The Hogwarts Descendant

Chapter 37

{A/N - hey, guys, I've got a busy next few days, so I probably won't update again until Sunday or Monday. Since I won't be able to update later this week I posted two chapters today, so enjoy :) }

Dahlia didn't get a chance to be alone until the next day. She woke up before the sun to the necklace pulsing quickly, impatiently against her chest. Drowsily, she wiped the sleep from her eyes as she rose in her bed. There was still pain in her ribs, a shooting pain when she moved, a reminder of the hell the day before. Dahlia winced, her left hand bracing her right side as she pushed to her feet and made her way downstairs as quietly as she could. She couldn't stand straight up without excruciating pain, so she hobbled down the stairs and out the door bent at the waist like a cripple.

It was midsummer now - OWL results were due any day. The sky was just beginning to pink up in the horizon when the necklace thudded so forcefully against her chest it almost hurt. Dahlia quickened her steps, hand flying up to the chain around her neck. She didn't stop moving until her feet had carried her all the way to the broomshed behind the burrow, closing the door snuggly behind her. Even that little physical exercise it took to get from the Burrow to the shed was exhausting. She slid down against the wall of the shed until she was in a ball on the floor, too tired to remain standing.

Dahlia undid the clasp with quick fingers, anticipation hanging in the air. A green orb floated into the air before his - Malfoy's - voice filled the small space. "Are you alive?" His words were clipped, demanding, full of worry. Her eyes flew open - they'd been in the attack. She winced at his words, suddenly aware that they had no idea if she was dead or alive. Dahlia snapped the locket closed, holding it in her hand tightly as she murmured, "It takes more than that to kill me." She thought of no particular person as she sent it, hoping it would go to all three. The message pulsed from her locket before going silent for a minute. She kept the locket in her hand, looking down at it expectantly, hoping for a reply, something, anything. She hadn't seen or heard from Malfoy since the day the locket had burned to announce him taking the mark. His voice had riled her, and calmed her, all at once in an infuriating way that made her want to kiss him.

Dahlia dropped the locket in surprise when it pulsed back. She opened it to see a sapphire orb floating up, the voice of Nott speaking this time. "Can you meet now?"

Dahlia thought about it for a moment, glancing down at the bandages around her side. Her eyes flickered up to the Burrow - not a single light was on in the house now. If she was going to go, now was her chance. She hesitated, contemplating going before the throbbing in her side reminded her of her condition. As much as she wanted to, she knew she wouldn't make the walk into the forest - wasn't even sure she could keep herself upright on a broom.

Regretfully Dahlia lifted the locket to her lips, "I'm injured - can't make it that far. Stick to the schedule."

They were supposed to meet again the following week, giving her time to heal. She figured they wouldn't respond after that; usually they kept conversations over the lockets brief. It was going to have to be enough that they knew she was alive for now. Dahlia dragged herself to her feet, preparing herself for the distance back to the Burrow. The twenty yards was going to feel like a hundred, but she straightened her shoulders determinedly, wincing involuntarily at the pain. Resolve settled in her gut, her face twisting into a determined scowl.

She was going to hex whoever had cursed her ten ways to Sunday.

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Dahlia didn't get her week and a half to heal before their next meeting like she thought. Five days later, in the dead of the night, it happened again. Dahlia jerked awake, pain lacing through her chest. White, hot pain - excruciatingly hot. Dahlia yelped, rolling over so the necklace dangled loosely from her shirt and onto her pillow.