Waking up in St. Mungo's was definitely an experience.
I knew that the healers had definitely done their part because I was no longer in terrible pain. The ache in my stomach was still there, but the cuts and bruises were gone.
Aunt Narcissa was sitting next to my bed, holding my hand.
"Auntie..."
My voice is weak and quiet. Her head snaps up and she smiles. "Oh honey... how are you?" She asks. "Better. Doesn't hurt as much." I say. I close my eyes. The memories start coming back.
The shackles, the magic, the pain, the torture.
"Oh, Merlin..." I whisper. "I'm so glad you're okay." Aunt Narcissa mutters. I smile. "Because of you. You saved me, Aunt Cissy." I say.
She wipes a tear from her face and smiles. "I will Avada Kedavra those two myself. You hear me? I will not let them get away with what they did." She explains. "This wasn't the first time they've made them do that to me before. It's definitely one of their favorite ways to torture me."
"I'm so sorry. I wish I could help, but I'd be risking too many lives." She says. "I've survived sixteen years of them. They're just being harsh because war is coming. And they can't have Mattheo and I dirtying the family name." I say.
"You're a damn strong woman, Madalene. I'm so proud of you." She says. I laugh and wipe the tears form my face. "Don't let Tonks find out about this. Merlin, she'd go crazy." I say.
Aunt Narcissa laughs. "Definitely. You do have to see her soon. I've heard she's been talking Harry Potter into speak in with you." She explains. I furrow my eyebrows. "Harry Potter hates me?" "And Dora knows that. She's trying to convince him to let you in on the preparations for the war. You have a lot of insight. Plus, your brothers a bit hard-headed and wouldn't cooperate."
I laugh. "You're right."
"Mattheo, Draco, and everyone else is out there. Would you like me to fetch them?" She asks. I nod, my eyes slightly teary.
"Madalene."
I look up at her with a questioning look. "You are so strong. And I am so proud of you."
"Thank you." My voice is weak and my eyes are filled with tears.
She pats my hand and stands up, exiting the room. After a few moments, the door opens and Mattheo walks in, everyone else trailing behind him, including Snape and Aunt Narcissa.
They're all quick to crowd my bed, asking a million questions a minute. I laugh at them all.
"Calm down!" I say. They all quiet up quickly. "Let's go down the line." I say.
"How are you?" Mattheo asks. I nod. "Okay. I have definitely been better." I say. "What's going on with you now?" Theo asks. I look over at Narcissa.
"She's going to have to sit out of school for a bit. She needs to heal, so she'll probably end up staying in the medical wing at Hogwarts." She explains. "Good thing M.." My voice trails off as I remember the name Dolohov called me. "Pomfrey and I are like this." I cross my fingers and hold them up, closing my eyes.
The room could sense something was off about the name but didn't push any further.
"I uh- thank you. For coming." I say. I look down, tears flooding my vision. "You're one of our best friends, Cara Mia. We'll always show up for you." Theo says. I smile as he takes my hand, kissing the back of it.
"Baisemain; a kiss on the hand." I say. Theo smiles, keeping my hand in his.
•
"Miss Riddle. If you don't mind me asking, what happened?" Madam Pomfrey asks. I look down. "I was... sexually assaulted. By men supposed to be in Azkaban, so they can't be locked away and I will just continue life as if it never happened." I say.
Her face softens. "Oh my... I'm very sorry this happened to you." She says, placing a hand over her heart. I smile. "It's not your fault. I'll be okay." I say, wiping the tears from under my eyes.
The doors to the hospital wing slam closed and my group of friends stand there, looking a bit shocked.
Shit.
"I'll see you in the morning." Madam Pomfrey says, walking off quickly. The group slowly makes their way toward me.
"Madalene..."
"Don't." I snap. Astoria's voice cuts off. "You weren't supposed to hear that and we're going to continue as if you didn't hear that. Got it?" I say.
"We can't pretend we didn't hear that, Madalene." Blaise says. I keep my head down so they don't see the tears flowing down my face. "You can and you will." I say sharply. "You're a victim, Madalene." Pansy says.
"I am not a victim! I am a goddamn survivor. Just because you now know one form of torture my father uses against me does not mean you get to form an opinion about it now. He has been doing this for as long as I can remember. And I will not sit here and let it affect me and my duties as his daughter. Just because you know what happens now doesn't change a bloody thing. I am Madalene Riddle. And I will not be treated like emotional baggage."
