Author's Note:
Hello readers, I just wanted to put a WARNING at the top that this chapter contains some sensitive topics. Nothing goes into to much detail but just incase you might find it triggering in anyway, I thought I'd let you know. I've added notes at the bottom that are more specific if you would rather know before reading the chapter but I didn't want to post a spoiler at the top.
Chapter Twenty-Three
It takes longer than it should for me to realise that the ear-piercing scream echoing off the walls is coming from me mouth. It takes longer than it should for the boys to stop and turn. It takes longer than is should for Faye to reach the bottom of the staircase in an unconscious heap. It takes longer than it should for Andrius to throw himself after her. It takes longer than it should for Professors and students alike to come flooding into the Entrance Hall to see what all the noise is about. It takes longer than is should for me to move.
Professor Ravensdale gets to her first, Professor Talkalot hard on his heels. Andrius is there next, panic contorting his face. Ravensdale yells at a student to fetch Madame Pomfrey, dropping to his knees beside her and trying to stop Andrius from moving her. There's dark red puddle forming around where Faye is lying. Talkalot takes charge of the students, ordering them to their common rooms at once. They all obey her, some more hesitantly than others. There is an eerie silence amongst them as they hurry off.
Andrius is crying now. Clutching Faye's hand like he'll die if he lets go. Scorpius is behind him, arm still cradled to his chest, other hand resting on his brother's shoulder. Dave is standing shell-shocked on the stairs. Morrish just the same a few steps bellow him. At last Madame Pomfrey rushes into the Entrance Hall, the Headmaster on her tail.
"Her pulse is slow," Ravensdale informs her as she drops down beside Faye. "And she's bleeding, heavily," he frowns.
"We need to get her to St Mungo's at once," Pomfrey orders.
"Should I inform her parents," Ravensdale queries.
"She hasn't got any," Pomfrey sighs. "Just a grandmother. Inform her. And some fet-"
"What's happening? What goin- Faye!" someone screeches before a figure is charging towards her from the direction of the dungeons.
"-ch her brother," Pomfrey finishes needlessly as Julian Rivers falls down next to his sister. "Julian, I need you to be calm," she orders him, ignoring Andrius' tears beside her. "She's going to be fine," she promises. Although her face tells me she isn't so sure.
~X~
Somehow they manage to get her onto a hovering stretcher and are discussing the best way to get her to St Mungo's. Andrius has finally let go of her hand and Scorpius is holding him as close as he can with a broken arm. Talkalot is speaking in hushed tones with Morrish, who looks like she might be going into shock and Professor Halloway has appeared and is talking to Dave, or trying to at least, Dave is just staring at Faye's unconscious body blankly.
"Miss Weasley," I hear faintly. "Rose?" they repeat in a voice that suggests they've been trying to get my attention for a while. "Rose, can you hear me?" they ask gently. I blink and nod. "Are you okay?" I nod again. Even though I'm not. "Rose, can you look at me?"
Slowly I turn my head and blink several times to get Professor Ravensdale's face into focus. "Professor," I murmur.
"We're taking Miss River's to St Mungo's but her brother is asking for you to come with them. He's rather adamant. It's against protocol but… Miss Rivers hasn't got a lot of family. Are you okay? Would you like to come with us?" he asks calmly. I nod. "Good, follow me."
~X~
It's almost dreamlike the way Julian Rivers and I follow Ravensdale down the long path leading out of the grounds. No one speaks but when we break through the protective charms surrounding the castle, Ravensdale grabs us both by the elbows and the next thing I know I am blinking in the murky London air. Ravensdale leads us through the broken window into the derelict department store and suddenly I am in a room abuzz with people.
Ravensdale nudges us in the direction of the chairs in the waiting room and goes off to talk to one of the people in the reception. Rivers slumps down beside me and buries his face in his hands. I don't know how long we sit there. Ravensdale joins us after a while. It could be minutes. It could be hours. It could be days.
After an indeterminable amount of time, a woman dressed in lime green robes – Healer, my mind helpfully supplies – comes over to us. "Are you Mr Rivers?" she addresses Ravensdale. Julian looks up as the Professor shakes his head. She frowns slightly before turning to Julian Rivers – who looks as if the life has been drained from him entirely. "Mr Rivers, your- uh- sister? Your sister is going to be fine, she's still unconscious but she's stable. But, um…" she glances around again. "Perhaps we could talk more privately?" she suggests. Rivers nods and gets up to follow her but turns after a few steps.
"She's coming with me," he states, pointing at me.
"I, uh… of course," the woman shakes her head a little. Clearly unsure how to deal with the lack of parents. "And him?" she gestures to Ravensdale who nods and the three of us follow her out into a consulting room.
"Mr Rivers," she starts again once the door is closed behind us. "Like I said, your sister is fine," she breathes deeply as if steeling herself. "But there was a… a complication. With the baby," she exhales. "Our Healers did everything they could but… I'm so sorry Mr Rivers, your sister lost the child," she rushes out.
Behind us Professor Ravensdale makes a noise of surprise, apparently unaware of Faye's condition. Rivers slumps on the consulting table. "Can I see her?" he asks at length.
"Of course, like I said, she isn't awake yet but she's in a private room, I'll take you to her," the Healer hurries. Looking at her more closely I notice she's young. Probably has only been here a year at most. Once again we follow the Healer through the corridors of the hospital until she stops before a closed door. When Rivers makes no move to open it, I go on ahead, slipping quietly into the room.
"I'll um… I'll leave you two here," Professor Ravensdale mutters gently. "I'll be in the café, on the top floor," he adds on. Rivers and the Healer follow me into the room. Someone has obviously cleaned Faye up as there are not signs of the blood that had been pooling around her early.
"She had a several broken ribs and her arm was broken in three places but they've been set by the Healers already. There was a blow to the head that the Healers are monitoring but that doesn't appear too serious – that's where a large portion of the blood was coming from. It will take a few weeks, maybe a month for her to heal… physically, that is," the Healer adds on with a troubled frown. "She should wake up in a few hours but if you want, you can stay here with her, a Healer will come in every now and then to check up on her."
"Thank you," I nod as Rivers slumps into one of the chairs by Faye's bed. The Healer leaves with a glance over her shoulder and I take the chair across from Rivers. Faye is lying entirely motionless save for the steady rise and fall of her chest as she breathes; her face is a greyish white against the starkness of the hospital sheets. They've removed her robes and exchanged them for a light blue gown that oddly brings out the blueness of her lips. She doesn't look fine.
Julian Rivers rests his forehead against the sheets by his sister's arm. His face almost as grey as hers. It makes me think of their parents, of whether they had to sit by their hospital beds, or if their deaths were sudden, instantaneous. I'm not sure which is worse. The chance to say goodbye or the false hope that would have given them.
"She talks about you," Rivers murmurs at last, pulling back and slouching in his chair again. "All the time. Should told me how you were there for her when I wasn't – she didn't say it like that of course but it's the truth. "I try- I try to be there for her all the time but… I guess sometimes I don't try hard enough. I want to kill whoever did this to her. Whoever injured her; whoever knocked her up in the first place… She's fifteen. She's my little sister, she's just a kid," he sobs. "Hasn't she been through enough?" It comes out as barely more than a whisper but in the dead silence of the room I cannot miss it.
"I know you know," he continues after awhile. "You know who it was, the fucker that did this to her – hell you probably know who pushed her down the stairs as well," he snorts humorlessly and it's a horrible sound to bear witness to.
"It was an accident," I finally force out. "Both things. I don't know very much about the circumstances of the first," I confess, referring to her pregnancy. "But I was there when she fell. They were fighting – not her. The boys, they were sending hexes and jinxes and Merlin knows what everywhere. I've no idea who cast the one that blew up the stairs by her. They all seamed to yell the same spell at once… I didn't even- I don't- She wasn't anywhere near them. I didn't see her move. I would've- I would've stopped her," I choke out.
Julian doesn't reply and we sit in silence for over an hour as Healers come in and out and silently cast spells over her and write things down before moving on. Just as the silence becomes suffering, the door slams open with a force that strongly implies the person behind it is not a Healer. Or anyone with much decency.
Glancing over Faye's bed, I watch as a tall, spindly woman comes striding into the room, her dark velvety robes swirling around her feet. Her face is pulled taunt; whether it is naturally so or from the fact she has found herself in a hospital I couldn't say. Her amber eyes give away her blood relation to the unconscious girl between us.
"Grandmother," Julian greets her blankly.
"Who are you?" she demands, ignoring her grandson and glaring at me.
"Rose Weasley," I reply, my tone defiant, she sneers in unconcealed disgust.
"She stays," Julian's voice broke no argument and the woman – Faye's grandmother and guardian – looked momentarily surprised. Their silent conversation is interrupted by a Healer coming in and almost jumping in fright at the addition to the room.
"Lady Moon," the Healer almost squeals, trying to sink away from the woman without actually moving. "We weren't expecting you-" he seems unable to stop himself from saying.
"Well that was rather thoughtless of you, my granddaughter is in critical condition here, where else would I be?" she snaps, seemingly disgusted by the notion she would be anywhere else. Which redeems her just a little in my eyes.
"Of course, I'm so sorry," he stutters.
"Stop wasting your breath and do your job," she demands, waving in Faye's direction.
"Yes, yes, of course," the Healer hurries to do his checking and notes before practically running from the room.
"Well," Lady Moon (and why on earth she was a Lady I have no idea) demands. "How is she?"
"She'll be fine," Julian replies without looking at his grandmother.
"And the child?" she queries. Julian shakes his head slightly and Lady Moon seems to deflate.
"Oh," is all she says, sinking onto the cushion bench that stood against the far wall. "Oh."
~X~
After another forty minutes of uncomfortable silence, I excuse myself for the toilets and head out, leaving the small and broken family to themselves for a moment. The hospital on this level is eerily quiet and it takes me a while to find the bathroom. Instead of heading straight back to Faye's room, I wonder around for a while, lost in thought and as I turn a corner, I am landed with an arm full of distressed Malfoy. Andrius Malfoy to be specific.
"Hey, hey," I murmur soothingly.
"Rose?" he mumbles, glancing up at me before sinking back down into a hug when I don't let him go. "Where is she? They won't let me see her, won't tell me where she is. She's okay isn't she Rose? She's okay?" he gasps out.
"She's going to be fine," I mutter soothingly, running and hand through his hair as he grips me tighter. "How did you get here?"
"Had to floo-call my mum to get permission – she's downstairs with Scor and everyone," he mumbles into my shoulder.
"Andrius, I think we should go back down to them," I tell him gently.
"I have to see her Rose, I have to!" he protests.
"And you will but she's got her brother and grandmother in there with her and she's not awake yet anyway. I'll make sure you can see her then but I don't think it would be a good idea for you to go in now," I tell him truthfully.
"I will see her," he states determinedly.
"You will see her, just not yet."
~X~
When Andrius and I finally find our way to where Mrs Malfoy and 'everyone' are sitting, I immediate exchange one Malfoy boy for another as Scorpius pulls me into a tight hug, his arm obviously having been set by a Healer at some point. Or maybe it was Madame Pomfrey. Over his shoulder I see his mother raise a curious eyebrow and Lily – how did she get here – openly staring. I close my eyes and bury my face in his shoulder.
"Fuck Rose," he breathes into my hair. "What the hell happened?"
"I don't know," I confess. It all happened too fast.
"Is she okay?" he asks.
"She lost the baby," I cry quietly into his shoulder so that Andrius can't hear. His grip on me tightens before letting go and carefully guiding me away from everyone and down the corridor to another bench. We sit down and he pulls me back into his arms. "We're going to have to tell her when she wakes up," I sob and oh Merlin, I'm crying. "And Andrius, we're going to have to tell them. She was getting so excited, I know she didn't plan on it and she was terrified but she was so excited and she was so close and now it's gone. They tried to save it but-" I choke off on another sob.
"Hey, hey," he mutters, hugging me tighter. "It's not your fault, okay? If it's anyone's, it's mine. I started it, I shouldn't have punched Dave like that – but what he was saying – but I still souldn't have done it and now-"
"Scorpius," I cut him off. "Scorpius, look at me," I demand, pulling away to angle his chin so he looks me in the eye. "It is not your fault. Do you understand me? It is not your fault." Hesitantly he nods. "And Scorpius, I… What Dave said…"
"I know, Rose. It's okay, I know," he smiles, pulling me back towards him. I push away again. Because I have to tell him. He has to know.
"You- You are different…" I state, curling my hand in the front of his robes. "The others I mean… You are different." His smile is a strange mix of emotions and instead of saying anything he just pulls me back into his arms and we sit there is silence for Merlin knows how long.
~X~
"What happened between Morrish and Dave?" I ask at last, if only to distract myself from my thoughts. Scorpius seems somewhat startled but recovers himself quickly.
"They were seeing each other secretly for about a year," he sighs. "I didn't even know about it until it ended, she never said a word. When she told me, I figured that must have been why you ended things with him. He didn't know by the way – he told her that he was over you and that you weren't together anymore. She was naïve," he mutters bitterly. "Georgie is like my sister," he explains. "But she's easily lead. McLaggen convinced her he was in love with her and that she loved him back. Told her she was his one and only and all that bullshit.
"She was completely innocent back then. He took her first kiss, her virginity, was her first love… And threw it all back in her face. She never asked anything of him, just accepted that he didn't want to be public and naively believed he was faithful to her.
"Then one day she found him – much like you did no doubt – wrapped in the arms of another girl. It tore her apart. She used to be happy and carefree and loved life… Now she just hides away from everything. She didn't even hex him; she just walked away and let him get away with breaking her heart.
"And I had no idea it was happening – my own cousin and I was too wrapped up in myself to notice. She finally told me everything at the end of Sixth Year but made me promise not to say anything, not to do anything… But then today, I don't even know what they were talking about but I just lost it Rose. He'd hurt her and I didn't want him anywhere near her. And that's when you appeared," he smiles sadly and we fall back into silence, at least somewhat distracted.
~X~
Eventually, Lily comes around the corner and, giving me a very pointed look which clearly states we will be having a conversation about this later, informs us that Andrius is freaking out again and we should probably come back and try and make him calm down.
"We're going to have to tell him," Scorpius sighs dejectedly. Lily's eyebrows shoot up.
"Tell him what?" she demands, glancing from Scorpius to me and something in my face must tell her what she needs to know. "Oh," is all she says.
When we get back to the waiting room, Mrs Malfoy is making Andrius count his exhales and inhales. "Andrius," I say gently as Scorpius silently converses with his mother, who gives a gentle nod, her expression sad and resigned. "Andrius, there's something you need to know," I continue, looking to Scorpius for guidance and he nods and why, why do I have to be the one to tell him.
Andrius tense under my hand where it is resting on his arm. "Faye is going to be fine, I promise," I start. "But…" I choke off. Why are these words so hard to get out?
"The baby…" he sighs, slumping entirely. It's not a question. He knows.
"I'm so sorry," I sob.
When Andrius doesn't speak, doesn't even look up, his mother pulls him into her arms and rocks him gently, whispering in his ear. Scorpius sits down next to me, looking faintly like he might be sick, and Lily is on Mrs Malfoy's other side, her expression blank.
~X~
"Rose!" someone shouts as a figure comes flying into the waiting room and I'm suddenly yanked from my chair into a bone-crushing hug. "Oh thank Merlin you're alright," James huffs out in relief. "Eve was interviewing one of the the Falcon's players earlier and said she thought she saw you here and I freaked out and she said she didn't think you were hurt but she wasn't sure why you were here and-"
"And so he lost his shit and tried to apparate out of our kitchen, which, incidentally, has anti-apparating charms on it which he installed," Evanna finishes for him, coming into the waiting room at a much more reasonable pace. "I'm glad you're okay Rose," she adds on.
"I'm fine, I'm fine, I- could you please ease up James, you're kind of crushing my ribs," I huff. "Sorry, I didn't mean to startle anyone. A, um, friend of mine was in an accident – she's okay, or at least, she will be – but that's why I'm here," I explain.
"Oh thank fuck – not that that's not terrible, I really hope she's alright but jeez Rose, I was so terrified it was you," he breathes out. Which is immediately followed by a surprised: "Mrs Malfoy?"
"Hello James," Mrs Malfoy replies.
"Good to know I'm invisible," Lily mutters from behind her.
But before anyone can respond, a harsh "Astoria," comes from behind us and we all turn in sync to see Lady Moon striding towards us.
"Isabelle," Mrs Malfoy responds emotionlessly.
"What are you doing here?" she demands.
"My son was concerned for your daughter's wellbeing."
"Well there was no need to come all the way out here, he could have sent a letter," Lady Moon retorted.
"My son was concerned for his girlfriend's wellbeing," Astoria rewords and Isabelle Moon's eyes widen slightly before she turns on Scorpius.
"You!" she accuses. "You did this to my granddaughter?"
"No," Scorpius replies through gritted teeth. And in any other circumstance it might have been funny that this was the second time he was being accused of getting Faye Rivers pregnant. Lady Moon squints her eyes at him.
"I did," Andrius confesses, his eyes lifeless.
"You," she sneers and stares at him. Andrius holds her gaze. "I suppose you'll want to see her then," Lady Moon says eventually, surprising even herself it seems. "Come with me – and I want the Weasley girl, she's been asking for you ever since she woke up."
"She's awake?" several of us chorus together.
"Isn't that what I just said?" Lady Moon mutters before striding out of the room with Andrius and I scurrying behind her.
~X~
When we slip into Faye's room, she is propped up on a few more pillows, looking listlessly at the wall. "It was a girl," she murmurs before either of us gets a chance to speak. "The first Malfoy girl in sixteen generations."
Andrius reaches out to take her hand but with the little strength she has left, she moves it away. I don't need to see his face to feel his whole world break apart once more. He stands there, frozen, for and endless minute before turning on his heels and walking out of the room.
"There's no need to pretend anymore," Faye mutters.
"He wasn't pretending Faye and you know it," I reply.
"It doesn't matter," she answers, her voice even quieter than usual. "Julian," she sighs, waving her fingers as if indicating something.
"Faye isn't going back to Hogwarts for the rest of this year," he informs me. I stare at her helplessly, how to do help someone so broken? It's not what Julian is saying; I was expecting that. But Faye was always so full of life, even when she was scared out of her mind; now she's lying on the hospital bed looking like a single smile would break her completely. "She just wanted to say goodbye because you won't be there next year," Julian sighs.
"Of course, I- of course… But Faye this won't be-" I'm interrupted by a knocking on the door. Julian and I turn to see Lily poking her head around the door.
"May I come in?" she asks hesitantly. Julian nods. Lily steps in and freezes when she sees Faye. "Everyone out," she orders, voice like steel. "Now." And to my amazement, Lady Moon and Julian stand at once and make for the door. "And you Rose," Lily states.
"Rose," Faye whispers when I reach the door. "Look after him," she pleads, voice barely audible.
"Of course," I reply. Although I'm not sure if she is talking about Andrius or her brother by this point.
~X~
"So Malfoy, huh," James asks from where he's leaning on the wall outside Faye's room. I nod. There's really very little point in trying to deny it now. "He told us what happened today," he gestures his head at the closed door to Faye's room. "I'm sorry."
"We all are," I admit.
"So are you and Malfoy a thing now?" he asks as we walk back down to the waiting room. Julian and Lady Moon have disappeared.
"I don't know," I confess. "We haven't had time to talk about it."
"Well he may be a Malfoy Rose," James teases lightly. "But he said he punched McLaggen in the face rather than use his wand so he kind of fights like a Weasley."
"Shut it," I shove him gently.
"Honestly Rose," he turns serious. "He's a good kid. I like him – you could definitely do worse," he smiles.
"Thanks," I whisper, choking up again. Because James' approval means everything – there is no way I could be with someone James didn't like. Not after last time.
"Hey, come here," he murmurs, pulling me into a hug, gentler than his earlier one. And I sink into his embrace, entirely exhausted – physically and emotionally. "It's going to be okay. I know it doesn't seem like it. But it will be. Eventually."
Author's Note:
~X~
WARNING: This chapter contains very mild gore, allusions to a potentially abusive relationship and a miscarriage/still born occurring during the final trimester.
~X~
Hello lovely readers, I thought I'd give you a quicker update than usual after the horrible cliffhanger I left you with. I'm really sorry if you feel like some things are a little glossed over in this chapter but there are issues that I have never experienced and therefore didn't feel comfortable writing in depth about them. I would love to (and am slightly nervous to) hear your thoughts. There are only two chapters and an Epilogue left guys!
Thanks for reading,
Irish Myth.