The Girl Who Vanished

Chapter 15: Making Amends and Breaking Them

It was the most horrible way for her to wake up, just a single note left on her nightstand is what alerted her to the fate of her friend. Ana almost forgot to take her own medicine as she ran the full journey from the dungeons and into the hospital wing. The air in her lungs weren't enough for how fast the clumsy girl ran, but no amount of air remained in the chambers of her chest once she saw Calista.

The girl, a usual shade of glowy brown looked positively gray and lifeless, at least that's how she appeared.

"She will be alright," Madam Pomfrey explained to the head of Slytherin house, Ana, Aeron, and Draco. Although Draco kept his distance. "Thankfully, she, like the others was just petrified. She was found in the girl's bathroom, right near Slytherin house."

"In the bathroom?" Ana repeated for confirmation, despite being quite certain she heard correctly.

"That is what was said, Ms. Malfoy," Snape mumbled with annoyance.

Ana just rolled her eyes.

Calista's hands were propped up in front of her, she was most likely leaning into the mirror to get a look at her hair, which had a single curl askew when it happened. She was probably just about to fix it. Ana decided to tuck the small coil back into the satin elastic for the girl, all while trying to keep the tears at bay. Calista's blue fingernails were still chip free, perfect even in her frozen state.

But it was the eyes that hurt Ana the most. The empty glare behind her dark dreamy eyes was reduced to a fearful trance; even if Ana was looking at the girl head-on, the muggleborn's eyes somehow looked passed her. It was terrifying to witness, even Draco looked deeply affected from his place near the neighboring cot.

"Professor, I think it would be wise to contact Mr. and Mrs. Kane immediately," the healer croaked while averting her eyes from the man she was addressing, "They deserve to know as soon as possible."

He didn't even respond to her, just floated out of the room like Professor Binns would during lessons. Ana watched him leave the room, surprised to see Hermione Granger and Roger Davies at the entrance of the hospital wing. They refused to come in closer while the three Slytherins were there.

Calista was now in the company of Colin Creevey, Justin Finch Fletchley, Nearly Headless Nick who was just hovering in the corner of the room, and Mrs. Norris who had a designated tiny bed by the windows at the edge of the room. Another non-full blood victim to the monster that seemed to be growing more powerful as the days went by. There would surely be more captures if Dumbledore does nothing, Ana thought bitterly.

"I'm going to send an owl to the Boles," Ana announced, absolutely slashing through the silence that had grown over the room. She held Calista's hand, even though the position made Ana's arm ache.

"So you're making up with Alex?" Aeron questioned as he sat opposite her, playing with the edge of the bed sheet. "That'll make her happy you know."

Ana nodded sadly.

"Too bad, this is the news that she'll be getting though. And only a few days passed her birthday, Merlin!" Ana groaned while she dropped her head on the bed beside her friend. Out of everyone, Callie was the only girl who hadn't visited the hospital wing over her own grievances. But now she had. Not for a Quidditch injury, or an attack by a teacher. It was all about that monster.

"She'll still be happy to hear from you," Aeron insisted, with a reassuring smile.

It was a tiny comforting gesture, but Ana knew he was right. Calista and Alex were closer than Ana was to either of the girls, that's just how it was. The two of them were attached by the hip for most things. And Ana could only imagine how bad Alex would feel once she heard the girl got attacked during her absence.