The Forgotten Prophecy [Book 2]

XXIII. Werewolf Injuries

      For the next few days, I spend all of my free time in the library looking through books that could save Buckbeak from being executed, but failed to find anything. I visit Hagrid from time to time. He isn't doing well. I sigh staring at my Potions textbook. Ugh why is everything happening at once? "What's on your mind?" I look up and see Draco sitting down in front of me. I look around at the students watching us. "You just keep getting bolder," I tell him. He smirks and leans back in his chair. "You make me be bolder," he replies. "Seriously though, what's wrong?" I sigh, closing my Potions textbook. "I'm just thinking about Buckbeak's trial," I say. Draco immediately frowns. "It's all my fault." "I wish we could do something," he says. I nod. "It's just not right," I say quietly. Draco nods, unsure of what to say.

"Ellie!" Leo shouts as he collides into the table we're sitting out. "What? Why are you shouting?" I ask him. Leo takes a moment to catch his breath. "It's Nathan," he says, calming himself down. "Nathan? What about Nathan?" I ask him. "He refuses to go to the hospital wing, but he's hurt," Leo explains. Hurt? "Where is he?" I ask. Leo motions me to follow him. Quickly packing my belongings, I follow Leo. To my surprise, Draco follows us. "Draco, you don't have to-" "I want to help," he says as he walks next to me. I nod. Nathan's hurt? Is it werewolf related? If so, what are Leo and Draco going to say.. But I can't get rid of them now.. Oh, I hope Nathan's okay. Leo leads us to the small room he once used to shelter his creatures. We walk up the small stairs and see Nathan sitting on the ground, clutching his arm. "His roommates said he wasn't in their dorm when they woke up. He didn't attend any classes today and no one saw him all day. I've been searching everywhere for him and that's when I remembered I told him about this room. I came in here to see if he was here, and I found him covered in blood and cuts," Leo says, pointing to the injured Nathan. 

Nathan's eyes are bloodshot. The pain he's in reflects on his face. His shirt is torn. There are scratches all over his arms, chest, and legs. I kneel down next to him, putting my hand on his cheek. Did you not take your potion, Nathan? I peer into his mind trying to understand what had happened. Nathan appears, studying in the library late. As the sky darkens out, Nathan realizes it's too late to take the potion. He rushes over to the Whomping Willow and into the Shrieking Shack. Gathering some heavy metal chains, he ties himself up just as the full moon appears out. Nathan's body slowly begins to transform. The urge to kill rises in him as he screams in pain, trying to tear the chains off him. I shake my head, pulling myself back to where I am now. Nathan shuts his eyes in pain. "I'm so sorry .. I forgot to take it." 

I sigh, running my hands through his hair. You poor boy. You've been through hell. "Those look like claw marks.. Like a werewolf claw.." Draco says, from behind us. Leo eyes go wide. "Nathan, bloody hell, were you attacked by a werewolf?" Nathan sits still, not uttering a word. I grab a cauldron sitting on the table and take out some ingredients from my bag. A healing potion could help cure the pain. I'll have to bandage him up too. "Ellie, he looks terrible. He could be infected. We should take him to the hospital wing," Leo says as he stands next to me. I continue to crush the leaves. "Boys, you cannot speak of this to anyone," I say turning to Draco and Leo. Leo drops his mouth, greatly appalled. "But he could be seriously hurt," Leo says, looking at Nathan. I turn to Nathan who looks at me helplessly. "Tell them," he manages to say. 

I turn back to Leo and Draco. "Promise me you won't tell a soul." Both of them nod. "He's a werewolf," I say quietly. Leo eyes seem like they might pop out of his head. Draco stares blankly at Nathan. "So you did that to yourself?" He asks. Nathan nods slowly. Leo brings a hand to his mouth. "Bloody hell," he whispers. I finish mixing the potion and kneel back down next to Nathan handing him the potion to drink. "He forgot to take his potion yesterday, so he tied himself up to restrict himself, but ended up hurting himself," I explain as I get some bandages. I listen to Leo's and Draco's thoughts as I wrap Nathan's arm. I sigh in relief. Oh thank goodness. They won't tell anyone. "Must have been terrible," Leo says, as he kneels down next to me. He takes some bandages and starts wrapping it over Nathan's torso.