beloved | h.p.

chapter four

A wet towel on my forehead wakes me up, and Hannah's blonde hair comes into my vision.

"Merlin! She is awake. Quickly get Madam Pomfrey!", my sister says to someone, and I can hear steps hurrying away.

She looks at me with a worried expression as she takes my hand, while she takes the wet towel off my forehead and dabs the rest of my face with it.

Slowly, I'm trying to get up. Hannah helps me sit up on the bed. With an exhausted sigh, I lean against the metal headboard.

"I was so worried, Caroline!", Hannah says, looking at me with teary eyes.

"I'm feeling better; don't worry.", I say. "I think I just drank too much."

Hannah looks at me with a weird expression. She finally shakes her head.

"Caroline, you've been unconscious for several days," she says.

I stare at her. I'm not saying anything.

What is going on? I feel the anxiety building up in my stomach, and I feel like I'm going to vomit.

Madam Pomfrey comes our way, followed by Hannah's friend Julie Longbottom.

"How are you feeling?", she asks me, feeling my wrist and forehead.

My head still feels dizzy, but I'm feeling better than before. So I just answer with a simple "Okay."

The school nurse looks at me with a sad expression in her eyes. She turns to my sister and Julie.

"I think it is best if you sit down for this.", she says, and I'm immediately hit with a ball of rising panic in my stomach. Hannah sits down on the chair next to me and grabs my hand. She looks scared.

Julie gets a chair from the bed next to mine and sits next to Hannah, before she holds my sister's hands and gives me encouraging pats on my knee.

"Ms. Abbott, have you ever heard of blood malediction?", Madam Pomfrey asks, giving me a pitying look.

The world seems to have come to a stop. Silence.

Of course, I heard about it. I once wrote an essay about this illness.

Unable to say a word, I just nod as an answer. Madam Pomfrey pats my hand.

"We ran a few tests," she says and turns to the door, which is now opening.

A woman with a strict face, dressed in all white, enters the Hospital Wing.

"This is Mrs. Charles from St. Mungo's Hospital. She was the one who thought of testing you for this illness... I am sorry, Ms. Abbott, but the test was positive."

The sound of Hannah's strangled cry reaches me before I am able to understand the meaning of her words.

I suffer from a blood disease. A blood disease that always leads to an early death.

"Unfortunately, there isn't a cure yet. The only things we got were painkillers." Madam Pomfrey continues.

My head is empty. I can see her lips move, but I can't hear her words. Tears are filling my eyes, making it difficult to see.

I'm going to die.

Someone puts a handkerchief in my hand, and I dry up my tears. Mrs. Charles's expression looks much softer now as she steps aside again.

"Are there any records of this disease in your family, Ms. Abbott?", she asks. I open my mouth, but I feel too tired.

"She was adopted as a child. Caroline doesn't know anything about her biological family.", Julie, pipes in, who seems to be the only one with a clear head of us three students in the room.

My sister is still crying and holding my hand.

Mrs. Charles nods and turns to Madam Pomfrey. The two of them exchange a few words before the latter turns back to me.

"I think it's best if you get some rest. Your sister and friend can visit you tomorrow. I will bring you something to eat and drink. And afterwards, you can sleep. I will also notify your parents about the positive test, as well as the medication you should take from now on."

As Julie and Hannah hug me goodbye, my sister doesn't want to let go of me. Mrs. Charles bids her goodbye and leaves.

The door closes behind my sister, and I am alone with Madam Pomfrey.

"I will bring you some food, alright, dear?", she asks, turning to leave.

"Ahh, and I will tell your boyfriend that he can visit you tomorrow."

With these words, she leaves me alone.

Boyfriend?