The Challenge

Chapter 54

When the potion was done, I poured some into a very small jar and dispose the rest. The plan is to put some of the potion into Val's drink during dinner. Andrew starts to have second thoughts, but Kaitlin and Fred calmed him down. I hope I perfected this potion. I will never forgive myself if something goes wrong.
I go down to the Slytherin table with Andrew and we sit with Val. Thankfully Tom wasn't there. Val looks at Andrew and smiles a little. "Hey."
Andrew smiles back, "hey."
I look behind Val and frown. Val's eyes falls on me and a frown appears on her face. "What is it?" She asks as she turns around. I quickly pour the potion into her goblet before she turns back to me.
I shake my head, "nothing. I just thought I saw something."
She nods slowly. "Okay.." She starts to eat her food.
I look at Andrew and he looks back at me. I can see fear in his eyes and I send him a small smile. Please Merlin make this work! I pick up my spoon and scoop a little bit of mashed potato into my mouth. Drink your drink!
Val looks at Andrew, "are you mad at me or something?"
"What?" Andrew questions, "why would I be mad at you?"
"I don't know. You've just been avoiding me." Val says, "are you mad at Fred?"
Andrew frowns, "no I'm not mad at Fred."
"Then why do you yell at him every time you see him?" Val asks as she lifts up her goblet. My grip on my spoon tighten as I watch her bring the goblet to her mouth.
"I didn't yell at Fred." Andrew says, his voice is unsteady. Val drinks from her goblet and gently puts it back down. I bite my lip as I wait for something to happen.
"What do you mean?" She questions. Did it work immediately or does it take time? I don't remember what the book said! "It was pretty.. Clear..." She starts to talk slowly. "That you.. That you were yelling... At him."
"Are you okay?" Andrew questions in worry.
"I- I can't see." Val says in a panic. "I can't see."
"Shit." I breathe out. "Val, calm down."
"Why can't I see." She panics, "what's happening? I can't move my hands."
Andrew shoots up, climbs on top of the table to the other side. "Mister Grimes!" McGonagall exclaims, "what on Earth are you doing!"
"Taking my sister to the hospital wing!" Andrew snaps. He picks Val up bridal style and hurries out of the Great Hall.
Tears begin to form in my eyes. I quickly stand up and run after Andrew. This isn't happening. This can not happen. Valerie's okay. She's okay. She's going to be okay.
Pomfrey tells Andrew to lay Val down on a bed. Valerie is quiet, she doesn't move or talk. Andrew holds her hand as Pomfrey tends to her. I feel like crying and screaming. Fred, Roxanne, and Kaitlin runs over. Fred flips out and starts crying. Roxanne pulls Fred to the bed next to Val's and tries to comfort him. What did I do? I did everything right! I followed the instructions perfectly!
I'm pulled from my thoughts when Andrew grabs the helm of my shirt and shoved me against a wall. "What the hell did you do?!" He yells angrily.
"Mister Grimes!" Pomfrey exclaims.
"Nothing!" I exclaim as tears fall from my eyes. "I did everything I was supposed to do! I don't know what's going on!"
"Well obviously you did something wrong!" Andrew growls. "Look at her!"
"Mister Grimes! If you do not let Miss Malfoy go, I will have to ask you to leave." Pomfrey says sternly. Andrew glares at me and lets go. He walks back to Valerie. I fall to my knees and sob.
"Sapphire." I feel a hand on my back.
I push them away. "Don't touch me."
"It's going to be okay." It was Kaitlin.
"Piss off," I mutter.
"Sapphire, what did you do?" Fred questions.
"Nothing!" I exclaim for the second time. "I don't know what's happening! It should have worked!" I stand up and look at Valerie.
Madam Pomfrey looks at me, "what did you give her?"
"Remember the last time I came here, I asked if there was a potion that can fix a charm?"
She nods slowly, "I've ever seen the potion take action. Can you fetch Professor Slughorn and Professor Mcgonagall?"
I nod, "okay." I walk out of the Hospital Wing and go to the Great Hall. If something really bad happens to Val... Everyone will hate me. I go into the Great Hall and walk up to the staff table. I can feel everyone's eyes on me. "Professor McGonagall, Professor Slughorn, Madam Pomfrey needs you two."
The two Professors follow me out of the Great Hall and to the hospital wing. "Sapphire!" I hear someone call out. I look back to see James and Albus. They catch up to me. "What's going on?"
I bite the inside of my cheek. "Just follow us." We go into the Hospital wing and the Professors rush to Pomfrey's side. Pomfrey talks to them in hushed voices.
"Sapphire, what's going on?" Albus asks me.
"She poisoned my sister that's what's going on!" Andrew exclaims.
"I did not poison her!" I yell at him.
"Andrew. Stop." Roxanne says sternly.
I look at James and Albus. "You know how Tom charmed Val right?" They nod, "I found a potion that's supposed to reverse the charm. I brewed the potion and gave it to her during dinner. It should have worked. I followed each step carefully."
"Then why is she here?" Albus asks.
"I don't know." I sigh in frustration. "I don't know what's going on!"
"It'll be okay." James says to me. "I'm sure it'll be okay."
I shake my head. "I shouldn't have made that potion."
Slughorns speaks up, "as this is a very rare and complex potion. I have never seen anyone take it before. Sapphire, are you positive that you've brewed this potion correctly?"
I nod, "I'm completely positive. I was very careful and precise."
"Well, then all we can do is wait." He says.
"Is there anything you can do?" Kaitlin asks.
"I'm afraid not," Slughorn sighs. "Only time will tell."
"I need some air." I mutter and walk out of the Hospital wing. I walk to the Blake Lake and lean against a tree. I run my hands through my hair. I screwed up big time.
"Are you okay?" I hear a voice.
I look up to see James. "What do you think?" I question. "I put my friend into the hospital wing by giving her some potion no one has heard of. This is all my fault!"
"You were just trying to help," James says.
"Every time I try to do something I always manage to find a way to screw things up." I sit down on the ground and hold my head between my hands. "Why is it that break everything I touch?"
James sits down next to me. "You don't break everything you touch."
"Yes I do!" I look up at James. "Look at what happened to Valerie. Look at what happened with Scorpius and I. Between my parents snd I. Between Tom and I. I'm eighteen. Pregnant. No family. Everyone probably hates me now because of what I did to Valerie."
"Nobody hates you, Sapphire." James places his hand on my knee. "What happened between you and your parents and with Tom was not your fault. What happened between you and Scorpius wasn't your fault either. The same goes for Valerie. All you did was what you thought was best."
"It obviously wasn't good enough." I say in frustration. "I'm trying. I really am. I try so hard to do what I think is best and what other people think I should do, but I always find a way to screw up."
"You know, you don't always have to do things for others. Sometimes you just have to worry about yourself and let other people deal with their own problems."
"But I care about other people more than I care about myself." I tell him.
"Exactly my point." James says, "I know what Tom did to Valerie was screwed up and all. But ultimately, you have to focus on yourself from time to time. You have to take your own feelings into account. It's okay to be selfish from time to time."
I look at him, "I'll start worrying about myself once Valerie gets better."
James sighs, "okay." He knows not to argue with me.
We sit in silence for a few minutes until I speak up. "I think..." I trail off. "I think I love you, James."
James looks at me and studies my face. "Are you sure? I mean I'm so happy that you said that. I'm screaming on the inside like a little girl, but I don't want you saying that while you're under a lot of stress. I don't want the situation around us force you to say that."
"I love you, James." I say in confidence. "I think I have for a while, but now that I've said it out loud. I know for certain that I do love you. You've helped me through a lot and for some reason I always feel so comfortable whenever I'm with you. You loved me when I couldn't love myself."