(Eng) Weasleys, Pranks and other Curses

03

We were packing up when suddenly two Gryffindors burst into the library, causing quite a commotion.

"Maddie?" shouted the one I could identify as Alicia Spinnet. She was also on the Quidditch team and a friend of Madeline's sister. "Shit, Maddie, you have to come with me. Katie!" It was only now that I noticed how messed up the girl was. Her hair was wild, but I had blamed that on training. But usually Quidditch players' uniforms weren't full of dirt and grass stains. And was that blood?

Immediately, Madeline had jumped up. Out of reflex, I had stood up as well. "What's wrong with her?!" gasped Madeline, as if she had only been waiting for bad news. But Alicia only gestured for her to follow.

The boy who was also there - I didn't know his name - nodded at us. "Go. I'll bring your things after you."

We didn't have to be told twice. Before anyone could kick us out of the library, we were gone.

Even though I should have guessed it, my heart still slipped into the pit of my stomach when we got to the hospital wing. The entire team was gathered. I saw Angelina Johnson and one of the Weasley twins covered in blood and had to slow down to catch my breath.

Madeline had lost all her shyness and restraint and was pushing through those gathered.

Katie was lying in a bed, looking terrible. If I hadn't known it was her, maybe I wouldn't have recognized her.

Next to me, Wood was talking to McGonagall. "That creature just came out of nowhere. I swear I've never seen anything like it. It was like a vulture, or eagle, or I don't know. It was huge and gray." He gestured to show the size of the bird and I felt sick. My suspicions were confirmed when Wood added, "It was like a giant cloud had taken shape just to swoop down on Katie."

I had to get out of here. This couldn't be happening! But when I turned around, my escape route was blocked. "Well, can't you see blood well?" the other Weasley twin asked me, also dirty but not as bloody as the first.

"Yeah," I gasped, fighting the gag reflex.

"Oi, oi, oi, there's the garbage can," the Weasley pointed, about to push me in that direction. But this wasn't the kind of nausea that had overtaken me.

If Wood was right, then the attack on Katie was my fault. I squeezed past the twin and was almost in the hallway when the next figure stood in my way. I was about to hurl an angry curse at him when I realized who was standing in front of me.
Albus Dumbledore looked at me mildly over his half-moon shaped glasses and put his long fingers on my shoulder. "Stay a moment, Miss Renard."

I felt every muscle in me stiffen as my gaze followed the principal. He walked over to Madame Pomfrey, who had at least fixed Katie up enough for me to recognize her as Katie again.
"They're just cuts," the woman explained without even slowing down. "They're very deep, but luckily they got here quickly. I'll get her fixed up, but she'll need rest." Her gaze went to Wood as she said, "Lots of rest."
The principal nodded and thanked the nurse for her good work. McGonagall shooed the team away from the bed so they wouldn't interfere with the work.

I was about to drift with the crowd when the principal took me aside again. "Your parents have incredible timing, you know that?" With one hand, he rummaged in his cape pocket and pulled out a small velvet bag. "This arrived for you earlier today." He handed it to me and I curiously emptied the contents onto my palm.

A silver necklace with a small, misshapen moonstone. "Why did they send it to you?"

"Because I had to charge the spell first," the man hummed knowingly. "It will hide your presence in the future. I only have to recharge it once a week."