The Space Boy and The Red Head

15 - Sleep Walking into The Whomping Willow

Monday - 5th February 1996

It was just after 8 in the morning when the sun had finally risen over Hogwarts. The long nights of winter stealing the precious hours of sunlight.

Pomfrey and Hagrid waited together at the entrance to the shack. They had heard Apollo screaming in pain as they approached, but now it was eerily quiet. That wasn't unusual though, Poppy assured Hagrid, he often fell unconscious from the pain. After waiting a few moments to be sure he was no longer a wolf the pair entered.

The air tasted metallic, wood was in splinters and crunched under their feet as they walked in. None of the scabby furniture in the building had apparently survived the night, where once its was just scratched and clawed, a chest of drawers lay smashed. Trails and splatters of blood painted the otherwise bleak room a vibrant red. The gamekeeper and healer may have been used to blood but this was a lot, even for them. They held their breath as they tried to locate the injured boy.

"E's over 'ere! Best be quick, not looking too good." Hagrid called out after the pair had split up to find him faster. Soon Poppy was trying to seal the wounds as much as possible, of course she'd be able to assist better once they reached the castle and she had her supplies but her travel kit was sufficient enough to stabilise the boy.

"There, there, nice and easy lad, we got you, is alrigh' now" Hagrid soothed as Apollo began to wake up. His giant hand stroking back the hair from his face. Apollo scrunched his face up in pain, trying to suppress the pain he was feeling.

"Now, come on, let it out, Merlin knows that's gotta hurt, ain't no shame in it." Hagrid was desperately trying to comfort the boy.

"Arghhh, make it stop please. Please make it stop it hurts so much. Please" Apollo begged, a few tears cleaning streaks across his cheeks from the blood. His hair was matted and sticky from a wound just above his ear, thankfully the scar would be covered by his hair, but its positioning was making it hard for the Matron to heal at the moment.

"You're doing so well Apollo, just one more minute, alright. I need you to stay still for just one more minute poppet" Pomfrey said, dabbing a cloth doused in one of her many ointments. The skin around the wound was trying to weld itself back together. "This potion reacts negatively to pain relief magic, as soon as this is sealed I can give you this to drink" she said, holding up a small vial in her free hand.

Neither of the adults would admit, but it was relieving to know that the other was there, to ease the nerves they were feeling. To help burden the trouble that plagued their mind seeing the aftermath of the monster. It sometimes felt like too much for Poppy to process alone while Apollo slept. But neither had been expecting to hear the boy beg for it to stop like that. Their hearts were actively shattering in their chest. Apollo had always been so strong, so brave. He soldiered through his pain, ignoring it and carrying on as if all was well.

"Ok drink up" She turned to Hagrid, "Can you carry him up, I don't trust myself to keep focus enough walking across this floor to levitate him" she asked. Hagrid nodded, carefully scooping up the boy.

"Blimey, you're in need of a scrub, and a good meal, awful light you are" He said. Apollo wasn't light, he knew that, his condition burnt off most off his body fat and left him with a lot of muscle mass.

"Go on, get some rest, I've got you" Hagrid playfully winked as they went to leave. Apollo was out like a light in his arms, the potion had kicked in and made him drowsy, falling asleep in seconds. The matron was trying to clear a path for the two others in the group, stepping over a puddle of blood she felt like her appetite for the day had left, a queasy feeling taking its place.

"That doors barely hanging on" Hagrid pointed out as they exited. "Only one bloomin' hinge left on it. Surprised he didn't get through it"

"The door is enchanted Hagrid. He wouldn't be able to get through. The wolf wouldn't be able to open it with all the locking spells in place" she insisted.

The walk to the school was quiet, Hagrid barely fit in the passageway so they had briefly levitated Apollo through. The gamekeeper resuming his role in carrying him once they were out the other side.

It was a struggle to get up to the infirmary unnoticed as the hallways were busy. Breakfast had just ended and students were rushing off to prepare for class. They'd made it to the final corridor unseen. Rounding the corner, the door was in sight, but so was three silhouettes. She hadn't had time to tell Hagrid to stay hidden when the three heads turned to see them.

"Apollo!"
"What Happened?"
"Is he ok?"
They all shouted over one another. Sprinting towards Hagrid, trying to get a better view of their friend.

"Is that blood?" George asked as they got closer. He ran even faster, over taking Fred. Apollo lay pale and bloody in Hagrid's arms. Unmoving. Had he not seen the gentle rise and fall of his chest, George might have mistaken him for dead.
George hadn't noticed a nervous tear falling down his face until it fell to the floor. Quickly wiping his eyes.

"What happened to him?" He asked hoping an adult might finally answer them.

"Side effect of an overnight flu remedy. Sleep walking, straight into the Whomping Willow it seems. Don't know how he got past me" she lied effortlessly, this was one of a few prepared excuses she had come up with.

With the help of his friends, Madam Pomfrey got Apollo settled into a bed. She dressed his wounds properly and tidied him up. She brought forward a small basin of warm water.

"Would have you mind, his hair could do with a clean, just be mindful of the cut by his ear" she said passing over a few clean flannels. George stood up and moved to the basin. Taking one of the cloths and wetting it. Fred and Lee stayed back a little, the shock of seeing their friend like this hadn't left them yet. George had managed to put his aside for the sake of helping Apollo.

Lee knew it wasn't the Whomping willow that did this. Was this what happened every month? He wondered.

The basin water was slowly turning red, as George gently cleaned his friend's hair. His fingers feather light as they massaged his scalp.

"I didn't know you made such a good hairdresser" a strained voice croaked.

"Oh thank Merlin, you're awake" Lee had leaped up.

"Pomfrey said you sleepwalked into the Whomping willow. Your clumsiness amazes me" Fred said, pleased to see Apollos eyes open.

"I'm particularly good at keeping her on her toes" Apollo tried to laugh.

George hadn't stopped washing Apollos hair, in fact, Apollo wasn't sure he had realised he had woken up yet. He looked up to George's face, his eyes were glazed over as tears silently streamed down his cheeks.

"Georgie, I'm ok, look at me please. I'm ok" he asked softly. George's hand halted and he stopped to look into Apollos eyes. As if he himself had awoken from a trance, the Weasley broke out into a bright smile.

"Don't you ever do that again" he pretended to scold Apollo, a slight hint of seriousness evident in his voice. It was from a place of caring though.

"I hadn't meant to end up like this you know" the other boy laughed, his friend's following suit. "So, what did I miss?"

"Ugh, not much, it was dull as anything without you. Breakfast was awful though... it's so gross trying to eat with a leaf in your mouth" Fred whispered the last part.