A/N: Thank you, Sugar Quillow, for your review! And yeah, I'd kinda noticed some of those things myself. Lately I have been wondering if she was a bit of a Mary-Sue, so I'm gonna tweak her character a little. When I ended the first book I realised how vague she is, and tried to add a little more in the second book, but I think it'll be third-fourth book before it improves, sorry about that :p

And yes, next time I have several fillers I'll combine them into one chapter, that's a great idea! Thanks again for the advice, and here's three more chapters for you- bringing us to the end of this book! Eek!

Chapter Twenty

Compassion

Another month passed. Esme no longer visited the hospital wing; she didn't want to tell her friends that she'd blown it. That they would stay asleep until, finally, they could survive no more. Every night she sobbed into her pillow; her grades fell as she grieved. Not just for the friends she did have, but for the friend she could've had.

Then, on the fifteenth of May, the same woodpecker arrived with another note from Euan. She read what it said; it was only short.

Meet me ASAP. Same place

-Euan

Knowing she had nothing to do but another day of torturous lessons, and wondering what he had to say, Esme made her way down to the forest immediately. He was waiting there, perched on his horse, looking hot and bothered; she sat on the swing and looked up expectantly.

"Esme, I'm sorry. You were right to yell at me like that. You were right, full stop. I've been thinking about it... I'll free your friends."

Esme gazed at him in astonishment. "You will?" she asked, jumping up and clapping her hands, "That's great!"

Euan nodded miserably. "But I'll be in trouble, wont I? With your school and your ministry?" Esme shrugged uncomfortably.

"I'll stand up for you," she told him. "They'll have to trial you first, and I'll ask if it can take place at Hogwarts. Then I'll defend you. I wont let them take you away, I promise."

Euan nodded, looking slightly relieved. "Do we go now, then?" he asked, sliding off his horse and patting its flank. Esme nodded, and he sighed, running a hand through his horse's mane one last time.

"Good-bye, Shahzad. I'll be seeing you soon, boy."

And then, giving a stony nod to Esme, the two of them walked out of the forest and towards Hogwarts. More students were in the hallways, and people were pointing and staring, whispering to their friends. Esme ignored them, her chin high, and led Euan straight to the hospital wing. Euan saw all the people he had cursed- eight in total- and paled slightly. Then he assumed a stony expression and walked over to Rose, who was closest. He pressed two fingers to his wand tip, then to his lips, and then Rose's forehead. The girl started, her eyes opening; colour rushed back into her skin. She saw Euan and screamed; Esme rushed forwards to comfort her friend.

"Calm down, Rose, it's alright; Euan wont hurt you!" she cried. Rose relaxed, sitting up in bed and looking around the hospital wing.

"How long have I been here?" she asked wearily.

"Well, it's the fifteenth of May, if that answers your question," Esme told her, trying to suppress a giggle at Rose's horrified look. She then swore, and Esme could not help but giggle; meanwhile, Euan had woken the boy named Scorpius. The Malfoy boy was staring around in surprise.

"It's May? Already? Geez, how long have I been asleep?" The Slytherin was obviously confused, as he seemed to be talking to Rose, which couldn't be right; Albus had told her Rose and Scorpius hated each other with a passion. Esme saw Euan making his way over to Grace, and raced over, sitting on her friend's bed. Euan woke Grace easily; the girl's midnight-blue eyes flickered open. They immediately landed on Esme, and she grinned.

"Wish I'd seen that coming," she said with a grin, sitting up. "How long have I been unconscious?"

"Five months," Esme told her; Grace didn't seem troubled by this, though.

"Oh well; maybe they'll let us off our exams this year?" Esme grinned.

"Maybe."

By now, Euan had woken all the other victims; they were all looking around them in confusion, stunned at how long they'd been asleep. Just at that moment, the doors were flung wide, and Professor McGonagall entered the room. Her eyes rippled over all of them, and landed on Euan.

"Have I been informed correctly?" the head asked, "Are you the one cursing our students?" At this, Euan nodded. McGonagall frowned. "Come with me. You too, Miss Morris. You have some explaining to do."

Exchanging a frightened glance with Grace, Esme slid off the bed and followed Euan and McGonagall out of the room. If there was one thing she was going to b in, it was trouble.

xXx

A/N: Only two more chapters to go; I'll upload them straight after this one, promise! And, thanks again to Sugar Quillow for your advice!

Oh, I forgot the disclaimer; Harry Potter doesn't- gasp!- belong to me!

And please vote on the poll on my profile!

-Invisi