AN: Ok…chapter 5…nothing special…yea…just read it. I'm bad at summaries.

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When I woke up again, it was dark. Very dark. Now would be the perfect night to escape from life and from wherever the hell I was. I tried to sit up, but couldn't. My muscles wouldn't respond and my vision was still horribly blurry. But I was able to see enough of my surroundings to know that I was in the Hospital Wing.

Turning to my right, I saw someone asleep in a chair next to my bed. I couldn't distinguish who it was, so I just lay in bed. I stared up at the ceiling, wishing my family would come back to me.

"Come back!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, which wasn't very loud at all; it was just a very loud hoarse whisper. The only thing that happened took place in the chair by my bed. I turned to see who it was.

I screamed.

It was Uncle.

"Shhh…" He said in a voice so unlike his own. "Don't yell. You'll wake up the other residents. Does anything hurt?" He had gotten up from the chair and was standing over me.

"You will be in a minute if you don't leave."

Why won't he leave? If only he had found me a few minutes later in the bathroom. I would've been dead by then.

He looked down at me with his dark eyes so similar to my own. For a moment, I thought he might leave, but I should've known better. Uncle Severus isn't one who would give up that easily.

"Did you mean what you said?" He asked, sitting back down. "Last week when I asked you if you wanted to die…"

He's so stupid! I almost burst out laughing. "Of course I meant it. The whole world hates me…my only living family hates me…even people I don't know hate me! They killed Maurice…" I glared at him. "They killed my poor cat with your book."

His expression didn't change. "I-I never knew. If you had told me-" "You wouldn't have given a shit about him." I interrupted. But as I stared at his saddened face, I felt the tiniest bit of guilt rise in the pit of my stomach.

"It was you, wasn't it?"

He must've been the one who was so concerned about me. He must've been the one who stayed near me when I nearly died, although I wasn't too happy about that. He did look different than usual. Had he stayed with me the whole time?

Did he really love me?

Probably not. He just wanted to look good, having a niece in a coma and all, who wouldn't visit.

He looked as if my question had hurt him. His eyes seemed to say 'who else would have stayed with you?' 'Why would I have left you?' Then, slowly, he nodded his head.

"Yes." He spoke so I could barely hear him. "I found you almost dead in your room. I stayed with you ever since then. I never left your side."

I didn't understand? Why would a man who hated me so much want to stay with me?

"B-but you hate me…" I whispered so he had to have his ear practically in my mouth to be able to hear me.

His eyes widened. For about five minutes we stayed like that, just staring at each other. Then I saw something I never saw before on his face. Sadness.

And then he rose from his chair. Probably to get away from me. So I was right after all.

Or not.

He returned a moment later with Madame Pomfrey. "Are you alright, dear?" She asked worriedly. "Does anything hurt?" I nodded. "My wrists." A shiver ran up my spine at the mention of my wrists, which were each marked with an 'X'.

"I should clean the bandages again. I'll be just a minute." And she disappeared through the curtains that were drawn around my bed.

Uncle didn't say anything to me.

When Madame Pomfrey came back and said she had to take the bandages off, I screamed and tried to fight, but my body was too weak. I had lost too much blood, so finally, exhausted; I let her remove them without a fight. It was very painful. The bandaged had torn off the fresh scabs and I howled with pain. But nobody did anything to help.

Once Madame Pomfrey had applied fresh bandages to my wrists, the pain stopped almost instantly, although my wrists still tingled. "Severus," She said to Uncle. "You need to sleep. I'll watch her."

Uncle shook his head. "I'm staying right here." He said in a low whisper. Madame Pomfrey shook her head. "You need sleep! Look at you. You have bags the size of Hogsmeade under your eyes. Go to your own bed and get a good night's sleep. I promise I'll have you woken. Please."

Uncle was stubborn, but after a while, he left silently. Once he was gone, Madame Pomfrey turned to me. "You need to sleep too. You've lost a lot of blood and I'm not letting you out until it's all fully regained. Is that clear?" I nodded as she handed me a potion. I didn't care what it was. I drank it slowly. At first, nothing happened. But when I was about to ask why it wasn't working, I drifted off to sleep.

***

I don't know how long I slept, but when I woke, I could see properly. There were no blurs or anything. I was all alone. I smirked; this could be my time to escape.

But all plans of escape quickly faded when Madame Pomfrey came in looking very happy. "You're recovering very well, dear." She said, placing a tray of food on the table next to my bed. "You must be hungry. I'll be back in a bit. I just have to tend to Longbottom's burn. That boy is always in here…day after day."

I was hungry. Starving, actually. To my good fortune, I was able to sit up without falling and could easily manage a bowl of oatmeal. In no time, the bowl was empty and I was lying down, bored out of my mind. Madame Pomfrey returned, frowning. "I bet you that Longbottom'll be back tomorrow." She said with a chuckle. "You have a visitor."

I scowled. I knew who it was.

Well, at least I thought I did. It wasn't Uncle.

Madame Pomfrey picked something up off the ground. Leaning closer, I saw a tiny gray ball of fur. When it was placed in my arms, I heard it purring. A kitten! I couldn't help but cry at the memories of Maurice, but still, I was glad to have someone to talk to.

"Who's it from?" I asked, grinning like a fool. Madame Pomfrey shrugged. "I don't know. He was left in a basket. The card read 'to Yelena', but that was all."

I looked the kitten in his golden eyes. He reminded me of something…those eyes were very familiar. They were the same eyes the elephant picture had! But naming a cat 'Elephant' is silly, isn't it? I shrugged. No one else would really care about me, so I guess Elephant was a suitable name.

"Hey Elephant." I said into his fur. Elephant purred like mad, rubbing his head against mine.

I spent the next hour talking to my kitten. He always responded with a meow or some sort of action. He's adorable! Madame Pomfrey didn't like the idea of me having a cat, but she let him stay. He'd nap on the windowsill just above my head, sometimes jumping down onto my lap.

A couple of days went by and lots happened. My darling little Elephant had gained my trust, and would never dare venture more than a foot away from me. Madame Pomfrey had removed the curtains, seeing that I was almost as healthy as I had been before. I never got any visitors.

The days were long and boring. The only entertainment I had was Elephant and the book Madame Pomfrey had taken out of the library for me. It was about all the wizarding schools in the world. It wasn't really interesting, but I didn't have anything else to do.

Longbottom had showed up twice in the time I was awake. He was rather clumsy, always spilling potions or something. He'd blush and grin at me while Madame Pomfrey removed the hex or whatever he had done to himself.

After another few days, life got rather boring in the Hospital Wing. Until one night when I was having a hard time sleeping…

"Hurry up. Careful! Don't hurt her!" It was Dumbledore.

Madame Pomfrey ran to see what was going on. "Quiet! You'll wake-" She stopped abruptly. "Oh my god…"

I couldn't see anything but three pairs of some damn feet, due to the fact that I had to keep my eyes mostly shut. I didn't want anyone to know I was awake. I find out more this way.

"What happened to her?" Madame Pomfrey asked, her voice sounding very faint. I heard the noise of curtains closing. Knowing it was safe, I opened my eyes and sat up. The six feet were visible under the curtains.

"We found her like this on the floor. She must've been on her way to the Great Hall. I heard a trumpet just before I reached her. I knew there wasn't anything I could do for her. It's the mind-lock curse." Dumbledore's voice seemed tired.

Madame Pomfrey gasped. "But…but how? No student, not even Granger, could perform the mind-lock. It's very advanced magic, not to mention it's also dark magic." She took a deep breath. "And whoever it was, why would they attack a teacher?"

I didn't understand. What was the mind-lock curse? Who was attacked? What was going on? Elephant stirred and meowed up at me. "Shh…" I whispered. "Or whoever's in there will have my head." Elephant seemed to understand. I made a mental note to myself; 'Look for any female teachers that missing.'

I do hope it was Trelawny. She might have predicted it. So it was now, what, three true predictions of hers? I grinned.

"There's nothing we can do for her just yet. If…If…" Madame Pomfrey couldn't get the words out. "If she survives the first few days, she'll probably survive until we find a cure…if there even is one."

"I'll be staying with her." Dumbledore said. "Keep everyone away from here." Madame Pomfrey nodded and ran out quickly, sobbing quietly. The other person muttered something and left. Dumbledore was alone with whoever it was that got attacked.

I stayed awake for hours, waiting for nothing at all. I just hoped Dumbledore had fallen asleep. As quiet as possible, I swung my legs over the side of the bed. When I stood, they were very shaky, not being used for who knows how long. After finding my balance, I crept over to the bed with the closed curtains. It was at the very end of the hospital.

I put me ear against the curtains, trying to hear any signs of movement. Fortunately, I didn't. Slowly, I pulled the curtains open just enough for me to see.

I nearly screamed.

Lying in the bed was Professor McGonnogall. I was surprised that I recognized her. It was rather frightening. Her eyes were wide open and had rolled back into her head, so only the whites were showing. Her mouth was hanging open a bit and her skin had turned a dull, waxy gray. Her hands were clenched tightly into fists and I saw a thin trail of blood running onto the blankets.

Her face kept twitching and it looked she was dead if you didn't see her chest. Her heart seemed to be racing, but it was weird. Her stomach looked as if it was caving in. Her ribs were popping out and I saw her heart very clearly. I shut the curtains and crept back to my bed, afraid I'd be sick.

I lay awake for hours, not being able to find sleep. The sight of McGonnogall haunted my mind. Even Elephant had seemed upset.

***

I woke up so suddenly I wasn't aware that I had fallen asleep. Madame Pomfrey was shaking me gently.

"Wha…?" I said groggily. She had a smile upon her face. "I've permission to release you." Thank god…I thought happily, grinning. "But there's something else. Dumbledore would like to tell you himself."

I must be in trouble. What did I do? Was it about my attacking a prefect? He deserved every bruise I gave him!

Dumbledore walked up to my bed from McGonnogall's. He looked very tired, but he smiled at me. "You've made an amazing recovery, Yelena. I am very surprised at what you've done you yourself and have put someone through a lot of anguish. He didn't want to live either. He blamed himself for your mistake.

"As Madame Pomfrey may have told you, you will be released today, but with one condition. You will never go anywhere alone accept your room, which has been removed of all the thing we believe you might use to hurt yourself again. Your Uncle is willing to make this commitment. But are you?"

I shivered. I never had hated Dumbledore, but I wasn't very glad to see him right now. But before I could stop myself, something crazy popped out of my mouth.

"What happened to McGonnogall?"

Dumbledore's face turned white as chalk and he looked at me like I was You- Know-Who or a dementor or something like that. I wanted to punch myself for asking. How could I be so stupid? Now I'll never be released!

But Dumbledore wasn't angry. To my surprise, he smiled at me.

"Seeing that you know something happened to her, you must have heard everything." I nodded. Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Professor McGonnogall is in a terrible state. You must've heard she is under the influence of the Mind-Lock curse. Well, you must be wondering what it is.

"The Mind-Lock curse is a curse that can only be performed by an extremely skilled wizard. One who is skilled with the dark arts. It is a very powerful dark curse. I have to admit even I do not have the power to perform it, although I would have no reasons to do so. It is a curse that literally locks the person inside their mind. But it is not that simple. Once someone is subjected to the curse, the brain does strange things. I don't exactly know what, nor do I believe you should know."

I stared at him, my mouth hanging open. I was shocked. There was someone walking around the school trying to curse, maybe even kill, people randomly. Or was there a reason?

"You can leave now." He said, his smile fading. "I will escort you to the Great Hall. It is almost time for dinner." I shrugged, sitting up in bed and taking me robes off the bedside table. I closed the curtains and got dressed. My legs were still wobbly, but I could manage.

After making sure my bandages were firmly secured to my wrists, Dumbledore and I headed out with Elephant trailing close behind.

This isn't going to be fun at all…