𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Forty-Five: Under Weasley's Watchful Eye

Chapter Forty-Five

The next day after the fight with Harlow, Matty was informed by Officer Singer via owl that Harlow was in the hands of the Ministry and would be put on trial in less than two weeks. Seemingly now that they had Harlow in their possession, putting him in Azkaban seemed to be a much bigger deal.

But all she could think about was if Natty was okay or not. She hadn't gotten an owl from her, or Professor Onai, or Nurse Blainey and it was beginning to worry her. She didn't want to go up to the Hospital Wing and disrupt things either.

All through school and classes she was a bit distracted and a few people were asking her what happened. She could only tell them small details and say that she hoped Natty would be okay.

So needless to say, when Matty got word that Natty was now awake and wanted to speak with her, she was extremely excited for school to be over and the moment it was, she made her way up the stairs to the Hospital Wing to visit her friend.

Upon entering the hospital wing, Matty could see Professor Onai sitting next to her daughter. "Are you sure you are up for a visitor?"

Natty, who was seated in a wheelchair, nodded at her mother. "Yes Mother, I feel fine, and it will do me good to see her." She replied, referring to seeing Matty.

Professor Onai sighed but reluctantly nodded her head. "Very well. But do not overdo it, Natsai."

She rose from her seat and walked away, leaving Matty to walk over and take the seat next to Natty with a big smile on her face. It was amazing to see Natty awake and doing well. She had given everyone quite the scare.

She placed her hand on top of Natty's and looked at her. "I'm glad to see you are doing so well." She said to her. "You gave me quite the scare, jumping in front of me and taking the curse and all."

Natty smiled. "I am doing better than it appears. I am only here because my mother insisted—just to be safe." She replied. "I was relieved to hear that you were all right."

"Only because of you." Matty said. "How are you feeling?"

Natty took a deep breath before letting it out slowly. "Well, I've had better days, but Nurse Blainey says that I am on the mend." She answered. It was clear that she was still in a bit of pain—something Matty could tell she was trying to cover up now that she was here.

"I'm sorry Natty, it's my fault you got hurt. I should've been more aware of what Harlow was doing." Matty apologized.

But Natty just shook her head profusely. "What? No! Do not blame yourself!" She exclaimed. "The moment I saw Harlow aim his wand at you, well—I did what I had to do, and I would do it again. I could not simply stand there and watch you get hurt."

"And I'm grateful for that but I still feel guilty." Matty said with a small sigh, feeling bad that her friend had gotten hurt because of her.

"Do not feel guilty. There was nothing you—." Natty suddenly stopped her sentence and Matty looked confused. It was almost as if she had just come to a conclusion about something. "Oh. Oh, my! I cannot believe it took me this long to see it." She said, further confusing Matty. What was she talking about?

"What? Notice what?"

"He made a choice based on instinct. My father!" Natty exclaimed. "You, my friend, are no more to blame for my injuries than I am to blame for my father's sacrifice years ago."

It seemed pretty obvious to Matty that Natty had never been responsible for her father's death yet when Natty got hurt in order to protect her, she felt as if it was her fault. Funny how things came full circle and everyone wanted to blame themselves when someone they loved got hurt or had something bad happen to them.