Memories Of Them

Chapter 4 - Waves of Consciousness

Consciousness returned to Cassie like a rolling tide, slowly making her more aware of her surroundings. The smell of thick smoke lingering in her nostrils, the feeling of wet grass itching her cheek, the sound of muffled voices calling out and the pain. The intense lingering pain, shooting through her limbs. The last sense that returned to her was sight, she strained to open her heavy eyelids, groaning as the light intensified her pounding headache.

"Over here!" she heard someone call.

She tried to move but the pain made her hiss. Grasping her head with her hand she quickly pulled it away, sticky crimson blood coating her fingers and dripped down to her wrist. A figure rushed over, making Cassie cringe back in fright.

"Wow, don't worry, I'm here to help. Try not to move too much Darling, the mediwitches are coming," the figure said, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder. She tried to look at him, lifting her head from the floor. His face was blocking out the sun, his long bright ginger hair was tied into a messy ponytail, a dragon tooth earring hanging from one ear.

"Bill?" she croaked out. The man looked startled, his eyes began flitting across her face taking in details, trying to find anything he recognised. She giggled slightly at the frown on his face, stopping abruptly as the small movement caused pain to shoot through her entire body.

"Is my dad her? Can you get him please, send him a message, I want my dad," she sobbed, suddenly overcome with emotion. Large tears began to fall from her eyes, for the first time since the attack she allowed herself to be scared. This caused the flood gates to open, her breath began coming out in short, laboured pants, her whole body began to shake, she couldn't think straight as she was consumed by her terror.

"I want my dad, please," she begged, wanting nothing more than Kingsley to come swooping in, pick her up and hug her like when she was a child. She wanted to feel safe.

"Shh, you're okay, but you need to calm down okay. Can you try taking some deep breaths?" Bill asked, demonstrating breathing in through his nose and out through his mouth. He kept throwing worried glances over his shoulder every couple of seconds, obviously waiting for more help to arrive. Cassie tried to follow his breathing technique but on every inhale her ribs felt as though they were on fire and every exhale made her feel sick.

"Kingsley, Bill. Please get Kingsley," she cried. The pain was becoming more and more unbearable as time went on. She knew that if Bill could summon Kingsley, he would be able to help.

"Kingsley Shacklebolt?" he asked, his eyebrows shot up in surprise, his mouth gaping slightly. Cassie couldn't summon the energy to answer, just nodding her head slightly.

"Cassie?" Bill questioned a look of recognition finally crossing his face. "Good Godric!"

Bill quickly stood up grabbing his wand. Cassie was aware of a brilliant white light shooting from its tip, taking the form of a salamander. Bill began talking quickly to the Patronus trying to relay information on Cassie's whereabouts and condition. Then in a flash of silver it was gone.

Bill threw himself on the floor next to Cassie, grasping her blood covered hand in his, carefully tracing soothing patterns with his thumb trying to comfort the young girl who was once like a little sister to him. They hadn't seen each other in nearly 6 years, it was clear they had both grown up significantly.

Bill let out a strangled chuckle, emotion threatening to overwhelm him. "The last time I saw you, I think you were 10. You were sniffling into Freddie's chest asking him to be good in his First Year. I can tell you with absolute certainty he was not. I don't think they even made it to the castle before they got in trouble. Mum got a letter home that night." he laughed, he was desperately trying to keep the young girl conscious until help came, fully aware that he was rambling.