Blood was oozing throughout it's fur, creating gray-red streaks down its body. The paws were already coated, one bloody footprint lying next to it's front leg. It's body was limp, and not a single strand of gray fur twitched on it's body.
Hermione gasped again, clasping her hand to her mouth, as she realized that it was a dead wolf. Nobody else said anything, but Malinda and Lindsey's eyes were wide, mingled with shock and fear.
"It's a…dead wolf," Ron stated, a terrified expression on his face.
"Not again," Lindsey whispered, her voice wavering. Harry, Ron, and Hermione all turned to her, puzzled. Lindsey backed away from the cabinet, until she bumped into Hermione.
"What do you mean, 'again'?" Harry questioned, still supporting Draco's body; he was sleeping, and never saw the dead body, although he knew absently that something was wrong.
"A…a raven. Was in my room," Lindsey said, "When we went to go pack our things," Lindsey explained, vaguely remembering that their efforts were useless, their belongings lay forgotten back at the motel.
"A…dead…raven?" Ron asked, his nose twitching up again in disgust and disbelief.
"Y…yes," replied Lindsey. Malinda hadn't said anything, and continued staring at the bloody wolf as Lindsey continued, "Well, it…it wasn't dead at first."
A long, deadly silence filled the room as they all exchanged glances with each other. Malinda still hadn't removed her eyes from the wolf, and Lindsey was watching Draco, remembering how he had been so weak after they had found the raven.
"Come on," Harry said, moving closer to the wolf. Ron and Hermione followed him shortly after, leaving Draco, Lindsey, and Malinda on the sidelines. Lindsey was now supporting Draco, trying not to think about how close to death he was right then.
Harry peered over the wolf, to find a giant gash across the wolf's stomach. It's eyes were closed, and it's pulse was silent as night. Gulping, Harry pulled his wand out in front of him, and muttered, "Wingardium Leviosa." The wolf's body limply floated into the air, causing Hermione to gasp in horror. Ron gently put his hand on Hermione's back as she leaned into him for support, tears rolling down her scared face.
Harry tried not to think at all as he hastily moved the wolf behind the nearby counter. Malinda wasn't watching, but warm, salty tears still fell down her cheeks. Lindsey, desperate not to start crying herself, focused on Draco's irregular breathing, counting each one as it came and went.
Draco himself had no idea what was going on, but he could feel Lindsey's warm touch on his skin. Frantically, he tried to open his eyes, trying to communicate with her, trying to live on.
Lindsey turned to Draco when he stirred, but sighed helplessly as he went back to how he was before: silent and still. Hermione had straightened her composure up, and was attempting to rid the blood with a spell while Ron and Harry tried to do something with the wolf so it wouldn't be quite so noticeable behind the counter.
Within about five minutes, (that seemed like forever), all signs of the wolf had disappeared. Hermione and Harry exchanged a nervous glance with each other, before turning towards the silent audience.
"I'll go first," Harry offered, "I'll come back as long as it worked to get you guys." Nobody said anything, and Harry took it as a sign to continue. Huffing to himself, he stepped into the box.
Lindsey watched as Harry closed the cabinet door behind him, and immediately she could feel his presence disappear. Everyone else seemed to notice, because some of the tension had left the air; replaced by it was a sense of awkwardness.
"This day just keeps getting weirder and weirder," Ron said at last, raising his eyebrows at the floorboards. Lindsey let loose a mocking grin.
"This week for us," she said. Ron chuckled timidly, Hermione giving her a half-hearted smile. Malinda didn't say anything, but her eyes were no longer watery.
"So, what's up between you and Draco anyway?" Ron asked, trying to lighten the muggy mood. Lindsey could feel her pace turn pink, but responded in a casual voice, "What do you mean?"
"I mean, you're a bit protective over him," Ron said, trying not to laugh out loud, "Surely there's a reason for that." Hermione elbowed Ron again, but her face was as amused as his.
"Saving my life isn't a good enough reason for you?" Lindsey said, only half-sarcastically. Ron and Hermione's faces went back to their original state at her words, remembering how much she had really been through the past few days.
"Draco must have had a heart that he never showed us," Ron said after another long, thoughtful silence, "Or you're really persuasive."
"Combination of both, I think," Lindsey explained, a tight smile on her lips. Hermione looked down at her face, and let out a caring smile of her own.
The room was suddenly filled with another presence, presumed to be Harry. Sure enough, a second later, Harry had opened the door of the cabinet and stepped out.
"It works. The Room of Requirements is abandoned. We should get there alright," Harry explained matter-of-factly. He walked over to where Draco was now propped against the wall and lifted him up carefully.
"We'll go in pairs though, just to be safe," he said, dragging Draco inside the cabinet with him. Lindsey quickly rushed over to Hermione again, leaving Ron and Malinda to go with each other for the second time now, as Harry and Draco disappeared.
"Bloody hell, what's your problem?" Ron asked, grinning despite himself, "Do you hate me or something?"
"Hate is a strong word," Lindsey said, smirking at Ron, "I prefer to use mild dislike." Before Ron could reply, Hermione and Lindsey entered the vanishing cabinet, immediately disappearing from the room. As expected, it felt as though they were being pulled through a tube, but instead of moving horizontally like in apparition, it was more of a vertical movement, followed by a violent horizontal one.
Lindsey and Hermione practically fell out of the cabinet, for Harry hadn't closed it up when he went through with Draco.
"Well, that went well," Hermione said, dusting off the black pants she was wearing. Harry gave her a quick smile before Ron and Malinda came bursting into sight. Malinda had managed to stay upright, but Ron had nearly doubled-over.
"Blimey, I think I prefer apparating!" he said, his eyes wide. Lindsey snickered at his expression, and Hermione followed her laughter.
"We need to get Draco to the hospital wing," Harry said, interrupting the sudden laughter in the room. The two girls shut their mouths, and everyone turned towards the blond-haired, nearly dead, Draco.
Draco had no idea what was going on anymore. He didn't know whether Lindsey was still there or if Voldemort was holding him captive. He didn't even know if he was alive or dead. At this point in time, he didn't know anything.
After a few seconds, Harry repositioned Draco between himself and Ron, so that they could move him easier. Lindsey and Hermione followed closely after, and Malinda behind them.
No one dared say anything to them as they hoisted Draco throughout the castle. The members in the portraits were either sleeping, or if they were awake, only stared in shock. Not one student was to be seen, most likely in bed, not wanting to be caught by the distressed professors.
After what seemed like ages, the hospital wing came into view. Hopeful, they started moving faster towards it, both anxious and relieved that they had finally made it to their destination.
"What…oh my!" cried Madam Pomfrey, seeing Draco being hauled towards her, "What in the name of Merlin's beard happened?" Her brown hair was streaked with gray lines, and it was disarranged from a long days work.
"It's a long story…but he lost a lot of blood," Harry said, carefully handing her Draco's body. She immediately carried him over to one of the soft, white beds and checked his pulse.
"Tell me what happened," she said, rushing over towards her medicine closet. She grabbed a few different containers of strange colored liquid while Harry and Lindsey explained.
"He was…at a Motel in America," Harry stated, "And…I don't know why…but he broke one of the mirrors there."
"Draco was upset before that…" Lindsey said, remembering faintly the conversation they had been having. Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned to her while Madam Pomfrey started mixing some sort of potion-like drink together.
"He…well we…were sort of arguing," Lindsey said, suddenly feeling very guilty over all of this, "He wasn't eating much, at all really, and I was trying to get him to eat something…"
"Right, and so…" Harry said, but Lindsey finished up for him.
"…he broke the mirror and ran off. We found him outside…I don't know how long he had been out there. He was bleeding a lot…"
"And that's when I had the dream…" Harry blurt out, causing everyone to look at him. He regained his composure before continuing calmly, "That's when I had the dream that…that Draco was dying."
Poppy stared at him, her eyes wide, and said, "I guess I shouldn't be surprised…But that is just miraculous. And a poor choice as well. What would've happened if that dream of yours wasn't real?"
"But it was real!" Harry exclaimed, his temper rising. Poppy shook her head, but didn't question further, to tired to argue with her frequent customer.
"Someone tried to heal him, who?" Poppy asked, inspecting Draco's arm. Hermione nervously raised her hand, feeling foolish.
"I did. I…I thought I should do something. Did I…did I do something wrong?"
"No, no dear, you didn't," Madam Pomfrey said, looking up at Hermione with sparkling, chocolate-colored eyes as she slowly healed Draco, "I was just going to praise you for your quick thinking." Hermione beamed.
"Although, he has definitely lost a lot of his blood, I think it's very likely he will recover. But he will have to be under super-vision twenty-four seven," Poppy said, eyeing Lindsey and Malinda, "You two are…muggles?" The trio received two disapproving eyes.
"Yes…but…Voldemort's after them. They were with Draco. They escaped together…" Harry tried to explain, not positive himself about what had happened.
"I can't do anything about that. I…I suggest you go tell the Headmaster," Poppy said, slipping a strange, purple-white liquid into Draco's mouth. Already, his face had regained a little color.
"SNAPE!?!" Harry blurted, causing the others to jump, "You can't be serious! He's with Voldemort!"
"Enough! Take both of them to him, now," Madam Pomfrey said, giving Harry one of her serious, you-have-to-do-it-now looks. Harry returned her favor with a glare, and turned on the spot. Lindsey and Malinda quickly scurried behind him, both of them nervous.
"I can't believe she's doing this to us," Harry muttered, half-running to Snape's office, "It's not going to go well."
"Well, the worst that could happen, Voldemort tortures us an then we die," Lindsey said sulkily. Malinda didn't say anything, and stared straight ahead.
The rest of the walk was silent, as they slowly made there way to Snape's office. Harry's anger seemed to be rolling off of him the entire length of the way, and Lindsey stayed a good few feet behind him.
Harry was indeed angry, and felt the heat radiating off of his face. He wasn't interested in seeing Snape again. Not since he killed Dumbledore. Not since he had taken over Dumbledore's former office and school. He wouldn't have wanted to see Snape if he gave him 100,000 galleons and a dozen Chocolate Frogs.
Color splashed around Draco's thoughts. He could see, through his mind's eye, the colors orange, green, and purple dancing around in strange patterns like a kaleidoscope. Slowly, he was able to regain some thoughts and feelings, as new blood entered his system.
Concentrating on his breathing, he noted that it was becoming easier. It was as if he had been crushed with a piano, and only now did anyone bother to lift it up. He hurt all over, every muscle and bone aching with agony.
However painful the healing may have been, he had never felt quite so happy in his life. Or maybe it was just his light-headedness that made him think that. Regardless, Draco's mind flitted into a world of contentment and relief. It was as if he had woken up to the world from a long, tiresome sleep.
"I doubt he'll wake up for a few days," Poppy said to Hermione and Ron, "He's been through a lot. It's going to take a lot of my strength just to get him on the road to proper recovery."
Hermione nervously bit her lip while Ron spoke. "He'll be alright though? In the end?"
"I should like to think so," Madam Pomfrey said, fluffing Draco's pillow once more before wiping off beads of sweat form her face. She looked pale and worn, and it made sense, considering what she had just been given to heal this late at night.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to go get some sleep. Someone will need to stay with him."
Ron and Hermione nodded, watching Draco's face as Poppy left.
"And if he does actually wake up, give him the glass on the table, it'll help," Madam Pomfrey added, before finally closing the hospital wing doors behind her.
Ron and Hermione, finally alone, took a seat next to Draco, watching as his breathing slowly became easier. Hermione's hair had been messed up from all of the traveling, but otherwise looked okay. Ron looked hardly phased at all, other than the fact that his stomach was growling; they hadn't had anything to eat since this morning.
"It's bloody weird though," Ron said quietly after a few minutes of silence, "Lindsey and Draco."
Hermione didn't say anything, wondering what the relationship was between Lindsey and Draco. They surely couldn't be in love with each other, their age was too greatly separated.
But perhaps they were like brother and sister, protective over each other, loving each other, but not in love with each other.
Or maybe the least likely of all: they were simply fellow escapees who protected each other cause they felt like they had to. Hermione didn't think about it anymore, and just let her mind close all of her thoughts, and drifted off into a light sleep, using Ronald's shoulder as a pillow.
And another chapter comes to a close. Will Draco really be okay? What will Snape decide to do with Malinda and Lindsey? Find out in the next chapter! :D Review please!