Disclaimer: I don't own a single thing!

Note: So now I think we can jump into action, finally. Please note that this chapter contains some violence, as may the next one, if ever I get to write it next to my normal job. So if you are extremely sensible of violence (there's not sooo much in it!), you might want to not read it...

Chapter Three: The Blindfold Jinx

All the lesson Amy tried to stay away from her fellow students. She didn't really want to see somebody, she wanted to hide away and cry her eyes out. In some distance she heard Professor Kettleburn shout: "All right, you can stop searching the Bowtruckles, the class is over. Go back to the castle for your next class please."

She didn't want to go back up to the castle, to see even more pupils. All her classmates were way out of sight, and for once she was even happy not to see Charlie. Suddenly she thought she heard a rustle of footsteps somewhere behind her. Before she could even turn around, the forest vanished from her sight and she was pushed forwards, deeper into the Forbidden Forest.

Amy stumbled and tripped over some roots and fell. She cried out in pain when her knees and her palms were scratched deeply by stones on the floor and her robes tore. Her arms stretched out, she felt her way through the forest. She needed to find out of there, there were bad things in the forest and she could not see a thing. Panic flooded her head. The young girl had no idea where she was and every few steps a branch hit her face and left some cuts. All around her was silence. Black, cold silence.

Suddenly Amy stopped dead. She heard a loud crack that echoed through the high trees.

"Hello? Who's there?"

"What do you do in my forest?"

"Your forest? But this is the Forbidden Forest of Hogwarts. This... who are you?"

"What do you do in my forest?"

"I... what..."

"Answer, human!"

"I don't understand! What do you mean? Listen I need..."

"Get out of my forest!"

"I can't!"

"This is my last warning! Get out of my forest!"

"Now you listen! I can't get out because..."

But Amy could not finish her sentence. Something hard smashed into her chest and sent her to the floor. The crack she heard, the pain she felt made her know that her rips had broken. She screamed, the pain seemed to kill her. Amy tried to stand up, but just as she was back on her knees another hard hit in the back sent her back to the forest floor. Another scream and she stayed lying on the floor, cradled up and sobbing.

"Get out of my forest!" the voice roared again.

"I... I... told you... I... can't... I... I... can't..."

Suddenly she remembered. There was only one way to get help. Amy was a sensimensmagus after all, so her only chance was to concentrate on telling somebody were she was by her thoughts.

I need help, I'm in the Forbidden Forest and can't see anything, but I'm being attacked by somebody! Please, somebody help me!

"Nobody can help you!"

I need help, I'm in the Forbidden Forest! I need help, I'm in the Forbidden Forest! I need help, I'm in the Forbidden Forest!

Something collided with Amy's head and she all around her became dark.

Amy tried to open her eyes, but the pain was too intense, she could only see through slits. Still, she could see again. But all was blurred, she could not see where she was, not who was with her, she couldn't even tell if she was in or outside. She could hear people talking though.

"This was very close. What did she do in that forest?"

"She was blinded, Poppy. I do not think she knew where she was."

Amy heard a door crash open and a grumpy and sort of upset voice said loudly: "I told you, Weasley, she is in no condition for you to see."

"Don't tell me she's in no condition, Professor! I want to see her! Charlie's having a breakdown from concern. She's my sister after all!"

"Bill, you may see your sister for a moment. But I must ask you to leave then. I have already informed your parents and they will be here by tomorrow. Meanwhile you need to care about your brother."

"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, sir. Thank you."

Amy heard footsteps approach and stop right next to her. "Oh God..." she heard her older brother say. "Amy..." Charlie stroked her head, stiffling a little sob.

Amy wanted to say that it's okay, that he didn't need to be upset, but she could not speak. It was as if her lips were glued together. Her mind gave instructions but her body refused to act.

"I think you better go now, Bill."

"Yes, Professor." One last time Amy felt her brother's hand stroke her head before he left.

"Poppy, I think you better go and give Charlie Weasley something to calm him down."

Another couple of footsteps and Amy knew that Madam Pomfrey had also left the hospital wing. Again footsteps came near her. She felt a soft hand stroke her arm and somebody sat down on the side of her bed.

"Thank God you found her, Severus. I do not know what would have happened if you had not."

"Yes, sir. Still, I feel guilty. It was somebody from my house, who put that jinx on her. You heard Miss Elliot... Just out of hatred... Just because..."

"Just because she loves you. Strange as it might seem to you, Severus, and I know it does. And I know you have deep feelings towards her as well."

Amy thought she was turning really red right now, but hoped she did not. Dumbledore knew... probably the whole school knew... and Snape had feelings for her? Her world was turning upside down.

"But this isn't right. She's my student. She's only sixteen."

"And you are the youngest teacher we have had at Hogwarts for quite some time, Severus. There are loopholes in the rules of this school. Maybe I should tell you about it..."

But Albus Dumbledore stopped in the middle of his sentence when Amy finally managed to open her eyes and had tried to move which caused her to groan in pain. The headmaster and Severus Snape turned around in surprise. Dumbledore strode forwards and grabbed her shoulder softly.

"Now, now, Amy. Stay where you are. You are in no state to sit up right now. Can you tell us what happened down in the forest?"

But Amy's eyes were fixed upon Severus' for some seconds and before she could answered she had dropped off to sleep again.