#

"Winifred! Winifred!"

She heard a voice calling her through the black. It was distorted and she couldn't tell who it was. She heard music, also distorted and faint. 'Raven hair and ruby lips, sparks fly from her fingertips'.

"Winifred!" the voice called again, louder than the music. "Exscreo!"

Water surged from her lungs and she began to cough. The music faded as her vision cleared and Snape's worried face appeared from the darkness. She continued to cough and rolled onto her side as she expelled water from her lungs. Then she heaved and puked up a stomach full of water.

"Easy, Winifred, you're okay," Snape said as she continued to retch but nothing came up. She saw blood dripping onto the tile floor. She touched her nose gingerly and sat up with a groan. She felt him drape something around her and she realized she was naked. She pulled his cloak around her body, feeling herself blush.

"Wh- wh-" she tried to ask but her teeth were chattering.

"You're okay," Snape said. "You're okay, you're okay."

He kept repeated it and Freddie wondered who he was trying to convince, her or himself.

"I-I'm okay," she managed finally, and looked past him to see Geck's body on the floor. "Geck!"

She jumped up and tried to rush over, but Snape held her back.

"He's alive," he said, blocking her and holding her by the shoulders. "Unconscious. He attacked you?"

"Y-yeah. While I was reading. He...he said...for Daniel," she said, feeling herself start to shake.

"Okay. Okay, you need to get to the Hospital Wing," he said. "Can you get dressed?"

"Wh-no-I-"

He pulled out his wand and with a flick of his wrist he magicked her clothes back onto her.

"Come," he said, taking her arm.

"N-no, I don't want to go to the Hospital Wing," she said, digging in her heels.

"Winifred, your nose is broken, you cracked your skull, you nearly drowned-"

"I don't want to get in trouble!" she exclaimed, her voice cracking.

He stopped and looked at her, surprise evident on his face.

"You aren't going to get in trouble, Winifred. He attacked you," he said, still holding her arm.

"What if they don't believe me? They didn't believe me before, everyone thinks I killed Daniel, I-"

"Winifred, trust me. No one is going to-"

The bathroom door opened and Dumbledore came in, followed by a frantic-looking McGonagall. Moaning Myrtle floated in the corridor right behind them.

"Severus! What- what happened?" McGonagall asked as Dumbledore walked over to Geck and examined him.

"Nathan Gecker attacked Miss Gray while she was in the bath," Snape said, unable to keep the anger out of his voice.

"But – why?" McGonagall asked.

"Minerva," Dumbledore said, straightening up. "Take Mr Gecker to the Hospital Wing."

"But-"

"Now, please, Minerva," he said calmly.

McGonagall pulled out her wand and with a flick of her wrist levitated Geck's body and left the bathroom.

"Are you alright, Miss Gray?" Dumbledore asked, turning his piercing blue gaze on her.

"I'm fine," she mumbled.

"She is not fine," Snape protested. "She almost drowned! She'd be dead if I hadn't-"

"Severus," Dumbledore said, holding up his hand. "Do you know why Mr Gecker attacked you, Miss Gray?"

"He said..." Freddie swallowed before continuing. "He thinks I killed Daniel. Like everyone else."

Dumbledore continued to stare at her a moment. Freddie wiped the blood from her nose and wiped her hand on her shorts, wincing slightly.

"Severus," Dumbledore said finally. "Take Miss Gray to the Hospital Wing and get her cleaned up. I will deal with Mr Gecker when he wakes up, after I fetch Professor Flitwick."

"Yes Headmaster," Snape said, taking Freddie's arm again.

"Wait," she said, pulling away. "My book!"

She hurried across the room and got the Book of Potions from where she'd thrown it. She was pleased to see it was unharmed.

"Come on Gray," Snape said, putting a hand on her arm and leading her out of the bathroom. "Your nose is bleeding."

He paused on the stairs. He picked up the end of his cloak which was still wrapped around her. He wiped her face with it gently, then pressed it to her nose.

"Hold this here until we get to the Hospital Wing," he said softly. She nodded and covered his hand with hers. His hand lingered on her chin a moment before he let it fall.

They continued down the stairs together with Snape keeping a hand on her arm. Freddie was still reeling from everything that had happened.

"I don't understand," she said as they walked down another flight of stairs. "Geck – he – we were friends. I can't believe he – we used to play Quidditch together, used to study together, the three of us, I don't..."

"Don't worry about it, Gray," Snape said soothingly. "Dumbledore will take care of it."

"I just don't understand," she said, shaking her head, then sucked in a breath through her teeth as she found it hurt to move her head. Snape squeezed her arm lightly in what she took to be a reassuring manner.

"...How did you find me?" she asked after a minute. "If you hadn't – if you hadn't pulled me out of there..."

"A ghost found me. Moaning Myrtle," he said. "She heard the attack."

Attack. I was attacked, she thought, the realization giving her pause. Snape stopped when she did and put his hand on her back.

"Come on, Gray. Let's get you cleaned up," he said softly, stroking her back slightly. She nodded and winced again in pain. Snape moved his hand up to her shoulder and let her towards the Hospital Wing.

#

Freddie sat perfectly still on the hospital bed while Madam Pomfrey tended to her wounds. Snape and McGonagall were across the room, having a whispered conversation. Snape kept glancing at her and finally he shook McGonagall off and walked back over to her side.

"How is she?" he asked Madam Pomfrey.

Freddie opened her mouth to say she was fine but nothing came out.

"A broken nose, fractured skull, a few bumps and bruises," Madam Pomfrey answered. "I'll have her fixed up, right as rain, in just a moment."

The nurse pulled out her wand and pointed it at Freddie's face. Freddie flinched and Snape put a hand on her shoulder.

"Episkey," the nurse said and Freddie felt a sharp pain in her nose. She couldn't help but let out a whimper and Snape squeezed her shoulder lightly before letting go.

"I'll get you a potion for your head, then I need to keep you here overnight for observation," Madam Pomfrey said to her.

Freddie didn't react. Snape touched her cheek briefly as the nurse walked away. He dropped his hand then picked up a bowl of warm water Madam Pomfrey had left on the bedside table. He squeezed out the rag and began to clean the blood from Freddie's face. She met his eyes – they looked brown and soft in the light of the lanterns, but there was also a glitter of anger. He finished cleaning her face gently, then put the rag aside.

"Winifred, I-" he began but broke off as the doors to the Hospital Wing opened and Dumbledore walked in, along with Professor Flitwick. Snape stood up.

"Excuse me, Winifred," he said and strode across the room. He followed Dumbledore and Flitwick behind the curtains of Geck's bed.

"Here we are, dear," Madam Pomfrey said, appearing with two goblets. "I've got a potion for your skull fracture and a Calming Draught – I think you're in a bit of shock."

The nurse put one of the goblets in her hands. Freddie looked at the goblet then looked towards the curtains where Snape had vanished. She could hear them talking in hushed voices.

"-not good enough, Albus, I want him expelled!" Snape's voice shouted.

"Oh for goodness sake," Madam Pomfrey said. "Drink that, dear."

Madam Pomfrey bustled off and disappeared behind the curtains. Freddie drank the potion and within seconds her head started to feel better. She listened, trying to hear what was going on across the room. They were all whispering except for Snape.

"He could have killed her, he meant to kill her! If I hadn't-"

"Enough, Severus," Dumbledore said loudly, but his voice was calm. "Professor Flitwick is his Head of House, not you."

"No but I am hers," Snape said angrily. "One of my students was attacked! I won't stand for it! I want him dealt with!"

"He will be," Dumbledore said firmly. "By myself and Professor Flitwick. Not by you."

"I-"

"That's enough!" Madam Pomfrey said loudly. "This is a Hospital Wing, a place of healing. If you can't lower your voice, Professor Snape, I'm going to have to ask you to leave."

Snape stormed out from behind the curtains, his face red with anger. Freddie jumped slightly as he stomped over to her, yanking the curtains around her bed. He picked up the goblet of Calming Draught and took a sip before handing it to Freddie, taking the other empty goblet from her.

"Drink that," he said irritably, sinking into the chair beside her bed.

She nodded obediently and drank the potion. She watched him rub his face with one hand, like he was trying to wipe away his anger. He dropped his hand and saw her watching him.

"Lay down," he snapped, then softened his tone. "Get some rest, Gray. You'll be okay."

"Thank you," she said softly as she lay back on the pillow. He said nothing but watched her until her eyes closed and the potion carried her off to sleep.

Author's Note: I couldnt leave yall hanging too long after that last chapter! Getting some more typed up now. Also totally unrelated but yours truly is in an absolutely FANTASTIC mood becauuuuuse...my best friend got me and her tickets to see My Chemical Romance in September at a two day music festival in Atlanta! I am so excited, I feel like a teenager right now (I am 26)! lol