Chapter Fifteen
"She still not back yet?" Hermione asked, looking up at Harry.
The tired boy shook his head.
It was the next day and still there was no sign of Gwen.
Harry kept thinking to himself, if he'd been quicker than maybe he could have stopped her. But there was no point in wondering about "ifs" now.
What had Gwen been thinking?
"You know whose fault this is?" Ron said, digging his spoon into his porridge.
Everyone turned to look at him, half knowing his answer.
Ron shook his head and flicked his head towards the Slytherin table and a certain pale-faced boy.
Hermione stared hard at the boy and mentally began flicking through curses in her head.
"Malfoy," Harry spat, clenching his fists.
This was all his fault.
***
Draco sat coolly, thinking about the incident at the lake.
He was hardly aware of the glares that he was being given from the Gryffindor table but then again when did he ever take any notice of them.
After he and Potter had stood at the water's edge for 20 minutes waiting for Gwen to come back up, they'd both gone to see Dumbledore and explain to him what had happened.
Of course, he'd made up some cock and bull story about Gwen wanting to meet him at the lake and that he had no idea why she'd jumped into the water.
Dumbledore was sceptical of the story and Harry was quick to point out the truth but still he'd managed to escape expulsion due to the assurance of Snape and his father, who was called that morning that he was being honest.
She deserved it though, Malfoy thought to himself.
But the image of Gwen crying seemed to pierce his heart and he slammed his fist onto the table in frustration.
Goyle and Crabbe who were sitting nearby, looked over with mild concern but seeing that their leader was in one of his moods, carried on stuffing their podgy faces.
***
Dumbledore sat at the head table, thinking about how to proceed on.
Gwen had been gone for nearly 12 hours and he'd been reluctant to send anyone down in case she was to resurface again.
But it seemed that after breakfast he would have to call upon his friends, the merpeople and ask them to search for her.
Also the growing conflict between Gwen and Malfoy was concerning him.
At present it was at a controllable stage but when Gwen had her wand, he feared for Draco's safety, he had heard the stories about the dark impulses that lurked in a merlin's mind.
Also, with these dark forces at work and Gwen being so close to a follower of them, she had a greater chance of slipping towards evil and that was something that the magic world could not afford.
As soon as Gwen comes back and regains her voice, this feud is going to be stopped, he thought to himself.
Now if only Gwen would come back.
***
At that precise moment, no sooner had the thought appeared in his head then there was a slow, squishing noise, just outside the door.
"Who's there?" Dumbledore bellowed and everyone froze, watching the entrance.
The massive oak door creaked open and everyone waited baited breath to see who it was.
A large head poked round the door and everyone recognised Hagrid instantly.
There was a round of disappointed sighs and everyone went back to their breakfasts and morning gossip.
"Wonder what Hagrid wants?" Harry said quietly, still peering at the giant.
"Well come in, Hagrid," McGonagall called, looking a little annoyed at the disruption that the groundskeeper had caused.
"Umm.I need 'ter speak with Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid replied, looking serious.
"You can come in and speak to him, can't you?" McGonagall said, her thin lips crunching up.
"It's just that.," Hagrid started.
"Come in, Hagrid," McGonagall said loudly, indicating with her cat like eyes that she didn't want any arguments.
Hagrid sighed and walked in slowly. As he did it became obvious why he'd needed to speak to Dumbledore.
Lying in his arms, looking pale as death was Gwen. She was drenched, her wet hair plastered against her skin.
The room fell silent again which seemed a regular occurrence ever since Gwen had arrived at the school.
Harry and Draco's eyes went immediately to the unconscious girl and the same thing ran through their heads, I have to talk to her.
McGonagall gasped and stood up quickly, "don't just stand there, Hagrid. Get the girl to Madame Pomfrey!"
Dumbledore also rose and walked quickly, following the large figure out.
***
"Oh I'll need this," Maggie said, grabbing a bottle of bat wings off the shelf.
"We don't have all day," Alfred said, shaking his head.
"Keep your hair on," Maggie said, still gazing at her shelf.
"We're going for 2/3 days not a lifetime," Alfred added, looking increasingly annoyed.
"You have to be prepared."
"We need to leave now!" Nancy shouted, running into the kitchen, her hair blowing wildly.
"Not you too," Maggie said, closing her bag.
"No. I've just had an owl from Dumbledore. It's Gwen," the old woman said, breathing heavily.
Flashes of Victoria Aldan, William Arthur and Simon Lark passed through Alfred's mind and he prayed that the girl wasn't going to end up like them.
He couldn't live through that again.
***
Gwen lay motionless on the bed, dry but not safe yet.
She'd been freezing when she'd come into the hospital wing even worse then when she'd been cursed in the quidditch match.
Alfred, Nancy, Maggie, Dumbledore and Arabella stood round the girl's bed, waiting for something to happen.
"Well she wake up?" Maggie asked, a lump in her throat.
"It's hard to tell since we don't know what happened to her down there," Dumbledore replied.
"Have you not spoken to that merwoman friend of yours?" Figg asked, gazing at the old wizard.
"I did but she will only say that the merlin will tell us in good time," Dumbledore answered, shaking his head.
"How annoying," Figg said to herself.
Nancy watched the girl and saw the small cuts on her arms and face. She could feel the tears building in her eyes and turned away before they could fall.
"How did this happen?" Alfred said forcefully.
Dumbledore looked at his old friend and explained the situation with Harry and Draco.
"And you believe a Malfoy?" Alfred said, disgust in his voice.
"I have no choice. Lucius is still in a position to hurt us so attacking his son is not wise."
Then there was rush of loud voices from outside and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle all stormed into the hospital wing.
"What is the meaning of this?" Figg shouted, glaring at the students.
"Sorry professor," they chimed back.
"We just wanted to check on Gwen," Hermione said sincerely.
Harry looked at the girl on the bed and he felt a pang of sympathy for her and more hatred for Malfoy.
"Yes, professor. I wanted to see if Gwen was ok after that night, I was so concerned," Draco said sweetly, smiling the smile of a snake.
The trio all shot a look of contempt at Draco and his blatant lie but still Malfoy remained calm.
"Thank you all for your concern. But Gwen, as you can see is not awake yet so it would be best if you returned to your houses," Dumbledore said softly.
They all nodded and began to file out.
I'm waiting, Gwen, Draco thought to himself. His hand sprang to his wand momentarily; it was itching to be used.
"Are you Draco Malfoy?" Alfred asked suddenly.
He'd been watching the smarmy blonde since he entered the room and it made his flesh crawl knowing that he'd been the cause of Gwen's suffering.
Draco stopped and turned to cast an eye on the large man.
Must be an uncle or something he thought to himself.
"Yes, I am," Malfoy said proudly.
"So you have no idea why this happened?" Alfred continued.
"No, sir," Draco replied, looking as innocent as an angel.
Alfred nodded and then walked slowly up to Draco and leaned in close to whisper, "if I find out your lying, boy. There'll be hell to pay." And he squeezed the boy's shoulder firmly to indicate that he was being serious.
Draco felt fear rise in his throat but held it down, forcing himself to smile and walk away.
"What did you say to him?" Maggie asked, casting a suspicious eye on her brother.
"Just telling the boy a few things," Alfred replied, grinning to himself.
But all were then distracted by Nancy, who had seated herself next to the bed.
She suddenly looked very animated and happy in spite of the tears running down her face.
"Now, now, Gwen," Nancy said, patting the girl's hand, "it's your birthday soon so you'd best wake up, ok?"
The old woman then leant forward and kissed her gently on the forehead feeling the coldness of the girl's body.
An image of golden curls filled her head and William Arthur ran happily through his mother's thoughts.
Nancy could feel herself crumbling and prayed that history was not going to repeat itself.
She couldn't bear it if she lost another child to the dark side.
"She still not back yet?" Hermione asked, looking up at Harry.
The tired boy shook his head.
It was the next day and still there was no sign of Gwen.
Harry kept thinking to himself, if he'd been quicker than maybe he could have stopped her. But there was no point in wondering about "ifs" now.
What had Gwen been thinking?
"You know whose fault this is?" Ron said, digging his spoon into his porridge.
Everyone turned to look at him, half knowing his answer.
Ron shook his head and flicked his head towards the Slytherin table and a certain pale-faced boy.
Hermione stared hard at the boy and mentally began flicking through curses in her head.
"Malfoy," Harry spat, clenching his fists.
This was all his fault.
***
Draco sat coolly, thinking about the incident at the lake.
He was hardly aware of the glares that he was being given from the Gryffindor table but then again when did he ever take any notice of them.
After he and Potter had stood at the water's edge for 20 minutes waiting for Gwen to come back up, they'd both gone to see Dumbledore and explain to him what had happened.
Of course, he'd made up some cock and bull story about Gwen wanting to meet him at the lake and that he had no idea why she'd jumped into the water.
Dumbledore was sceptical of the story and Harry was quick to point out the truth but still he'd managed to escape expulsion due to the assurance of Snape and his father, who was called that morning that he was being honest.
She deserved it though, Malfoy thought to himself.
But the image of Gwen crying seemed to pierce his heart and he slammed his fist onto the table in frustration.
Goyle and Crabbe who were sitting nearby, looked over with mild concern but seeing that their leader was in one of his moods, carried on stuffing their podgy faces.
***
Dumbledore sat at the head table, thinking about how to proceed on.
Gwen had been gone for nearly 12 hours and he'd been reluctant to send anyone down in case she was to resurface again.
But it seemed that after breakfast he would have to call upon his friends, the merpeople and ask them to search for her.
Also the growing conflict between Gwen and Malfoy was concerning him.
At present it was at a controllable stage but when Gwen had her wand, he feared for Draco's safety, he had heard the stories about the dark impulses that lurked in a merlin's mind.
Also, with these dark forces at work and Gwen being so close to a follower of them, she had a greater chance of slipping towards evil and that was something that the magic world could not afford.
As soon as Gwen comes back and regains her voice, this feud is going to be stopped, he thought to himself.
Now if only Gwen would come back.
***
At that precise moment, no sooner had the thought appeared in his head then there was a slow, squishing noise, just outside the door.
"Who's there?" Dumbledore bellowed and everyone froze, watching the entrance.
The massive oak door creaked open and everyone waited baited breath to see who it was.
A large head poked round the door and everyone recognised Hagrid instantly.
There was a round of disappointed sighs and everyone went back to their breakfasts and morning gossip.
"Wonder what Hagrid wants?" Harry said quietly, still peering at the giant.
"Well come in, Hagrid," McGonagall called, looking a little annoyed at the disruption that the groundskeeper had caused.
"Umm.I need 'ter speak with Professor Dumbledore," Hagrid replied, looking serious.
"You can come in and speak to him, can't you?" McGonagall said, her thin lips crunching up.
"It's just that.," Hagrid started.
"Come in, Hagrid," McGonagall said loudly, indicating with her cat like eyes that she didn't want any arguments.
Hagrid sighed and walked in slowly. As he did it became obvious why he'd needed to speak to Dumbledore.
Lying in his arms, looking pale as death was Gwen. She was drenched, her wet hair plastered against her skin.
The room fell silent again which seemed a regular occurrence ever since Gwen had arrived at the school.
Harry and Draco's eyes went immediately to the unconscious girl and the same thing ran through their heads, I have to talk to her.
McGonagall gasped and stood up quickly, "don't just stand there, Hagrid. Get the girl to Madame Pomfrey!"
Dumbledore also rose and walked quickly, following the large figure out.
***
"Oh I'll need this," Maggie said, grabbing a bottle of bat wings off the shelf.
"We don't have all day," Alfred said, shaking his head.
"Keep your hair on," Maggie said, still gazing at her shelf.
"We're going for 2/3 days not a lifetime," Alfred added, looking increasingly annoyed.
"You have to be prepared."
"We need to leave now!" Nancy shouted, running into the kitchen, her hair blowing wildly.
"Not you too," Maggie said, closing her bag.
"No. I've just had an owl from Dumbledore. It's Gwen," the old woman said, breathing heavily.
Flashes of Victoria Aldan, William Arthur and Simon Lark passed through Alfred's mind and he prayed that the girl wasn't going to end up like them.
He couldn't live through that again.
***
Gwen lay motionless on the bed, dry but not safe yet.
She'd been freezing when she'd come into the hospital wing even worse then when she'd been cursed in the quidditch match.
Alfred, Nancy, Maggie, Dumbledore and Arabella stood round the girl's bed, waiting for something to happen.
"Well she wake up?" Maggie asked, a lump in her throat.
"It's hard to tell since we don't know what happened to her down there," Dumbledore replied.
"Have you not spoken to that merwoman friend of yours?" Figg asked, gazing at the old wizard.
"I did but she will only say that the merlin will tell us in good time," Dumbledore answered, shaking his head.
"How annoying," Figg said to herself.
Nancy watched the girl and saw the small cuts on her arms and face. She could feel the tears building in her eyes and turned away before they could fall.
"How did this happen?" Alfred said forcefully.
Dumbledore looked at his old friend and explained the situation with Harry and Draco.
"And you believe a Malfoy?" Alfred said, disgust in his voice.
"I have no choice. Lucius is still in a position to hurt us so attacking his son is not wise."
Then there was rush of loud voices from outside and Harry, Ron, Hermione, Draco, Crabbe and Goyle all stormed into the hospital wing.
"What is the meaning of this?" Figg shouted, glaring at the students.
"Sorry professor," they chimed back.
"We just wanted to check on Gwen," Hermione said sincerely.
Harry looked at the girl on the bed and he felt a pang of sympathy for her and more hatred for Malfoy.
"Yes, professor. I wanted to see if Gwen was ok after that night, I was so concerned," Draco said sweetly, smiling the smile of a snake.
The trio all shot a look of contempt at Draco and his blatant lie but still Malfoy remained calm.
"Thank you all for your concern. But Gwen, as you can see is not awake yet so it would be best if you returned to your houses," Dumbledore said softly.
They all nodded and began to file out.
I'm waiting, Gwen, Draco thought to himself. His hand sprang to his wand momentarily; it was itching to be used.
"Are you Draco Malfoy?" Alfred asked suddenly.
He'd been watching the smarmy blonde since he entered the room and it made his flesh crawl knowing that he'd been the cause of Gwen's suffering.
Draco stopped and turned to cast an eye on the large man.
Must be an uncle or something he thought to himself.
"Yes, I am," Malfoy said proudly.
"So you have no idea why this happened?" Alfred continued.
"No, sir," Draco replied, looking as innocent as an angel.
Alfred nodded and then walked slowly up to Draco and leaned in close to whisper, "if I find out your lying, boy. There'll be hell to pay." And he squeezed the boy's shoulder firmly to indicate that he was being serious.
Draco felt fear rise in his throat but held it down, forcing himself to smile and walk away.
"What did you say to him?" Maggie asked, casting a suspicious eye on her brother.
"Just telling the boy a few things," Alfred replied, grinning to himself.
But all were then distracted by Nancy, who had seated herself next to the bed.
She suddenly looked very animated and happy in spite of the tears running down her face.
"Now, now, Gwen," Nancy said, patting the girl's hand, "it's your birthday soon so you'd best wake up, ok?"
The old woman then leant forward and kissed her gently on the forehead feeling the coldness of the girl's body.
An image of golden curls filled her head and William Arthur ran happily through his mother's thoughts.
Nancy could feel herself crumbling and prayed that history was not going to repeat itself.
She couldn't bear it if she lost another child to the dark side.
