Chapter 5
Skye was woken from her slumber by a shake of the shoulder, trying to get her to move. "We're leaving, wake up." Skye realised that is was Draco shaking her, and she also noticed that her siblings were staring at her weirdly. "What?" Harry smiled at her slightly aggressive tone. "We've been travelling for three hours. We've been trying to wake you for two of those hours. Are you okay?" Hermione told the girl worriedly, placing a hand on her forehead before Skye could protest. "I'm fine, just a bit tired. I can't wait until the summer holidays." Mia smirked. "Hell, me neither, no more Weasel to bump into." Draco snorted. "There's going to be two next year. Weasel and Weaslette. Not to mention two Potter children." Hermione groaned. "But, it's okay, because Ginny is coming to Slytherin, and we've also got Astoria Greengrass, as well as Flora and Hestia Carrow." Harry immediately jumped in to interrupt. "You are forgetting Luna Lovegood." The children were so wrapped up in chatting, they hadn't realised that Skye had been extremely quiet, in fact, the girl had slipped straight back into sleep the moment her cousins and siblings were preoccupied.
Arriving in Hogsmeade, Severus was the person to assist the students getting off the train. Between the four children, they managed to wake Skye up just long enough to get her off the train, before she almost passed out on the platform. "Professor!" Hermione shouted, waving him over to them frantically as they got her over to the bench. Severus appeared, frowning immediately when he saw that it was his sister. "She fell ill on the train. We were all chatting before we left the station, sharing the sweets we had just brought off the trolley. Then she fell asleep for three hours and now she won't wake up properly!" He immediately sent his patronus off to Poppy, and whilst they waited for her, he made sure that every student managed to get into a carriage. He made sure to save a carriage for the four children, and the moment Poppy appeared, he assured them that Skye would be fine, before sending them on their way.
At the table in the Great Hall, the four sat in silence. Pansy, Daphne, Blaise and Theo did all that they could to cheer them up, but it was no use. They were terrified. At last Severus arrived in the hall and immediately told Albus and Alassia what was going on, before the three professor's walked out of the hall, but not before informing Minerva that there had been an incident on the train and to get the feast started. The hall descended into silence as the stern witch stood up, and not even the Slytherins dared to speak. "Headmaster Dumbledore, professor Riddle and professor Snape have been called away to the hospital wing for the moment, as an incident occurred on the train. It is a very serious incident, and anyone who knows anything should go to the Headmaster immediately after dinner. For now, let the feast begin." As the food appeared on the tables, there was plenty of speculation about what had happened, but the whole of Slytherin house knew the truth, choosing to stay very tight lipped.
Half way through dinner, the Headmaster returned and walked over to the Slytherin table, informing the children that they should get to the hospital wing immediately. They didn't need to be told twice, and without stopping to listen to their friends get well messages, they ran from the hall. Running into the hospital wing with Albus right behind them, they stopped in their tracks when they saw both sets of parents sat with Severus. "I know you are very worried about Skye. Please listen to what we are going to say. Skye is alive, but she is extremely sick. It appears that some of the treats off the trolley were laced with a deadly poison. It has to have been someone on the train, who knew she would eat those treats." Draco growled. "Weasley." The adults lead them over to where Skye was lay on her side, staring at the floor angrily. "Staying angry at Weasel will not help you recover quicker, princess." Voldemort sighed, kissing her cheek before turning away. "I better leave, before students see me." The four children sat down on the bed with her. Poppy normally did not allow guests, but given the circumstances, she'd let them stay.
It was ten minutes later before anyone else said anything. "Anything to get out of taking classes with Gryffindor." Draco joked, stroking the girl's cheek gently. Even though they were cousins, it felt like she was a sister, especially as she practically lived with them. "Think I'd rather go to class with Gryffindor than stay here." Harry smirked at her; at least she hadn't lost all of her charm and sarcasm. "I'm sure Weasley will get what is coming to him. I'm also certain we should wait until we've met his sister. From what we've been told by Fred and George, she hates him, and I'm positive she'll disown him when word breaks out." Hermione said, making Skye smirk. Poppy appeared and turned to the Malfoy adults. "You should probably take her home so she has round the clock care. As you know, I have other students to tend to, and she'll be more comfortable at home." Skye stood up with help from Narcissa and Lucius, whilst Alassia and Severus looked helpless. "Take care of her. I'll come home after dinner to make sure she's okay." Narcissa nodded, turning to her own children, nephew and niece. "Don't worry yourselves, she'll be okay. Focus on your studies and getting Slytherin to the top of the leader board." She whispered the last part when Albus turned to Poppy, knowing he'd just add points to Gryffindor if he knew.
The next day, Alassia and Severus didn't come to the Great Hall for breakfast, and the four Slytherin children looked like they hadn't slept. Pansy, Blaise, Daphne and Theo sat with their respective partners, making sure that they ate something before class. Coincidently, they had DADA first period, so Alassia would most likely be there. When they arrived, there was no teacher present, so the Gryffindor/Slytherin first years sat down and waited for the bell. It was silent for a minute before Ron stood up. "I'm not sitting here waiting for the death eater. It's obvious she isn't coming. Her precious daughter probably died eating those pastries." He hadn't seen Lucius Malfoy stood in the doorway to the office, as he was too busy laughing at the horrified expressions on the children's faces. "Detention with Filch for the rest of the year and 100 points from Gryffindor for admitting to poisoning my niece. Severus, take him to Albus and tell him everything." Severus appeared behind him, grabbing Ron by the sleeve and walking away. The class was silent until Lucius sat down.
"As you will see, Professor Riddle is absent." Lucius started a minute later. "You may or may not know, but Mr Weasley, as he so kindly pointed out, poisoned Skye Riddle on the train back to Hogwarts. He will be punished. Skye was sent home for round the clock care, provided by her father, myself and my wife. Skye took a turn for the worse last night, prompting Professors Snape and Riddle to go home. Severus had to come back, but Alassia is going to stay, so for now, I will be teaching DADA." The class stayed quiet whilst Lucius carried on talking, taking in everything that was said. "Any questions?" Neville put his hand up. "Will Skye live? I know she's a Slytherin, but she's never said anything rude to me that I can remember. I'd hate for her to die because Ron is too jealous for his own good." The Slytherins, as well as Lucius, looked surprised, but they smiled. "Well, we don't know for sure, but provided that she doesn't get out of bed or perform magic, and she keeps eating, drinking and getting plenty of rest, she should pull through and be back in time for second year. Possibly even before the end of term, because we caught it so fast." They had been so wrapped up in their conversations, that they hadn't realised how much time had passed until the bell rang for the start of their next lesson.
Entering the Potions classroom five minutes late, Severus wasn't even bothered. He knew the Slytherins did not care about classes today, but they had to win the house cup, so he stood up and put the recipe for their potion on the board. Getting into their pairs, Lily Moon put her hand up. "Who should I work with, in Skye's absence?" Severus sighed. "Miss Bulstrode." The two girls sat together and prepared their ingredients. The lesson went by slowly for Severus, but soon it was lunch time and class ended. "Draco, Mia, Harry and Hermione, stay behind please." They stayed seated and waited for their cousin/brother to address them. "We are going to Riddle House to visit Skye. Hurry along." They all went through the floo and landed in the living room of the house. Lucius appeared behind them, and the six of them went upstairs, where they could hear shouting and laughing. "Skye wins again! Lacey, you really need to learn how to play wizards chess." Voldemort laughed as Alassia shouted in protest. Narcissa rolled her eyes.
"I thought she was supposed to be resting." Lucius commented, walking into the room with the rest of the family behind him. "Friends! Finally, I'm so bored!" Harry and Draco laughed as they climbed on to the bed to play chess, whilst Hermione and Mia hugged her close, relieved that she was okay. "Skye's condition has greatly improved. Anyway, I thought the children went to school?" Narcissa quipped. "Lessons have been cancelled anyway because the Gryffindors are causing uproar over Ron's confession." Skye's head shot up. "He confessed? I missed it?" Severus nodded. "Sorry, princess. You can watch mine and Severus's memories later, I promise." For the rest of the afternoon, the children played chess and gobstones whilst the adults sat and discussed the upcoming summer holidays.
