Author's Notes: Right chapter 18 up! I can't believe I'm at 18 already! I'm warning you now, this is a sad and quite horrible chapter, you'll understand…

Otherwise do not worry about Hermione and Draco they'll be back together next chapter…

Before the story, I'd like to thank everyone who reviewed. It was brilliant, I love your reviews!

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belongs entirely to J. K. Rowling. Characters you don't recognise belong to me.

Big great thank you to:

Starlight-heart: Hey so glad you enjoy it! For the making up bit you'll have to wait for the next chapter but for now enjoy seeing Abigail face her worst fear…

May: Hey new chapter up! You'll find out much more about Abigail in this one but for Dumbledore you'll have to wait. Muchos kudos for the reviews!

AngelSerpent91: Fluff will be in next chappie, I promise! For now enjoy the action, plot develops incredibly here!

Tom-felton-luver1-2-2: Thank you for putting me down as favourite author. I'm also a tom felton lover!

AngelicGoddess-91: I can't believe you nearly fainted! Its really impressive to see how my story affects people! Plenty more exciting action in this chapter, tell me what you think!

Roguish muse: Thank you SO much for your faithful reviews! Read on for St Mungo's, discover what really happened to Abigail's mother and all the consequences it has!

..~**~..

Chapter 18

She couldn't believe it! She couldn't fucking believe it! Draco Malfoy had obtained the Ministry's permission to transfer Selena Serpent, her mother, to St Mungo's hospital. She didn't know how he had managed it and she didn't care so long as her mother could get proper treatment for her illness. Her father had always reassured her that everything would be all right as long as her mother was accepted into St Mungo's, which the Ministry was formally against.

Abigail watched as Hermione left to talk to McGonagall and her next visitor walked into the infirmary.

Damn, it's Harry! Oh Merlin, what am I going to say to him?

She hadn't seen the Boy Who Lived since the incident and now she couldn't help feeling awful around him because of her meeting with Dumbledore. She suddenly felt ashamed of what her grandmother had done. Harry would hate her if he ever knew about it. She couldn't tell him, but she couldn't continue being his friend either; it was just wrong, after all her family had put him through!

"Hi," he greeted her softly as he examined her. She could feel his emerald green eyes scrutinising her face.

He sat on the chair beside her bed and watched her eat.

"Hi… thank you for - for - well, you know," Abigail answered softly as she put her fork down.

She couldn't bear to look into his eyes. Hell, she couldn't find the courage to even look at him.

"You scared me the other day," he said quietly. "When I saw you collapse like that in the hall, I didn't know what to do."

Abigail froze at his words. She didn't know how to react. As she remained silent, Harry continued.

"You were as light as a feather," he said calmly.

It worried her how calm he seemed. He sat back in his chair and seemed to watch her as a hawk whilst she ate. It made her sick and nervous that he should be so worried about her, but the thought also made her smile. No one in Slytherin seemed to care about her like that.

"It's okay, Harry, I'm fine! No need to stare at me like that!" she suddenly exclaimed, looking into his questioning eyes.

This time, it was her turn to look at him and as she did so, she realised just how much he had changed. The fragile boy she had met in the trophy room no longer seemed so scared or weak. His Gryffindor bravery was coming back to him and so was his strength. He had practiced Quidditch for hours on by himself the two weeks prior to the match and, according to Hermione, he had continued the past week. It apparently kept his mind off things and helped him relax. He had changed so much, hell, he had even confronted Malfoy the other day and Abigail was glad that she had helped him no matter what Dumbledore thought.

"Hermione should be back soon," Abigail said quietly, as if giving him his cue to leave.

Harry, however, didn't move and simply looked at her. All kinds of emotions seemed to pass through those stunning green eyes; sorrow, confusion, worry, - forgiveness.

"Mind going for a walk?" he asked holding out his hand.

Abigail looked at it, dumbstruck. "Are you kidding? Pomfrey will murder me!"

"Oh come on. It never stopped you before," he said, raising his brow amused. "Besides we won't be long and fresh air will do you good."

A smile crept on Abigail's face at his words. The boy was definitely mad! If they ever got caught, well - she didn't even want to think about the consequences.

He grinned back and helped her out of bed. Abigail was still wearing her white hospital gown, but she didn't care. As they walked out of the infirmary, she stopped him.

"Aren't you scared we'll be seen together?" she asked nervously. "I don't mean the teachers, I mean Blaise or – Ron?"

Harry chuckled softly at her words. "We'll keep far away from Blaise and as for Ron, I'll sort him out."

..~**~..

Hours later, they were both lying down on the grass by the lake, looking up at the greyish-blue cloudy sky. The weather was quite miserable, but Abigail didn't care; she was having a good time. She had been eagerly talking with Harry for the past few hours about everything and anything she could think of.

"So what kind of music do you like?" Abigail suddenly asked him, staring up at the threatening grey clouds.

"I don't know," Harry replied truthfully. "I've never really listened to music."

Abigail sat up abruptly, goggling at him in astonishment. "WHAT? Not even Muggle music?"

Harry shook his head, a smile on his lips.

"Oh Merlin, no wonder you're depressed all the time!"

"Hey, shut up!" Harry laughed out as he pushed her away gently.

"I mean come on, you've never even listened to the Thrashing Hippogriffs!" she teased him, before falling back down on the grass. "Merlin's beard, tell me you've at least heard of the Weird Sisters?"

Harry rolled his eyes. "Of course I have! Right now my turn to ask… err, what's your middle name?"

"Oh there's nothing cool about my middle name. All the women in my family are given the same; it's the name of our family ancestor, Alexia."

Harry faked looking impressed and earned himself a playful punch in the shoulder. Abigail soon got up, cleaning the grass off of her gown. "I should go back now before they send out a search party for me. Besides it's about to rain."

She looked at the sky and muttered to herself. "It's always raining in this bloody country."

"What, you don't like English weather?" he teased her, getting up himself.

"I prefer where I live," she answered simply, using his arm for support as they walked back to the castle.

"And where's that?" Harry asked.

"If I told you, I'd have to kill you," she replied in a playful tone.

Abigail laughed as Harry lifted both arms in surrender. As she grabbed his arm back for support, he bent down and softly kissed her on the cheek. The touch of his lips made Abigail tremble and she smiled warmly to him.

"Thanks for the walk."

Her dark eyes locked with his own and she suddenly felt overcome by a strange feeling, watching a torrent of emotions flash through Harry's emerald green eyes. Never before had she felt so strongly about someone and it scared her.

..~**~..

"Where the hell have you been?" Hermione asked them impatiently as they stepped into the infirmary. "I was worried sick and so was Pomfrey!"

Abigail quickly returned to her bed as Harry answered Hermione's questions. It surprised her how he managed to soothe the Head Girl.

"You -" Hermione continued with authority, pointing at Abigail. "You are one lucky girl! McGonagall agreed to let you go to St Mungo's, but I have to go with you and no one else must know about it."

Her words had the effect of a bomb on Abby.

They've done it! Oh Merlin! I'm finally going to see her! I'm going to see Mother!

She stayed numb for a few seconds before the biggest smile ever spread across her face.

..~**~..

"Welcome to St Mungo's. What can I do for you?" the receptionist asked in a bored tone.

"Hello," Abigail said eagerly, ignoring the receptionist's apathy. "We're here to see Selena Serpent."

"Fourth floor, the long-term residents ward," she replied, checking a long piece of parchment pinned on the wall behind her. "Next!"

Abigail looked back at Hermione in confusion.

Long-term? What's Mother doing in the long-term ward?

They looked at the floor guide next to the elevators and read: Fourth Floor – SPELL DAMAGE (unliftable jinxes, hexes, incorrectly applied charms, etc). That didn't really explain anything to Abigail, but she let it slide. She was finally going to see her mother, and she wasn't going to let anything bring her down.

It had been two days since Hermione had told Abby that she could go visit her mother. Since then, the Slytherin girl had remained in the hospital wing, spending time with her friends, including Ginny, although she never got a chance to thank Draco.

Eventually, the two girls had travelled to St Mungo's by means of a Portkey McGonagall had made for them. They had queued for a while before reaching the receptionist, and Hermione could see that Abigail was already looking fatigued.

"We better take the lift then," Hermione announced, giving her a reassuring smile. "Come on."

As they reached the fourth floor, Abigail looked around for the long-term residents' ward and finally spotted the Janus Thickey ward. No Healer or mediwizard was around, so the two girls slowly pushed open the door, Abigail's eyes desperately searching for her mother.

The room was quiet and contained many beds, each with their curtains drawn around them. Abigail quickly walked from bed to bed, reading the names off the medical parchment at the foot of each bed and finally found her mother.

Taking a deep breath she pulled the curtains back slowly; as she finally caught sight of what lay behind them, she gasped. Abigail had not laid eyes upon her mother since she had disappeared the previous summer and the sight before her looked nothing like the woman she remembered; it was unbearable.

Her once sweet and beautiful mother was lying down on white sheets, staring out into nothingness. Her eyes were bloodshot and wide opened, avidly fixed upon a vacant point in space. Her face was deadly pale and drawn from obvious lack of sleep. Her once long and shiny hair was pulled back into a bun and had lost its powerful raven colour, turning shades of grey. But the worst was her mother's body, which looked very thin and fragile. There was still an astonishing similarity between this wasted woman and her daughter, but that was lost on Abigail. However, she did immediately notice the high number of bruises on her mother's arms and the bones protruding from her pale skin as if she had not eaten for days. As she took a step closer, she suddenly realised that her mother was strapped to the bed with leather binds.

Merlin…

Abigail approached her mother cautiously, her eyes unwilling to believe that the broken and skinny woman before her was really her mother. No words could describe the flow of emotions that were boiling inside her, nor the inevitable pain she felt that very moment.

Her mind had gone numb with shock. Taking another step, she reached her mother's bed and looked at her for a long time, taking in all the details of her horrific physique, although none of it seemed to sink in.

Oh Mum, what happened? What have they done to you?

After a few minutes of silence, the patient seemed to acknowledge Abigail's presence. She looked up and although Abigail desperately searched her eyes for emotion, she found none. They were lifeless and it was truly terrifying. Those once bright and powerful eyes…

"Your smile is broken," her mother suddenly exclaimed. Her voice was hoarse and toneless.

"Mum – Mother," Abby finally stammered, reaching out for her hand. It was rough and covered with cuts. Some of her fingers were banded together, obviously broken, and her soft, pink skin had gradually turned purple from the bruises.

Abigail stroked it none the less, looking eagerly into her mother's lifeless eyes, desperately seeking for some sign of recognition. "Mother, it's me," she spoke up. "It's Abigail."

But all her mother did was stare at the white ceiling above her, gaping into thin air.

"Beware of goblins my dear," she suddenly whispered in the same voice. "They are nasty little creatures. Did you know that?"

Abigail looked dumbstruck back at her mother. What had she said? Goblins?

"The unicorn agrees. He says goblins are horrible little buggers," she continued before humming a tune to herself, still eerily staring at the ceiling. Abigail slowly looked around her at the room. It was empty except for the other patients; Hermione had left, patiently waiting outside.

Fearing the worst had come true; Abigail's heart sank.

"There's no unicorn here, Mother," she answered quietly, a tear rolling down her cheek.

"Of course there is dear. Look, it's eating an apple off that tree." Her large lifeless eyes, however, continued to stare at the ceiling.

In her despair, Abigail suddenly shook her mother.

"Mother, stop it. You're scaring me!" she cried out frantically.

At the same time, Hermione suddenly came back in. "Abigail, the healer is here. He wants to talk to you."

The Slytherin turned away from her mother slowly, her eyes were red and her face glistened with tears, which she wiped off with the back of her hand. She walked to the door of the ward where the healer waited for her.

"What happened to her?" she asked sharply, trying to regain control of herself.

The healer looked back at her with compassion. "I am sorry, Miss Serpent, but according to the Muggle hospital, your mother is in the same condition as when they found her this summer. We tried our best to heal her, but nothing has changed and I'm afraid her condition never will. All we could find out was that she has been somewhat - tortured."

Abigail's dark eyes opened wide with surprise. "Tortured?" And she immediately looked back at her mother on the hospital bed.

The healer continued with difficulty, an apologetic look on his face. "I'm not too sure how to tell you this, but the Cruciatus curse seems to have been repeatedly used on your mother until it drove her mad. She is suffering the same fate as the Longbottoms and we still do not know how to cure it. Unless we find a counter curse, your mother cannot be cured - I am so sorry."

It took all of Abigail's strength not to crumble to the ground as his words sunk in. Her mother was lost and they had no cure. The emotions that passed through Abigail as reality hit her were indescribable. She desperately wanted to wake up from this terrible nightmare, but she couldn't. Her mother had been tortured and driven to madness and she would never again be the same person Abigail had missed so much.

However, her mother's illness also meant that the Serpent family was in danger. At any time Selena Serpent, leader of the family, in her insanity, could use spells or reveal family secrets that no one could ever know about. It was Abigail's duty to protect her mother from further harm and her family as well.

Waiting for the healer to leave, Abigail approached the hospital bed, taking out her wand and took her mother's hand in her own.

"Abigail, what are you doing?" Hermione cried out, looking at the girl in surprise.

"It won't hurt her," she answered back.

She lowered her wand to the top of her mother's head. "I'm here to protect you now," she whispered in her ear before adding, "Protego Alexia!"

Instantly a dark green light flared from Abigail's wand and fell over her mother's body, surrounding it completely. It wrapped her like a cocoon, shining intensely for several seconds until it progressively disappeared. Her mother did not move an inch, she barely seemed to have sensed the spell at all. It was an old family protective spell that would prevent Abigail's mother from remembering anything about the Serpent books, but which also protected her from further harm. It was the law in the Serpent family; if one fell, then she was a danger to the others and so her memory had to be altered.

However, as Abigail put her wand back in her pocket, without warning, her mother suddenly snapped her head in her daughter's direction.

Her eyes were instantly filled with pain and terror. Never before had Abigail seen them like that and it frightened her. She backed away, but suddenly the leather binds vanished in thin air and her mother grabbed hold of her arm forcing her to step closer.

"Abigail!" she cried out, catching her daughter's attention.

Abigail froze on the spot. Her mother's panicked voice and desperate tone were terrifying and the display of wandless magic astounding. "Abigail! Beware of the Death Eaters, beware of those who follow the Dark Lord!" she screeched loudly, pulling forcefully at her daughter's arm.

Hermione gasped loudly behind her. Abigail's mother, still in a complete state of panic, suddenly rose up in her bed and spun around to look behind her.

"They found me! They're coming for me! They found me out!" Before Abigail could react, her mother cupped her daughter's face in her hands, her black eyes looking desperately and yet also lovingly at her. "I failed Abby! I'm so sorry Abby – so sorry!"

Looking once again behind her, she brandished an invisible wand and shouted. "Protego Alexia!"

The spell didn't seem to work. "Protego Alexia! Protego Alexia!"

Frightened, Selena Serpent then tried to run away, pushing Abby out of her way and trying to jump off her bed "It's not working, Abby, it's not working! The ancestors have failed me! They're going to get me, they -"

But her words gave way to a horrendous scream, which made Abigail's hairs stand on end and her blood run cold. Horrified, she watched as her mother squirmed and writhed in torture before her.

"Those horrible red eyes – red eyes!" she screeched. "He's going to kill me! Help me, Abby! Help me!"

She screamed in agony once more, her body writhing under the pain caused by the recognisable Cruciatus curse. Alarmed by the screams, several healers came rushing in, pushing Abigail out of their way as they attempted to calm her mother down. The Slytherin girl, in a complete state of shock, looked back helplessly at her mother as she continued to scream, still reliving her torture.

It was the most shuddering and frightening experience Abigail had ever had. Her mother pleading for her help, warning her against the Death Eaters, her family protective spell failing her and finally He Who Must Not Be Named torturing her into insanity. The bundle of emotions boiling within Abigail suddenly gave way to rage. All of a sudden everything became clear in her head and she knew exactly what to do. Her already dark eyes turned black as her mind began planning her revenge.

"Voldemort!" she spat out.

Hermione, spotting the sudden change in her, realised what her intentions were and quickly ran by her side to stop her.

"Abby, no!"

But she was too late. The Serpent heir disapparated from St Mungo's hospital and out of her reach.

..~**~..

As Abigail fought her way towards Hogwarts castle, having Apparated to Hogsmeade, she was deeply lost in her thoughts and unaware of her surroundings. Her mind swirled with the pain and anger she was feeling from seeing the state of her mother and knowing that it was all due to Voldemort, whom her family had never taken a stand against.

As her mind thought about the last few days at Hogwarts, -

"My offer still stands. I can give you the one thing you desire the most and in return you tell me about some of your secrets."

…Malfoy's lies about the Death Eaters not being responsible for her mother's madness…

"Unless we find a counter curse, your mother cannot be cured."

"I failed Abby! I'm so sorry Abby – so sorry!"

…and her mother's screams echoed in her ears…

"He's going to kill me! Help me, Abby! Help me!"

…all Abigail could do was march on.

As she finally reached the castle grounds, her black angry eyes darted from student to student in search of a blond-haired Slytherin. She finally spotted him talking to Blaise outside the castle doors.

"MALFOY! You son of a bitch!"

Caught off guard, the Slytherin Prince stumbled backwards as the Serpent heir hit him in the face.

Her mind had gone blank with rage, which increased as she saw Malfoy smirking back at her with a bloody nose. She grabbed the front of his robes and pushed him with all her might against the wall. She wanted to hit him again, forgetting completely about her wand, but someone stopped her. Two strong arms held her back as she continued to scream at Malfoy.

"You knew! You knew about my mother and you didn't even fucking tell me! The Death Eaters are responsible for my mother's state and you bastards are going to pay!"

..~**~..

Poor Abby, I'm not making it easy for her, am I?

Right next few chapters, a lot happens. Voldemort will be back, Christmas Ball is coming up and Abigail will eventually go to Malfoy Manor for her father. But we're nowhere near the end yet though, I've planned for another ten chapters… and this story might even have a sequel… what do you think?.

Take care and review people, thanx!