The Hollow Beneath Hogwarts

122. It's The End Of The World As We Know It

Sloane gritted her teeth and pulled hard on the shackles again. The metal restraints rattled loudly against the stone wall. Nothing happened. Not even the slightest movement.

She let out a frustrated growl and pulled again anyway.

The chains dug painfully into her wrists. Her shoulders screamed in protest. The bruises around her throat throbbed.

Every swallow felt like she was forcing broken glass down her neck.

The irony wasn't lost on her. For someone whose magical abilities revolved around healing, she was currently in absolutely miserable condition.

She could heal everyone else.

Just not herself.

At the moment that felt deeply unfair. The cuts on the soles of her feet stung every time she shifted position. The bruising around her neck felt worse by the minute. Her head was pounding. Her chest still hurt from desperately fighting for air earlier.

And every now and then she would get a horrible phantom sensation of Euan's stone fingers squeezing her throat.

Making her gasp. Making her panic. Making her relive it all over again.

Still she yanked at the chains.

Again. And again. And again.

"Sloane." Theo's voice echoed across the room. She ignored him.

The shackles rattled again.

"Sloane."  This time she glanced over her shoulder. Theo was sitting several feet away against the wall. Or at least trying to sit. Mostly he looked exhausted. His clothes were dirty. His face was bruised. His hair was a complete disaster. Yet somehow he still managed to look annoyed.

"Sloane, save your energy."

"I'm fine." She frowned. 

"Sloane."

"I'm fine."

"You almost died."

That got her attention. The room fell silent. Theo immediately regretted how harsh it sounded.

But not enough to take it back. His expression softened. "You need to rest."

Sloane opened her mouth. Then closed it again. Because annoyingly, he was right. Her body felt like it had been trampled by a herd of Hippogriffs. Unfortunately she wasn't particularly good at sitting still. Especially when people she loved were probably risking their lives trying to find her. "I can't just do nothing."

Theo sighed. "I know." The chains rattled again. "Sloane. I know."

Another pull. Another rattle. Another wince of pain. Then suddenly a deep growling sound echoed around the room.

Both girls jumped.

Hermione's eyes flew open.

Sloane nearly headbutted the wall.

Theo blinked.

There was a moment of silence.

Then his face slowly turned red. "Oh."

Sloane stared.

Hermione stared.

Theo looked mortified. "That was my stomach."

The silence lasted another second.

Then Sloane burst out laughing. Immediately regretting it. The laughter turned into coughing. The coughing hurt.

A lot.

But it was still worth it.

Theo pointed accusingly. "You laughed."