From the Grave

Chapter Six- Venus

"You're crazy!" "You're a disappointment to this family." "You don't believe in my God. His judgment upon you is slow but it will be just." "Burn in hell, sucker." The memories swirl around my brain, images flashing up before my eyes, hot and fierce. I stumble along blindly behind Draco, not knowing where he's leading me, too trapped by the memories causing the burning in my chest and the leaden feeling in my stomach. Through the memories comes a swift sting across my face, and I reel back, my brain certain I've just been slapped again. I hear a voice through the fog. The dreaded faces slant sharply, and then, mercifully, fade to black.

   I wake up to a pair of blue eyes inches from my own. I yelp and try to sit up, but I'm pushed back down. "They're awake," I hear a high, clear voice say. Luna. I feel disoriented, and I'm still trying to place where I am when Luna steps back into my line of vision. "You can get up now if you'd like." I push myself into a sitting position, my head throbbing. Luna, Draco, Madame Pomfrey, and McGonagal are clustered around me. Draco offers me a hand, and I take it. Once I'm standing, I look around. I'm standing half in and half out of what's left of Hogwarts with no recollection of coming here.
"Where are we?" I ask, still dazed.
"Draco came running in like the world was ending and McGonagal zapped him with a stunning spell,"Luna laughs merrily. "As soon as he could speak again, he insisted you had just died," so we came back to find you had merely fainted." Luna's blue eyes sparkle with laughter, and Professor McGonagal seems to be holding back a smile.
"Thought it was another Death Eater," Draco mumbles, his face red.
There's an awkward pause, then Madame Pomfrey turns to me. "I'm Madame Pomfrey, dear," she says. "Most of my supplies were destroyed in this terrible battle, but I'm more than willing to assist if you need me to."
"Thank you," I tell her, "But I think I'm okay now."
"You just let me know," she says, patting my arm. Instinctively, I flinch and pull my arm away. "I'm so sorry, dear, I didn't mean to hurt you. I hope you'll still come to me if you need to?" I nod, and she walks away.
After a few seconds, Professor McGonagal clears her throat. "Well, we've all got things to be doing, don't we?" She says. Why don't you all be off then. And Venus," she adds, "Do be careful."
"I will," I assure her, and she and Luna set off back down the remains of the courtyard. Several seconds go by while Draco examines the ground intently. Finally, I speak up. "Hey, thanks for going back to get help," I say.
"Huh? Oh, uh, yeah, whatever." He mumbles again, more to the ground than me.
"What are we supposed to do next?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes!" I say, exasperated. "Just tell me."
"Just building damage, mostly," he tells me.
Eventually, we begin to make some progress, and by the time it's getting dark, we've figured out a rhythm to get the work done. I have also learned several spells, which makes me giddy with excitement. I, Venus, can do spells! Sure, they're extremely simple, but they make cleaning up easier.  Once the sun begins to set, we make our way back to the Great Hall, although Draco insists on walking behind me so he doesn't get hit with another stunning spell. Most of the other wizards and witches are already there. There's a solemn mood in the air, even though the bodies have now vanished.