|In The Dark|

54

Over and Out

ANNABELLE LUPIN-BLACK

When I walked into the room, it was horrible. Astoria was laying there, slipping in and out of consciousness. Theo and Enzo were tending to her wounds as best they could. Daphne was crying and Pansy and Blaise were trying to calm her down so she could tell them what happened. "Bloody hell" I mumbled as I walked in. Theo looked up at me and sighed. "Thank Merlin, Belle! I don't know what to do. She's bleeding and I think she has a concussion." he said. "She most definitely has a concussion." Enzo said. "Ok, everyone besides Theo, out. I can't work in all this chaos. Blaise, Pansy, Enzo, go downstairs and get some calming draught from my dad. Then have him talk to Daphne. He can help her remember what happened. Everyone got it?" I said. They all nodded and left. I knelt down next to Astoria and took her hand. It was shaking. "I'm going to help you now, ok? Can you tell me what hurts?" I asked. "My stomach, my neck, and my head." she said. "Ok, I'll run a diagnostic." I said. I waved my wand over her and looked at the results. She had a severe concussion, 2 broken ribs, some bruising on her neck, malnutrition, and dehydration. "You'll be ok Astoria. It's going to be ok," I reassured her. She just nodded. "Theo, can you get her a blood replenishing potion, and the bandages?" I asked. He nodded and started to dig through the healer's kit. I grabbed a glass and poured some water. "Astoria, you need to drink some water. You are dehydrated and it will help with the concussion." I said. She nodded and started to drink. "Little sips" I said. Theo helped her drink the potion and we fixed her ribs and bandaged up the cuts. Then she fell asleep. Theo pulled me outside and shut the door. "Did your dad say they could stay?" he asked. "Of course he did." I said. "That's good," he said. He looked at me nervously. "What?" I asked. "You don't have to say yes..." he started. "To what?" I asked. "Well, we sorta can't go home now. Our parents will know it was us. They could find out where Astoria and Daphne are and this would all be for nothing." he said as we walked downstairs. "So you want to stay here?" I asked. "I don't want to. This is the last place I want to be. That's why I left." he snapped. I looked up at him and his face softened. "I didn't mean- it wasn't-" he started. "No need to explain. You made it very clear you are no longer interested in being with me, or around me, or anywhere near me. We did this for Draco. Once we go back to school, you don't have to see me ever again." I said. "Maybe if you weren't so miserable and drunk all the time, I would. If you let me help you, I would." he said. "I don't need your pity!" I yelled. "Seems like you don't need me at all, do you?" he spat. "No, I don't. I'm fine without you! Better without you whinging about how pathetic I am!" I yelled. "You know what? I'm taking the out. You want to drink yourself to death, go ahead!" he yelled back. "Thank you for your fucking blessing. It was about time you gave up on me!" I yelled back. "Fine!" he yelled. "Good!" I yelled. "Whatever!" he yelled. I rolled my eyes. "Ahem" we heard someone clear their throat. We were standing at the bottom of the stairs and we turned around to see dad, Blaise, Pansy, and Enzo standing there watching us. "I'm going to smoke." I snapped. I stormed outside and sat on the steps. My shaky hands pulled out a cigarette and I lit it with my wand. I tried not to cry as I inhaled deeply but the tears fell. I heard the door open and Pansy walked out and sat down next to me. She plucked the cigarette from my fingers and inhaled before handing it back to me. "What the fuck was that, Anna?" she asked. I shrugged. "No. Don't just shrug. You and Theo. You guys are something different. If you can't make it, what hope do the rest of us have?" she said. "I'm sorry to let you down." I mumbled. "Fucking hell, he loves you. And you love him. Why are you two doing this?" she asked. "He doesn't love me. He loves a version of me that doesn't exist anymore." I said. "I don't think that's true." she said. I looked at her with confusion. "Anna, you have gone through hell. You've suffered more than anyone has suffered in...3 lifetimes. Nobody could go through what you went through and not change. It's impossible." she said. "What's your point?" I asked. "I just mean, it's ok to hurt. To be in pain. To fall apart a little. But what isn't ok is to push us away. To push Theo away. You need us, especially right now." she said. "I don't need anyone." I said. She sighed. "You do. And when you realize it, we'll be here for you. We'll be here and you can come to us and we'll help you put yourself back together. Because we're family, and we love you." she said. I nodded. "Whenever you're ready," she said. I sat and smoked until the sun went down. Then I went and checked on Astoria. Theo was sitting in the chair next to her bed. I walked in and stopped when he looked at me. "I didn't come to fight with you." I said. "Good, because I don't have any fight left in me for you." he said. I ran a diagnostic and left. I wiped the tears from my eyes and went to my bedroom. Then I dozed off. I woke up later that night and checked the time. It was 12am.