Lacuna

chpt.23

The water rained on the two as they stood in the quiet. They stared into one another's eyes feeling as if the world froze. Feeling as if everything stopped moving.

"I think I'm gonna be sick." Cordelia squeaked backing up. She covered her hand to her mouth and walked to one of the toilets kneeling down with shaky breath.

"What do you mean- I'll die?" Her voice was shaky. Harry waved his wand and the pipes went back their original form and the water stopped spraying and eventually started to evaporate.

"I don't know Cordelia i-i—" Harry stuttered taking slow steps towards her holding his sleeve up to his nose keeping it from dripping.

"How don't you know?" She snapped at him holding her head over the toilet. "How do you know-" her sentence trailed off choking back a gag. "—how do you know I'll die?"

"McGonagall told me..that night when you were in her office-" his sentence got cut off my Cordelia retching into the toilet. She reached for the handle and flushed it. She wiped her mouth and stood back up.

"Are you sure?" She asked as if she hadn't just got sick. Harry stared at her a bit worried.

"I'm sure- professor McGonagall wouldn't lie to me."

"What wouldn't I lie to you about Mr.Potter?" Minerva stood in the entry way with her fists on her hips. She scanned the room and shuffled her feet away from the water.

Harry and Cordelia glanced at each other and looked back at the headmaster half scared they're about to get expelled. Silence spread throughout the room as she stared at them waiting for them to confess or say something.

"What happened here!" She broke the deafening silence. Cordelia bit down on her lip. Minervas eyes shifted from her bloody wrist and palm to Harry's bloody nose.

"Go down to the hospital wing and clean yourselves up! Change before you meet me in my office." She sighed lifting her arms up to prepare to clean up Cordelias mess.

"You don't have to clean it..it was me— I-I can do it-"

"Not necessary Ms.Burke. You don't have to worry about it." Minerva gave her a slight smile as they walked out.

They left a trail of water and drops of blood here and there as they walked through the corridor. They walked past the main entrance of the great hall and everyone got a clear glimpse of the two walking past completely soaked.

Cordelia was wringing out her hair and Harry was still using his sleeve on his nose as the water slushed in there shoes. Many watched as they walked past looking unbothered as ever.

They didn't speak a word to each other when they reached the hospital wing. They walked in still completely soaked in water and Madam Pomfrey picked up her head from her paperwork furrowing her eyebrows, she didn't ask a question.

Pomfrey put the same stuff Harry put her on before but this time she didn't cry in pain, she stared blankly ahead clenching her jaw keeping her other fist closed making her nails dig into her skin. Poppy bandaged it up as well as the deep cuts in her in hand.

Harry's nose was just bruised and bled from the punch, wasn't broken. Pomfrey stopped the bleeding with a charm and he was completely fine. He stared at her but she couldn't bare to look back.

Pomfrey dried their clothing but still remained blood stained. The bell rang when they left the hospital wing and they weaved through groups of teenagers to head to the headmasters office.

They got many strange looks at their still wet hair, Cordelia smeared makeup and bandaged hand. Harry shoved past Ron and Hermione like it were nothing.

They reached the entry way to her office and hesitantly walked in. McGonagall sat at her desk and her hands folded resting on it. Two maroon velvet chairs sat in front of it.

She waved her hand gesturing for them to take a seat. They awkwardly seated on the cushioned chairs and looked timidly ahead at the headmaster.

"I did it. It was me." Harry blurted. "I take blame." McGonagall looked over at him knowing he was lying.

"Then what in merlins beard were you doing in the woman's lavatory?" Professor McGonagall lectured. Harry sat quietly. Her focus went from Harry to Cordelia.

"50 points from Slytherin and 30 from Gryffindor." She clearly stated.

Harry and Cordelia just stared at her not wanting to say anything that would make matters worse. Cordelia picked at her nails nervously. They listened as the door opened and slow footsteps peered around the corner. Harry and Cordelia turned their heads over their shoulders and saw Draco standing holding a letter in his hand.

Draco saw Harry and scowled at him giving him a dirty look. Cordelia stood from her seat waiting for him to say something.

"What is it Mr.Malfoy?" Minerva asked.

"I have something...for Cordelia." Draco said walking towards her. She awkwardly stood as he handed her the parchment and gently unfolded it.

February 22, 1999

Dear Cordelia Burke,
Now that I have been released from Azkaban, I can finally tell you this Cordelia. I have grown fond of you over the years after watching you and Draco grow up together and I only ever want the best for you. I never would of wanted to tell this through owl but you've gone to far without knowing this.

Hugh and Edith Burke are not dead, Cordelia.

Even I believed you parents were dead until it became known they've been transported to St. Mungo's hospital. The time they've been in Azkaban they were tortured to insanity and no longer could be imprisoned for pleading insanity.

No one knows they are there but the staff and others who are currently in Azkaban. Now that I made it out, I can tell you and you can finally see them after months. I'm not to positive about the condition they are currently in but you can find out when you can visit.

I'm happy I can finally see you and maybe we can get them out of there. I'll be seeing you soon Cordelia.

Sincerely-
Narcissa Malfoy.

Cordelias heart dropped and she felt almost sick again. Insanity? Her parents have been tortured to insanity? Cordelia continued to stare down at the parchment reading it over and over again not believing what it said.

Tears welled in her eyes not being able to form a word. Draco stared down at her confused. Awkward silence spread throughout the quiet room. Cordelia slowly picked up her head and a lip quivering smile appeared on her face as a tear fell from her eye.

"My parents are..." Cordelia started and let out a broken sob. "They're alive." She laughed. Harry and McGonagall glanced at each other and Draco was still confused.

"They're alive? They've been alive for- this whole time?" He stammered.

"Yes! Yes- it's says here in the letter from your mother-" she said handing him the parchment. He took the letter and began to read over it. He smiled and laughed after finishing reading and pulled her into a hug and spun around.

She cried holding onto him in a mix of joy and sadness.

If they're alive.

Maybe she could reverse the curse.

Be free.