XV
Scorpius hadn't expected to see his mother so soon after returning to Hogwarts. However, when he woke up, it was her face he saw first. He tried desperately to understand how that was possible, why he lay in a bed, and what made his body feel as heavy as lead, but his mind was utterly blank. He remembered being at school and returning from Professor McGonagall's class; then, his thoughts were filled with darkness and disorientation.
"Mom," he croaked, his throat alarmingly sore, as if he'd returned from a game or a concert where he'd been shouting at the top of his lungs for a long time. The difference was that he couldn't recall having such an experience.
Then, in a sudden flash of clarity, he saw a scene before his eyes. His hand was burning with flames, and his body was consumed by fever. He trembled in fear. He opened his eyes wider and glanced at his left hand. He saw that the entire arm, from his shoulder to his fingers, was covered with a separate piece of fabric. He tried to move it but without any result.
"Scorpius, can you hear me?" Astoria asked. Seeing him focus on her, she smiled slightly, trying to mask her concern. "How are you feeling, my dear?"
"I don't know... I can't move my arm," he said, his voice no louder than a whisper.
"That's nothing to worry about. The healers had to paralyse it to stop the curse from spreading. It will pass; you don't have to be concerned."
"What happened? What curse? I can't remember... only the pain."
That time, Astoria couldn't manage a smile, and instead, a few tears streamed down her cheeks. She ran her trembling fingers through his hair.
"Someone attacked you and branded you with a Mark of Wrath. It's a terrible curse mostly used when someone seeks revenge. It channels their anger, and it torments the victim. The more anger is poured into such a curse, the stronger it becomes. In your case, it nearly caused your death. The healers saved you at the last moment."
"Healers? Where am I?"
"You're at St. Mungo's."
Scorpius looked at his mother with undisguised surprise. It must have been really bad with him to end up here.
"Professor McGonagall transported you to the hospital when it turned out that the curse was beyond Madam Pomfrey's skills," Astoria continued. "For several hours, the healers fought for your life."
"How long have I been here?"
"It's the fourth day."
Scorpius took a deep breath when he fully realised the gravity of the situation. That was not just some prank; someone had really tried to kill him. He clenched his teeth, trying to suppress the growing feeling of terror.
"Do you know who did it?"
Astoria didn't need to respond; her troubled expression sufficed as an answer.
"We were hoping you might be able to tell us more."
Scorpius closed his eyes and held his head with his healthy hand.
"I don't remember anything."
"I understand. Don't worry; no one expects you to provide answers."
He felt his mother's hand soothingly stroking his hair and face. However, frustration about the emptiness filling his mind consumed him. He needed to remember, and even more, he needed to find out who was responsible. It was no longer a matter of petty taunts; the situation had become deadly serious. He wasn't going to let it go.
Scorpius spent almost a week in St. Mungo's, during which the healers administered various potions and subjected him to complex charms. By the fourth day, he was able to stand on his own, and two days later, he regained feeling in the fingers of his left hand. Although the trace left by the curse was still visible on his forearm, it faded significantly, treated with ointments, and slowly disappeared.
Throughout most of the time and during all the procedures, his mother remained by his side. Her husband occasionally changed her so she could take some time to rest, change, and freshen up. Scorpius understood that his father grappled with the situation and his guilt for the past, even though he was not directly responsible. Scorpius decided not to burden Draco with his speculation. So when they talked, it was about trivial matters unrelated to the incident. Scorpius couldn't help but feel that Draco was grateful to him for that.
On Sunday, the head healer announced that the young Slytherin could leave the hospital. Scorpius did that gladly, although he was equipped with a whole bag of potions he had to take for at least six more weeks. Considering that most of them tasted like a combination of rotten meat and mouthwash, Scorpius was not too thrilled with the prospect. However, potions were the least of his concerns. He knew that as soon as he returned to school, he would face many difficult conversations, and a lot of people would likely be disappointed that he couldn't provide any details about his attacker. He learned from his mother that the Headmaster had initiated her investigation alongside the Ministry, which had also taken an interest in the case. While Scorpius doubted that anyone at the Ministry cared much about the fate of a Slytherin student, any suspicion of dark magic use had to be thoroughly examined.
One day, when he felt better, an Auror came to visit and began asking various questions. After about ten minutes, Scorpius realised that the man would not be getting much help from him and quickly left the hospital. Scorpius, along with his parents, did not have much faith in the Ministry's ability to identify the perpetrator. They could only be grateful that Auror didn't suggest that Scorpius had personally cast a forbidden charm that led to the curse.
On Monday, early in the morning, Scorpius left the hospital, and his father drove him straight to Hogwarts. For most of their journey, Draco remained silent. However, as they approached the school's vicinity, Draco unexpectedly pulled over and turned off the engine.
Scorpius looked at his father with a question.
"Your mother is very worried about you," Draco said.
"I'll be careful. I'll do my best to keep an eye out."
Draco let out a slight sigh.
"You know that's not what I mean. We know what you're like, and we can guess what ideas are born in your head. But we want you to promise not to seek out your attacker."
Scorpius furrowed his brow.
"Am I just supposed to leave it be? If he attacked me, he might harm someone else."
"I understand that you feel the need to take action, but you're still a child, and next time, you might not end up in St. Mungo's but in a cemetery. That's why I ask you to leave that matter to the adults. Professor McGonagall will surely not treat it as lightly as the Ministry."
"I'll do my best to stay away from it."
"Promise."
Scorpius clenched his fists. He understood why his father did that, but it was hard for him to come to terms with it.
"I promise," he mumbled, turning his gaze away.
Draco nodded and restarted the engine. When they arrived at the school, Filch waited for them at the gate. The caretaker greeted Draco with a nod, and then he looked at his son.
"The Headmaster wants to see you," he said in his usual grumpy manner.
Scorpius nodded, retrieved the bag with his medications from the trunk, and then looked back at his father.
"See you later," he muttered, feeling his father's suspicious gaze on him.
"Take care, Scorpius."
The boy nodded, and then he followed the caretaker toward the entrance.
"How are you feeling, Malfoy?" McGonagall asked when he entered her office.
"Good," he mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed by her concern.
The Headmaster looked at him in the same way his father had just a few minutes ago. Evidently, their thoughts were very similar. Unfortunately, both McGonagall and his father feared that his vengeful Slytherin nature might get the best of him. Nevertheless, currently, he had no one to take revenge on.
"I still don't remember anything," Scorpius continued. "The healers said that with time, my memory should return, but for now, there's just a void."
"Maybe it's better that way. Those memories wouldn't have been pleasant," the Headmaster said.
Scorpius sighed and sat in the chair in front of her desk, resting his forearms on his knees. He laced his fingers together and stared at his hands for a while before shifting his gaze to the woman sitting across from him.
"I have a few suspects," he admitted. "I won't pretend to be a saint. Over the past few years, I've gotten under the skin of enough people for them to want to get back at me."
McGonagall furrowed her brow.
"What you experienced is more than just teenage squabbles. Someone tried to kill you. Unless we assume they cast a charm without understanding its consequences."
Scorpius shrugged. The latter option couldn't be ruled out completely. After all, he almost killed himself with Proteus's charm. He didn't have a monopoly on such mistakes.
"Nevertheless," McGonagall continued, "I would prefer that you didn't get involved in that. It's not..." She sighed and rubbed her temples in frustration. "Who am I trying to fool? I suppose no words of mine will deter you from searching for the perpetrator, am I correct?"
What should he say? He didn't want to deceive her out of respect, but could he be entirely honest and not ground himself for good? Ultimately, honesty won, and he nodded, causing McGonagall to roll her eyes.
"You know, in that regard, you're quite similar to Potter, I mean Harry. When he was your age, he disregarded all warnings and always did things his way."
The comparison took Scorpius aback. He had never expected anyone to see him as similar to the famous wizard. He wasn't entirely sure if, in McGonagall's eyes, it was meant as a compliment or a criticism. After a moment, he smiled a little wryly.
"Thanks to that, he won the war."
"He didn't win it alone and had a lot of luck. You're not alone in that, either. So please, if you find anything or remember something important, come to me. That is not about your vendetta but about making sure that responsible person faces justice."
Scorpius could agree to that condition, so he nodded without much hesitation. McGonagall smiled slightly and returned the gesture.
"Now, go to the dormitory. You shouldn't overexert yourself right after leaving the hospital."
Scorpius grabbed his bag and got up from the chair. Indeed, at that moment, he realised how weak he was.
"We'll meet on Monday after classes," McGonagall added, putting on her glasses, a sign that she intended to return to her reading.
Scorpius nodded and left her office. At least the Headmaster didn't try to extract any promises from him, which particularly pleased him since he knew he wouldn't be able to keep any.
When Scorpius entered the Slytherin common room, he was immediately surrounded by a few people who inquired about the reasons for his earlier absence. Since the entire incident was a big mystery to the other Slytherins, he didn't plan to reveal too many details. Instead, he quickly concocted a story, claiming that he had been dealing with some heart-related issues that required attention from specialists. He wasn't sure if anyone really believed that explanation, but it allowed him to escape to the dormitory under the pretext of exhaustion and weakness. In truth, it wasn't just an excuse because when he climbed a few flights of stairs, he could feel his legs almost giving out beneath him.
Upon entering the dormitory, he noticed his two roommates. Seeing their expressions, he didn't doubt that they waited for his return. He didn't remember what had happened since the attack, but he had a vague sense that these two were somehow involved.
"I'll warn you: I don't remember a thing," he said, tossing his bag onto his bed and then sitting on the trunk nearby.
"Nothing at all?" Zachary expressed his surprise.
"Absolutely nothing. I only remember walking to the Great Hall for dinner, and then I woke up in St. Mungo's. I only know what my parents told me, that I got hit by some nasty curse, and I was close to death."
"You don't even know how close," Karl muttered.
Scorpius looked at him questioningly, prompting the Slytherin to start explaining.
That evening, Scorpius learned several intriguing and unsettling things. First and foremost, he realised that he needed to apologise to Lily again, as he had apparently scared her more than he'd anticipated. However, in the main part, it was thanks to her that he still walked the earth. The young Gryffindor, once she had shaken off her shock, ran to her brothers to tell them about the strange behaviour of the Slytherin. Concerned, James and Albus had tried to locate him. Karl hadn't mentioned that, but they likely intended to find him using the Marauder's Map. However, before they reached the third floor, they encountered Karl and Zack, who had begun their search for Scorpius after he didn't show up for dinner. They knew he wasn't with McGonagall, as they had seen her in the Great Hall. They hadn't found him in the library or on the fields in front of the school, where he sometimes spent time. Just as they were about to check their common room again, they were stopped by the Gryffindors asking about Scorpius. That was enough to concern them seriously.
Karl didn't hide his shock when the Potters showed them the passage behind the witch's hump. He was genuinely curious about where they acquired such knowledge, but that was irrelevant at that moment. They eventually found Scorpius semi-conscious at the train station. Unable to help him on the spot, they brought him back to Hogwarts, and McGonagall had him transported to St. Mungo's.
Scorpius had difficulty imagining two Slytherins and two Gryffindors taking turns carrying him to the school. Frankly, he wasn't sure he wanted to imagine it. However, one thing was certain: both Slytherins and Gryffindors had saved his life.
"Thank you," he said after Karl finished his story. "If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here right now."
Both of them shrugged almost simultaneously.
"You seem to be at a stage where you need someone to babysit you for your good," Zack said with an amused tone, though it was still tinged with concern. "You always manage to land in the biggest messes."
Scorpius sighed.
"You know I didn't intentionally expose myself to that attack."
"But you intentionally irritate anyone who crosses your path, even me, and I'm more patient and understanding than most."
"To be honest, I doubt that the person who attacked me was upset about some snarky comment. It was a different level."
Zack and Karl exchanged glances, which struck Scorpius as quite suspicious.
"While you were lying in the hospital, we did some searching around," Karl stated.
"Do you remember that Hufflepuff girl you saved from the Ravenclaw beaters in Hogsmeade last year?" Zack asked.
Scorpius looked at him, bewildered. He probably couldn't identify which girl that was, let alone see the relevance of her to the situation.
"Her name is Kathleen Wilder, and it just so happens that she's a close cousin of Peggy White — remember that annoying Ravenclaw who recently got on Esther's nerves? Well, Katie said that after the news that you mysteriously ended up in the hospital, White started acting strangely. Apparently, some girls saw her locking herself in the bathroom for long periods or refusing to leave the dormitory."
Scorpius grimaced slightly. He wasn't sure if he was pleased with the fact that his roommates got involved in that matter. He might be putting himself at risk, but he didn't want anyone else to be harmed.
"Maybe she's just fallen in love or something," he suggested after some thought.
"That's not all. Katie says that a day after they took you, White sent an owl to her parents, asking for a new wand. Apparently, her old one went missing. You know you can recreate the last charms cast from a wand, so if she wanted to hide her involvement in the attack, getting rid of the tool is crucial."
Scorpius pondered it. He couldn't entirely dismiss it. Of course, it could be a pure coincidence, but it was better than nothing. However, something else caught his attention.
"How do you know so much from that Katie?"
In an instant, Karl became extremely flustered and had no idea where to look.
"It's quite a long story. You see, last year, after you saved her, she was in shock for a while. However, later, she wanted to thank you, but she couldn't find you in private because you were usually with us. One day, she bumped into me in the corridor. She remembered that I was your friend, so she approached me. We talked for a while, and... it just somehow turned into us dating."
Scorpius widened his eyes at Karl.
"Are you saying that you've had a girlfriend since last year, and I knew nothing about it? Did you know?" he turned to Zack.
The blond shook his head.
"I found out three days ago. The guy kept it well hidden."
"A Slytherin dating a Hufflepuff isn't something to brag about," Karl explained. "I was afraid of how you would react."
"You're overreacting a bit," Zachary scolded him. "That one here is friends with Gryffindors; it's really hard to fall any lower."
In an instant, Zack earned a pillow straight to his unguarded face.
"No one can fall any lower than your intelligence," Scorpius growled, reaching for another pillow.
Zachary got up and grabbed his own to retaliate.
"Are you attacking the cripple? Remember, I've just come out of the hospital."
"Sure, just admit that you faked it to get out of Potions."
"Yeah, because Smilthon is so terrifying," Scorpius laughed and threw another missile in the blond's direction.
The next morning, being a Saturday, Scorpius slept in to recover from all the previous troubles and ended up waking up around noon. Annoyed with Zack and Karl for letting him sleep so long, he entered the common room but found it empty of his roommates. Instead, Ester approached him.
"I'm glad you've recovered," she said with one of her peculiar smiles. She smiled, yet he couldn't shake the feeling that she was sad.
Scorpius smiled, too. He still couldn't quite get used to the fact that so many people were concerned about his well-being.
Ester gestured for him to follow her, and they left the common room. After a few minutes of silent walking, they found themselves in the school courtyard. The girl sat down on the steps surrounding it, and Scorpius followed suit. She acted strangely, more strangely than usual.
"I'm leaving Hogwarts," she blurted out without any preamble.
"You're leaving? How is that possible?! We've only just started the school year."
The girl shook her head. "You don't understand. Today is my last day here. I'm dropping out."
Scorpius didn't know how to respond. He had never expected such a decision from her.
"Does that have to do with..."
Ester nodded slightly. "I don't know if it was Peggy or someone else who hates us. Honestly, I don't care. What matters is that McGonagall sent a report about the attack on you to all our legal guardians. She had to do it; it's not a trivial matter. And you know, my grandmother took it very seriously. She was never happy with my education at Hogwarts. She always thought that magic took her daughter away, and now she's afraid she'll lose me too. I'm all she has, and if something happened to me, she'd be completely alone."
"But what about your education? You're a witch; you can't just stop."
Ester shrugged.
"I'm not like you; my thoughts don't revolve solely around magic. My grandmother enrolled me in a school two blocks away from her house. There are things more important than magic, Scorpius. Life counts, and I'd rather spend it as a Muggle than lose it as a wizard."
There was something painfully true in her statement. Scorpius had also wondered if he'd be better off among Muggles, where nobody knew him. Could he, then, blame Ester for making such a decision?
"Do the guys know?"
"Not yet. I thought I'd start with you. I figured it would be the hardest for you to understand."
Scorpius gave a bitter smile.
"Who am I to give you advice?"
Ester looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
"I thought, you are my friend."
"That's why I should accept your decision. In truth, I understand it. Not everyone has to be as messed up as I am, willingly diving into the worst jams."
The girl snorted and cheered up a bit.
"I don't think there are many like you at all."
Scorpius smiled back and placed his hand on her shoulder.
"Good luck, and if you ever need to punch a Muggle's face, you know where to find me."
"I'll remember that," Ester nodded.
For quite some time, they sat in the courtyard, chatting about more or less trivial matters, when Scorpius suddenly noticed a familiar tuft of red hair, and his throat went dry. There was no point in delaying it. If he was to remain friends with the Potters, he had to mend things.
He excused himself to Ester and headed toward the group of Gryffindor girls walking on the other side of the courtyard. For a moment, he wondered if these were the same girls who had accompanied Lily that day. It seemed likely, considering how reluctantly they looked at him.
However, what bothered him the most was the way Lily looked at him as he approached. It wasn't a hostile look. She appeared more scared, which was something he definitely didn't want.
"Can we talk?" he asked, nodding toward a bench nearby.
Lily looked visibly flustered, and he feared she might simply refuse, but Gryffindor nature ultimately won, and she sent her friends away before approaching the bench. She didn't sit, though.
"How are you feeling? Albus said things got pretty bad for you," she asked in a calm voice, not looking at him.
"Yeah, I barely survived," Scorpius said, feeling his frustration build. Conversations like these were never his strong site. He nervously ran his hand through his hair and sighed heavily. "Listen, I don't remember much about what happened, but I know I behaved horribly towards you, so I'm sorry."
Lily shifted her gaze to him, her eyes dangerously shiny with tears. "I didn't know what was going on," she replied with a trembling voice. "And then when Albus told me they took you to St. Mungo's, I thought you'd die. I was so scared because it would've been my fault. I told you about that passage, and that's why they found you so late. I would never forgive myself."
Suddenly, she reached for him.
Scorpius stood there paralysed, feeling Lily cry into his shoulder. He never expected that kind of reaction, so it took him a while to gather himself and return the hug. He doubted he'd ever fully understand the Potters. It was the same with Albus. He cared about Scorpius's well-being, even when Scorpius had done nothing to deserve it.
"I'm so sorry, Lily," he added hesitantly, not knowing what else to say.
Saturday passed with Scorpius pointlessly wandering around the school and recuperating after his stay at the hospital. He spent part of the day in the library, sipping potions and catching up on the history of Scottish wizards. He had no intention of pushing himself too hard immediately upon returning to Hogwarts. However, as evening came, and he met Zack and Karl for dinner, he realised that his time for rest was over.
"Katie spoke with White today. She asked her to go to the owlery with her tomorrow morning," Karl stated, glancing significantly at Scorpius.
Scorpius pondered it for a moment.
"I understand. I'll be waiting there, and we'll see what that Peggy has to say."
Zack interrupted:
"Not a chance you're going alone. We're going together."
Zack's tone left no room for discussion, so Scorpius sighed and nodded. Sometimes, it was simply better to let it go.
Content with that, Zack resumed devouring doughnuts. Meanwhile, Scorpius cast a glance towards the Gryffindor table, where he caught Albus's gaze. They stared at each other for a moment, and then, rather unexpectedly, Potter stood up and approached them.
"Lily said you're feeling better," he said, stopping in front of them. His gaze scrutinised Scorpius, who couldn't help but feel that Albus tried to figure him out. "You know, she took it pretty hard. Try not to make her cry again."
So that was it. Albus, like all the others who knew Scorpius even a little, had probably guessed that he wouldn't let that matter rest. He used his sister as a shield, but it was clear that he was afraid Scorpius would get into trouble again.
"That wasn't my intention," Scorpius replied in a neutral tone. "You know well enough that I never wanted any of that."
Albus nodded but didn't seem convinced.
"Remember that I won't always be able to save your skin."
Scorpius smiled wryly.
"You once claimed you're not the heroic type."
"Sometimes the decision isn't ours to make. But you don't have to be one either."
Scorpius knew exactly what Albus meant. He was very perceptive.
"Me, a hero? There hasn't been a Slytherin born who would be called that."
Gryffindor also smiled slightly, then turned his gaze away.
"Take care. I'm going back to Rose. It got strangely quiet in the Great Hall," he said and waved to Scorpius as he left.
Indeed, many watchful eyes were on them. Perhaps his friendship with the Potters was no longer a secret, but there were still plenty of students who had trouble accepting that inter-house alliance.
That day, Scorpius realised how many people were genuinely concerned about his fate. Not just his family, friends, or McGonagall. The Potters, with Albus at the forefront, were among those who cared. Potter was openly worried about him, even though he didn't talk about it directly, like many other things between them. That's just the way he was: quiet and somewhat reserved, yet very empathetic.
But Albus wasn't the hero type, so Scorpius had no intention of involving him in that mess. It was his fight, and he had to deal with it personally. Besides, Potter would never understand or accept his methods; he was too honourable.
The owlery, just after ten on a Sunday morning, was almost deserted except for dozens of birds dozing on perches stretched across the ceiling and walls. Scorpius and Zack sat hidden behind a few wooden crates, out of sight for someone who entered the room.
They arrived a bit early, but they didn't have to wait long. They could hear the voices of the girls, talking earnestly about something. One of them, the calmer one, had to be Katie, while the other, confident and audacious, belonged to Peggy.
When the girls entered the room, the Hufflepuff followed by grabbing her cousin's hand and pulling her towards the window.
"Peggy," Katie began as they sat on the windowsill, "it's not about choosing an owl. I wanted to talk to you alone so that you could give me some advice."
Despite there not being a significant age difference between them, the Ravenclaw girl appeared much older and more mature compared to the petite and seemingly timid Katie.
"On what topic?"
"You know," she replied, averting her gaze, "there's a certain..."
"You mean it's about some guy, right?" White interjected.
Katie nodded, but she wasn't given a chance to continue her introduction because Zack and Scorpius emerged from their hiding place.
"We need advice, too," the latter declared. "For instance, how to put the Dark Mark on someone's arm."
"What?!" Peggy exclaimed, standing up abruptly. "What are you..."
"You shouldn't have been so straightforward with her," Karl commented, appearing in the owlery door and simultaneously blocking Peggy's escape route.
"Subtlety has never been my strong suit..."
"Depulso!" Katie suddenly yelled.
Karl didn't react in time to the unexpected charm and was forcefully pushed backwards, tumbling down the stairs.
"Karl!" Katie cried and rushed out of the owlery, not paying any attention to her cousin or the boys.
Scorpius and Zack quickly drew their wands. Scorpius managed to duck behind a crate when Zachary tried to cast Expelliarmus. Unfortunately, White was faster and accurately cast a Stunning Spell, effectively taking Zack out of the game.
"You've gone mad! We just wanted to talk!" Scorpius shouted from his hiding place.
"We don't have anything to talk about, Slytherin scum! Attacking me with three of you, you cursed cowards! Incendio!"
Instantly, the surrounding crates caught fire. Scorpius had to act quickly. Unconscious Zack lay perilously close to the flames. Moreover, the situation became chaotic as dozens of owls began to take flight at the sight of the fire. Smoke, dust, and feathers filled the air.
"Chamaeleon," Scorpius muttered, casting the Disillusionment Charm on himself.
He emerged from behind the crates and headed toward Peggy.
"Get out, you reptile!" White yelled. "Homenum Revelio!"
In an instant, Scorpius felt his camouflage being magically removed. But he was only five or six steps away from his opponent, just a few seconds and…
"Stupefy!" Peggy shouted when she saw him right in front of her.
"Protego!" he responded reflexively.
The shield rebounded the spell, which hit the girl directly.
Peggy let out a groan, staggered backwards, and fell out of the window behind her.
Albus sat on the grounds with Rose and Lily, enjoying the pleasant, warm autumn weather. Despite the nice atmosphere and good company, he couldn't shake a sense of foreboding. He had seen Scorpius whispering with his friends the previous evening, and it struck him as really suspicious. He could bet that the three of them were up to something. Albus had gotten to know Scorpius too well not to be wary. He also felt that no words could stop him. Scorpius was incredibly impulsive, and Albus could only hope he hadn't gotten himself into more trouble.
Suddenly, an unpleasant shiver ran down his spine when he noticed one of the prefects rounding up all the students and sending them back to their dormitories.
"What's going on?" he asked, approaching the prefect.
"Nothing that should concern you," a seventh-year Hufflepuff responded dismissively.
"There was an accident," another student chimed in. "Somewhere near the owlery."
"Hey, where are you going?!" the prefect shouted, but Albus paid no attention. He sprinted across the grounds and circled the castle. In less than a minute, he saw smoke rising from the owlery windows, and below the tower, he spotted a group of gathered students.
With trembling heart and shaky knees, he pushed his way through the crowd.
On the ground, in an unnatural position, lay Peggy White, a fellow student from his year. She was dead.