The Dragon's Treasure

Beltane

Ginny slinked into Holly's room around noon the morning after Yule. Her hair was up in a messy bun, and her eyes were bloodshot.

"Well hello there sunshine," Holly mocked from her bed.

When she woke up, she had tried to leave her bed, but Mipsy had pushed her back down and informed her she would be having breakfast in bed. She didn't dare challenge the bossy little house elf.

Draco, Blaise, and Theo were sitting in her bed with her. It was technically improper, but Lady Malfoy allowed it as long as Mipsy and Dobby were in the room to keep watch of them.

Theo and Blaise had shown up a few hours ago with fresh French coffee and croissants. The Zabini house elf had heard Holly was ill. She took it upon herself to pop to Paris to fetch treats for her. She had then shoved it unceremoniously at Blaise and told him to take it to his friend post haste. She would have to write Lottie a thank you note. She was a very sweet house elf.

Ginny climbed onto the bed and grabbed a croissant. Mipsy made her a weak coffee with lots of milk, and brought it to her.

"Thank you," she told the small house elf gratefully. She closed her eyes and sipped from it deeply.

"Blaise and Theo were just telling me how Neville danced you into a frenzy all night."

"Did not," Ginny denied, though her blush betrayed her. She shrugged, "Okay, maybe he did."

"Young love is so precious," Blaise crooned. Holly hit him with a pillow, and Blaise collapsed

backwards dramatically in feigned faint.

"I'm only a year younger than you!" Ginny whined. Blaise ignored her, and pushed himself back up to an upright position.

"Aren't you supposed to be resting Holly? I wonder if Healer Tonks would consider beating one of your best friends up resting. Maybe I should just write to him and..."

"Don't you dare!" she snarled. Blaise laughed joyously. He loved to rile people up.

"Shut it Blaise," Draco interrupted. Holly was barely putting up with the bedrest now. If it got

extended she was likely to be unbearable. He was certain she was only staying in bed out of fear of Mipsy's wrath. She was forceful for such a small creature.

"So...you and Neville?"

Ginny shrugged. She wasn't quite sure what to say. She liked him, how could she not? He was brave, and kind, and rather chivalrous. It would be hard not to like him.

"He's coming over later today to talk. He was going to visit his parents this morning."

"How are they?" Holly asked. She was particularly interested in their case, and hoped to be able to salvage something of a relationship with her Godmother once she had recovered.

"Not well. Apparently they keep magically inducing sleep. They haven't been making sense when they wake up. The healer's say they should get better soon, but they just have to wait.

Holly sent a quick prayer to Mother Magic that she would have mercy on her Godmother.

Lady Longbottom sat up in bed suddenly. She looked around, but she didn't recognize the room she was in. Her husband Lord Longbottom laid in the bed next to her.

She looked around again and realized they must be in St. Mungo's. She could see the back of Auror robes through the glass pane in the door's window. Someone was standing guard outside their room. She looked for her wand, but didn't find it. She felt weak and her limbs ached as if she had been in a fight.