The Journal of Regulus Arcturus Black

Chapter 22. Sectumsempra

Draco would say that he was pretty good acquaintances with that Potter boy. Were they friends? Definitely not. Did Draco like to hex him in the corridors from time to time? Of course. But Draco most definitely, was completely, one hundred percent, civil with Potter and they were on good terms. Brilliant terms compared to their previous years consisting of petty school boy rivalry. 

He and Potter? Were alright.

"POTTER'S KILLED PANSY!" Millie screeched, bursting into Draco's Advanced Arithmancy class that he shared with Theo and also Granger.

Draco blinked and then scrambled to shove his notes into his bag and ran out the door. Theo cursed, yelling a sorry to their professor and staggering his way out of the classroom to run alongside his two friends. "Potter did what?" Draco hissed, grabbing Millie's arm as they jogged in direction to the Hospital Wing.

"He- he used some sort of cutting spell," she cried.

"Cutting spell?" Theo asked. "Like diffindo?"

Draco felt bile rise up in his throat. Diffindo was severing charm and if used with enough power and precision could actually kill someone.

"No," Millie cried, rubbing at her eyes and they rounded another corner. "It was some new spell. It was- I didn't recognise it, fucking hell- You don't understand," she cried. "She was bleeding so much," Millie whispered.

Draco gulped down the fear growing in his stomach. That familiar ache he had mostly gotten rid of nestled itself comfortably in his chest whilst he thought about Millie's shaking form. "What did it do?"

"It was like... like swords cutting her. Invisible blades—"

"An unknown spell?" Theo asked, grabbing her arm. "Did he make it himself?"

"Seems so," she mumbled, sniffling. "It- there was so much blood and the girls bathroom was completely flooded. Professor Snape knew the counter curse... he helped but- fuck."

They burst into the Hospital Wing and were immediately told to go away by a very furious Madam Pomfrey. Professor Snape, McGonagall and Headmaster Dumbledore were also in the room. Draco narrowed his eyes at Potter but found himself unusually calm in the presence of so many adults.

"Pansy. How is she?" he asked, looking at Madam Pomfrey.

"You need to go boy. Don't you have class?"

Draco glared fiercely at their school healer, "tell me! Is she okay?"

Madam Pomfrey didn't answer him, only glanced at their Headmaster. It was with the man's small nod that she sighed and opened the curtain separating Draco from his best friend. His face was screwed in pain, feeling his chest squeeze as he looked at the state of Pansy. He walked slowly to her side, letting Millie shove her way towards Pansy's side, grabbing the girl's hand and crying onto her shoulder.

Pansy was still unconscious and Draco was standing just behind the curtain. Theo had moved to stand on Pansy's other side, hand hovering just where her chest was. Her upper body was rid of any clothing and all encased in tight roles of red and bloody bandages. "She's going to heal. There's be permanent scarring—"

"Fuck," Draco breathed, feeling his throat tighten and dry. He took a few cautious steps towards her bed and then the tears fell. Draco could feel a force squeeze the air out of his lungs. Replaced but long and defying stabs of pain around his stomach and chest. "Fuck- Pans..."

"I- I'm sorry," a voice choked from behind him.

Draco turned around, finding Potter standing just outside of the curtain. He was staring at Draco with guilt, regret, fear. Draco felt disgusted. He pulled the curtains and stepped away, making sure that no one else saw her. "How did you do it?"