You Only Live Once

CHAPTER 34

MARCH 20th 1979

"Mira! Wake up!"

The voice was a sharp, urgent hiss right against her ear. Mira bolted upright in bed, her heart hammering against her ribs as she squinted through the darkness of the dormitory. She fumbled for the clock on her nightstand, her eyes widening when she saw the time. It was 3:40 in the morning.

"What's wrong, Evan?" she questioned, her voice thick with sleep but laced with immediate concern.

"I need your help" was all he said. He didn't wait for her to put on her shoes or grab a robe. He grabbed her hand and practically hauled her out of the room.

They flew down the stone stairs and slipped out of the Slytherin common room like shadows. They ran through the cold, silent hallways of Hogwarts without a single thought about Filtch or getting caught. Evan's grip on her hand was iron-clad, his breathing heavy and ragged. He led her out onto the grounds, the damp grass soaking her socks as they sprinted toward the Whomping Willow. Evan seemed to know exactly how to handle the violent tree; with a quick movement, he stilled the thrashing branches and pulled her into the dark opening at its base.

They tore through the narrow, earthen tunnel that led away from the school. When they finally reached the basement of the Shrieking Shack, the silence was broken by a low, pained groan coming from the room above. Evan kicked the door open, and Mira froze at the sight.

Regulus was sprawled on the floor, his face as white as the moon. A dark, terrifying puddle of blood was spreading across the floorboards beneath him.

"What happened?" Mira gasped in horror. She rushed to his side, dropping to her knees and ignoring the way the blood stained her nightshirt. She frantically tried to find the source of the wound.

"Mission gone bad" Evan replied. He moved with a clinical, desperate speed, yanking Regulus' shirt open to reveal a jagged, deep scar that ran across his abdomen. It looked like it had been carved by dark magic, the edges black and weeping. "Now, I need you to hold him, Mira. Use all your strength."

Mira didn't hesitate. She moved behind Regulus, pulling his trembling shoulders against her chest to keep him upright and still. Evan drew his wand, his hand shaking slightly as he began to chant a low, rhythmic incantation. He hovered the tip of the wood over the wound, but the blood didn't stop. He tried again, his voice rising in desperation, and then a third time.

Regulus hissed in pain, his head falling back against Mira's shoulder. She squeezed him tighter, her own tears starting to blur her vision. "We need to get him to Madam Pomfrey" she said, her voice cracking. "He's losing too much blood, Evan. If he doesn't get help soon..."

"No" Regulus croaked. He forced his eyes open for a second before hissing through his teeth as another wave of pain hit him.

"He's right. We need to find another way" Evan agreed. He began to pace the small, dusty room, his shadow flickering against the peeling wallpaper.

"Have you both gone mental?" Mira questioned. The adrenaline was screaming through her veins, making her feel livid. She couldn't believe they were arguing about secrecy while Regulus was dying in her arms. "Reg" she whispered, shifting so she could cup his face in her hands. "Please. Let us take you to the hospital wing. I don't care about the rules."

Regulus looked at her, his dark eyes clouded with agony. "And what will we say happened, exactly?" Evan asked, stopping his pacing to stare at her. "How do we explain a curse like that to the school nurse?"

"I'll lie. Leave it to me" Mira snapped.

A ghost of a smile touched Regulus' pale lips. "And they're still wondering why you were put in Slytherin" he murmured in a weak, airy voice.