I Just Wanted to be Free

10. Don't Stop

29 December 2020

We have finally finished exams. I feel confident in all my answers especially Potions and DADA. The boys don't look too sluggish so I'm guessing they did alright. My chest has been feeling a burning sensation since the forest incident. I decide to head back to the common room and get some rest. I leave the trio. Walking I see Snape. "Hello, Professor Snape."

"Miss. Black," he greets me back. "Good job on your Potions exam."

"Have you finished grading it?"

"Not yet but from what I see as I circulated the room I have no doubt in your pass." I smile "I also talk to Professor Qurille, he says you were an excellent student and seem to be very ahead."

"Well, I did have a great teacher who would tutor me." I felt the burn in my chest again and began patting my chest.

"Are you alright?" Snape asked me.

"Yes, just a bit tired. Gonna head up to my room to rest." I wave goodbye and leave. I reached my room and lay down.

"Ej," I feel someone shaking me. I slowly wake up and see Mione.

"Mione, what is it?"

"It's time for dinner." I get up, refreshen myself then go down with Mione. She then informs me about what I missed. Harry's conclusion, Dumbledore isn't at the castle and about their plan. I agree to go with them.

It was past curfew. Everyone was asleep now. We sneaked down but were caught by Nevil. "I'll fight you if I have to." Nevil finally sticking up to someone. Mione petrifies him. Ron praised her. We walk past him.

I undo the spell before leaving. It will take some time till he will have full functions. "Sorry Nevil."

We got into a diamond shape under Harry's cloak. The lights still turned on as we passed them. Mione opens the door we walk in. Fluffy is already sleeping. There was a Harp that was playing music and it has been charmed to continue playing. We move the paw and open the door.

"I'll go first, don't follow until I give a sign. If something bad happens get yourself out." He tells us. "Does it seem a bit quiet to you?"

"The harp stopped playing," I tell them. I walk over to it. Then turn back and freeze the rest, look up and we see Fluffy is awake. The three jumped in. I begin to play the Harp. Fluffy fell back to sleep. I can't remember the spell. I continue playing. "Mione where are you when I need you."

3rd PoV
While Ej was still playing the harp the trio were caught in devil snare. Hermione told them to stay calm but Ron didn't. Hermione keeps thinking and thinking. "Where's Ej when I need her." Then she thought of it "Lumos Helman" Ron then fell through.

"What about Ej?" Ron asked.

"Hermione can you send her a signal?" Harry asks her. She nods, then casts a small spell and sends it up.

Ej gets it and hears it "We are fine if not back in 30 minutes sent for help." Ej stops a little and does the same thing. Sends it back down, then quickly starts playing. The trio receives it.

"Good. I'm playing the harp. Stay safe."

"Okay, let's continue," Harry said. The three went through a few tasks. Harry then told Hermione to head back and to call for help. Harry continued where he came face to face with Voldemort himself.

Ej was still playing the harp. Thirty minutes have passed. Her fingers were bleeding but she didn't slow down. She was getting tired but she then hears Hermione calling her for help. Ej removes one of her hands to grab her wand. She points towards the hole she thinks of Hermione and Ron. "Accio Hermione." Hermione and Ron are both lifting up. Ej using all her strength to concentrate.

"Ej!" Hermione and Ron make it to the top.
"What happened? Where's Harry?"

"There were these tasks we had to go through. One was a game of chest. Ron sacrificed himself in order to get the win. Harry kept going." She looks up at Ej. "Ej your hands."

"I know."

"You have to stop playing."

"I can't not until Harry arrives" She looks at her worried "Mione just go and get help." Hermione leaves.

"AHH!" Ej then feels a sharp pain in her chest. Then a burning sensation. She then hears people coming. Ej faints and blackout.

McGonagall arrives just in time to cast the spell to keep the harp playing. Snape then lifts Ej and takes her to the hospital wing. McGonagall and Hagrid go down and find Harry.

Hermione tells them everything she knows at the moment. She then stays with her three friends the whole time. Ron was the first to wake up. He was then able to leave.

Harry woke up next. He looks at all the gifts he received. Dumbledore walks in. "How are my friends?"

"Miss Granger and Mr.Weasley are fine. Mr.Weasley is recovering."

"What about Ej?" Albus then points to his left. Harry follows and sees Ej laying on the bed next to him. "What happened?"

"Miss Black continued to play the harp. Not once did she stop even when Hermione told her to. She waited for you to return or for help. The way she played showed her determination to wait."

"She will be able to continue playing right?" Harry was a concern.

"Yes her wounds will heal nicely and she can play to her hearts content. They then talked about the Stone. Harry was soon released. He met with Ron and Hermione. The three constantly stayed with Ej.

Ej was finally beginning to wake up. She looked around, she rubbed her hands to focus her eyesight. She notices the bandages. She sits up and finds her trio around her bed asleep. She smiles at the sight. Madam Promfey walks to her. "How do you feel Miss Black?"

"Just a little tired but other than that I'm fine."

"Good these three haven't left your side." They begin to wake up. Hermione was the first to sit straight up.

"Ej!" She jumps and gives her a hug. Ron and Harry quickly lookup. They both smile seeing that Ej has woken up. Harry then informs her of everything.

"So there is a chance he could come back." He nods. "Then you must be careful." He chuckled. "What's funny?"

"Even though we have been together this whole year I think that's the nicest thing you said towards me. But after what you did for all of us," He looks at Mione and Ron "I am happy that we are friends." He held my hand. Mione was holding my other one. I'm not supposed to be friends with you. I look at Harry. I have to find a way to destroy you. Once you find out who I am, what will you think then?

"When the three of you were down, I just felt like I couldn't stop. Then once Mione and Ron had come up and she told me you were still down, I knew I had to keep going no matter what." The three smiled and thanked me.