Gray sat alone in his bed, thinking about the events of last night. His head was bandaged, and his cheek with a patch. He stared at his hand, and closed it, his bandaged wrist hurting once it was tense.
"Looks like you're up and about."
Gray looked up and to his left, seeing Gajeel moving the curtain that divided his bed from the next. "Gajeel…" He muttered. Gajeel gave a smile and slammed down on the seat next to Gray. "How you feeling?" He asked. Gray shrugged. "Well my brain's still hurting and it's still hard to breath, but at least I'm in control of my own body again." Gray smiled, as he looked back at his hand, opening and closing it again. "Well that's good." Gajeel smiled, Gray looking at him and smiled. "What about Ginny?" Gray asked. "She was released with only a few bumps and scratches." Gajeel told him. "And the others?" Gray asked again. "Ron, Harry and Natsu paid a trip to the principal's office, and Lockhart remembers nothing. But they're ok." Gajeel replied with a smile. Gray nodded and smiled. "So, do you remember anything that happened?" He asked, arms folded. Gray went silent, and looked back down. "I…. don't remember much…. I just remember making rounds, then punching something…. Then it all went black…" Gray admitted.
Gajeel hummed and looked up, leaning back on his chair. "You know Lucy was worried about you. Since you passed yourself as a Muggle born she thought you were caught." Gajeel told him. "Lucy…? How is she? Is she ok?" Gray asked. "She's better, but she's still unconscious." Gajeel told him. Gray looked down, his fist clasping his bedsheets. "Wendy is healing her right now. She'll be fine." Gajeel reassured. Gray sighed with relief, knowing at least she was ok. "She's resting right now. Wendy said she should be fine in a few days." Gray flicked off his sheets and stood up. "Hey hey hey, should you be walking? I mean you went head to head with Natsu." Gajeel exclaimed, standing up. "I'll be fine." Gray reassured, smiling at Gajeel and moved slowly to Lucy's room.
Natsu sat next to Lucy, watching her rest. Her face looked so peaceful, but so troubled at the same time. Her face wasn't hollow anymore, but her cheeks were still a little sunken in. "She's the only person who's ever made me feel something I've never felt before!" Natsu stayed silent and began to move her hair out of her face. He began to think about what he said. He saw Lucy as a friend, a comrade. So why did he say that?
"Hey, how's Luce?" Natsu turned around, and saw Gray entering the room. "She's better." Natsu replied. Gray nodded and walked around the bed, sitting opposite of Natsu. "So I heard you went to Dumbledore's office." Gray said, starting up a conversation. "Yeah.. He said he wants to give us special awards for school service. He also asked what happened in the Chamber." Natsu said. "Speaking of which…." Gray dug into his pocket and pulled out a key ring with silver and gold keys. "Found these in my pocket. I think this rightfully belongs to Lucy." Gray smiled and softly placed the keys next to Lucy's head. Natsu gave a smile, and a slight nod. "She'll be relieved when she wakes." Natsu smiled.
"Hey Natsu…." Natsu looked at Gray with a hum. "I'm sorry at what happened. I wasn't myself." Natsu looked at him, before giving a smile. "Don't worry about it. Voldemort was controlling you. I'm sure Lucy understands." Natsu said calmly, looking back at Lucy. "But we're grateful to have you back." Natsu said, giving a smile. "Yeah. Great to be back." Gray smiled back. "Now we know that Voldemort will do anything to come back. So we'll have to be careful from now on." Natsu noted, Gray nodding in agreement. Natsu looked at Gray and extended his hand. "And no matter what happens, we'll always look out for one another." Gray blinked, then smiled, grasping Natsu's hand.
A third hand softly placed on top of the boy's hands. The boys looked down in shock. Lucy was awake, just barely, smiling softly. "Yeah…. No matter what happens, we will always have each others backs…." She whispered with a smile. "Lucy!" The boys cried, rushing into a hug. Even though it was a bit rough, she accepted it. She looked at Gray, her smile still there. "Thank you for returning my keys…." She said to Gray. "Oh Luce!" Natsu dug into his pocket and pulled out a ring. "Here. Since your old one was destroyed, Dumbledore gave me a new one to give to you." He smiled. Lucy smiled back and accepted the ring. "Thank you Natsu…" She praised and slipped the ring on.
The door to Lucy's private room opened in a rush. Everyone in the guild ran in, Wendy first to appear. She stopped, seeing a fully awake Lucy sitting up straight, smiling at her. Wendy began to cry and jumped into a hug. "LUUUUUCYYYYY!" She cried. Lucy gave a smile, accepting Wendy's hug. One by one, her team mates poured in, happy to see her awake. Happy cried in her arms, Charla sitting on her lap. Lily stood up next to her, folding his arms as he smiled. The fairies posing as teachers gathered around her, one by one giving her a hug.
"Thank goodness you're ok Lu!" Levy gasped as she gave her friend a hug. "We were so worried. You looked so sick when Natsu brought you out." Erza informed her. "What happened down there?" Mira asked. "Well… all I remember is waking up… and then my body was in pain…. I felt electrocutions and pain in every part of my body… and it was like that for ten hours. It almost felt like something was being sucked out of my body." She admitted. "Then they took away my wand and ring and broke it. My keyes were taken away as well…" She said, as she cradled her keys in her hands. "And then Natsu and Harry came in." She finished, looking at Natsu.
"Well, it's all over now child. Rest well, and join us in the feast tonight. It is the last school day after all." Makarov smiled. "Yes, I'm sure everyone would like to see you three." Erza smiled, looking at Natsu, Gray and Lucy. "Really? After everything that happened?" Natsu asked, looking at Erza. "Of course. Both of your suspensions are lifted. And Lucy, you might feel better after having a bite to eat and a walk around." Lucy looked down, not sure. "You don't have to if you don't want to Lucy." Wendy said, leaning towards Lucy.
Lucy shook her head and smiled. "No it's ok. Maybe walking around will make me feel better." She smiled. Everyone smiled, and made their way out. "We'll get out of your hair, let you rest a bit." Mira smiled. "We'll see you down there." Gajeel smiled, walking out. Lucy smiled. "Yep. Oh Natsu, can you stay behind for a bit?" Lucy asked. "Huh? Oh yeah sure." Natsu agreed, staying behind. The door closed behind him, and Lucy looked down at her keys.
"I just wanted to say thank you." She said. "You kept my promise. You brought them back." She smiled, looking at Natsu. Natsu blinked and gave a smile. "Of course Lucy. We're a team. Like you said, we have each others back." He said simply. Lucy smiled and looked down. "I'm… going to rest for a bit. I'll be down in the feast." She smiled once more. "Sure. See you soon." Natsu smiled, and left. Lucy looked at her keys and hugged them.
She sighed and opened the window and closed her eyes, breathing in that fresh air.
"Mister Malfoy."
She opened her eyes, wondering where the call was coming from.
"Mister Malfoy!" She looked around, until she saw Harry run up to who looked to be Lucius. "I believe this is yours." He said, stuffing a book into his hand. "Mine? I don't know what you're talking about!" Lucius scoffed. "I think you do sir. I think you slipped the diary int Ginny Weasley's cauldron. That day at Diagon Alley?" Lucius gave a shocked look. Lucy silently gasped, remembering Lucius picked up Ginny's book and putting it back… he must've swapped it there and then. "You do, do you?" He gritted, snapping the book over to the elf, who slowly took it.
He stepped closer to Harry and leaned down. "Why don't you prove it?" He whispered hatefully. Harry said nothing. Lucios gave a slight scoff and turned around. "Come Dobby…" He commanded. Lucy saw Harry whisper something to Dobby. Dobby then opened the book and held up a sock. "Dobby!" Lucius called out. "Dobby has presented Dobby with a sock! Dobby is free!" The elf exclaimed. "I didn't gi-" Lucios gritted, turning around. He then looked at Harry, who lifted his pants, twisting his ankle around. "You lost me my SERVANT!" Lucius yelled, snapping his wand out. He marched over to Harry. "Harry!" Lucy thought, holding out her keys. "Avada…" Dobby held out his hand, blasting away his former master. "You shall not harm Harry Potter!" The elf proclaimed. Lucios stood up and sneered at Harry. "Your parents were meddlesome fools too…" He pointed at Harry his face twisted in anger. "Mark my words Potter. One day soon… you are going to meet the same. Sticky. End." And with that Lucios marched away.
Lucy sighed relief and slid back down in her bed. "Thank goodness…" She muttered. She looked out the window again, thinking. Now she knows there was something dark and sinister with the Malfoys. But for now she didn't worry about it. It had a long day.
Later that night, everyone gathered in the Grand Hall ready for the End of Year Feast. Harry and Ron sat at their table, waiting for Hermione to come, as all the students petrified were finally free. Hermione walked into the hall and gave a big sigh. She saw Ron and Harry talking with Neville. She felt a wind of excitement and relief.
"Harry look! It's Hermione!" Neville exclaimed, pointing at Hermione. Ron and Harry leaned back, and smiled at Hermione. She began to run down the hall to her friends. Harry and Ron stood up and ran towards her. When she reached them, she then she gave harry the biggest hug. She let go of Harry and reached for Ron, but then stopped herself, the two of them feeling a bit awkward. "Uh… welcome back Hermione." Ron welcomed, extending his hand to Hermione. "Glad to be back." She smiled, shaking his hand. "I can't believe you guys solved it!" She exclaimed, looking at them. "Well we had loads of help from you. We couldn't have done it without you." Harry praised. "Thanks." Hermione smiled.
A cling from a cup came from the front. "Children, please take a seat." Dumbledore said calmly.
The three took their seats, but then something caught Harry's eye. "Harry, what's wrong?" Hermione asked, looking to where Harry was looking. There stood Gajeel, a thin looking Lucy, and a beaten up Natsu and Gray. Everyone looked at the door, all silent. Gray took a deep breath and walked down the hall. Everyone watched as he walked down. He stood next to Dumbledore, who was standing on the podium. Once he was there, Natsu followed behind, eyes on him as well. He stood next to Dumbledore on the other side.
"Mister Dragneel and Mister Fullbuster are no longer suspended, and will be joining us next year. " Dumbledore proclaimed. Draco wasn't exactly happy, but he decided to hold his tongue for now. "And I understand there is something they wish to say?" Albus asked, looking at them both. Both of them kneeled and placed their heads and hands in front of them.
"WE'RE SORRY!" They yelled in front of the hall. "We didn't mean to cause any troubles." Natsu said. "We weren't ourselves." Gray said. "I hope you can forgive us!" They said in sync.
Silence in the hall.
Susan and Ernie stood up and walked up to Gray and Natsu respectively. They stood in front of them, both of them looking up. Susan sighed in relief and hugged Gray. "We were so worried. Of course we forgive you!" She cried, helping Gray up. "And you were right. I shouldn't have judge so quickly. I deserved that knock to the head. Friends?" Ernie asked, extending his hand. Natsu smiled and took it. "Friends." He smiled, and took his hand. Everyone cheered and gathered around the two students, welcoming them back. Gray and Natsu took their seats, everyone hugging them and patting them on the back. Lucy and Gajeel took their seats as well, looking at the front.
"Now before we begin the feast, let's give a round of applause to Professor Wendy Marvel, Madam Poppy Pomfrey, and Professor Pomona Sprout for taking care of our students and whose Mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been petrified." Everyone gave a round of applause, except for Draco and his gang, who were still a bit annoyed. "Also, in light of the recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been cancelled!"
All the children cheered for the treat. But Hermione was a little bummed that she couldn't do exam. Dumbledore sat back down, smiling. The doors opened again, revealing Hagrid. Everyone stopped and stared at him in surprise. "Sorry I'm late." He started, and walked in. "The owl that delivered my release papers got lost and confused. Some ruddy bird called Errol." Ron's eyes widened in embarrassment, and sunk down into his chair. Everyone giggled and gave him looks.
Hagrid stopped at Harry and his friends. "I would just like to say that without you, Ron, Hermione, and Natsu, I would still be you know where. Thank you." Hagrid smiled. Harry looked at his friends who looked back at him. Harry stood up and smiled. "There's no Hogwarts without you Hagrid." Harry smiled and gave him a hug. As he let go, everyone stood up and clapped at his return.
The next morning, everyone boarded the train bound for London. Lucy sighed and leaned her head against the seat, rolling her head towards the window. "Hey, you okay?" Natsu asked, coming in. "Yeah I'm fine." She smiled. Natsu grinned and sat beside her. "If you are feeling odd, you can always rely on us." Natsu said calmly. Lucy smiled and nodded. "Of course." She smiled. The door slid open, Gray and Gajeel smiling and walking in and sitting across her. Finally, their team was together again.
Lucy smiled and looked at her keys, and grasped them tightly. She gave them a hug, and looked out the window, feeling that the fight wasn't over just yet. She couldn't shake the feeling…
That the worst was yet to come.
Hey guys. I hope you enjoyed the second instalment! I am going to take a break for Christmas vacation. But don't worry, I'm not done yet! I will see you all soon!