The group was instructed to wait outside as Pansy and Millicent carried Alex's limp body into the 'ER' part of the hospital wing. In that small section of the wing medical spells were already in place, to be awoken with a word or two from Madam P. As soon as the two girls put her down Alex was surrounded by a bubble like thing that started to glow a light blue. Poppy was tisking over the bubble and murmuring random trigger words. Pansy and Millicent stole out quickly, pushing open the doors in Damien's face. He staggered back a step in shock and then latched on to Pansy's arm.

"What happened? Can I see her? Is she alright?" His fired questions drew her gaze to his face, made her heart ache at the look in his eyes

"We don't know, nobody can and I don't know." She replied, drawing him into her arms. He collapsed at the news, and Pansy took him to the floor. He nestled his head into the curve of her neck and sobbed.

Draco was leaning against the wall, a cold expression on his face. Ginny went to him, running her hands around his waist and leaning her head against his chest. He brought his hands up to run up and down her arms.

A loud noise down the corridor made them all jump to their feet, drawing their wands and standing shoulder to shoulder in front of the doors.

"Damn it all to the seven hells and back again!" A familiar voice shouted, and Nymphadora Tonks came around the corner. Following her came Remus Lupin, looking younger than he had in years, and eyeing his partner in surprise.

"Nymphadora! I do not condone such language!" Lupin ran into the girl, seeing as how she'd whirled suddenly to glare at him. His quick reflexes kept her from hitting the floor and he ended up with her in his arms, looking down into her grinning face.

"Why thank you good sir." She leaned up and kissed him, and he hauled her to her feet.

Just as they were about to engage in some serious snogging, Draco cleared his throat loudly. They whipped around like two teenagers caught in the act (which they had been) and Lupin hastily let go of Tonks and backed away from her.

"Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Zabini, Miss Parkinson…" He was cut off in mid-sentence by Ginny Weasley hurling herself at him, wrapping her arms around his waist tightly. His eyes widened as he looked down at her and he patted her on the head shyly. "Hello Miss Weasley."

Tonks burst into laughter, holding her sides jovially, Ginny let go of Remus and turned to throw her arms around Tonks, shocking the hell out of the older girl. "Wotcher Ginny? Something wrong? I mean other than normal?"

Ginny murmured something against her shirt, refusing to lift her head. Draco strode down the corridor to shake Lupin's hand and gently help Tonks extract herself from Ginny's grip. "A friend was attacked today. We don't know who did it, or if she'll live."

Tonks's grin fell and she shook her head. "What's her name?"

"Alexandria DeLoche, a seventh year Ravenclaw was attacked early this morning. She was coming in from her early feeding of the Thestrals and….oh my god! Where is Eirian?" Ginny yelped, glancing around her in panic. "If we lose him, Alex will have our heads!"

Blaise came around the corner, Eirian walking next to him with his head low to the ground.

"Blaise where were you? Why do you have blood on you?" Pansy demanded, her hands running through Damien's hair idly. He was collapsed against her, eyes closed wearily.

"I fed the Thestrals…they needed food…" His voice cracked as he stroked Eirian's head. The young creature pushed his nose against the boy, snorting softly into his hand. He steeled himself, shutting his emotions down until he was alone. "Good evening Master Lupin, Mistress Tonks."

Pansy closed her eyes at his reversal to the past way, turning her head to press her cheek against Damien's head, a single tear seeping into his hair. Draco's voice provided pleasant background noise and she felt herself drifting off into sleep, her body cradling her lover.

-.-

Five hours later they heard a scream from within the Wing and the sound of glass breaking. Draco led the charge through the doors, to find nothing on the other side. Madam P was hovering over Alex, a potion in one hand, and the other trying to hold the struggling girl down long enough to get it into her. Damien and Blaise moved down the long row separating them and latched on to her flailing arms.

Blaise bent his head to put his face by her ear, murmuring words of encouragement into her ears. She relaxed as soon as the potion slipped down her throat, and opened her eyes for a split second. "I love you, Blaise. I love you."

Then her eyes slipped closed again and her breathing slowed. Blaise felt a tear slip from his eye and bent to kiss her forehead. "Je T'aime Alex. Je T'aime."

Madame Pomfry looked at the two boys wearily, "Blaise, Damien. I need your help to hold her while I stitch. The bigger wounds need to close or she'll bleed out faster than the potions can heal her."

Blaise nodded, gripping her hand tightly and trying not to grind his teeth down to nubs as he watched Madam Pomfry carefully directing her wand's stitches. Long neat lines of black crept like spider webs over the girl's tanned skin, Pomfry assured them that they wouldn't scar and to have no worries.

Blaise was relieved when it was finally over but he didn't let go of her hand. Damien kissed her forehead and told Pomfry that she might want to keep her in dreamless until she healed.

"Being injured brings back distasteful memories ma'am. She's sure to have nightmares and the screaming will be pretty loud." Damien promised to bring down some of her personal items to help comfort her and went off to fetch them.

Draco and company decided to take their leave, but left notes and a vase of flowers next to the bed. Blaise declined, turning haunted eyes on his Prince. The girl's pulse beat sluggishly against his fingertips the echo of her slow breathing. Draco inclined his head and escorted the rest of the group out.

Blaise conjured a chair next to the bed and rested his head next to her hand. He had caught a glimpse of her personal rune on her shoulder and it brought a small smile to his face.

'It's appropriate Alex, that your rune be elhaz.'