Chapter 7

Speechless I stare at the person before me. This is definitely not the kind of man I thought he would be. Not the serious and terrifying man I imagined. Not those accusing and angry eyes I thought would observe me. But a nice man, kind eyes, a friendly smile.

Again I feel a poke in my back. "H… hi." I say in a small voice.

"Don't be afraid," I guess my face shows how I feel right now.

"it's ok, I won't hurt you." Still smiling he lays his hand on my shoulder.

"Sit down girl. First I would like a word with you, Molly, and then with you, Nika, is that ok?" I nod and sit down again.

Mrs Weasley follows Professor Dumbledore to the hall, leaving us in an awkward silence. How is it possible that the man seems that nice? It is obvious that he is important! I thought he would remind me of my father, I thought they would resemble each other! But this man, this Professor, is nothing like my father. Nothing at all! Everything in his appearance radiates warmth, light and love. There is no such a thing as hate, or bitterness. How could that be? He looks so nice! Though… that might be it! It looks like he is nice, but of course he isn't! How could he be? He probably has far too much things to think about and no time left to be kind. It was just his face that deceived me. That smile was fake of course. I know exactly how easy it is to smile when you're not feeling happy at all. I'm doing that so often. But those eyes… how can you fake your gaze? My smiles never reach my eyes. Pondering I stare into space until I realise that Professor Dumbledore and Mrs Weasley are back again.

"Nika, would you please follow me?" I get up and notice that my knees are trembling. I follow him up the stairs to the hall and up the other stairs to the first floor. He opens one of the doors and enters a long, high-ceilinged room with olive-green walls. He sits down and gesticulates at the chair opposite him. Gratefully I take place; I've got the feeling that my knees wouldn't have supported my weight any second longer. Again he is observing me. Reluctantly I look up and then I see that the lights in his eyes are gone. Quick I look at my hands again. See? See! Of course he couldn't be nice! Why would he? A serious and important man never is! I notice that my hands are trembling too, and then that my whole body is shaking. I try to control myself but I'm finding it difficult.

"Nika…" He says my name with a sigh. I look up and see that he's smiling again. Sad and grimly maybe, but still… I want to say 'Yes' but he sighs again and looks away.

"I will be honest to you. I've got no idea what I have to say to you, or tell you, or where I've got to start. Mrs Weasley told me that you know a few important things already. I'm aware of the fact that I'll have to tell you more than one thing that you are not going to like. You are not going to like it at all… But Mrs. Weasley told you about the consequences didn't she?" He looks at me and I nod, still shaking terribly.

"Well… to keep those consequences as limited as possible you'll have to accept the situation as it is right now. I know it is hard for you, but you need to understand that we are in a very difficult situation and that I don't have much choice."

"W-what do you mean?" I'm confused and scared. What is he talking about? I realise that I'm not sure I really want to know what he is going to tell me if he already knows I'm not going to like it…

"Nika… I don't think it is possible that you are going home very soon. I expect not until we are sure that it is safe again outside and that is not going to be before next week."

"Next week? NO! You don't mean that! But where do I need to go then? Or…" Shocked and perplexed I stare at him, when the thought occurs to me. "or do you mean that I… need to stay here? With these… nutters!"

"I'm sorry. But I'm afraid that you can't leave this place before then. Maybe you'll have to stay even longer." His eyes show how sorry he is, but I don't see it. The only thing in my mind is the thought of me staying here. And even the thought alone is more than I can stand.

"A week or even longer! But… but… then… my aunt and uncle! They don't know that I'm here! What do I have to do? You don't even have a telephone! Why are you doing this to me!"

"Nika, please, you have to understand. I need you to understand. You…"

"I CAN'T! I'm sick of this! Why are you trying to keep me here? What is it that you want from me! You can't keep me here! That is forbidden! You can't lock me here! Stop it! STOP IT! You can't do that to me! You can't stop me! I'm going home! I'm going home RIGHT NOW! Goodbye!"

I hear him saying more words, more sentences, more explanations that don't make any sense, but I don't listen to him. The only thing I see is a man telling me that they are going to imprison me in a house full of people who I don't understand and who don't understand me. How could they? How could they even THINK about it! Furious I cross the room to the door. I try to open it but it won't give in.

"It is locked! It… it… you… you locked that door! YOU LOCKED ME IN THIS ROOM! OPEN IT! NOW!"

I don't care anymore that I have to behave myself. I don't care about anything at the moment. How could he? How could they! I've never been so angry in my life, never so furious! Everything is red before my eyes and I'm barely aware of the fact that I'm thumping and kicking to the door so hard, that my hands are bleeding. I feel that a pair of strong hands are trying to pull me away from the door but I kick behind me and continue to work all my frustrations off at the door. I don't feel the pain. I don't feel the angry and impotent tears flowing from my eyes. I don't feel anything, only rage. Pure rage to everything from that stupid baker where I needed to go, to the door which won't open for me and all the people working against me and try to separate me from everything I knew, everything I thought was normal, everything in my own world. Suddenly the door opens and for a moment I feel triumph. Then everything goes black.

Darkness… pain….

It is dark and my whole body hurts.

I try to open my eyes, try to leave the darkness behind me.

I hear voices. Soft, whispering voices.

The black around me dissipates and I notice I'm lying on a bed.

Comfortable… Warm….

I don't know where I am. This is not my bed, these are not my walls. I try to remember….

There are people next to my bed. People I vaguely recognise but I've got no idea who they are.

I close my eyes again….

But then, slowly, the truth is coming back to me. The terrible truth about this bed, about these people, about me….

Scenes of the things that happened to me flash through my mind. My aunt and uncle… the baker… the two men… the house… the wizards… Dumbledore… pain!

With a shock I open my eyes and fly upright. Ouch! My back! Groaning I lean back again and close my eyes. I try to ban every thought out of my head and feel the darkness approach….

"Nika… Nika…" Soft, whispering voices…. The same voices….

"Nika, can you hear me? Wake up, Nika! Please! can you hear me?"

A face. First blurred, then sharper, then blurred again. It's a girl and I know her. It's Hermione.

"Yes, I can hear you, I'm awake" I say, but I can't hear my own voice.

"Here, drink this, you will feel better, trust me." I take the cup and drink it. I don't taste anything, but the walls of the room sharpen and I see that my hands are bandaged. The pain allays and with a sigh I give the cup back to Hermione.

Silence…. I can't bring myself to look her in the eyes. The other people I saw earlier are gone. It's only Hermione and me now. Alone.

"Nika… can you remember what happened?"

I try to think and again I feel everything coming back with such a clarity, that it takes my breath away. A feeling of panic rises in me. With a jerk I turn my head to Hermione.

"Yes." I don't recognise my voice. Sharp. Bitter. But… "How did I get here?"

She hesitates and when she finally answers she sounds cautious, almost afraid. "Do you erhm… do you remember your… your conversation? With Professor Dumbledore?"

By the mentioning of Dumbledore's name the panic inside me is pushed away by anger. Do I remember that conversation….

"Where is he? I need to talk to him! No, wait! I don't! I need to go home! Now!" I try to climb out of bed but every muscle of my body is telling me what a bad idea that is. Groaning I lay down again.

"Shhh, be careful! You were so angry that you threw yourself into that door. Your whole body was bleeding! The others tried to open the door from the other side when you were hurting yourself. And then, at the moment the door opened, the spells hit you and you fell on the ground, unconscious. We carried you here, on this bed, tried to heal your wounds and hoped you would come round soon. Dumbledore waited here two days but then he left. At the moment he is in St. Mungo's, to see professor Lupin. He will be back later today."

I didn't quite hear the last things she said. Two days… two days! The words echo in my head. Two… two days. He will be back later. Two whole days!

Speechless I stare at her, without really seeing something. "H-how long am I here? H-how long have I been unconscious?"

Hesitating Hermione looks at me, as if she's trying to guess what my reaction would be. Then she answers… "Four days."

"What! Four days? Four!" I'm stunned, What the hell happened to me that I've been unconscious for four whole days! And if that is true I'm gone for almost five days! Five days and I didn't contact anyone! Oh my god… Five whole days!

"Nika?" I look up. Hermione is watching me with compassion. "You know, Mrs Weasley asked me to tell you this. She has been waiting for you to wake up, but she had to do other things too. She left an hour ago. She made me promise I would do everything for you to stay here, in this bed. Please, don't be angry again. Please, don't leave! Wait for her to return. Or… or wait for Professor Dumbledore. He said he wanted to talk to you when he is back again and you are awake."

Her eyes are craving, begging me to listen to her, to stay here, to remain calm and to wait for Mrs Weasley and Professor Dumbledore. I consider it. I really want to leave, five days was long enough and every second in this awful place is a second too long. But if they want to talk to me… it could have been worse; at least they still want to talk to me, after what I did. They are not letting me down, although I'm not so sure I want to talk to them too. But apart from that, I don't know the way home. There is a big chance I won't be able to find it. And Dumbledore told me it is not safe outside and I don't want to meet that evil man again! Never again! Sighing I realise I don't have much choice. I'm not even able to get up and walk out of this room. I know I'm not. Even moving my leg hurts so much that it dazzles me! Helplessly I look back at Hermione, not sure how to say the words.

"Ok… I'll stay…."

Finally a smile breaks through Hermione's white face.

"Thank you." She whispers, and I give her a smile in return. A little one, yeah, but a real one. A real smile.

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