AN: Thank you so much to Jen for my first review of Twisted, I really appreciate it!
Read and review please!
Song suggestion: Magic, Selena Gomez.
Chapter Nine: Bubble, Bubble, Toil, and Trouble.
"Merlin!" Mr Weasley cursed and Lupin and he hurried to the door. Lupin only turned to the turncoats when he noticed Draco standing.
"Wait here!" He barked at them, barely glancing back.
"I know how to fix her." Malfoy hissed, going toe to toe with the Werewolf. He was determined to help and prove his loyalty to the cause. He could not let this go; he could not let Granger go. She would not die.
"How?" Mr Weasley demanded seeming reluctant to receive any advice or aid from the former Death Eater.
"It's Dark Magic, trust me, you need my help." He glanced around the three Gryffindors with a hard stare, daring rejection of his offer that he knew they could not afford to lose. Yet the two men seemed reluctantly torn.
"Come on!" Ginny cried and ran off again. Fixing the others with hard stares, he slid past and followed the swift Chaser. They sprinted around the right corner and through a pair of double doors. Draco quickly assessed the situation.
A typical, sterilised hospital wing with six bays, a store cupboard and desk, and a presumed supply closet behind the door beside the entrance. Granger was on the first bed, screaming and writhing. The Weasley Matriarch and Luna were pinning her arms while Dean was wrestling to keep Hermione's legs still. Ginny joined the dark skinned boy while Draco withdrew with wand.
"Move!" He ordered and everyone backed off shocked and unsure, wands drawn for duel. He ignored them as he pointed his wand on the dying Witch, "Quiesum!" The Witch jerked once before stilling, silence covering the room like a blanket.
"What have you done?" Dean demanded as Draco advanced.
"I've induced a coma, but the spell won't last long, the Dark Magic will fight it." He calmly explained. He did not care that he was surrounded by mistrustful Witches and Wizards who would love to kill him for all of his crimes. He only cared about saving Granger. He did not question the urge but acted upon it, "I'll need painless potion, as potent as you can. Blood-replenishing potion, calming draught, dreamless sleep potion, jaw-binder-"
"Jaw binder!" Ginny exclaimed and her wand moved closer to him.
"To stop her screaming and ripping her vocal cords." Draco's reply was patient as he continued, "Oculus, and vitamix. She's going to need it." He felt for her pulse, "I know a series of spells to heal her but I'll need potions too, Dark Magic has its own set."
"Thank goodness Hermione always kept a well-stocked potions cupboard." He heard Mrs Weasley sigh as she rummaged in the storage cupboard.
"What's wrong with her skin?" Ginny sniffled as she came closer and brushed the raised black veins which had bruising around.
"Salazar!" Malfoy cursed, "Dolohov's curse! Bellatrix!" Mrs Weasley returned with vials and bottles juggled in her arms, "Rennervate!" Screams filled the air and Malfoy cast a quick body binding spell before gripping Hermione's jaw, tight.
Working as one, Molly and Draco poured potion after potion down the distressed Witch's throat. Ginny and Luna cried softly in the corner of their eyes as Dean comforted them. Lupin and Arthur had left to deal with the two other turncoats. The atmosphere was tense around them, an unlikely Healer helping. Apprehension coloured all features.
Finally Granger slumped into a deep, dreamless sleep and everyone sighed in relief. Seemingly out of the dark waters for now, the Gryffindors took time to lean on each other and murmur reassurances while Draco marched to the store cupboard.
It was shelved with strained wood under the heavy weight of potion bottles and ingredients. Lines and lines, several deep crowded the cupboard in alphabetical order. Strictly organised, just like the Granger he knew. Malfoy began pulling out ingredients, piling them on the desk. Dragon blood, Runespoor egg, Asphodel, Moondew, Ibis beak, Octopus powder, Nux Myristica, Eagle Owl feather. The drawstring bag of feathers reminded him of his old owl and quickly closed the bag again. Ingredients lists and potion recipes ran through his head as he continued his collection; Turtle shell, Wiggenbush bark, Impala antler, Snake fang, Tubeworm, Eel eye, Doxy egg.
"What are you doing?" Luna asked brightly, watching his fierce gathering with ever curious eyes. He shot her a sharp glare before reviewing the potion in his head and the appropriate spells.
"She's not going to heal on those potions alone." He scowled, "This is Dark Magic, something none of you know about."
"What's wrong with her?" Tears misted her eyes and everyone looked upon the Slytherin. He shifted uncomfortably and glanced at his patient. She lay still with her scarred eyes and grotesque veins. Her arm lay unattended to in the hurry to save her and he could see the treacherous words, forever marring her sun-kissed skin.
Mudblood. What a disgusting word. Draco's hands twitched irritably and he quickly revised the spell used. Sadly, it would remain prominent and won't heal, much like a scar. Dark Magic was possessive, clinging to its victims like Goblins to treasure. Its only price was blood, but blood it would drain.
"The veins show a sign of a spell I know of, it is a numbing spell that infects the blood, she will have to learn to walk again." He sighed and rubbed a hand over his face, stress burdened his shoulders with knotted pressure, "She's blinded and that…that scarring on her arm is undoable. You already know of Dolohov's curse."
"Oh Godric!" Mrs Weasley exclaimed and Ginny gasped. Dean looked disgusted and stormed out. Luna merely looked dreamily saddened as only she could and toyed with a necklace dangling from her pale throat.
"Is she going to die?" Luna barely mouthed. All three females looked to him for guidance, something he would never have considered from the three before him. Before yesterday he wouldn't have believe he was here either. Today was full of surprises, good and bad. But whether they would result in death he did not know.