Chapter 6

Attack

The next morning, Nikki went up to the Owlery to send a letter to her parents, adopted parents, asking for any news about Zachary and to inform them that she would not be able to make it home for Christmas due to the overwhelming homework and her new boyfriend. (She left that last part out, about Harry.) She was just sending the letter when she turned around to leave and saw a figure clad in solid black with a hood cover its face. It raised a pale hand containing an ebony wand. It spoke in a cold voice that sent chills up her spine. She was frozen to the spot.

"Time to pay the consequences of your actions." It drawled in an ever so menacing voice. "DORMIO ADAMAE!" the voice shouted. Nikki was out before she hit the floor. She did not hear the cold voice speak as he left. "That will teach you to mess with a Malfoy, let's hope your wonder boy comes to save you. Next time, I will make sure you die."

Harry walked down to the Common Room where he saw Nikki's roommates, Lavender and Parvati. He dreaded walking up to them, but he needed to see if Nikki had already left for breakfast.

"Hey, have you seen Nikki?" he asked.

"Yes, she went up to the Owlery earlier this morning, and I never saw her come back." Lavender replied, holding back those damned girly giggles.

"Thanks."

Harry climbed out of the portrait hole and began the journey up to the Owlery. As soon as he arrived, he could tell something wasn't right. He glanced around but didn't see anything. He was about to leave when something caught his eye. It was a girl, lying on her side, hair covering her face. Harry knew who it was immediately. Nikki. He ran over to her to see if she was still breathing. She was, just barely. He picked her up and nearly ran all the way to the Hospital Wing.

"Madame Pomfrey! MADAME POMFREY!" Harry shouted, as he put Nikki on one of the beds. Madame Pomfrey came running into the room looking utterly flustered.

"What is it Mr. Potter?" she asked.

"It's Nikki, I found her in the Owlery and she was unconscious." Harry explained, his voice panicky.

"Do you know who might have done it?" she asked.

" I don't think so. I just found her there. I don't know who would have wait- that's it! Malfoy!" With that, Harry took off for Dumbledore's office. Only when he arrived did he realize that he didn't know the password.

"Uh… Fizzing Whizbees?" Harry asked the stone Gargoyle that guarded the Head master's office.

Silence

"Drooble's Best Blowing Gum?"

Silence

"Sugar Quills?"

Silence

"Dammit, Canary Creams?" he guessed. He was shocked when the Gargoyle moved aside and the moving staircase appeared. Harry jumped on the spiral staircase and rode it up to Dumbledore's office. He was about to knock on the door when a familiar voice spoke from within.

"Come in Mr. Potter." Came the wizened old voice of Albus Dumbledore.

"Professor, how did you… never mind. I don't even want to know. It's about Nikki Gryffin. She's in the Hospital. I found her this morning in the Owlery, she was unconscious and I think I know who attacked her." Harry explained. This man never ceased to amaze, and confuse, him.

Dumbledore just put his long fingers together and his eyes lost that twinkle that they had only moments ago. He just gazed at Harry for a few moments before he spoke.

"How do you know who did it?"

"It was Malfoy and he had a very strong motive." Harry replied.

"And what motive would that be, Mr. Potter?" Dumbledore inquired.

"Well, Nikki, um, yesterday, she uh… kneed him in his… you know… because he was laughing at her during a very… emotional time." Harry explained. Dumbledore just chuckled a bit.

"Ah, it is best not to laugh at a sixteen-year-old girl when she is upset. It can be quite painful. I will call Professor Snape and Mr. Malfoy up here immediately. I will let you return to your girlfriend now, Harry, have a nice day." Dumbledore replied as Harry was leaving his office. Harry turned around to ask him how he knew about their relationship but decided against it.

Harry slowly made his way back to the Hospital Wing. He had a feeling that this relationship wasn't going to work. It was as though some unknown force was making sure he didn't get close to anyone. It seemed to him that everyone he ever got close to got hurt or died. Look at his parents, Sirius (though he came back), Cho, well, he never was that close to her, and everything that ever happened to Ron and Hermione was all because of him.

When he entered the Hospital Wing, he saw Madame Pomfrey tending another patient. He went up to her to ask if she knew anything about Nikki's condition. She didn't. He made his way over to Nikki's bed and pulled up a chair to sit in. He took her hand in his and thought back to that night in the Common Room when he realized he loved her.

FLASHBACK:

It was a cold night, and really dark. There were clouds in the sky that let no light through. Harry and Nikki were sitting on the couch, as friends, working on their Potions homework. Nikki really knew the stuff. He watched her as she concentrated hard on her school work. He loved the way her hair cascaded down over her eyes when she worked. He loved the way she could make homework seem sexy. He realized that, even though she wasn't the thinnest person ever, nor the most beautiful by society's standards, he found her gorgeous. He loved everything about her. That's when he realized it. It hit him like a ton of bricks. He was in love with her.

Suddenly a brown owl flew into the room and dropped a letter onto Nikki's lap. She recognized it immediately as her father's handwriting. She quickly tore open the letter and began to read. Harry watched her with worry in his eyes. A single tear trickled down her flawless face. Of course, that was just the calm before the storm. When she put down the letter, she burst into tears. Harry moved over and wrapped his arm around her and just let her cry into his shoulder. Sure, his shirt was now soaked, but he didn't care. He took a chance and picked up the letter she had been reading. What he read explained it all.

Dear Nikki,

About the holidays, you are welcome to come home, but we may not be there much. We will probably be at St. Mungo's the whole time. It's about Zachary. He seems to have taken a turn for the worse. He can hardly move now. We think he may be in a coma. The Healers are thoroughly confused as to his illness. Whatever that Deatheater did is causing some lasting effects. Please, don't worry about it too much, Zach is strong, he will pull through. Enjoy the holidays as much as you can. We will write to you if anything changes. We love you.

Love,

Mom and Dad.

Harry knew this must be hard for her. Her brother was her last blood relative. He set down the letter and kissed the top of her forehead and just held her. After an hour or so, her tears slowed. He helped her up, put away all her things and led her to the staircase.

"Thanks Harry." She said quietly before heading to bed.

"Your welcome" he replied.

END FLASHBACK

Harry stood up and leaned over Nikki, he gently kissed her lips then sat back down. He put his head in his hands as a tear rolled down his cheek. Her eyes gently fluttered open.

"What? Where am I?" she asked. Harry jerked his head up at the sound of her voice. "What happened?" she asked again.

"You were attacked. I found you in the Owlery." Harry answered.

"Who did it?" Nikki inquired.

"Malfoy, I'm sure of it." Harry replied.

"It couldn't have been. It was a man, yes. But he was taller and had a deeper voice." Nikki explained. Of all the days Harry did not read the Daily Prophet. If he, Nikki, or Dumbledore had read it that day, they would have read the following headline:

LUCIUS MALFOY ESCAPES AZKABAN! DEMENTORS NO LONGER UNDER MINISTRY CONTROL!

Harry was right, to a point. It was Malfoy, but it was Lucius, not Draco. Just as Harry was about to say something, Madame Pomfrey came over and began bustling around and Harry was forced to wait out in the corridor. He would soon learn who attacked his girlfriend for as all of this was going on, Draco Malfoy was with Professors Dumbledore and Snape.

Well, not as long as chapter 4, but longer than chapter 5. I hope you all enjoyed this little plot-filled chapter. Remember the little things in this chapter, they may come in handy in future chapters ;) REVIEW!!!!!!! And since I forgot to do a disclaimer, I OWN NOTHING!!! Btw, the translation of that spell will be revealed next chapter. Ta ta!