40
As the murkiness slowly cleared from her thoughts, and Cassandra became
more aware of her surroundings and the noises in the infirmary, she could
feel eyes on her, although hers were still shut. Although it didn't feel
unfriendly, her inner alarms went off and she quickly decided to see who
was there.
To her surprise, it was Professor Dumbledore who stared down at her with great sad eyes, no chance of a twinkle remaining.
"Ah, Cassandra. I see that you have chosen to rejoin us. How pleased I am at your choice."
Coming from Professor Snape, the comment would have sounded snide and condescending, although this man seemed genuinely concerned and happy to see her. How she wished it was her Head of House beside her bed, NOT the headmaster of the school. Instinctively Cassandra made to sit up and pay attention, only to find the room lurched dangerously and black spots suddenly danced before her. Closing her eyes, she slowly moved to lay her head back on the pillow.
"Stay down, child. no need to get up on my account. Tell me, how ARE you feeling? You've been through an ordeal, but I give you all my accolades for saving Severus. Professor Snape as you know him. He is truly as a son to me, and I am in your debt. Even a wizard is no match for public transit, you know." With that, Dumbledore did allow a brief, melancholic smile to cross his face, but upon seeing Cassandra's reaction to his last statement, it was gone as soon as it had arrived.
"But I am sorry to bring that up, dear child. Clearly a painful and frightening memory for you. So how are you feeling?" He questioned for the second time.
It took a few moments for Cassandra to decide exactly what she was feeling and where. finally she spoke.
"My entire body is in pain, sir. and I feel that my life is threatened being here. He is in the castle, and he wants me dead. I am afraid.. I am so tired, why do I get dizzy so quickly?"
"I will get Madame Pomfrey to administer some pain numbing potions and salves. You were poisoned while in that Muggle hospital, Cassandra, and Professor Snape has just now gone to brew you a potion to counter-act the effects. It may take a day or so more, so you need to remain as quiet as you can."
Cassandra took a moment to absorb this information. "That nurse, she was a wizard in disguise. the last thing I remember is that nasty laugh, and ."
She suddenly shot out of the bed. "Where is Draco? I need to talk to Draco now!"
Professor Dumbledore went to take her hand, but Cassandra was too willfull to allow it.
"Where. Is. He?"
"Cassandra, Draco is, well quite simply, he is gone now." So is it true, then?? Professor Snape, is it true that Draco is dead? That he killed himself in my own room?
"I feel you should speak to your Head of House about this matter, and he is indisposed working on an antidote poison for you right now. Try and rest until he can get here to speak with you. Sleep well, Cassandra.." With that, Professor Dumbledore rose from the bed to leave, then turned and drew his wand, mumbling 'Somnia' as he did so. The world went dark around the girl and she knew no more.
Well there you go, gang. I always wanted to use that particular Tolkien line, so I did. quick question - was anyone else disappointed by the OOtP? Three years of waiting, and only 4 really good chapters.???? Maybe I've simply been spoiled by exceptional FanFic.sigh..
To her surprise, it was Professor Dumbledore who stared down at her with great sad eyes, no chance of a twinkle remaining.
"Ah, Cassandra. I see that you have chosen to rejoin us. How pleased I am at your choice."
Coming from Professor Snape, the comment would have sounded snide and condescending, although this man seemed genuinely concerned and happy to see her. How she wished it was her Head of House beside her bed, NOT the headmaster of the school. Instinctively Cassandra made to sit up and pay attention, only to find the room lurched dangerously and black spots suddenly danced before her. Closing her eyes, she slowly moved to lay her head back on the pillow.
"Stay down, child. no need to get up on my account. Tell me, how ARE you feeling? You've been through an ordeal, but I give you all my accolades for saving Severus. Professor Snape as you know him. He is truly as a son to me, and I am in your debt. Even a wizard is no match for public transit, you know." With that, Dumbledore did allow a brief, melancholic smile to cross his face, but upon seeing Cassandra's reaction to his last statement, it was gone as soon as it had arrived.
"But I am sorry to bring that up, dear child. Clearly a painful and frightening memory for you. So how are you feeling?" He questioned for the second time.
It took a few moments for Cassandra to decide exactly what she was feeling and where. finally she spoke.
"My entire body is in pain, sir. and I feel that my life is threatened being here. He is in the castle, and he wants me dead. I am afraid.. I am so tired, why do I get dizzy so quickly?"
"I will get Madame Pomfrey to administer some pain numbing potions and salves. You were poisoned while in that Muggle hospital, Cassandra, and Professor Snape has just now gone to brew you a potion to counter-act the effects. It may take a day or so more, so you need to remain as quiet as you can."
Cassandra took a moment to absorb this information. "That nurse, she was a wizard in disguise. the last thing I remember is that nasty laugh, and ."
She suddenly shot out of the bed. "Where is Draco? I need to talk to Draco now!"
Professor Dumbledore went to take her hand, but Cassandra was too willfull to allow it.
"Where. Is. He?"
"Cassandra, Draco is, well quite simply, he is gone now." So is it true, then?? Professor Snape, is it true that Draco is dead? That he killed himself in my own room?
"I feel you should speak to your Head of House about this matter, and he is indisposed working on an antidote poison for you right now. Try and rest until he can get here to speak with you. Sleep well, Cassandra.." With that, Professor Dumbledore rose from the bed to leave, then turned and drew his wand, mumbling 'Somnia' as he did so. The world went dark around the girl and she knew no more.
Well there you go, gang. I always wanted to use that particular Tolkien line, so I did. quick question - was anyone else disappointed by the OOtP? Three years of waiting, and only 4 really good chapters.???? Maybe I've simply been spoiled by exceptional FanFic.sigh..