Chapters 211-220

Professor Weasley’s Decision

‘You may go in. But only for three minutes,’ Madam Pomfrey warned. ‘And afterwards there’s some Calming Draught and a nice warm bed in the hospital wing waiting for you.’

Alina stared at the matron. How could she sleep now, when she didn’t know what had happened to Hermione and Madame Dubois? But she nodded meekly. She knew that arguing would get her nowhere with Madam Pomfrey.

Professor Weasley smiled encouragingly. ‘It’s all right, Alina. Go in. I’ll wait here for you.’ The DADA Professor had stayed with her in Madam Pomfrey’s office while they waited for her mother to come back and for news about Ron.

Inside the private room at the back of the hospital wing, her mother sat next to Ron’s bed. Ron lay on his back, his eyes closed. His skin was white as the sheets. Possibly whiter. Her mother was pale, too. She looked so small, the way she sat there, clinging to Ron’s hand. Alina gulped. That was plain wrong. Mothers were not supposed to look small and helpless. Her throat constricted.

Quickly she looked back at Ron. And gulped again. Somehow she couldn’t look away from the spot where Ron’s left arm should be. It simply wasn’t there. He wasn’t wearing a pyjama top, so she could see the thick white bandages that covered his upper body. She forced herself to look at her mother again.

Only this time she took in the brown spots and smears on her mother’s white blouse. All of a sudden a sick, sour taste filled her mouth. Blood. That was blood. Ron’s blood. Alina swallowed convulsively.

‘Mummy?’ Alina hated the little girl sound of her voice. She grimaced. Balling her hands into fists, she straightened up. ‘Mum?’ This time her voice sounded firmer.

‘Oh, Allie.’ Her mother’s lips trembled. Then a guilty expression crossed her face and she let go of Ron’s hand. ‘I’m sorry, I should have—’

Alina shook her head. ‘No, Mum. I’m fine. Professor Weasley stayed with me. Really. I’m okay. Madam Pomfrey is going to give me some Calming Draught. Then I’ll be able to sleep.’

‘Oh, darling—’

‘No, Mum. Really,’ Alina insisted. ‘I’m fine. You stay with Ron. He’s going to be all right, isn’t he?’ Her eyes strayed back to Ron. Could they make him grow a new arm? She realised that she had no idea what healing spells could accomplish.

‘Yes, Miss Petrel. Mr. Weasley will recover,’ Madam Pomfrey interrupted resolutely. ‘And now it’s time for that Calming Draught. Ms. Petrel? You should take some as well. And both of you should eat something.’

oooOooo

When they entered the matron’s office, Professor Weasley rose to his feet.

‘Oh, Bill,’ Lois choked out. She was shocked to feel tears running down her cheeks. Then she was enfolded in the Weasley equivalent of a bear hug.

‘Lois, it’s all right. He’ll be okay. Don’t worry. He’s alive. You’re alive. Alina’s alive.’

Lois squeezed her eyes shut and pressed her lips together, trying to get a hold on her emotions. She wasn’t allowed to fall apart while Alina was watching. At last she drew a shaky breath and stepped back from Bill. ‘Thank you,’ she murmured and awkwardly rubbed at her eyes.

He smiled again, though the trade-mark smile of the Weasley clan was rather concerned than charming tonight. ‘Mum and Ginny will be here in a bit. You eat your soup and I’ll take Alina down to the dungeons.’

Lois felt torn apart. She wanted to stay here, at Ron’s side. If she’d had any doubts about her feelings for the younger man, this night’s events had made her realise very painfully just how much she loved him. But as a mother her first priority must be her daughter.

‘Can’t she stay here, just for tonight?’

‘Mum, please.’ Even now the teenager bristled against motherly protectiveness. ‘We’re at Hogwarts, remember? I always sleep in my dorm when I’m here.’

‘I—’ Lois started.

But Bill shook his head. ‘Alina will be fine in her House. I promise.’

Lois sighed. ‘Very well. I’ll see you in the morning. But please, if you need me—’

‘Yes, Mum. And I’ll really be all right. I promise, too.’

oooOooo

‘Come along, Miss Petrel,’ Professor Weasley said after he’d accepted the phial with the Calming Draught from Madam Pomfrey.

‘Yes, sir.’ Alina sighed with relief when they left the hospital wing.

‘Professor Weasley?’ Just before they reached the main staircase Alina halted. ‘Where is Madame Dubois? And Hermione? Are they dead?’ She hated how much her voice was shaking. But she had to know what happened! ‘It sounded as if someone was shooting at us. Like gunfire in a movie. Was someone shooting at us? And Professor Snape and Harry—are they back yet? Are they okay?’

Professor Weasley stopped walking, too. For a moment he seemed unsure of how to react to her questions.

Please, please, please, tell me what happened, Alina chanted in her mind. Adults never tell children what’s happening, she groused inwardly. And if it’s so bad that you can’t tell me—

‘Please, Professor. They are my friends!’ she pleaded. ‘I need to know what happened!’

After a moment’s consideration, Professor Weasley shook his head. ‘I remember how much my younger siblings hated it when no one would talk to them. As a matter of fact, I guess that some of the foolish things that my little brother and his friends got up to were the direct result of no one bothering to explain to them what was really going on.’ He sighed. ‘Very well. Miss Petrel, we’ll go to my office. I’ll have an house-elf bring a bowl of soup up and you will eat all of it without complaint. Then I shall tell you what I know. And then—’ He gave her a stern look. ‘I will take you to your House, you will go to your dorm, take your Calming Draught and go to bed. Is that clear?’

oooOooo

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