Chapter Six:
Madam Pomfrey read the newspaper shakily, glancing often towards Lily.
Lily lay on the bed, her eyes were open and her expression was still masked. She hadn't closed her eyes to sleep.
Really, Madam Pomfrey could just have told Lily to close her eyes and sleep, but that seemed cruel to force people to take part in actions they didn't willingly acknowledge. She finally set aside the newspaper, giving up her attempt at reading. It was too difficult to read while she also wanted to keep her eyes on the girl. It was scary. The scariest part was that she didn't even know what was wrong. Usually, she would know the problem and that enabled her to find a solution. However, this time she couldn't even help that much and that scared her.
Suddenly, a hand rested on Madam Pomfrey's shoulder. She looked up bewildered. "It's all right now, Poppy. You go have a rest. I'll take over." The Headmaster smiled at the nurse and his blue eyes twinkled like two bright stars. Madam Pomfrey sagged gratefully. "Then I'll just go and leave you to it, then?"
The Headmaster nodded and she rose then left. Professor Dumbledore gently lowered himself onto the now empty seat. Was the Infirmary usually this quiet? As he watched Lily, deep wrinkles of distress wove its way onto his forehead. Then, the Infirmary doors burst open. A gasping Professor Slughorn toppled in a grabbed the Headmaster's shoulder. "A-Albus. Oh, God. I can't run that fast. Whoo. Albus. We need to speak. Can we go to your office?"
Professor Dumbledore sighed. "Horace, I am on duty to watch over Miss Evans right now. Can't this wait?"
Professor Slughorn shook his head. "No. This concerns what happened to Miss Evans in the holidays."
Defeated, Dumbledore looked at Lily once more before calling, "Poppy! I have urgent matters to attend to. I must impose on you again. Please can you watch over Miss Evans for the while? Thanks!" Then he hurried off with Slughorn and they disappeared through the doors. Unbeknownst to them, Madam Pomfrey was sleeping on her desk and hadn't heard a word the Headmaster had said.
And Lily lay alone on the hospital bed, her eyes wide and frightened.
-_- o -_-
"Horace, how much do you know?"
Dumbledore frowned and looked at the Potions Master, his eyes searching for an honest answer. Slughorn shook his head sadly. "I have found out that Miss Evans is an orphan."
Dumbledore blinked. "Really? Since when? How can it be possible?"
"It is possible. During the holidays, her parents were killed. The Muggle files say that it was electricity that shocked them to death, but the marks on their bodies from the photographs indicate that a wizard or witch caused these murders."
Dumbledore took a deep breath. "Poor Lily. She must have felt so alone. Who could have done this?"
"I don't know. The spell used was an Unforgivable. The death curse. Anyone could have cast it. I do have a strong suspicion that the person that murdered Lily's parents is not done toying with her yet."
The Headmaster nodded. "Yes. Indeed. You are thinking as I am that the person that murdered her parents has also placed her under a strong spell? And now she has become like this?"
Slughorn nodded. "Precisely."
Fawkes squawked on his perch and Dumbledore walked over to stroke his beautiful plumed head. "Well, all is not as easy and simple as it seems. As for now, Horace, you have a Potions class to tech. I'll see you later. And thank you for your information. If anything new comes up, inform me immediately."
-_- o -_-
Mara sat on a stool, trying not to think about Lily. Instead, she told herself to focus on other things. But it was really hard. She didn't know how her best friend was. She wasn't allowed to see her. She couldn't do a single, tiny, little thing. It was very frustrating. She couldn't even cry on someone's shoulder because she wasn't able to tell anyone!
"Class! I apologise for my lateness. I was slightly held up. Let's begin now, shall we?"
Mara looked up and found Professor Slughorn writing the potion recipe out with his wand on the blackboard. "We're making the Draught of Light today. If this potion should come in contact with human skin, it would create a bright golden ray that, if used correctly in combat, may come in useful for blinding ones enemy."
But Slughorn was different today. He seemed less cheerful and more downcast. Almost sad, as if something weighty was pressing on him. Vaguely, Mara wondered if it would have anything to do with Lily. Then, she saw the recipe again and promptly forgot all her musings. It was more important to get to work. McGonagall had said to carry on life as if nothing had happened, right?
-_- o -_-
Smoke loitered into the room.
Lily stayed exactly as she was.
Then, the misshapen hand shot out and pinched her collar tightly before lifting her away in a single, fluid motion. And then, everything disappeared. The hand, the smoke, and Lily.
-_- o -_-
Mara reached the Marauders quickly. "Shall we go and see Lily now?" said she, glancing at them expectantly.
James nodded and immediately started walking in the correct direction. Sirius followed behind and Peter tagged along. Remus looked at Mara. "Mara, I've been doing some thinking. Do you know if anything happened to Lily in the holidays?"
Mara shook her head. Lily was already acting strange when she came back. It was difficult having a decent conversation with her, let alone asking her about her holiday.
Remus frowned. "Okay then, let's go see Lily."
They caught up to James, Sirius and Peter.
When they arrived at the closed Infirmary's doors, they called, "Madam Pomfrey! Madam Pomfrey! Are you there?"
Startled out of her slumber, Madam Pomfrey tottered out dazed to open the doors a crack. "What do you want?"
"Can we see Lily?" asked Mara.
"No! You can't! Now be off! You're meddling in things you shouldn't!" Then she shut the door decidedly with a loud bang. Suddenly, she realized something was wrong. The Headmaster was gone…
And so was Lily.
-_- o -_-
"Well, that was a waste of time! I should have known Madam Pomfrey wouldn't let us see her! I mean, she hasn't let us see her once! What makes this time so special?"
James was pretty angry. Sirius tried calming him down but Remus stopped him. "Let him bring off steam. He's really worried and it's been building up inside him." Sirius understood and intervened no longer.
Mara brushed her forehead. "I'm going to head up now. I'll see you guys tomorrow."
They bid her goodnight and she was gone.
-_- o -_-
"Headmaster! Headmaster!" Madam Pomfrey shrieked. She had been about to run to his office just as Dumbledore suddenly emerged into the room through the doors.
"Poppy, what's wrong?"
"It's Miss Evans, sir! She's… she's…"
"Is everything all right?"
"Albus! Miss Evans is gone!"
AN: Wow, another update. I'm very impressed with myself. And why do I get no reviews? It's so sad. Is it really so hard to just write a few words of encouragement? I mean, I work really hard for an update! So please, just review! I'm really begging you!