CHAPTER EIGHT
Halfway through the first Herbology period, Madam Pomfrey declared it okay for Megan and Will to go home and rest too, as Nina would be easily cured from that point on.
Madam Pomfrey gave Nina yet another potion and retreated to her office.
"So Pete, how come you're not in Herbology?" Nina questioned her best friend.
"I asked Professor Longbottom to give me time off today." Nina sat up a little in her bed. "Nin, stop moving around so much."
"No, no. I'm fine Peter." She glanced towards Madam Pomfrey's office to make sure she wasn't listening. "We need to talk."
Peter leaned in, resting his elbows in his knees, and furrowed his brow. "What is it Nin?"
"You stayed with me last night right?"
Peter nodded. "As if I would leave you."
Nina smiled at him widely. "You're a weird best friend, you know?"
"How come?"
"Well, sometimes I don't know if you're my best friend or my older brother."
Peter laughed at her comment and grabbed her right hand between both of his. "I guess I try to fill both roles."
Nina looked up and met his eyes, wondering. "You don't have to feel responsible for Mike, you know. He left. It was his choice." She finally said.
Peter cringed internally as he saw Nina's eyes glace just a little. Michael had been her brother once, before he disowned himself and walked out on his family. Nina and him had been as close as Nina and Peter were, but closer. They were only seven when he left, and he was seventeen.
"Anyways!" Nina exclaimed, blinking rapidly. "Did I act weird last night? Or talk in my sleep?"
"Not really, why?"
"I had a weird dream. In it, I was someone else, a woman, and I was running down the stairs of my house, trying to escape a fire, until the hallway stretched and the door disappeared. All I could see was fire around me, and I heard the laughter of a man. Just as I was grabbing the handle to leave, I couldn't."
"What do you mean you couldn't?"
"Well, the woman in my dreams was consumed by the fire. I know I should brush it off, but it felt so real. As if I had been living it. As if I had been consumed too."
"Wait, Nin. You were hot and sweaty this morning, with no reason at all. Do you think maybe–?"
"But it was just a dream, it could not have had that effect on me."
The best friends stared at each other as the door burst open, revealing the whole Gryffindor clan of first years – or almost the whole clan –, plus James and Fred.
"Princess!" James exclaimed.
"We do certainly hope you're doing fine– " Fred continued.
"For you're supposed to be in your prime– "
"And we're really sorry you didn't dine last night." At this, both teenagers took one of her hands and kissed it, Fred noticing Peter was holding one of them a second before.
Nina chuckled.
"Well, well, well, James. It seems as if your little girlfriend has been naughty this morning, holding hands with young Mr. Davies!" Fred commented.
"Oh shut it you two." Albus said as he and Hayden pushed through them, the latter running to hug her best friend.
"Oh Nina how are you feeling?" The brunette asked, clearly concerned.
"I've been worse." The 11-year-old smiled.
The others approached her too asking about her wellbeing, until Madam Pomfrey came out. "Mr. Davies, Ms Blotts, please keep quiet and – Oh, Merlin. Shouldn't you all be at lunch? Only three or four visitors per patient please."
With two claps of her hand, all but Peter, Albus and Hayden left.
As the room emptied, they heard Madam Pomfrey talking to someone else.
"Yes, dear. She's right here. No, not alone... But, I'm sure she won't mind, come on in."
"Scorpius!" Nina exclaimed in delight when she saw him. "I would stand up and hug the life out of you, but that would be quite hardly right now. Come here."
The boy approached her bed with a small smile.
"What is he doing here?" An annoyed Albus asked Nina.
"He has every right to be here as you do, Al. Besides, I really owe him a thank you."
"What do you mean you owe him a thank you?"
As Nina sat up to hug Scorpius, Peter dropped the bomb on Albus.
"Scorpius saved her life, Al."
