Chapter 16

Soft

Draco was slowly moving towards me. I could hardly see him. My knees slowly gave way, and I began to slide down the wall. I heard someone running towards me. The voice that spoke to me was so soft and pleasant that I didn't want it to leave me. I felt a cold hand upon my cheeks.

"Hey what's wrong with you? Natalie? Natalie?" I felt as if I was flying. Someone was carrying me, but I couldn't see whom. I tried to turn but a sharp pain spread upon my entire body. I couldn't hold out a shout. The pace quickened almost to a run.

"Mr. Malfoy what are you doing here?" A high pitched voice reached my ears. It rang through my head.

"She's hurt." I felt the soft pillow under my head, and his hand slowly slipped away from under me.

"Mr. Malfoy I would like you to leave!"

"But..."

"No buts Mr. Malfoy. You should go." I heard the heavy doors closing and scratching of shoes on the stone floor. I was once again in the desert with a man walking away from me. I saw the sand rising over him and a loud screech escaped my lips.

My eyes flew open. It was dark and quiet. I looked around the room. There was no one there.

"Hello?" I asked. My voice was raspy. I tried to get up, but the pain that penetrated my body made me change my mind. Suddenly the door squealed open. I pretended as if I was asleep, but to my surprise there was no one there. I raised to my elbows and looked around.

"Glad you're awake." Someone whispered and Harry, Ron, and Hermione appeared before me.

"You mastered the invisibility potion already? For how long was I out?"

"It's just my old clock. You've been out since yesterday. No one is allowed to visit you until you're awake."

"We had to see you," said Hermione.

"What happened anyways?" Ron looked at me worried.

"Did Snape do something to you?"

"It's like you said Harry; Snape wouldn't do anything stupid. Remember?" Harry's eyes flashed with rage.

"What did he do? I'm going to kill him."

"Don't worry about it; he didn't hurt me intentionally. He tried to read my mind to find out the truth about what happened last night, and where I was. I didn't want him to because I lied to him anyways, so I blocked my mind pushing him out of it. Somehow I ended up in his, he also pushed me out and I fell to the floor. I think I broke my ribs."

"You could block him out?"

"Ya, I learned...I forgot the name! Well, I learned it from the neighbor. He was this old guy that didn't have any kids. I wanted to help him out. He was really great. He taught me everything I know about magic." It was kind of painful to speak. I was lacing air and my breathing was irregular. Hermione closely observed me, and it was as if she read my mind.

"I think we should go back," she said and grabbed the invisibility cloak.

"Why?" Harry and Ron protested.

"Let her rest! Can't you see that she wants to be alone? Seriously, you two need to get some open eye and observe people more carefully. Now come on!" Within moment they disappeared and left the chamber. I once again found myself enveloped in the darkness that slowly creped into me. I was getting scared and wanted to go back to sleep, but I couldn't. My mind was wide-awake and had many things to work out. The chaotic mess within my head did not let me concentrate on a single thought, so I lay staring into the white ceiling that seemed to flow above me.

"Did you hear about Professor Snape?"

"Can you imagine such a thing?"

"How terrible! He was my favorite teacher!"

"Oh come on it can't be true!"

"What are you talking about? Are you saying that the potion professor raised his hand on a student? Who do you think you're talking with? I'm not a fool!"

"That's what I heard."

"Give me a brake!"

"No way!"

"You're joking?"

"Stop your foolishness!"

"Professor Snape attacked a student!"

"He's probably a Death Eater!"

The Great Hall was full of such remarks. Everyone knew about the attack in the potion's class, but no one could believe that the attacker was Professor Snape. Harry, Hermione, and Ron sat at the Griffindor table and gloomily looked into their plates.

"This is impossible!" Hermione said angrily. "How could Malfoy say such a thing?"

"I just want to beat the crap out of him!" Ron exclaimed.

"It won't be pretty!" Harry remarked. "I think that Malfoy had nothing to do with this. He didn't tell anyone about anything."

"Why do you think that?" Hermione asked a bit puzzled.

"Because he would never admit that he helped Natalie get into the Hospital Wing. He's not a sentimental guy, even if he was he would not tell it to anyone."

"You're right! But who can it be?"

"There must have been someone else in that room."

"Ya but who?"

"Come on you guys we have potions right now. Maybe we'll get something out of it." Ron said grabbing his books and rising up.

"Oh look it's the red head, scar face, and a mudblood! What a wonderful combination!" Malfoy was standing before the trio arms crossed, smirking.

"Get lost Malfoy!" Ron spat out. His hair was standing on ends, his fingers were tightly held in a fist, and his face became red.

"Leave him be!" Hermione whispered and reached for his hand. She slowly opened his fingers and slipped her hand within his, carefully turning him away from the blond boy.

"She's right Ron. We better go." Malfoy reached for Harry's robes and held him very close to his face.

"I better not hear that you're spreading rumors about Natalie and me! I don't associate myself with such filth as the Weasleys." He whispered through clenched teeth.

"Then you have nothing to worry about!" Harry got free from Malfoy's hold and turned to his friends slowly heading to the dungeon.

"What did he say?" Hermione asked curiously.

"Nothing. Now, I'm positive he didn't say anything."