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Denial

"Not again," Headmistress McGonagall whispered horrified as she entered the infirmary wing that was crowded with eighth years; she had been hoping that there had been some mistake. Some miscommunication from an out of breath Hannah Abbott who was prone to exaggeration anyway. The entire time she hurried to the infirmary wing, she had wished that Ms. Parkinson hadn't been attacked brutally again. But seeing the eighth year faces, she knew Ms. Abbott had been telling the truth..

She was not surprised to see all the Gryffindors there, including Ms. Granger, or the Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws she knew to be friendly with Weasley but she was shocked to see all the Slytherins there. All their faces the same. Girls with dried tears and red, swollen faces; boys trying to hide what they were feeling and relented to just offering the girls comfort in their arms.

"Where is Mr. Weasley, Mr. Potter?" she asked having noted that the one person, she expected to be there wasn't.

Mr. Potter gestured his head to the screen and explained, "He's in there Pansy; she wouldn't let him leave."

Nodding, she was about to go around the screen when Madame Pomfrey came around.

"How is she?"

"Whoever it was only managed to reopen some of her cuts," she whispered, knowing that they had an audience. An audience she hadn't wanted but in the end had been powerless to stop all the eighth years from coming in who wanted to be there – especially with Mr. Potter and Mr. Malfoy leading the charge.

"She wasn't..."

"No Minerva, but he did cast an heir charm on her. I think we need to send her home. She isn't safe here whoever it is won't stop, especially not now."

"How long before it renders her incapable of resisting its demands?"

"She isn't bonded so that narrows it down to maybe two dozen. So anywhere between three months and twenty years but that doesn't include any familiar spells that might also have the same purpose. As she can't remember the incantation, Minerva, it just isn't safe for her here."

"I agree. I'll let her know and have Professor Slughorn take her to her parents' after you release her."

"You can't do that Headmistress."

She spun around, not realizing that she hadn't lowered her voice with her response and that the eighth years had heard her. There standing in front of her was Draco Malfoy looking quite resolute.

"Do what Mr. Malfoy?"

"You can't send her to her parents'."

"Mr. Malfoy," Professor McGonagall said firmly. "After everything that has happened, it would be best for her to return to her parents for the time being. She would be safe there."

"And I'm saying it would be the worst thing you could do to her. There is no such thing as safety in the confines of Parkinson Manor for her."

She didn't know what next surprised her more –

Blaise Zabini getting to his feet and saying, "Draco's right."

Theo Nott adding, "Her parent's home is the worst place for her now."

Millie Bulstrode quietly saying, "If you send her home, none of us will see her again."

Tracy Davis looking at her feet, "The disowning charm will be cast. The Parkinson one is powerful enough to turn her into a Squib."

Daphne Greengrass sighing, "As well as render her mute. She will be sent away to her aunt in the Orkney Isles."

Horrified looks came over all the other eighth years before they turned to Professor McGonagall –

Harry Potter stepping up to Mr. Malfoy's side, "Let her stay here with her friends."

Neville Longbottom saying, "We will take responsibility for her safety."

Ernie McMillan adding, "We will take shifts, someone will be with her at all times; in addition to Ron."

Padma Pavarti pointing out, "We've fought a war Professor McGonagall. Let us protect one of our own."

Then to everyone's shock, Hermione Granger spoke up, "Let her stay. For no other reason than Ron. If she goes, so will he."

Professor McGonagall had seen a lot of things in forty years of teaching but this was new to her.

"So it's settled," Mr. Malfoy perked up. "Pansy's staying."

Professor McGonagall looked at him sternly, knowing that she hadn't agreed to anything of the sort. She could think of a million reasons why Ms. Parkinson shouldn't stay and only one reason she should.

Sighing, she relented. "Yes, Mr. Malfoy, Ms. Parkinson is staying."

"Good," he replied spinning and heading out of the infirmary to the surprise of everyone but the other Slytherins.

Once their surprise wore off, the other eighth years and Professor McGonagall turned to the Slytherins remained looking for an explanation.

"He's going to take responsibility for our actions," Millie Bulstrode was the first to say.

Theo Nott added, "So our families won't disown us either – something only his father can prevent."