Chapter 9
The room I woke up in was unfamiliar to me, although I could barely see it as it was. I began to rub my eyes, but my arms wouldn't move. I started to panic, trying to yell out but no noise came out of my mouth. I tried every part of my body but not one part of me would work properly. As my mind went into frenzy mode, I heard a door open and a figure walk through the door. All I could make out of the figure was that it was female and that it seemed familiar.
"Oh good, you've woken up," she said and she must have recognized the distressed look in my eyes.
"I'm sorry, let me explain what's happened," she paused to give me a drink of water almost reading my mind.
"I'm going to try to explain this to you as if you remember it all, as you may have a mild case of amnesia. This may sound like a strange request but if you understand what I'm saying blink once and blink twice if you don't." It felt very stupid but I blinked for her.
"Alright, well, after you and Albus had left dinner on Christmas Eve you went outside. While you were outside two Voldemort supporters attacked you and Albus. It seems that they were trying to get some sort of information out of Albus because he's Harry's son of course. One of these people used the Cruciatus curse on you. They were torturing you to get information out of him but as he didn't have a clue what they were talking about he couldn't answer and they continued to torture you. After a time I suppose Hugo heard the commotion and came out to investigate. As soon as he came upon the scene he used the body binding curse on the man who was torturing you. He tied the other man up and told Albus to bring Harry and Ron out, as they're both Aurors you know, while he tried to take care of you. Well you were a bit past repair at that point and it caused him quite a bit of distress, I even had brew him a potion to calm his nerves as I was attending to you. Poor Albus was just exhausted from the whole ordeal he went right to sleep sitting with his mother. Meanwhile, Harry and Ron took the two men to the Ministry where I believe they will be put on trial." She paused, and I blinked then blinked twice thinking back to the part where she had said 'past repair'.
"Well dear, you were tortured for quite a time and your brain was unaccustomed to so much pain and discomforts that it completely shut your nervous system down. You were paralyzed from the neck down." She said rather gingerly. I began blinking rapidly and felt as if I were about to vomit.
"But don't worry about a thing; you'll be as good as new before school starts up again." I blinked twice, utterly confused. She laughed lightly.
"I'm a Healer at St. Mungo's; and I've been administering a potion to you every day since the attack that has been slowly repairing your nervous system." She looked over from me to what I assumed must have been a table or a desk.
"I predict that by tomorrow you should be able to speak again. Now I've only let your cousin and Molly up to see you I thought it wouldn't be fair to you to let anyone else when you wouldn't know if they were seeing you in this state. Now, I know it must be frustrating not being able to speak but once I've given you the potion it should also put you in a dreamless sleep. It's true that sleep really does help you get better." I blinked suddenly feeling exhausted.
Once I had taken the potion I fell almost instantly into a deep and cloudy sleep. She had been right there were no dreams; but I saw clouds and in these clouds I saw faces, all the faces I cared about including Kiera. Though she had always been inconsiderate of me, we both cared about each other. So, her face was there with everyone else's, but one face kept appearing to stay longer than usual: Hugo's. I wasn't surprised but I still felt guilty. But I also saw the face of my torturer, his determined face as he hurt me.
I seemed to have slept the whole day, because when I woke up the light in the room suggested a sunrise. Then I realized I had been able to look around the move and that my neck had begun to work properly again. I wanted to test if could also speak again but I wasn't sure how rude it would be considered if I yelled out, and besides I didn't even know who I would be yelling for. I still couldn't see and wanted to have my glasses very badly. I decided if I cleared my throat that would be sufficient. As I cleared my throat I began to cough and it became uncontrollable. My eyes were shut as I was coughing but I heard someone rush in, and then another come behind. Suddenly the coughing ceased and I opened my eyes to see the Healer holding her wand over my chest. The figure behind her could only be Grandma Weasley.
"Thank you," I managed to stutter rather hoarsely.
"You may not believe me but that was a good sign. It means that your throat is no longer paralyzed and that your lungs are working rather well." The Healer told me. I saw Grandma Weasley move closer.
"Your glasses, dear," she said putting them on for me. As my eyes focused I saw that the Healer was Lily's Aunt Angelina who was married to her Uncle George. I also saw that Grandma Weasley had a tray of food and her hands. My stomach grumbled as I thought about food. She laughed lightly and put the food on my lap. It was chicken soup.
"I'll have to help you eat it, dear," she said apologetically. I nodded understanding. It seemed Grandma Weasley had done it many times before as it was hardly messy.
"Feel better, dear," she said as she left with the empty bowl and tray.
"Your cousin would like to speak to you, do you feel up to it?" she asked me tentatively.
"Of course," I said nodding trying to get as much use from my neck as possible. Angelina left for a few moments and Kiera walked in.
"Hi," she said nervously, closing the door behind her.
"How are you?" she asked the concern clear in her voice.
"Well, I can talk now so that's better," I told her. She looked wary, trying to find something to say back to me.
"I'm ok," I said trying to relieve her. I could see that there was something going on that she needed to say.
"Something's wrong," I said bluntly. She nodded, avoiding my eyes.
"You know I'm not on my deathbed, you can tell me." I said even more bluntly. She winced as I said it.
"Well, the other day me and Hugo were talking and decided that it would be best if we were just friends." She said.
"Sorry, but how does that concern me?" I said trying to swallow my delight.
"We all know how you feel about Hugo," she said. I groaned.
"I really don't need this right now," I said closing my eyes.
"Well I just thought you should now that pretty much everyone knows before Albus came to talk to you." She said. I opened my eyes quickly when I heard that.
"Why is he coming? He can't honestly want to be mad at me right now can he?" I said frantically putting my fears into words.
"He should probably be the one telling you this but he wants to break up, but I don't think it's because of you." She said trying to see if I looked hurt at all. I wasn't hurt but I was very much concerned and puzzled.
"He wants to do it today but Angelina said that maybe he should wait until you were more...agile," she said with quiet amusement. I didn't really want to wait but I decided that it would probably be best if I had more strength. So, I said goodbye to Kiera and Angelina gave me my potion. This time the clouds showed Albus, he looked worried but determined also. And still the unnamed torturer was there causing me to relive my pain.
When I woke up I rubbed my eyes and took my glasses from the side table. I didn't really recognize the significance of this until I stretched my arms over my head. I quietly laughed at myself for it. Very suddenly the door opened to reveal two very excited teenage girls. Lily ran to hug me then stopped short with a worried face.
"You won't kill me you know," I said opening my arms. She ran into them and Rose followed suit.
"We've come for a makeover," Lily said to me.
"Oh honey, you don't need a makeover," I told her teasingly. She went to punch my arm but stopped short again. I sighed.
"I'm not a porcelain doll, I'm not going to break." I told her sternly. She nodded. Rose, always the peacekeeper, jumped up.
"Well we're going to make you look like one!" she said trying to be as excited as she could. They got right to work, Rose used a refresh spell on me and I instantly felt better. Lily brushed my hair not speaking much. As Rose began to braid it, Lily pulled out the makeup.
"Oh no, none of that," I said to her. She looked disappointed but put the case away.
"So why exactly are you doing this?" I asked even though I knew the answer.
"Um," Rose said.
"Albus is coming to visit you today." Lily said distractedly playing with the makeup case.
"I gathered as much," I said waiting for the real answer. I didn't come so I decided to put it out there myself.
"Is he going to break up with me today?" I said pointedly. Lily and Rose looked shocked.
"How did you know?" Lily asked me.
"Kiera," was all I said. Rose looked understanding but Lily looked furious.
"Don't be mad at her, I'm glad she told me so I had a bit of preparation." She still looked mad.
"Is this because I'm not all beat up about him dumping me?" I asked her almost annoyed. She looked away but she couldn't hide it from me.
"Isn't it a good thing that we both are ok about it," I said to her.
"How do you know he's ok with it?' she retaliated. I just looked at her.
"Fine, he's ok with it but I still don't think that it should end like that." She said dejectedly. Rose laughed.
"What should Christina be begging for him to take her back? You know he would in a heartbeat but he has to move on." She said very rationally. Both Lily and I thought about that for a moment, it made me feel bad, but I knew this would be harder for Albus then for me. I sighed.
"Well I guess we should get it over with then." Lily said.
"I suppose he'll come just as soon as we leave," Rose said dragging Lily out along with her. I waited patiently for Albus after that. He knocked and I told him to come in. I smiled as he walked through the door.
"Hi," I said warmly.
'Hi," he said back nervously.
'What's up?" I asked him.
"I wanted to talk to you," he said avoiding my eyes.
"What is it," I said gently. I patted the side of my bed for him to come and sit down. He sat down but was quiet for a few moments, so I put my hand on his hand. He sighed.
"What is it?" I asked again.
"I know we've never really had a very strong are really serious relationship. It was stupid of me not to tell my parents about and everything." He trailed off looking at my mystified expression.
"What I'm trying to say is that when we, you, were attacked I did nothing to stop them. I was too afraid. I was a coward and watched them nearly kill you. If it weren't for Hugo you'd be at St Mungo's for life or worse." I cut him off.
"I don't blame you for it one bit, Albus." I told him.
"Ok, well I still feel terrible about it and I don't think I'm any good for you and I think you deserve someone better than me. I'm sorry if I seem like a prat for breaking up with you right after you almost died but I just thought it would be best to get it over with before we went back to school." He said. I could feel the unspoken words between us but he was a gentleman for not bringing it up, either that or it hurt too much.
"Alright," I said kindly.
"Is that really it?" he asked, a bit surprised. I laughed a little.
"I'm no drama queen like your sister," he laughed. I opened my arms to hug him and he cautiously approached. I pulled him in and kissed his cheek.
"Aren't I supposed to be comforting?" he asked amused. He seemed to be better than thought he would be. We didn't talk for very long after that, I could tell he was anxious to leave. I waved to him as he left and was relieved when I saw Angelina walk in after him with my potion. The clouds showed Hugo's face mostly now and no longer showed Albus being worried and for the first time my torturer was not present.
I woke up the next morning feeling rejuvenated and alive. As I put on my glasses I noticed a note on the bedside table.
Hi Chris!
Hope you don't mind but everyone went out for brunch this morning (except for Hugo, who claims not to be feeling well,) will bring you back something
Lily
P.S. Aunt Angelina said that you should be able to move your legs, but you shouldn't try walking on your own yet.
With the note I found a pile of books, some of which were my favourites. I tried out my newly awoken limbs and smiled to myself as I was able to support myself enough to stand up but couldn't walk. It was as if I was a baby learning to walk for the first time. I sat down back on the bed and realised that Hugo and I were the only two in the house and scrambled to find my wand and preformed a Refresh spell on myself. His timing always being impeccable, there was a knock on the door. I told him to come in feeling slightly excited and nervous.
"I thought you were supposed to be sick," I said slyly as he came in. He smiled at me the way I love.
"I lied, though it was a small price to pay to have the house to ourselves" he said coyly. I felt the butterflies in my stomach flutter. His face turned to concern.
"How are you feeling?"he asked me coming to sit on the bed.
"Perfect! I can feel my toes again!" I said laughing as I wiggled them at him. His face didn't change.
"But how are you?" he asked moving a strand of hair from my face. I blushed and he chuckled lightly. I shrugged.
"I'm recovering," I said honestly.
"But how can you be so happy and cheerful after what you've gone through. People have gone crazy after been being tortured for a shorter amount of time than you. I can't imagine what it must have been like." He said trailing off, looking deep into my eyes and for the first time I looked deeply back.
"I hope you never can imagine because it's more terrible than words can say. It will never leave me. But I can't let it bring me down. It's over and I need to get past it. Thanks for saving my life, by the way."
"You would have lived," he said not looking at me anymore.
"Yes, but I sure as hell wouldn't be sitting here talking to you now would I," I said to him incredulously.
"I s'pose," he said looking at his folded hands. I think have must have been the nearly life shattering experience that gave me so much confidence, as I placed my hand on his face. Now he looked at me with his piercing blue eyes.
"I owe you my life, Hugo." I said to him softly.
"I owe you this," he said to me. He put his hands on my face and pulled me closer to him. We kissed very softly for what seemed like forever but when we pulled apart felt like it had hardly been a second long. I saw the longing in his eyes and went in for more. This second kiss had more power, he pulled my body closer to him and soon I was on top of him. He traced my shoulder blades with his hands and I sighed with pleasure. When we came up for air he put me on his lap and I put my head on his shoulder.
"I love you, Christina." He said into my hair. I felt so good to hear that my heart seemed to swell.
"I'm sorry it took so long for me to admit it to myself." He said as he stroked my hair. I looked at him in such awe he must of thought I was crazy.
"What is it?" he asked looking self conscious.
"I have always loved you." I told him, realizing it as I said it. He smiled my favourite smile and kissed me again. We emerged again when we heard the roar of the fire. Hugo jumped up.
"I'm supposed to be sick," he whispered, amusement clear on his face.
"Go sit on that chair and pretend like you came to say hello." I said to him. I glanced at the untouched pile of books, threw him one and took one for myself. We each opened our books and tried to look as if we were engrossed in the book. The problem was we were too engrossed in each other. After several minutes of no one coming to the door Hugo set his book down on the chair and ran to my bed and kissed me deeply but quickly and ran back to his seat. He had just stood up to do it again when Lily walked in the door. He quickly sat down and grabbed his book. She raised her eyebrows questioningly at us quite like I had seen her mother and grandmother do before.
"Were you not supposed to be feeling sick?" she asked Hugo accusingly.
"I was feeling better and came to..." he paused looking at me. I batted my eyes theatrically at him, Lily's eyes widened in comprehension at us.
"Say hello," he finished. I giggled.
"Here's your breakfast or whatever," she said looking vaguely disgusted.
"What about me?" Hugo asked.
"Oh, I think you've had your treat." She said giving me my food and leaving the room as I stifled a very large and loud laugh. I started to eat my food but after a few moments no else came to the door and Hugo took the food and set it aside. He climbed on top of the bed and I soon forgot that there were other people in the house or that my breakfast was growing cold. I was completely enveloped in the thought that we were together and I never wanted to leave. Eventually he lay down beside me smiling and sighed. I placed my head in the crook of his shoulder and his neck. I placed my hand on his face and started to trace its contours. Every time my fingers touched his lips he would kiss them. I felt utterly whole and full with him, so maybe a guy didn't complete a girl, it sure felt like he helped to. We lay like that for a while until I decided to eat my now cold breakfast which at this point was more like lunch.
"You'll have to leave soon, you know." I told him, a little put out.
"I'll never leave you," he said dramatically.
"Don't be so melodramatic," I told him. He chuckled, running his hand through my hair. He did get up, bent down to me and kissed me very lightly, then walked out of the room. I hadn't quite realized how tired I was until Angelina walked through the door.
"We start walking again tomorrow," Angelina told me as I was dozing off into the potion-induced sleep. The clouds showed Hugo, and only Hugo.
The next day consisted of Hugo helping walk all the way to the main floor of the house. I received a very warm reception when I arrived there, but Hugo made sure that I kept my eye on the prize and turned me around to go back to my room. We did talk while we went up and down the stairs, but not of yesterday. His body language wasn't suggesting anything had happened between us. Mine would have if it hadn't been for the fact that he was supporting me as I walked up and down the stairs. Soon my mind began to think yesterday had been a dream, or worse. So many scenarios came to my mind as of why he wasn't acting the way I had thought he felt. Many of those scenarios hurt my ego, but think them up I did. Eventually my head started to spin and I almost fell over. Just my luck that it should be Hugo I fall into.
"Enough for one day I think," he said chuckling. I leaned into him even more as he nearly carried me back to the bedroom. He sat me down on the bed and I fell immediately into it. I was nearly asleep when Hugo kissed my cheek very softly and then touched the spot with his palm. He looked at me in a way no one had ever looked at me before.
"I love you," he said quietly and I could hear the deep emotion behind them.
"Me too, I was beginning to think yesterday had been an elaborate dream." I said sure the relief was plastered on my face.
"Well let me remind you, then." Hugo said. He leaned in and kissed me full on the mouth. I tried to pull him on the bed with me but he resisted.
"You need your rest for tomorrow, you sat awake all day," he said with a very seductive smile and left the room. This would be the first time since the attack that I would sleep without the potion and I was frightened of the dreams I might have. I was right to be frightened because the only dream I had that night was the night I was attacked. I relived it three times before I woke up in a cold sweat. I started shaking and tears left my eyes. A pair of arms wrapped their way around me and I jumped. I realized it was Hugo and I started crying. He soothed me the best he could. I was glad he was there and after I finished crying he lay down beside me and helped me fall asleep. When I woke up the next morning he was still beside me but fast asleep. I suddenly felt self conscious, what if someone walked in on this what would they think. When I looked back at his sleeping face I forgot all about that and settled back beside him. I was glad when he woke up.
"Morning, love," I said kissing his forehead. He chuckled and kissed me. As he climbed out of bed I realized how much I wanted to see him every day of my life like this. I laughed at myself. My sister told me I had to keep a level head and don't go too far into the future when you think about a boy and here I was deciding that I wanted to be with him forever.
"Mum'll kill me if she finds out I spent the night here," he said. I smiled.
"My mom would kill me if she knew I let you, but I don't give a damn what she thinks and I don't she gives a damn what I think." I said shrugging. He looked slightly sad at that fact.
"My relationship with my parents has never been strong; I've always been closer with my aunt." He nodded.
"I better leave before someone else joins the party," he said kissing me and quietly walking out the door. I dressed myself and managed a real shower for the first time in a long time. Then, with the help of Lily I walked downstairs to have breakfast with the family for the first time. I realized that only Hugo, Lily and Angelina's family was still here along with Grandma and Grandpa Weasley. Lily sat beside me and Hugo on the other side. Grandma Weasley placed a plate with so much food in front of me I thought the table would collapse.
"You look so thin, eat, eat!" she said enthusiastically. I was happy to oblige. As I was eating I noticed that Kiera and Albus sat beside each other. They spoke to each other much more often than they had ever done before. I soon saw Albus look at Kiera the way Hugo would look at me sometimes. I gestured towards them to Hugo my eyes wide. He nodded coyly. My jaw dropped and I rushed to close it. This was a turn of events! As I thought about it more I realized that this was a good thing. Albus could teach Kiera tenderness and Kiera could help give Albus a thicker skin.
After breakfast Hugo took me for a walk outside. It was my first trip outside since the attack. He took me to a small Muggle park. He led me to a little secluded area of the park where there were trees. He sat against one and I sat beside him, leaning heavily on him. I sighed contently. We sat in silence for a while and I could tell Hugo was thinking.
"What brought you to agree to go out with Albus in the first place?" Hugo asked me.
"In all honesty, I wanted you to be jealous. After you started dating Kiera, I took a look at the hole I had dug myself and realized I could enjoy sitting in it until you were available. I know that sounds terrible but I never meant to hurt Albus and I really do love him, just not the way I love you. More like how you love a puppy, you know?" I said laughing in spite of myself. Hugo mulled it over.
"Did it drive you crazy, me dating Kiera?" he asked carefully.
"Yes, especially since she was my cousin." I said to him.
"Funny how that worked out isn't it; we both dated each other's cousins and would end up together. I didn't realize that you being with Albus caused me to be jealous. It drove me crazy but I was stupid and wouldn't admit to myself that I was madly jealous." He said his eyes boring into mine. I kissed him lightly on the lips.
"People are sure going to be confused when we come back to school," he said chuckling.
"Let them be," I said kissing him again, more forcefully. He got the message and we stayed there until my stomach grumbled against his. He laughed and I blushed.
"Time for lunch?" he asked me.
"As long as you're dessert," I told him. He laughed harder at that one. He helped me up and we headed back to the Burrow.
As we walked back in each other's arms I began to think back to the beginning of the school year. I had been a nobody in a school where everyone in my year knew each other. I had never had any luck with boys and the only person I knew in the school was furious with me. Meeting Lily had been a blessing and dating Albus had seemed to be a blessing in disguise for a lot of us. Now I had Hugo and Albus and Kiera had each other. We were all generally happy. I had started the year off thinking that my life would always be unfair and I would always be less than my sister and my cousin. But now after I reconciled my relationship with those people I realized that life was always going to be unfair but if you have the people you love in your life it doesn't matter. So sure, life wasn't fair but I could deal with that.