The Spellfull Sixties

Chapter Ten: A Declaration

"Explain to me, precisely, how this happened?". A young bouncy Madame Pomfrey rattled the medicine cabinet of the hospital wing as the midday sun trickled through the tall woven glass windows. Minerva McGonagall, Professor Slughorn and Professor Kettleburn, who nestled a small Niffler in his pocket, stood with opposing looks on their faces. The small creature rolled about in Kettleburns pocket, wriggling into the warmth of the fabric around it. Arthur seemed fascinated by it whilst the other boys, and Wood, hung their heads in shame. Though the twins took turns at nudging each other to see who would laugh first and get in more trouble.

Andromeda wilted all teary eyed in the hospital wing bed behind them with her arm bandaged up to the shoulder, lining the path to a cut by her jaw. Tonks had a matching one, as well as a bruise crowning his lip, elbow and right knee. Other than that he seemed quite fine. 

Slughorn hovered over Pomfrey's shoulder, asking her about the texture and scent of her magical brews, leaving only McGonagall to get the truth straight. "Uh...". Her gaze snapped to Wood, who clamped his lips shut, not wanting to be at the tail end of her hissing. 

Nobody wanted to own up. It left Andromeda with no choice."...It was my fault". Ted felt an uneasy feeling pool in the back of his mind. It made him feel quite terrible. Molly  glared up and Tonks, knowing quite well that the incident being Andromeda's fault was anything but the truth. She should have seen it coming when Ted had offered to help Andromeda. He was nice, but would have never been that nice to someone who he had clearly announced he did not like. Not even for her sake it seemed. Some friend he'd been. "I don't know how to fly and I...well...tried to fly". 

"Of your own accord?". She didn't believe her at all. "From what I have seen so far, Miss Black, you are quite smart. I would surmise that intelligence would extend to your actions...though I may be wrong", continued Professor McGonagall. 

"She's very smart indeed", agreed Slughorn, wincing as Pomfrey poured a potion into a cup for the girl to drink. "After some more practical's to really test your talents, I'd say top of the class". He winked at the girl, fixing his coat. 

"-Therefore I find it hard to believe...", Minerva seemed to reconsider her previous statement, "I somewhat find it hard to believe that all of this could have been your fault, seeing as I have three boys in front of me who have an affinity for finding themselves in the face of trouble". 

Molly glared at Ted more intensely. She glared at him until the point he felt as though his eyes would burst out of his head and brain melt through his ears. Finally he realised that Molly would never forgive him if he didn't own up. She could hold a grudge quite well. "...It was my fault". 

Kettleburn broke from stroking the sweet Niffler. "How so, dear boy?".

He looked at Andromeda for a moment, seeing her face fall even more than it had before. "It was...meant to be funny...but it wasn't. It was scary in fact...and my fault. All my fault". 

"What precisely was your fault, and why did you do it?", further inquired Professor McGonagall. 

"I...". 

"...Because he doesn't like her sister", butted in Molly. 

"Moll's", warned the twins. 

She ignored them. Ted had already started digging his own grave, so she was going to help him with the shovel. "That's why you did it, after I told you that she isn't anything like what you've told me about her". 

"I surmise you are speaking of Miss Black the senior". The boys and Molly nodded. "Oh, Mr Tonks. You should know better than to judge people based on reasons such as that". She nodded her head to Andromeda. "Now apologise and then follow me so we may discuss this further with the Deputy Headmaster- and you too, Mr Wood".