The One With The Toad Face

8

Sometime after their break up Edan was shaken dramatically awake. When she opened her eyes and grabbed for her wand, Ginny came into view. "Get up Edy! We need to go, right now!" Ginny growled lowly at her. Edan was dazed as she climbed out of bed, grabbed her coat and followed Ginny. McGonagall was waiting in the Common Room along with George and Fred. She ushered them out the portrait hole advising them to move quickly and quietly.

They found themselves in the Headmasters office listening to him question Harry. She was still half asleep and having trouble following. However, from what she understood something had happened to Arthur. "You'll be traveling via Port Key to Sirius's home. It will be easier to travel to St. Mungo's from there. Your Mother will be meeting you." Professor Dumbledore said urgently.

Edan's heart was pounding in her chest. Her anxiety was building rapidly and she couldn't get a good breath. Dumbledore's eye flicked over to her for a moment. "Ms Wilkies.." He began but she didn't stick around long enough to hear what he had to say. She ran from the Headmaster's office feeling herself slowly lose control. As Edan ran down the corridor she paused upon hearing the familiar sound of heels hitting the ground at top speed.

In a panic Edan dove over the open pillars that blocked the corridors from the courtyard. She held her breath and she crouched behind the small wall. Thankfully Umbridge was in too much of a hurry to notice Edan's labored breathing despite holding her hands tightly over her mouth. She breathed a sigh of relief despite feeling more and more distressed. If Umbridge was nearby Edan needed to gain control of herself - fast.

Along the corridor were torches lighting them up. Edan rushed over to one and without thinking it through entirely, she stuck her right hand into the flame. Her hand remained then for a few moments as she initially did not feel her skin burning. She suddenly cried out pulling her hand back to herself. Then she tore off to the Hospital Wing.

Madam Pomfrey shook her head upon seeing Edan's charred hand. "What happened to your pendent, Ms Wilkies?"

Edan shrugged, ignoring the question entirely. Madam Pomfrey huffed then retrieved a poultice from her office. She dabbed in lightly on Edan's hand. A frown appeared on her face as her wound remained unchanged. After pulling out her wand and attempting a few spells she huffed at the injury. "Your injuries are getting more and more difficult to heal. I am assuming it's because of your curse but I have no way of knowing for sure." Madam Pomfrey applied another poultice then wrapped the hand and placed it into a sling. "When Umbridge asks, and she will ask, you had another fainting spell and fractured your wrist."

"Thank you." Edan replied softly, nodding her head.

Madam Pomfrey had been right. Within a few hours Umbridge entered the Hospital Wing and approached Edan with urgency. "Your family has disappeared and here you are in the Hospital Wing yet again. What has happened to your hand?" She demanded.

"It's rather embarrassing. I fainted in the middle of the night while walking to the bathroom." Edan said, shaking her head. The shame she felt was genuine though not for the reasons Umbridge would assume. "I fainted and fractured my wrist. When I came to, I made my way here."

Umbridge turned her nose up at Edan. "Madam Pomfrey was unable to mend your bones? She's an excellent healer or so I am told."

"You were told correctly." Madam Pomfrey announced appearing beside Umbridge. "Unfortunately, given Ms Wilkies curse, her injuries have proven difficult to heal. My suspicion is that the dark elements inside of her make the nature of healing harder to do."

The foul Professor grinned menacingly. "Well, that's a shame. Now, Ms Wilkies, considering you are not one of the Weasley's actual children, you will not be permitted to leave the school until the Winter Holiday begins." Edan nodded in acknowledgement but Umbridge did not see as she had already turned to leave.