Disclaimer: I am just a mere visitor in the sublime world constructed by the brilliant mind that is J.K Rowling. Anything that rings a bell is hers.

Chapter 76

Harry's POV

"Errrr… Harry?" I looked up from my star chart to a nervous Neville who was looking on in fear as his star chart floated up and down in front of him. I sighed, leaning down and giving Ky a prod, she looked up at me from her seat at the foot of my armchair, waving her wand in her right hand and reaching for the Vitamix with her left. I grabbed the bottle from her before she could take a swig, "You're levitating Neville's chart! And only one swig an hour and you had one on the way up here." She didn't respond and turned back to the star chart, redirecting her wand to the book she was supposed to be working on. I could tell that Neville wanted to ask why she was still practicing for Charms when we finished the exam last week but thankfully he didn't. She didn't have to stress so much though and languidly produced the charm as we were done with all the practical exams except Astronomy which was in a few minutes, but you didn't need a wand for that. She still needed to exercise her power though, any day now the Vikadel would finally have left her body and she can finally relax. And sleep. And eat.

I sighed, looking at her stern expression as she took in the star charts; her skin was so pale that Snape had made her an anemia tonic. McGonagall wrote to Healer Atticus and he visited yesterday letting us know that it is to be expected as the last week of the Vikadel, much like the first, had an exponential rate of decay on the body and she would just have to manage the next few days. He was amazed when he witnessed the level of magic she was able to display, Hermione had sent him a letter with all the information she had found out from Slytherin's personal library and the two had been corresponding since. I was a bit ticked off that he didn't chastise her insane studying methods upon seeing what it was doing to her body, instead he prodded her on. The man should not be a healer, he didn't care about the body, he just saw results. I see why he and Ky get on well.

Her grey eyes flittered left and right as she took in the charts, she really was something else. She was studying just as hard as Hermione, save for the day of rest she thankfully took when Linus had pitched up in her room. Somehow she was managing to revise in mere hours, what took most of us days to revise.

I leaned down and kissed her on the crown of her head, taking in the pleasant scent, I would have to thank Lavender for that. Apparently she was taking Ky's lack of personal hygiene in regards with her hair very personally and pushed her into the tub yesterday, washing her hair for her. Hermione said she barely could stand from laughing as the two fought in the tub as Lavender wrestled at her to stay put whilst she washed the shampoo off, and that was saying something considering Hermione hasn't laughed in days. She stopped practicing her magic and found my fingers, closing her palm around them. I pecked her hair again, touched by the gesture. Not that she was neglecting me, far from it; I think the only non-studying thing she was engaging in was me.

I gulped remembering the particularly steamy session we had this afternoon, it wasn't the first time I was tempted to go too far, but no matter how tempting Ky was, even in her presently weakened state, I wouldn't do that. Not in some random broom cupboard off the fifth…maybe I should start planning that…towards the end of term…we haven't spoken about having sex since the discussion we had when we first started dating, only saying that we would cross the bridge when we get there, where we there? Was it time to cross the bridge?

I quickly leaned forward as I heard the coughing, pulling out the tonic from her bag, even if it made her drowsy she better take it, I was quite familiar with a strong coughing fit by now, and this was definitely one. She took the bottle without complaint and a shot of pain spiked across my scar, I tapped my forehead to fight off the pain, but I deserved it. Here she is… sick and weak and I'm thinking about…I'm an absolute devil. I leaned down and kissed her on the top of her head again, warranting a quizzical look from her.

"Let's head up to the Tower."

She cocked her eyebrow and glanced back at her chart, then shrugged, "We'd have to be quick, like five minutes, the exams are starting soon."

I laughed, "I meant the Astronomy tower. But…I guess…"

She shot up and pulled me after her, ignoring Hermione's disapproving glance and impressed look on Ron's face. I smirked back, how lucky was I?

She coughed for the twenty seventh time and I tossed her a nervous glance. Professor Tofty made his way towards her, a concerned look on his face whilst that blonde Ravenclaw guy threw her an annoyed glance at her disturbing his concentration. I glared at the ponce, couldn't he see she was not well.

Tofty reached her and she handed him her star chart before he could say a word, she grabbed her bag, muffling another cough in her sleeve and glanced up at me before she could make her exit. She winked but I could tell it was forced, an attempt to pacify me. I turned back to my chart, fighting the urge to just abandon it all together. I should finish this up as quickly as possible. I glanced at Hermione, she was furiously filling in labels, she had sent word to Atticus in the afternoon, as I requested. After tomorrows History exam, Ky was to go straight to St Mungo's, of course we had to be vague in case the letter had been intercepted, stating only that Ky was not feeling well and to expect her tomorrow afternoon.

I realised I had been staring off into the grounds, lost in my thoughts, expending time I could be checking up on Ky. Just before I could look away, something caught my eye. I pushed my glasses up and squinted, the light reflected on the grounds grew from its previous specks scattered across the grounds to a large rectangular sheet of light, which I could only assume was due to the opening of the front doors. I squinted when the light disappeared; positive I could see figures move amongst the darkness, especially the one in the front, an unfortunately familiar figure it was indeed. What would have Umbridge outside past midnight though? I turned to Hermione and Ron but turned back quickly. Professor Marchbanks was near and the last thing I wanted was her to think I was coping, a highly likely assumption to make when looking at Hermione Granger during an exam.

A sudden roar from Hagrid's hut had everyone turn away from their telescopes, ignoring Professor's Tofty's advice to concentrate on the exam at hand.

"No!" Screeched Hermione as a loud bang went off next; Hagrid emerged, illuminated in lunar light, fighting off the six figures with brandishing arms, batting away the red lights of stunners like they were mere pesky flies.

"Be reasonable Hagrid!"

"Reasonable be damned, yeh won' take me like this Dawlish!"

The fight was getting closer, the voices echoing in the large ground aided by the acoustics of the Astronomy Tower itself. Fang was gnashing his teeth at any enemy he could reach until he fell to the floor with a whimper, not being able to bat away the red light like Hagrid could. The wielder of the stunner was picked up by Hagrid, who roared in anger and threw the culprit ten feet away. Hermione's mouth hung open, unable to close for the past few moments whilst Ron seemed to have my expression of shock at Hagrid's temper on his own face.

"Look!" Everyone turned to Parvarti, who pointed at the re-emergence of the rectangular light on the grounds, as a singular, long, black shadow rippled across the grass.

"How dare you!" The figure shouted as it swam through the dark, "How dare you!"

"It's McGonagall."

"Leave him alone! Alone I say! On what grounds are you attacking him! He has done nothing, nothing to warrant such-"

Hermione, Lavender and Parvarti all screamed as four figures around the cabin shot stunners straight at McGonagall, but I never stayed to see what happened to her. My back was to the door in seconds, turning away from the transfixing scene with absolute ease at the fourth very distinctive scream that came from below, the scream of "Minnie" that had me pounding down the stairs at such speed that I felt the familiar sensations of flight through my body. My body seemed to be on standby, breathing, beating and blood pounding put on whole as I wrenched myself through the front doors.

I suddenly stopped, all sensations starting up again at the sight before me igniting my body with their resurgence, everything was faster, harder and hotter with a vengeance at their absence, but I didn't care for the rapid breathing, hammering heart and searing blood as my hand flew to my pocket,

"Flamma congelatio"

I ran forward, wand still in hand, begging the Founders that the spell reached in time as Ky's body flickered in front of me, dancing flames lapping at her from head to toe…

Ky's POV

"Minnie!" The bottle of tonic dropped from my fingers as I pushed off the wall I was leaning on, enthralled by the sight of Minnie running…no, not running… pelting down the first floor staircase, Nearly Headless Nick floated out of her office with a grim look on his face.

I didn't wait to ask him what news he delivered to her that had her out the door at that rate, knowing whatever it was would surely have me run after her anyway. I took the stairs two at a time, my chest finally loosening up with the help of the adrenaline that surged through my veins. I pushed the great hall doors with ease, seeing the remnants of Minnie's black cloak fly past there just moments ago.

I jumped the front stairs, hitting the gravel hard but pushing forward until my feet hit the soft grass of the grounds that I could see Minnie running down. Even with the loss of the light from the opened doorway I could make out the scene ahead of me, the light from the moon incandescent. The only figure that matched the large silhouette was Hagrid, stunners bouncing off him like pebbles off a wall.

Suddenly the night was accentuated by the glowing red that emanated from Minnie's whole body as four stunners hit her in the chest, my eyes followed her ascent as her body slowly loomed in the air, stationary for a moment, ethereal in its statuesque glow pushing the pause button suddenly on my heart. With the sharpest of pains my heart un-paused and all I could see was the glowing red that was Minnie, the stillness that was her, the tall powerful figure which stared down at me sternly so often, now lying commonly on the grass. I slowly processed the strident voice as my own, that echoed her name through the grounds. Has if on trade, my vision went black, tinged only by the memory of the red light and all I could see was her…

I sidestepped the whistling sounds, left and then right, my vision clearing only to see her lie there unmoving. There was that grating screech again, that familiar tone that cut from within as it made its ascent upwards. The screech stopped abruptly as a cacophony of ugly guttural sounds picked at my ears, I felt myself blink and as I opened my eyes again, life was in mute and vivid in colour again as the six figures floated around me, clutching their necks relentlessly, flailing their legs as if it could somehow help them breath. I watched as the nearest man's blue eyes watered, blinking rapidly as if it would help him achieve breath, I followed the clear drop that escaped down his frail cheek, to his wobbly chin as it mixed with the scarlet drops that slowly slinked down his lined mouth. He fell to the floor abruptly; I staggered backwards, the scarlet blood stopping what the scarlet light had triggered in me. I turned quickly, looking at the gasping faces of the people that attacked Minnie! Why did I stop!

"Stupefy!"

"Expelliarmus!"

"Immobulus."

I threw my wand up, the shield charm luminescent in the dark night, watching the red, yellow and blue spells bounce harmlessly off it.

"Flippindo!" The wizard on my left hurtled into the one behind him, I tossed up a shield charm on my right pulling it down once the blue spell bounced off,

"Aeros saggitarius!"

I heard the whistling wind make its way from my wand and the wizard ducked, but not quickly enough as the wind spell caught him on his left arm emitting both a swear and a spatter of blood from him. I felt a biting wind hit my arm and I turned toward the reason, a tall dark man with hard, brown eyes. He raised his arm but I was quicker, he hurtled backwards when the spell hit him.

"Stop this at once Miss Thornton!" The voice had me turn away from the tall man, I glared at the heinous black eyes and a rage like no other blasted through my veins, she was the one…she was the one!

"Incarcerous."

The rope flew out my wand and hoisted around her neck like a toad catching a fly…the tables have turned Umbitch. I watched as she struggled with the rope, ignoring the sudden jolt of pain at my side, holding my wand steady. I watched her mouth move slowly, not caring what spell she casts next, not caring because nothing would make me relinquish the hold I had on this devilish woman who hurt everyone I cared for, who stood for everything I was against. I didn't look down as the rope I held burst into flame, ignoring the look of shock on her face as it didn't relent. This wasn't a rope of silk, but polyester, the former burns much faster hence my use of the latter. I looked down quickly, the rope, thinner than previously but with the dancing flame lapping across it, I looked up again, her eyelids slowly fluttering shut. I should stop…I should stop…enough Ky! Stop. I pushed my wand down and the rope disappeared and so did the flames.

Everything surged to life at once and I glared down at the gasping toad in front of me…I stopped…why did I stop…she deserves to pay for what she's done, why did I stop! I coughed, the blood spraying across my palm, I watched the droplets leak through my fingers and staggered sideways, Minnie…Minnie…why was she so still…Minnie…

I felt tightness around my waist and looked down at the rope, the bitch missed my neck. My brows rose slightly as I took in the rope…silk. I followed it up to the flame that danced from her wand, catching onto the rope and making its way towards me. I tried raising my hand to slash the rope before the flame reached me but nothing happened…I felt the heat at my stomach and closed my eyes to the stinging sensation, willing my hand to rise.

"Flamma congelatio."

The familiar voice glided through the silent night and what once brought pain, now brought laughter. Silent laughter, at the tickling sensation that licked at my whole body, especially at the area that was stinging from the burn a few seconds ago. The flaming rope and the tickling sensation disappeared in seconds and I staggered backwards, seeing the opalescent moon gathered by the star strewn night, and with one blink…the stars disappeared….

And they were back again…no not stars…light. I blinked, reaching up and wiping my eyes. A pang resonated from my upper arm, I looked to it, and there was a red swelling that probably looked worse than it really was because it contrasted eerily with my unnaturally pale skin. I looked down my right arm, finding another bruise. I pulled myself into a seated position and hissed, I pulled up my top, another red welt across my stomach along with a faded burn coated in green paste. I touched the paste and sniffed…burn-healing paste, with a distinctive scent of aloe vera.

I tore my eyes away from the burn and finally took in my surroundings; the room was a blinding white, aided by the large window which the sun spilled through. That explained the light I saw when I first woke up; it looked like a hospital room but lacked two distinctive things. The smell and the visitors. As if I had thought it out aloud, the white door that sat in the wall to the right of me opened, I turned expecting to see many combinations of features. Midnight blue and auburn, hazel and brown, emerald green and jet black, cocoa brown and chocolate, onyx black and black …but it never came. Instead I found myself facing amber eyes with honey hair…

A/N: Guess whose back? I hope you enjoyed that chapter, I'm about to get really busy soon so I'm trying to finish up the story in a week or two, I hope you enjoyed this update.

Oh, and flamma congelatio is the incantation I made up for the flame freezing charm.

Please review, they really make my day, and considering today was…yeah, let's just say I need them :D

Have an awesome day

Kalina