Blinded
Chapter Three
Draco remained in the Great Hall until nearly all of it's students had retired to their dorms. Finally, when he rose from the dinner table, he took one sweeping look at the Great Hall.
The tables were clear and as shiny as unblemished glass, and there was a soft breeze rippling through a distant window. Draco sighed. Indeed, he was grateful to have escaped his father, but Hogwarts wasn't the best either. His father knew where he was, Voldemort knew where he was. He could be easily cornered at any time.
Shaking off the fresh wave of paranoia, Draco strode to the Entrance Hall. He began walking to a dark wooden door opposite the staircase. Before he could reach the entrance to the dungeons, he caught a glimpse of a crumpled body upon the first landing.
Draco rushed to the side of a small girl's body of someone he didn't know from the distance. Brushing her soft hair away from her face, he realized in horror who the victim was. She was unconscious.
He tilted her face to the light. The soft flicker of a flame danced across her face causing Draco to gaze upon her for longer then he should have. Her face was lifeless, but she was breathing. Draco scooped the body of the injured girl into his arms and carried her swiftly up the Grand Staircase. All the while, he couldn't help but notice how easily she fit into his arms.
There were voices, a few of them. The sounds echoed across the walls of the large room reverberating in the mind of Hermione Granger. She couldn't yet understand what they were saying, but each spoke with a tone of sorrow in their voice. Hermione couldn't understand why because a sharp pain behind her eyes forced all other thought from her mind. She waited silently and motionless for a few minutes until she could hear and comprehend what the voices were saying.
"Minerva told me that he carried her up here immediately after he found her on the staircase. As noble as it was, it certainly doesn't rule him out as a suspect. With his father and all—"
"I agree Poppy, but you never know, he could have witnessed it as well. Has he been questioned about it?"
"Oh yes, in fact, I believe he's in Albus' office right now. If he really was the one who cast the spell, the Albus will find out."
"But that was difficult Dark Magic performed on the girl. How could someone of his age accomplish such a terrible curse?"
"Look at his family. It wouldn't surprise me if—"
The first voice hushed the second, which Hermione recognized as Madam Pomfrey, the school nurse. "Such things shouldn't be discussed at such times or in such places! Although Harry Potter named his father as a Death Eater last summer doesn't mean his son follows that path."
Silence followed. Hermione was utterly confused. She didn't remember how she got here, except for the memory of a strong pair of arms lifting her up. But that was it. She didn't understand anything the voices were saying. The sound of Madam Pomfrey's voice broke the silence, causing tremendous pain behind Hermione's eyes.
"It's after midnight, shouldn't the boy be let to his dormitory until tomorrow? He has to wake for classes tomorrow you know."
"Yes, but considering the circumstances, Albus wouldn't let him go. Like you said, because of his father, Albus might consider the possibility of an attack from someone outside the school."
"Outside the school? But how? The grounds are well protected. No one can enter Hogwarts unnoticed."
"It's happened before. Remember? Four years ago when Sirius Black escaped? He entered undetected. But there are ways, ways that I cannot even fathom. Secret passages and such. You never know with Hogwarts, or when you're meddling with Dark Magic."
Suddenly two pairs of footsteps entered the room. One with long and broad strides, and another that seemed to be having trouble keeping up.
"What's this about?" a man asked, but Hermione couldn't tell who.
"Miss Granger has been attacked Severus. As I was trying to explain to you on the way up here, she—"
"Yes, I understand one from my own house was the one to discover her. Why wasn't I notified immediately? And where is he now?"
"With Albus, but—"
"I'll be on my way there then." The man replied.
"Severus wait!"
"Just let him go Minerva, I wonder what's gotten to him though. He seems to be acting strange lately."
"Yes," replied who Hermione recognized as Professor McGonagall, "he's been that way since the end of last term." McGonagall sighed and walked towards Hermione's bed. Each step sent incredible pain through her eyes, in which she hadn't even tried to open yet. From what Hermione could gather, her body didn't suffer much injury other then unbelievable pain on every inch of herself.
McGonagall's steps drew nearer. They stopped close to the foot of Hermione's bed, while McGonagall's eyes scanned and studied her body. Everyone fell silent.
"Should we wake her? I've got an Awakening Potion if needed," Madam Pomfrey said, splitting the quiet. She approached the Professor with concerned eyes. "Shouldn't she know what happened?"
"No." McGonagall replied simply. "She's been through enough tonight. The pain of reality will be more agonizing then the physical pain she carries now. Let her sleep before she knows the truth. She should be up by tomorrow morning."
Hermione unwillingly closed her eyes, wanting to hear everything that she could. Yet, her exhausted body and mind took her to another world, void of pain and suffering.
Author's Note I hope you liked this chapter, it's been awhile since I've updated. I know it's short, but I promise that the future chapters are longer. Keep reviewing!! :)