Disclaimer: I don't own anything...
Note: Hey DuelJewel, this is for you :-). Though I was thinking of writing this as chapter six anyway. It's a bit shorter than I wanted it to be, but I'm having a bad cold. I'm afraid Amy might turn a bit more Mary Sue-ish, but well… who cares.
Chapter Six: The Sentence of the Centaurs
Amy was still absorbed in her book when she heard some noise outside the door. Night had fallen and she put away the Shakespeare, curious on what was going on outside. Just then the door opened and a huge bouquet of flowers came flying through the door, all the way down the beds and landed on her lap. 'Puzzled' could not express the look on Amy's face. But then Bill and Charlie entered the Hospital Wing with wide grins on their faces that explained everything.
"Hullo, sis!" Charlie laughed and sat down on her bed.
"Hi, dear," Bill said and slightly kissed his little sister on her forehead.
"You guys are ever so thick. Thick, but sweet," Amy grinned.
"Don't you like our little present? They're your favourites, aren't they?"
Charlie was quite right, the red gerberas were her favourite flowers and they made her heart light as she stuck her nose in the bouquet and smelled the soft scent.
"McGonagall said you'll be back with us tomorrow evening. Is that true?"
"Yeah, Dumbledore said I could. But I'm not sure if I want to."
"What do you mean, you don't want to?" Charlie asked surprised.
"You're scared, right? You don't want to know what the others think about you," Bill said in a soft voice.
Amy nodded. "And I don't want to be bullied for my feelings because I'm not capable for my feelings. It's not my fault I fell in love with a teacher."
"They won't bully you."
"And why is that?"
Charlie pulled a fist. "Because I'll give them hell if they do."
"Nobody will bully you, Amy. Well, the Slytherins might, but it's just normal for them."
"Now that really lifts my spirits. Oh well, I think I'll be fine."
"I hope that damn Centaur gets what he deserves."
Amy looked straight into Charlie's eyes. "You know what will happen to him?"
"I only heard that the Centaurs will decide on the punishment. Guess he'll be killed. You know about their rules concerning the innocent."
Amy couldn't hide the shock on her face. A death sentence… "Oh well, we'll see what will happen. Guys, I'm sort of tired. Do you mind if I went to sleep? I'll see you tomorrow, right?"
Bill and Charlie exchanged a puzzled look but got up and wished their sister a good night before leaving.
A death sentence… Amy closed her eyes and concentrated. She had to talk to somebody important… someone who could talk to the centaurs down in the Forest. Somebody they respected… Dumbledore!
Just when she had come up with the idea, the door of the hospital wing opened and Albus Dumbledore swiftly entered the room. With twinkling eyes he swept down the row of beds and sat down on a chair next to Amy's bed.
"Miss Weasley, you wanted to talk to me?"
"Well… yes, sir," Amy answered, deeply confused. "How did you get here so fast?"
Dumbledore's smile broadened. "I didn't want to confuse you, Amy, I was just a corridor away when I heard you. So what is it you want to talk about?"
Amy sighed deeply before talking again. "Sir, my brothers just told me that the Centaurs will decide on Wolfe's punishment."
"That's how it has always been and how it will be this time."
"But what will happen to him? Charlie said something about a death sentence…"
"That is indeed the most probable decision. The rules concerning fowls, sorry, the innocent, are quite strict."
"But nobody deserves a death sentence! A death sentence is no more than a murder and is as much a crime as anything!"
"If the Centaurs should not judge on this crime, who else should? The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures would decide the same way."
"You know what I think about them! No, but what would you decide, headmaster?"
"Like you said, Miss Weasley, nobody deserves a death sentence. I'd think a banishment would do. But, again, I'm not to decide on this matter."
"Couldn't I? I'm still the victim. It would be just fair if I was to decide. I have always been on good terms with the Centaurs."
"But you are not allowed to leave the castle yet, Miss Weasley."
"When will Wolfe be sentenced?"
"Tomorrow evening. The verdict will directly be fulfilled."
Amy's thoughts worked through her brain. There had to be a way… "You! Professor Dumbledore, sir, you could talk to them."
"If that is your wish, I will try to convince them."
"That's very kind of you, sir."
"This will have to be done quickly, so I must leave. I will tell you all about the conversation tomorrow. I think you should get some rest before returning to your classmates tomorrow evening."
"Yes, sir. And thank you again."
"I can't promise you anything, Miss Weasley. Good night." Dumbledore got up and turned to leave.
"Good night, Professor."
Amy did a quick spell to know the time. The bewitched watch she used to have had broken during the attack. Half past nine. She lay down in her bed again and closed her eyes, but her troubled thoughts were holding back sleep. Nobody deserved a death sentence, not even for a crime such as this.
"Amy?" a soft voice carried all the way through the hospital wing to her bed.
She opened her eyes and sat up again. "Severus?"
Snape stood by the door and now came over to her bed. "I didn't know if you were still awake. You seemed to be fast asleep."
"I wish I was," she sighed as the Potions Master sat down on her bed.
"And why is that? Is it about the Sentence for the Centaur?"
"You know?"
"Only the rumours that haunt the school. They say he'll be sentenced to death."
"Not if my plan works."
Snape fixed her eyes with his. "What do you mean?"
"Severus, I don't want him to be killed, nobody deserves to die. So Professor Dumbledore and I made up a plan."
Snape stroked Amy's long red hair. "You are to good for this world at times, you know. But what is that plan?"
She shortly told him everything she and the headmaster had talked about. "And now I can't sleep, because I can't stop thinking about it all."
Severus took her in his arms. "And what if I stay with you until you're asleep?"
He lay Amy back into her pillow and placed himself next to her. She cuddled up to him and soon dropped off into a deep and dreamless sleep.
