As It Was *Complete*

31. Basically Held Hostage

"Is she Ok?" he pleaded.

The Healer sighed. "This guy really did a number on her. He broke several ribs, fractured her left cheek, caused deep lacerations in her neck and upper torso. And he knew what he was doing when he slit her wrists. He tried to go over the vein to ensure she would bleed out. He wasn't too skilled in any case and for that she is a very, very lucky girl. Any deeper and I am afraid we would have lost her."

Snape sucked in a breath as Draco clenched his fists and ground his teeth.

"But she has been well looked after by Poppy. She has already had potions to mend her jaw which should work within the next half hour and she will be able to talk again. Her ribs should be well on their way to mending but I imagine they will be a little tender for a day or two. Her cuts are all cauterised and closed. I am afraid the school does not have any stock of Dittany at present so they will just have to heal on their own. But they will heal in a few days, a week tops and that bruise on her cheek will be gone in a few days as well. She will make a full recovery and I am more than happy to let her stay here for the night and then she can head back to her dorm for some well-earned bed rest."

He smiled at Astra again. "Do you have any other pains that we have overlooked or not seen?" Astra shook her head. "OK, well then I am going to write up a full report and speak to the Minister. I will be back."

"I think I need to go and see what they are planning to do about this....boy," Snape said his teeth clenched. "Don't go anywhere," he smiled at her and she rolled her eyes, trying to smile back.

Draco was still quiet. Eerie kind of quiet and Astra didn't like it. She looked over at him to see him staring at her hand which lay by her side on the bed. She slowly turned it over and moved it slightly, wincing at the pain. But she held it out nonetheless to Draco.

"What?" He said looking up in a pained expression. "What do you need? What can I do?" Again she held her hand out and looked from him to her hand and back up again. He wasn't getting it. "Em...do you need a drink?" She shook her head. He leaned closer and put his hand on the bed for support.

She sighed, thankful she didn't have to lift it again as it felt like a dead weight but shimmied her own hand across and wiggled her little finger over his. "Do you -" he lifted his hand slightly and she moved her own under his and closed her fingers around his hand. He gave a little gasp and then closed his own fingers around giving her hand a small squeeze. "Smooth Astra," he chuckled. "I didn't know you wanted to hold my hand that badly."

She ignored the sarcasm. He wasn't wrong. She did want to hold his hand. Instead, she sighed.

"I am so sorry that this happened to you. That Goyle...he nearly killed you!" Draco said quietly and close his eyes, squeezing them shut. "I promise I will go and find him and I will -"

Astra shook her head as hard as she could and squeezed his hand. She didn't want him going after Goyle. She didn't want him anywhere near Goyle.

"Hey, it's going to be OK," he said quietly moving closer. "I just want to make sure he can't hurt you again." He looked into her eyes and if she wasn't in so much pain she might have actually swooned.

Maybe that was all the potions talking.

She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing. No on his breathing. To distract herself from the pain. The potions took the edge off but they still hurt. She must have dozed off for when she came around again she could hear chuckling.

"My mother did that?" Draco asked.

"Your mother was pretty badass!" Sirius was laughing. "A woman you don't want to cross. But it broke her to lose Andromeda."