Loving Lily: A Snily Story

Chapter 75 - The Wrong Boy

Thank you for reading! I don't own any of Harry Potter! Please let me know if you enjoy! Updates every Saturday!
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Madam Pomfrey looked up from reorganizing her various supplies as the sound of furious knocking sounded from the empty Hospital Wing's door.

Fearing someone had already been injured in the final task, Hogwarts' healer hurried over.

"Mr. Malfoy!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed as she flung open the door and saw Draco standing in the hall, with solemn concern on his face and Harriet limp in his arms.

"Something's wrong!" He cried, "Please!.....You have to help her!"

"Bring her inside!" Madam Pomfrey nodded quickly, "Lay her there!" She commanded as she pointed to the closest bed.

Draco gently laid Harriet down while Madam Pomfrey scuttled over to her supply cart.

Her heart raced as she hurried to begin her work.

Madam Pomfrey did not yet realize Harriet hadn't even made it to the tournament's final task.

All she knew was the girl in her care seemed to be dangerously pale, unresponsive, and leaking blood all over the bed's white sheets.

"What's wrong with her?!" Draco shouted as his expression twisted in mournful anguish, desperate for an answer.

"I'll need to take a thorough look, Mr. Malfoy." Madam Pomfrey replied as she withdrew her wand. She held its tip over her patient's face as she went on, "She may be injured on the inside. The Triwizard Tournament prides itself on the brutality of its tasks. Did you see what happened?" Madam Pomfrey asked as her eyes flickered over to Draco, "Was it a fall?......A hit?........What caused the injury?"

"N-Nothing!" Draco spluttered, "There's not any injury! She never.....She wasn't.....Snape didn't begin the task! I found her like this in the lavatory!"

Draco expected his claim would lessen Madam Pomfrey's concern.

He bit back a scream as he watched the healer's eyes widen before she ended her diagnostic spell and immediately began a new one.

While a distant echo of music from Hogwarts' band wafted through the glass windows, all the way from the stands, Draco squeezed his eyes shut as he bit back a sob in a restrained hiss.

He didn't care about the Triwizard Tournament.

He didn't care that Severus and Lily were worried.

All Draco cared about was ensuring Harriet would be alright.

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While the three remaining champions made their way through the maze, Severus clenched his jaw in nervous suspense.

After what seemed like an eternity, a loud, horrified scream rang out.

The band stopped playing.

Everyone gasped.

Severus's dark eyes nearly bulged out of his head.

He gasped in relief once he saw two red sparks rise into the sky like crackling fireworks from deep within the maze.

In a swift sprint, he blew past Dumbledore and entered the leafy labyrinth.

".....Severus!" Dumbledore called, "SEVERUS!"

The headmaster sighed as he realized he was far too late to stop the Potions Master from intervening.

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