking between her mother and her uncle.
"you were found by one of the ghost,' he uncle says 'what were you doing alone in the halls.' He asks.
"I don't remember,' she replies looking at her mother 'I didn't mean to scare you.'
"It's alright baby' her mother states 'I just wanted to know you two were OK." her mother frowns a little 'what's with all the cuts Julia?"
"just a spell gone wrong mom' she says trying to be convincing 'nothing to worry about."
Her mom smiles "you could have gone to your uncle for help you know" she says running a finger over Julia's knuckles.
Julia looks over at her uncle trying to read his face. Though it was blank she know he figured out where the cuts were coming from. "Mom I'm 15 years old. I can handle things myself you know."
Her mom holds up her hand 'OK OK… can't blame me for asking!" she says with a little laugh.
Snape steps forwards "Here lets try this on those cuts of yours.' He says setting the bowl on the table beside the bed and taking a bit with a spoon and spreading it on her arm. 'hows that feel?" He asks.
"it stings a little but that usually means it working right.' Julia answers. 'when can I get out of here.' She asks.
"Hunny you just woke up you need time to rest" her mom answers a little worried
Julia rolls her eyes "come on mom iv been out for what two days' Julia asks but continues without waiting for an answer 'iv rested enough."
"Well your going to stay here for at least the day,' her mom says sternly. 'no argument. I'm going to go get your sister." Her mom says getting up.
"Mom wait' Julia says sitting up but regretting that right away 'don't bug her, shes probably in class." Julia states.
Her mom hesitates before laying down beside Julia on the bed. 'OK it will just be us two for right now." She says.