A/N: so I'm a really horrible person for ending the previous chapter like that... sorry!
Hold on,
One more time with feeling,
Try it again,
Breathing's just a rhythm.
Say it in your mind until,
You know that the words are right.
This is, why we
Fight.
~ Regina Spektor, One More Time with Feeling.
I stood above the crying boy on the floor, covered in blood, clinging to the bleeding girl; her blonde hair being stained by the blood pouring from her wounds. The red liquid was trailing across the floor, seeping into cracks, mixing with the grime and dirt of the corridor. Her black school robe was open, revealing a grey pleated skirt, white blouse; which was now almost black with blood, and marron and gold striped tie. I watched as the boy lent down and kissed her lips, looking down the corridor at the sound of footsteps pounding on stone, his jet black hair contrasting with his pale face. Three boys came sprinting and skidded to a stop, nearly slipping on the wet floor. The tall, lean brown haired boy rushed to the girl and fell to his knees attempting to help the other boy stop the rapid blood flow. Hogwarts school matron, Madame Pomfrey jogged round the corner and gasped at the sight before her. She whipped out her wand, muttering complicated spells under her breath. The blood slowly began to seep back into the girl, but it came too slowly. The matron muttered a number of spells, shoving the brown-haired boy out of her way; the wounds on the girl closed, barely. She conjured a stretcher and levitated the girl's body onto it, ordering the boys to take her to the hospital wing. She vanished the blood left in the hall way and marched after them.
I tried to follow but felt myself travelling further and further away from them, floating far above the earth. It felt like an eternity but I was happy, free, flying on the wind. I had left the world where demons existed and I had no worries or cares, just unimaginable bliss.
BAM!
I felt like I had been punched in the chest and I felt myself falling.
BAM!
Another smack in the chest, and I felt more pain come back to me. I was falling faster now, too fast. I didn't wasn't to go back, I struggled, attempting to stop falling.
"For fucks sake, NATALIE!" the yell thundered around my head.
BAM!
I was falling so fast I was dizzy. Until, suddenly I slammed into the ground, pain flooded through my body and I felt my body jolt. I leaned over and coughed, blood and vomit leaving my body. My eyes blurred as I passed out, fainting with exhaustion.
oOo
James looked down at Natalie; her hair was matted with blood and she was deathly white. Her heart had stopped beating but Madame Pomfrey hadn't given up. "Mr. Potter!" she cried, "Help me. The rest of you wait outside." The boys shouted in process but she glared at them and they decided it was best for them to do as the matron said. James rushed over to her and looked pleadingly at her, wanting her to tell him what to do. "I need you to block her nose with your fingers, open her mouth, tilt her head back and cover your mouth with hers, blowing your air into her lungs." James ran around the opposite side of the bed to Pomfrey and began to do what she told him. "When I shout move, you must move away from Miss Delano at once and make sure you are not touching her. Do you understand?" James nodded, firmly placing his mouth on Natalie's and breathing out, watching her chest heave slightly. "Good. Good" Madame Pomfrey called. "Now, MOVE!" she yelled. James jumped backwards as the matron pointed her wand at Natalie's chest, watching as a jet of purple light was omitted out of her wand. Natalie's body jolted as if she had been shocked. "You can start again." James methodically did his job, trying not to think about what would happen if Natalie didn't respond soon. "Move." Madame Pomfrey cried again.
James pumped more air into her willing for her heart to beat. "For fucks sake, NATALIE!" he screamed. Madame Pomfrey shocked her one last time, before she gasped in air and began to cough out the blood in her lungs, soaking the white bed sheets red. She promptly threw up the entire contents of her stomach, which still was mostly blood and then fell backwards onto the bed, unconscious. James let out a sigh of relief and fell to the floor.
oOo
"Natalie? Darling?" I woke to the sound of my mother's voice. I opened my bleary eyes and my vision swam before my eyes until I focused on her sad face. I felt the tears pour down my cheeks as I looked at her. She started sobbing and I joined her, "I'm so sorry, Natalie." She cried, throwing herself onto me, hugging me close. "I've missed you so much."
"I missed you to, Mum" I croaked, wiping the tears off my face and hugging her close.
I had woken up the day before after being unconscious for three days. Madame Pomfrey had used all of her knowledge to bring me back. James had not left me since the incident except to clean my blood of his ruined robes and to let my mother speak with me.
Mum wiped her eyes and blew her nose before turning to me and smiling weakly. "Your father wants you transferred to Beauxbatons. He was afraid an attack like this would happen." She said quietly, looking regretfully down at her shoes. I froze in shock; no they couldn't do this to me.
"Mum. It was my fault." I cried.
"No honey, none of this is your fault." She whispered.
"No, mum. Really. I insulted the bloke and punched him in the face. Okay? I started the fight and it had nothing to do with you or dad." I blurted out, nearly hyperventilating at the thought of leaving.
Mum looked at me sceptically. "I thought you didn't remember who attacked you." She said.
I scratched the back of my head, nervously. I hadn't wanted to get Snape expelled, I'm not that mean, and so I had told Pomfrey that I didn't see who attacked me.
"Err..." I mumbled, "You see the thing is..." I had no way of getting out of this one.
"I want the boy expelled, Natalie." She hissed, "Tell me his name." I kept my mouth shut and shook my head. "Natalie Athena Delano." She warned.
I opened my mouth to speak but was saved from lying to her by the appearance of James. I beamed at him and he smiled nervously back at me, giving me a 'your-crazy' look. My mother huffed and passed me a pamphlet about Beauxbatons, trying to make me change my mind. With that gesture she left, pausing to give me a kiss on the forehead and hugged James on her way out.
He sauntered over to me, grinning like an idiot. I propped myself up more on my bed and waited for him to speak. He did no such thing; instead he picked up the brochure and began to read, snorting as he read humorous sentences. "The Academy has existed for over seven hundred years. The glittering palace is unplottable, so no Muggles or even wizards from rival schools can find it on a map, and then it is disguised so that no one can really see it unless they know to look for it. Students are serenaded while they dine by choirs of wood nymphs. At Christmas time the dining hall is adorned with great, non-melting ice sculptures. The students travel in flying horse-drawn carriages. The carriage doors are embossed with the golden coat of arms and opened to reveal golden steps. The horses also are golden-coloured, with red eyes, and are fed on single-malt whiskey. What a load of rubbish." He said, scrunching up the pamphlet and throwing it over his shoulder. I chuckled at his antics and watched amused as he turned to me and grinned a mischievous grin. "You won't have to go away." He whispered, "I'll talk to your dad. He'll come round."
I shook my head at him but he silenced me with a look. "Now." He said, "I think it's about time you got out of this hell-hole they call a hospital wing." He smirked at me and I pulled the covers back from my bed, eager to leave the horrible place. I was fully healed, magic was amazing in that sense, and I couldn't see Madame Pomfrey objecting to my absence. He grinned again and knocked on the matrons office door, entering. I waited for five minutes until they finally left the room. Madame Pomfrey came over to me holding five flasks of potions.
"Drink these then you may leave, Natalie." She said kindly.
I knocked them back and felt immediately ten times stronger, grinning I stood up and waltzed out of the hospital wing, James following behind me.
oOo
The scalding shower beat down on me as my body convulsed in sobs. I slid down the wall curling my legs up to my chest and letting the water rush over me. The fight with Snape had shaken me. I hadn't really thought about the consequences of punching him, I hadn't thought about the consequences of any of my actions. I had kissed James; my best friend while I was irrevocably in love with his best friend as he was with mine. Our relationship would be ruined, undeniably awkward and uncomfortable. I had fainted more times than I could remember within the space of four weeks and I had no idea why I was having visions of all this pain and suffering. My visions were scaring me, I had no way to control when they happened or what I saw; most of which scarred me forever. I had no one to confide in, that being my own fault, but I could never imagine how they would act. Even in the wizarding world it is not common to get visions.
I felt more alone than ever, my parents had decided to make me move schools but were still only relatively concerned with my safety. Sirius and lily were angry at me, I blamed them for that. My brother was an arrogant prick who had made it his life's mission to ruin mine.
I sat there in the shower trying to understand where the old Natalie had gone. Where was that carefree girl who's life motto was "fuck it!"? what had happened to her and why couldn't I get her back?
I needed to try harder. I was going to make up with lily and tell her she could have a glorious time fucking my brother but shouldn't come crying to me when he dumped her. I was going to tell Sirius that he as being unreasonable and that he should grow up and accept life as it came; not be so bitter about it. Look out, seems as though Natalie Delano is taking control of her life and doing something productive with her time.
I cleaned my body of the blood and sweat that was left over from the fight and turned the taps off, securing a towel around me. Amelia was waiting for me when I got out.
"You are so stupid, you know that right?" she said her face pale and full of relief.
"I know." I whispered. She hugged me tightly, tears cascading down her face.
"They wouldn't let us come see you. They only let in James and your family." Her voice cracked as she tried to hold in the sobs. "We thought you were dead."
"Oh, Amelia!" I cried. Kissing her forehead, "I'm so sorry." I was nearly crying myself. I grabbed a change of clothes and walked back into the bathroom, dressing and drying my hair. "Come on." I said taking her hand. "Let's go get some food and chocolate." She smiled and let me lead the way down to the kitchens. I was glad to call Amelia a friend, even if she was slightly ridiculous and was always worrying.
We reached the kitchens and found the marauders occupying one table. On our entrance they all stood up, running to us and enveloping us in hugs.
"We're so glad you ok." Remus said, hugging me once more.
I shrugged, "what's life without a few near death experiences?" They shook their heads and I laughed, "Come on, guys. It was a joke."
Sirius chuckled, "I'm thinking we should have a little party; to celebrate your release from the clutches of the matron!"
There was a chorus of cheers and it was settled. It would be a night to remember.
oOo
ARGH! I'm SO SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING! I'm a terrible person and I beg your forgiveness! The next chapter will be less heavy and more sassy!