Had it all been a dream? A vivid, nasty dream?

It became a fact that it had not, when I awoke in unfamiliar surroundings, the world around me coming blurringly into view.

'Where-' I muttered, rubbing my eyes

'She's waking up!'

'Ouch!' I cried aloud, as I tried to hoist myself up, a searing, hot pain shot through my arm.

'Careful!' said a familiar voice, helping me to sit up

'Oscar?'

'Hasn't left your side since you arrived.' said a new voice, and I looked to see what I assumed was a Healer enter the cubical 'You're at St Mungos, in the 'Dangerous' Dai Llewellyn Ward: Serious Bites.' said the Healer 'My name is Hippocrates Smethwyck, I am the Primary Healer of this ward, who has been overseeing your care whilst you have been unconscious.'

'St Mungo's, for how long?'

'Only since yesterday,' frowned Oscar, pressing his hand against my arm in comfort 'I only heard about it because the Auror's were talking about it.'

'Can you remember who it was that infected you?' asked Hippocrates

'Uhm...' I glanced down at my heavily bandaged arm and pressed my hand to it 'I don't think it was Greyback, I think it was his friend, I-I can't quite remember...I just remember...'

'What?' Asked Oscar, looking alarmed 'What did he do? The Auror's only said you were infected?'

For a moment Oscar and I locked eyes, and it seemed he realised something else occurred that I hadn't mentioned.

Dare I tell them?

Dare I tell anyone what that bastard did to me?

Would any of them understand?

Oscar frowned as I remained silent, my eyes dropping from him to my lap.

'Well,' said Hippocrates, looking disconcerted 'We have successfully stopped any bleeding, but, I'm afraid, there is no removing the scars...you see, werewolf wounds are very hard to heal.' said Hippocrates 'I am sorry.'

'Miss Morris,' said Hippocrates 'is there anything from the incident you remember? Can you tell us what happened?'

At this, I burst into tears, I could not help it, Oscar moved in closer, but I pulled away from his embrace-I, was aware he was only trying to help, but...

Hippocrates sighed at my silence, my head hung as I felt shame engulf my being.

'Perhaps it's too soon to relive the details of the crime,' continued Hippocrates 'when you feel up to it, please, let us know what happened, but for now, you must rest.'

Oscar refused to leave my side, for which I was quite grateful, especially as Snape and Dumbledore arrived in the morning.

'How are you feeling, Miss Morris?' asked Dumbledore 'I am here, to ask you whether you wish to return to Hogwarts. It is your choice. I have no fears in you returning, since werewolf infections do not spread by normal means.'

'I'd like to return, please, Hogwarts is my home.'

'Then you shall return,' said Dumbledore 'And truly, I am deeply sorry that this happened...I thought-well, I thought you would be safe at Professor' Snape's.'

'She can stay with me.' said Oscar suddenly, surprising both Dumbledore and Snape 'I might as well come out with it,' sighed Oscar heavily, earning my alarmed expression as he rose onto his feet ''I'm actually Mara's cousin.' said Oscar, my heart pounded fast at this shocking revelation 'First cousin, to be exact...its, why I've been talking to her so much...why I took the post at Hogwarts..'

'This is very serious,' said Dumbledore 'perhaps we ought to continue this conversation back in my office at Hogwarts.'

'Uh...well, okay, but I don't really want to leave Mara alone.'

'Oh, hello-' said a voice, before I could begin to register such information 'I uh, can come back later.'

'Merton,' I said in disbelief 'I said you shouldn't come here.'

'Well,' he scratched the back of his neck 'I just wanted to know you're alright-here, I bought you these.' Merton revealed a very large bunch of roses, and my cheeks burned up.

'Even after I told you-told you what happened-' I said, wincing as I pressed my hand to my bandaged arm.

'Think that's going to keep me away?' said Merton, who earned a reluctant smile of me.

'We will leave you to it, Oscar, please, this way.'

'I'll see you soon, Mara.' I watched the three leave the cubical, my eyes remaining on Snape as he left-what must he have seen, after the whole ordeal?

'Thank you for all the letters.' smiled Merton, taking a seat beside the bed

'It's nice to have someone to write to.' I replied

'How are the wounds?' asked Merton, looking at the bandages warily

'I'm scarred for life, that's how they are,' I sighed 'I can't-I can't remember who it was that infected me, Greyback did the worst damage, see.'

Merton looked unsettled 'What do you mean?'

'N-nothing-look, Merton, I would understand, if you don't...you know...it isn't fair you should be bought into all this.'

'Mara,' smiled Merton 'I'm not put off, please believe me, if I was, I wouldn't have come and visit you here, would I?'

'I-I guess not.'

'We've been talking for awhile now, since the party,' said Merton 'I really like you, Mara.'

My skin burned hotly under Merton's gaze.

'Here, I have something for you.' he pulled out a wrapped gift

'Take it.' I unwrapped the present he handed me, whilst he sat the roses in a vase next to the bed.

It appeared to be a jewelry box, which I opened, to reveal a golden necklace inside.

I gasped a little as I pulled it out

'It's said to hold protective magic against dark creatures.' said Merton 'Thought, well-you know..'

'I-I don't know what to say.' I said, watching it twirl in my hand in awe 'Merton.' I breathed

'Do you like it?'

'I-it's beautiful. I couldn't possibly-'

'It's yours.' beamed Merton 'Here, I can put it on for you-uh, if you want?'

'No, it's fine,' I replied 'I uh, I'll do it myself.' Merton watched as I wrapped the necklace around my neck, and I had to admit, it did look lovely.

'There's something else,' said Merton 'that I've been meaning to ask you.' he breathed nervously 'I would very much like it if we could, maybe, go on a date one day? Then see where things lead?'

The silence was thick between us, go on a date, after what happened?

I couldn't possibly.

'Of course not right now! I just mean, in time, when you feel better.'

My eyes dropped to my lap and my lips pursed

'I'm sorry, I stepped out of line,' Merton rose to his feet 'I'll go.'

He looked back as my fingers wrapped around his wrist

'Not right now,' I said 'but we don't know what the future may hold, do we?' it wasn't Merton's fault what Greyback did, and there was no need to make him feel as bad as I did in that moment, but a relationship wasn't what I needed.

Merton smiled a little

'We don't,' he replied, looking mildly relieved 'But I do have to get going, I wish I could stay longer.'

'It's alright.' I replied 'I know you have things to do with your band.'

'See you soon, Mara.'

'See you soon, Merton.'