Life After Death - An Erica Black Continuation (4)

Thirty One

Erica Black awoke to a hard bed below her and a bright light above her, she groaned and squeezed her eyes tighter shut.
"Ah, Miss Black. You're awake" grimaced Madam Pomfrey from beside her bed
"Where am I?"
"Oh, come on now professor, really. Use your head" sighed the matron
"Okay, that's fair... How long was I out?"
"three days- it's the 20th, now do-"
"three days!?"
"Yes, now do you re-" She was cut off again by the confused young professor.
"But how can that be?" Cried Erica, her distress evident on her face.
"Miss Black! Really now, will you let me finish?" Exclaimed the frustrated matron.
"Oh.. Yes Madam Pomfrey, my apologies" She blushed, looking down a little to hide her burning cheeks, she winced as a pain shot through her head at her movement.
"Good. Now, do you remember how you got here? You've had quite a nasty bump to your head my dear." Asked the older witch, helping her into a sitting position. Erica shook her head after a moment of careful consideration- she didn't remember anything at all, in fact, the last thing she remembered was the evening of what she had thought was yesterday but was apparently not.
"Right, well we'd best get you back to full health professor, my hospital wing has been unusually busy since you were admitted..." Sighed the matron, tutting lightly.

"Come in!" Called the young witch called in response to the sharp knock at her door, pointing her wand lazily at the lock.
"Hey Eri, how're you doing?" Ginny Potter smiled kindly, her head poked through the half open door.
"Ginn!" beamed the young professor, holding out a hand to beckon her friend towards her,
"To what do I owe this pleasure?" she asked once the redheaded woman had taken a seat beside her. They spoke in hushed tones for the next few hours over tea.
"So... What actually happened, Eri?" Asked the auburn woman hesitantly.
"I... I couldn't remember at first but... Ginn... They broke in, two people, a man and a woman. They broke into my quarters, looking for something. Minerva took the woman to interrogate, Regulus went to obtain some Veritaserum and so I was to question the wizard.. But he... Oh, Ginn it was completely awful.. He did things to me that I.. I am afraid I shall never be able to forget..." The petite woman whimpered, her distress evident. Ginny Potter felt her heart break in that moment, the sight of her friend so scared, so troubled.. She felt completely helpless and all she could think to do was tightly embrace her, which she did, she warmly but firmly wrapped her arms around her friend and squeezed her close.

"Thank you for coming, Ginn. I really do appreciate you and everything you do for me"
"Always a pleasure, Eri. You know that. Hey whilst i remember, Harry wanted to have You and Regulus round for dinner later in the week. What do you think?"
"I would love to attend and I'm sure Regulus would feel similarly"
"Perfect." grinned Ginny with an air of finality as she left the professor's quarters.

"Ericaaaa," Called out Regulus Black in frustration as he stood by the fireplace impatiently as he, once again, checked his watch. A habit that never failed to make his niece smile as it had been broken ever since he'd come back. "Hurry up it's-"
"It's only 5:56, we have four minutes before they're expecting us and it takes all of twenty seconds to floo there. Chill out Regulus, we have ti- have you seen my cloak?" The young woman cut herself off abruptly, wandering aimlessly across her quarters, vaguely searching the room for the missing item. Her uncle held up the dark cloak which was, exactly where she'd left it, on the sofa. "This one?"
"Yes! Okay, now we can go. And look at that, right on time!" She grinned over her shoulder as she strode past him, to the fireplace. He rolled his eyes at the petite woman but followed her, not wanting to be late.

"Honey! I'm home!" Called out Erica Black as she stepped out of the Potter's fireplace.
"Erica!" Smiled Ginny Potter brightly as she embraced her friend only to pull back and smile warmly at the man behind her, "And you must be Regulus, it's wonderful to finally meet you." she welcomed, stepping forward to shake his hand.

After sitting down to a meal with Ginny and her husband, Harry, the couple stood to clear the table and serve pudding, insisting their guests stay seated. Regulus leaned over to whisper to his niece, "When did you sleep with her?"
She spluttered, wine spilling from her lips as she choked. Shooting the man a disapproving look, she waved her wand at the red stain on her dress, watching as the liquid left the dress and flew through the air back into her glass. "What are you talking about?" she hissed, narrowing her eyes at him, he only smirked back, knowingly. "Am I wrong?"
"No comment!" She rolled her eyes at him.
"When?" The man pressed further.
"For the first time? When the twins were younger" She shrugged at her uncle as he took his turn to splutter "First time??"
But Erica just shushed him through a tight smile as the couple re-entered the room.

"Hey Eri, how was Potter?" Asked Draco Malfoy as he heard his fiancée enter her quarters.
"It was... fine..." She sighed, "Harry and Ginn both say hi by the way, I left Regulus there, he said he'd make his own way back"
"Okay" He smiled at her, "I'll owl them in the morning" holding out his arm across the small, apartment like space. She shrugged off her cloak, hung it by the door and walked over to take his outstretched hand in hers before sitting next to him with his arm over her shoulder.
"You know." She began, capturing her fiancé's attention "I'm actually looking forward to this wedding" she smiled up at him, he shot her a uncharacteristically goofy grin and nodded, pulling her closer to him, "Me too. Eri"