Painful Redemption | T. R.

Chapter Fifteen

It was an eventful night for everyone. As Abraxas dragged Anastasia to the Hospital Wing, Walburga walked beside him, keeping an eye on the girl to make sure she was okay and still breathing. Everyone else was busy shouting at the other students to go back to their rooms, until Tom emerged from the other single room, wearing dark pyjamas and looking like he wasn't sleeping and was definitely annoyed by whatever was going on in the corridors without his knowledge.

The moment he stepped through the door to his room, the entire corridor fell into pure silence as Marcus tried to calm Xavier down, or vice versa, although the situation was still unclear. "You two," he called back, loudly. Both boys turned around, pale in the face of fear and big-eyed, like they were shitting themselves with fright. "What the hell are you two up to? It's the middle of the night. Go back to your rooms. All of you."

Xavier shook his head softly. "We're heading for the Hospital Wing. Anastasia hasn't been feeling well, the others are taking her there. We're not going back to the room, Riddle. Keep these children quiet."

"Atwell?" he asked, tilting his head to one side curiously. That same morning, he himself had realised that he was not in the best of shape. Not just because of that mysterious letter that had clearly gotten her down, but physically. It was bloody obvious, and he was surprised that no one had noticed. "What happened?"

"I don't know, Abraxas started screaming from her room and the next thing we knew she was unconscious in his arms. Now we must go, please. Let us go," Marcus was literally praying. Meanwhile, however, Tiernan together with Penelope and Orion had already turned their backs, without waiting for any recommendation. But at the exact moment the Head Boy nodded, the two boys also started to run towards the exit of the Common Room, leaving Tom behind as he authoritatively ordered everyone to go back to sleep for the last time before locking themselves in their rooms.

The doctor was clear and categorical: she would not cover for them any longer. As much as she had been looking out for the penniless group for most of their schooling, she no longer felt able to cover up their lies. "I suppose they picked up on something about your friend, the one with the ringlets," she had told them, after indicating to Abraxas on which bed to lay Anastasia's unconscious body, "I can't risk it any longer. Now let me take care of her while you tell me what happened."

Abraxas seemed the most shaken of them all, though he felt compelled to open his mouth because she had practically passed out in his arms and that was all he knew. Walburga and Penelope slowly stroked Anastasia's hair, which seemed to give no hint of life, while everyone else stood back, observing the scene.

Everyone was struck again by the guilt they had felt that night with Isidore. A few weeks later, they were again experiencing everything they had experienced with him, lying on that filthy, uncomfortable bed without even knowing what had really happened. Orion stood with his arms tied to his chest and his face tired, his gaze downcast. A trail of shivers ran down his spine as the doctor muttered something to herself, fiddling with her wand.

Hours passed that seemed interminable. The old woman told them that there was no danger, that Anastasia would be awake soon and that they could return to their rooms if they wished without any problem. This was also said by the teachers, who gathered around the girl's bed in the middle of the night with worried faces. The most affected of them all was Slughorn, who had to take his handkerchief out of his jacket to dab at his eyes, which had been watering since he had entered the room. But the boys only left the room after a heated discussion, leaving Orion to watch over their friend. "Go and rest, have a shower. You're disgusting. Come back here in the morning."

He did not seem totally convinced that he had to go away, that he had to leave her alone without the supervision of someone who could come to the rescue in case of an emergency. But then again, the doctor had also said that there was nothing more to worry about and that she would be fine from then on. And above all, he knew that Anastasia would be able to spring to her feet and send him to his room with a wand if necessary. At the expense of all the pain he was feeling at the moment. So he just decided to let it go, and leave as she had asked him to do. He would be back in a few hours anyway.