A/N: I've finally reached about 38 reviews! Thank you so much for reading and reviewing my story! It means so much to me.
Disclaimer: I own everything that sucks.
Chapter Nine~ Strange Markings
The usual peppy group of Seventh Year Gryffindor's sat in the library one evening, unusually quiet. The sudden mood swing all had to do with the missing Head Girl that had been in the Hospital since last Saturday.
It was now Thursday.
Lily Evans was in the Hospital Wing, in a special bed that was in a room off of the Hospital Wing that no one used unless it was an emergency. This of course, was a huge emergency. Lily hadn't come out of her a coma since the Quidditch game and Madam Pomfrey wasn't sure if she was ever going to wake up again. And if she did wake up, how her condition would go.
* * * * * *
"Minerva?" a crisp voice said, interrupting the lecture Professor McGonagall was giving her class of sixth years about essay writing.
"Poppy! How can I help you?" Professor McGonagall asked, surprised to see the school nurse in her Transfiguration class.
"I think you might want to cancel your classes for the rest of the day. There is something you might want to see," Madam Pomfrey said, giving Professor McGonagall a pointed look. "It's about Miss Evans."
"Oh! Yes, of course," Professor McGonagall said in a shocked and worried voice. Turning to her class she said, "This class is canceled for the rest of the day. Miss Fawcet? Please leave a note on my door explaining all Transfiguration classes are canceled? Thank you."
And with that quick note, Professor McGonagall joined Madam Pomfrey in the Hospital Wing.
* * * * * * *
"What is so important, Poppy?"
Madam Pomfrey stopped at the door of Lily's room and whispered, "Miss Evans is awake."
"That's wonderful!" McGonagall said. "Is she okay? Is her memory still intact?"
"Yes, everything's find. Until I found a strange marking on her body."
"What kind of marking?" Professor McGonagall asked suspiciously.
"It's a small tattoo of the dark mark, or that's what it looks like at least," Madam Pomfrey said gravely. "It's on the right side of her collarbone. My guess is that the Bludger that hit her was erm, -meant- for her… if you catch my drift."
"You honestly think someone cursed it?"
"I do indeed," Madam Pomfrey said.
"Do you think you could get it off her body?"
"There is an antidote for it, but it costs about twelve thousand galleons. The school doesn't have that kind of money for just one child."
"I understand," Professor McGonagall said, "Let's go see her."
* * * * * *
"That's odd, why is McGonagall's class canceled?" Sirius asked, confused as the group of Seventh Year Gryffindor's and Hufflepuff's met at the door of the Transfiguration classroom. "I saw her at breakfast this morning."
"Maybe she's sick?" a Hufflepuff said.
"She seemed fine last night at my meeting with her," James said, tears in his eyes. Usually he would go to the meeting with Lily but last night he had to go alone.
Vivian put a hand on his shoulder, "It's okay, James."
"Wouldn't she have announced at breakfast that classes were canceled?" Remus asked, stepping aside for some Gryffindor Sixth Years to pass.
"She left during our class," one of the Sixth Years called back to him as they overheard what Remus had said.
"Why?" Remus called back.
"Madam Pomfrey came to get her because of-" but they never knew why because the boy got caught up in the traffic of the halls in Hogwarts.
The group of Gryffindor's looked at one another.
"You don't think…?" Peter asked.
"There's only one way to find out," Gabby said. And with that they all dashed down the stairs, headed for the Hospital Wing.
* * * * * *
"Five days? I've been out for five days?" Lily cried, shocked.
"Yes, Miss Evans. But for all of your friends it seemed longer," Professor Dumbledore said, chuckling. "They'll be happy when they find out you're awake."
"LILY!" six voices chorused together as they entered the room. Their timing couldn't have been more perfect.
Before Lily knew it all of her friends had taken her into a hug.
"Be careful!" Madam Pomfrey cried, "Don't hurt her!"
But the Seventh Years didn't listen. All they cared about at that moment was that their Lily was awake. When the hugging was done, Madam Pomfrey spoke again.
"I think it would be best if you all left and let Lily have-"
"Now Poppy let them stay for a little bit," Dumbledore said. "We can talk to Lily later. Come, we can discuss the matters in your office Poppy." And with that the three adults left the room, leaving the group of seven together again.
"How are you feeling, hun?" Gabby asked, sitting down on one side of Lily, Vivian taking the other.
"Good. I'm really sore though, and my collarbone's broken."
"Will you be able to play Quidditch soon?" Vivian asked.
"Soon enough," Lily said smiling. "I'll have to miss some practices and the next game against Ravenclaw, though."
"Take all the time you want," James piped up, "I want my star Chaser to rest."
Lily blushed at James' comment. Last she knew her and James weren't speaking to each other.
"So you and I are okay then?" She asked.
"Better than okay," James said and took her into a hug, and kissed her on the cheek. "I'm sorry for being a git."
"Hey, we all do it," Lily said, smiling as he released her. "Did we win the game?"
"Yup!" Sirius cried smiling. "Kyle caught the snitch soon after you were taken off the field."
"Well that's good," Lily said smiling. "What else happened while I was out?"
"Nothing," Remus said, shrugging. "We were all too worried about you to do anything else."
"Aw, you guys are so sweet," Lily smiled.
A knock on the door signaled the group it was time for them to leave.
"We'll come visit you after lunch," Peter said; and with that they all took her into another hug and then left. As they exited, the three adults entered the room again.
"Lily, we have something to tell you," Professor Dumbledore said. "Earlier when you woke up and Madam Pomfrey was giving you a physical, she found something on your collarbone."
"What is it?" Lily asked.
"A small tattoo of the dark mark," Dumbledore said somberly. "Our guess is that the Bludger that hit you was supposed to hit you and it gave you that tattoo. Unfortunately now, Voldemort now knows all about your history and your parents' history. He even knows where you live."
"You have to tell them to move!" Lily cried, tears springing to her eyes.
"We have sent them an owl but we'll have to wait for a reply," said McGonagall.
"How can we make Voldemort stop going after them? Can we remove the mark? I'll go into surgery if I have to!"
"We can remove the mark with a special lotion, but unfortunately it costs a lot of gold and the school doesn't have that kind of money to use for one special case."
"Oh," Lily said, tears sliding down her cheek. "Will you tell the others for me? I don't think I can. And I don't know if I want to see them tonight."
"We understand, Miss Evans," Professor Dumbledore said. One by one, each adult hugged the young girl.
They slowly exited the room, leaving Lily alone, to cry by herself.
Leaving Lily alone in the room, to cry by herself.
