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Song suggestion: Lullaby, Professor Green ft. Tori Kelly.
Chapter Eleven: Inevitable.
"What the bloody hell is going on!" Ron bellowed. The tense atmosphere seemed to explode in flames of fury and everyone was on edge. This could very well end in a duel which no one wished to endure or witness. But it seemed inevitable to all who stood, frozen, as Ron's words echoed into the tense aura.
"Saving Granger's life, something none of you can do." Draco drawled calmly and flicked his wand for a potion to stir itself. His blatant lack of concern caused untold irritation to the two Gryffindors, who longed to avenge all those who had suffered under the Death Eater and Voldemort's reign of terror, including their best friend and sister in arms, Hermione.
"Like hell we can't!" Harry yelled and sent a stupefy at his pale enemy. Malfoy simply deflected the spell and rolled his eyes. After everything he had done for them. Save them from capture, save them from attack, save them from death. They were truly forgetful or ungrateful; either emotion was disgusting in their situation. He didn't have to save their sorry hinds.
"Tell me Potter, do you know what's wrong with Granger? Do you know how she was attacked? Do you know how to save her from certain death? If you do, go ahead, we'll step aside and let you be the hero, yet again. But you can't and we can. She is dying, and without us, is going to die an agonising death."
Silence descended on the room. The truth was a painful pill to swallow, especially when delivered by someone who was their enemy, even before becoming a Death Eater. Ron looked at Harry, who looked back in silent deliberation. Neither wished Hermione dead, and would die if she did, but they couldn't accept the Slytherins help. Confidently, Malfoy resisted a smirk, he was sure of the result. Loyalty binding them tighter than any incarcerous curse.
Blaise rolled his eyes at the pair of them and turned back to the potions, mixing and pouring with ease, as if Weasley's wand was not aimed at him. The predictable conflict bored him; he had watched too many fights in this war and had no patience to see this one. Suddenly, he noticed a presence by his side. Ginny Weasley stood with her wand in hand but pointed down. Apparently she'd seen too much arguing too.
"What next?" She mumbled, seemingly reluctant to help. He held back his smirk and handed her a scalpel and motioned to the feathers, "Stork only?" He nodded as he ground up blue pebble. Neither paid attention to the terse conversation around them.
"What the hell is wrong with her?" Ron yelled.
"A few dark spells you have no idea existed." Malfoy replied sharply, "Now piss off while I try to save your best friend, dunderheads." He turned his back and was surprised to see his best friend and Weaslette working together. Shrugging it off, the more help the better, he worked on.
"Like hell you are taking care of her!" Ron's wand spat red sparks in his anger and his hand twisted his wand threateningly at the boy who had insulted his family from the dawn of time.
"Ronald Weasley, calm down, right now!" Mrs Weasley shouted, "We have already argued this with them, so be quiet and do as you are told. You need to see to your wife, now Ronald; she is suffering with severe backache." Malfoy and Zabini raised eyebrows to each other briefly at this titbit of information and fought sniggers for the unfortunate Witch who agreed to be with him. Ginny glared at the two before all three quickly regained focus on their work again, "Harry, I need you to fetch Remus for me, please." Both boys seemed hesitant to leave and deliberated about protesting, but neither wished to encounter Mrs Weasley's formidable wrath and scarpered away reluctantly, "Luna dear, watch Hermione."
"Yes ma'am." Luna agreed cheerfully and sat by Hermione's bedside, absently toying with the unconscious Witches curls.
"You three continue your potions and I shall bind Hermione's arm." Feeling back in control Mrs Weasley bustled into the store cupboard for supplies. Once collecting bandages and antiseptic ointment, she hurried back to Hermione's bedside and frowned at her arm. She could not heal it but she could stop it getting worse.
Slowly she poured light green liquid onto the scar and rub it in gently. Drops of blood still drizzled out and turned the ointment a yellowish colour in places. How anyone could be labelled so horrifically, she would never understand. Once the cream was translucent on the younger Witch's skin, Mrs Weasley began to wrap the bandage around the area. Gradually, the word disappeared beneath the strips of white cotton. Around and around the bandage was wrapped, hiding the despicable injury.
"Molly?" Lupin entered and strode over to the eldest witch.
"Are they…?" She motioned to the two boys. Her worry was trusting them, so far they had no choice, but she did not know if they truly could. Would they turn on them if they lost, hand all of her family over to the Death Eaters for slaughter? She had to know, for her family, for her friends, for herself.
"We have examined Pansy and they appear legitimate." Lupin sighed and rubbed a tired hand down his face, "We will try these two but…" He shook his head, "How is Hermione?"
"I don't know." Mrs Weasley sniffed sadly, "They are making potions, but I don't know. Remus, it is dark magic, forbidden magic. We are blind without them." They both turned to the two former Death Eaters, "They know how to save her, without them…she's dying…"
"Oh Godric." Lupin gasped and looked down at the smartest Witch of the younger generation. Not only would they lose a wonderful girl, a clever Witch, and close friend to all. But her symbolism as a Muggle Born who was smarter than any Wizard of Pureblood origins made many question, made many fight. Without her they could be lost.