chosen - harry potter

Chapter 10 - Christmas at Grimmauld

𖡼.𖤣𖥧𖡼.𖤣𖥧

"Miss Bright."

Her eyes shot open. Professor McGonagall crouched near her bed, worry lacing her features.

"Professor?"

"Arthur Weasley has been attacked. I'm to take you and Will to St. Mungo's. Your parents are waiting for you there."

"What?" Cassia blinked. 

"Pack your things and I'll send your trunk to Grimmauld Place. I'll be waiting outside."

Professor McGonagall left the room, her robes billowing behind her. Cassia rubbed her eyes and peeled herself from her bed. She tossed everything she could into her trunk, pulling a sweater over her head and putting her hair up sloppily. She stepped outside, seeing Professor McGonagall waiting on her.

"Why is my trunk going to Grimmauld?" Cassia asked sleepily.

"They want everyone staying close," McGonagall said. She flicked her wand at Cassia's trunk and it disappeared. 

Cassia followed her down the stairs and out of the common room, where Will was waiting near the portrait. His hair was messy, and he looked deeply worried. Professor McGonagall led them to Professor Dumbledore's office and shut the door.

"Good morning," Dumbledore said calmly, his half-moon glasses glittering at them. "Arthur Weasley was attacked at the Ministry of Magic, and your parents, along with the rest of the Order, are all at St. Mungo's already. Normally, they don't let anyone enter magically, but they're making an exception for the two of you. Here is your portkey. I'm assuming both of you have used one before?"

He pointed at a black kettle sitting on his desk. Cassia and Will nodded and each put a hand on the kettle, looking at each other nervously.

"Alright," Dumbledore said. "Three...two...one-"

Cassia felt a great pull in her stomach, the ground below her disappearing at once. Wind rushed around her, spinning quickly around until she hit a cold floor with a thud. She landed painfully on her knees, feeling the freezing tile floor of St. Mungo's waiting room. Will reached his hand out and pulled her up. They saw their parents stand from seats in the waiting room and walk up to them quickly. Their mother wrapped them in a hug wordlessly.

"I'm glad you two are alright," she said, pulling away. Cassia noticed both of them had dark circles around their eyes. "We're staying at Grimmauld Place for the holidays. I'm sure Minerva told you."

"She did," Cassia nodded. "Can we see Arthur?"

Her mother shook her head. "It's just the family allowed in right now. He's going to be just fine. He was attacked by a snake."

"A snake?" Cassia said, her eyebrows knitting together.

"We're not quite sure how it got in," her father said nervously. "Harry saw a vision and...it was just in time. He's likely the reason Arthur's still alive at all."

"Is Harry here?" 

"He is," her mother said, nodding down the hallway. "Go see your friends, they should be out by now."

Cassia walked down the hallway to see all of the Weasley kids and Harry standing outside one of the hospital rooms. She approached them quickly.

She went to speak but cut herself off, seeing that Harry, Fred, and George were listening in with an Extendable Ear. Fred passed her one as she approached, pressing a finger to his lips to tell her to be quiet. She pressed it into her ear. At first she heard nothing, but then she heard Tonks, whispering.