Endless Sacrifice

Chapter 5

I heard loud commotion before Oliver and I even reached the top of the stairs. I listened especially diligently and could clearly hear Eliza's cries radiating through the front door. My heart stopped, I immediately thought the worst. I let go of Oliver's hand and sprinted up the last few stairs and burst through the door.

Iris's exposed body fell to the floor, a loud thud shook the floorboards. Oliver slapped his hands over his eyes as a piercing shriek erupted from Iris's mouth as she desperately searched for something to cover her body with. Bradley's eyes were wide and his cheeks were burning red, his bare legs began to shake as I slammed the door behind us. Oliver's touch reassured me of my sanity, I took a deep breath and swallowed the harsh words that I was about to scream at them. Oliver let go of my arm when he was positive I was calm and kept his head down as he walked to our bedroom to tend to Eliza.

"You better give us a minute Bradley, now." I growled firmly.

Bradley quickly gathered his clothes and sped to Iris's room without uttering a word. Iris sat up from the floor and quickly began pulling on her clothes, her body quivered as she tried to avoid my glare. Her hands were trembling as we sat on the couch together, she was mortified. I remained silent for a few moments as I gathered my thoughts, I knew if I spoke now I would say things I would regret later.

"If you are going to yell at me or hex me, just do it already. I'm sorry okay? I'm really, really sorry. Mel?"

"I'm, I'm not going to yell at you Iris." I attempted to say evenly.

Iris's shoulders relaxed immediately and she smiled nervously, she had thought I looked insane. Her smile vanished when she realized that my face was still rigid.

"Alright, I lied. What the hell were you thinking Iris? Just how long has Eliza been screaming? How irresponsible could you possibly be? What you do with Bradley is your business but when it involves my daughter, and your niece, you have to be more careful!" I yelled loudly.

"Nothing happened Mel, she is perfectly fine. There's been absolutely zero issues here since you left."

"That may be so Iris, but do you realize what bringing Bradley here could have done? What if someone followed him Iris? Our protective charms on this apartment can only be useful if you don't allow people through them! What if the wrong people find out where we live? Don't you understand why I have been keeping Eliza hidden? If the wrong people were to--"

"I'm sorry!" Iris blurted, interrupting my rant. "It'll never happen again. Pardon me for wanting time to myself."

Empathy for my hurting sister quickly came over me as I gazed at Iris's upsetting face. I hugged her tightly. I knew I had been too harsh with her.

"Forgive me Iris. I have been so consumed by my own worries lately that I've forgotten about all the sacrifices you have also made. It's completely reasonable for you to want time with your boyfriend that you are always apart from. You know I love you and appreciate everything you have done for me right? You've been beyond helpful and--"

"I know sis, I know. You've only thanked me a few dozen times. I should have just told you that I needed some space, I'm sorry."

I nodded to my unbelievable sister and kissed her head. Our reconciliation was interrupted when Oliver came rushing into the living room, a panicked expression on his face. I jumped up from the couch immediately.

"I--I--don't know--what's wrong--she was fine--and then--and now--she's--"

I sprinted past Oliver towards our bedroom before he could even finish his sentence. I ran to Eliza's crib and held her in my arms. Her fragile body was icy cold but her cheeks were glowing red. I could feel how much pain she was in, my innocent baby girl was slipping away from me in my arms. Her heartbeats became weaker and slow, tears poured from my eyes as I tried to figure out what to do. Oliver and Iris stood in the doorway, their eyes full of tears and their minds completely blank. A thought finally sparked in my mind and I apparated out of my apartment holding Eliza close to my chest. Her cries became softer, almost ceasing completely, she didn't have the strength to even cry.

I sprinted through the hospital doors and screamed incoherently for help. A nurse quickly came to my aid and took Eliza from my arms, she stared at my tear stained face while asking me what happened to my daughter. I couldn't conceive proper words, my mind was completely void of all other thoughts than Eliza. I needed her to be okay again. I had never been so petrified in my life. Before I could even answer the nurse, Oliver was behind me attempting to explain what happened, but we truly weren't certain. I sank to my knees as tears kept pouring from my eyes, my heart pounded painfully against my chest, I feared it would stop dead. Oliver pulled me away from the center of the emergency room and sat me in a chair, he was struggling with calming me down when he felt terrified himself.

The time passed painstakingly slowly, I couldn't think of anything other than Eliza. I wished I could see her and hold her in my arms again, I feared I would never have that chance. I wished I had the knowledge to heal her myself but I had no inkling of how to help her. Oliver mindlessly stroked my back, occasionally kissing my head, his mind was spinning like mine. He felt guilty, afraid that he had done something to make her so sick so quickly and severely. I looked into Oliver's eyes, completely focusing on him for that moment and shook my head violently at his thoughts. I kissed both of his hands and hoped he was assured that he had done nothing wrong.

Iris stood far away from us, she couldn't stand to watch us. Silent tears of worry rolled down her cheeks. She couldn't muster the courage to say a single word to me, she felt beyond responsible for what happened to Eliza but couldn't comprehend how it happened. I immediately looked away from Iris when a nurse called mine and Oliver's name. I stood up and stared at her, a pleading and crazed look in my eyes. I could sense the remorse radiating from her body and my heart sank into my stomach, I clutched my chest tightly.

"We've sedated her Mr. and Mrs. Wood, we've made her as comfortable as we possibly can but I'm afraid there is nothing more we can do. All of our preliminary tests came back normal, she doesn't have any wounds or internal bleeding, she doesn't even have a fever. Our doctors are completely perplexed. We--"

"You--you don't know--what's wrong with my baby? What the hell kind of hospital is this?" I squealed through my tears.

"I am so sorry, I wish there was more that we could do. You may see her soon. I am so very sorry." The nurse whispered.

The nurse departed from us and Oliver squeezed my hands, he leaned his head against mine feeling completely defeated. An unexpected feeling of clarity came through his mind, I stared at him confusedly, I could see the hope glimmering in his eyes.

"Madame Pomfrey." He whispered.

I stared at Oliver completely confused, I couldn't process anything.

"If these muggle doctors are perplexed by Eliza's condition than that must mean this isn't some traditional ailment. We need to get Madame Pomfrey here immediately."

My heart finally began beating regularly again as I thought of Madame Pomfrey, she could heal anything. I had witnessed her incredible brilliance first hand, if there was something that could be done to heal Eliza, she could do it. We had to try.

"I'll go. I'll go to Hogwarts and bring her here."

Oliver shook his head rapidly. "It's too dangerous. Hogwarts is crawling with Death Eaters, you'll be captured if they see you. I'll go." Oliver insisted.

As much as I wanted to demand to go myself, I knew that would be unwise. Oliver was right, if anyone other than someone I trusted were to see me at Hogwarts than I would certainly be in jeopardy, my whole family would be. I couldn't risk our safety for that. I nodded to Oliver and touched his cheek, there was no more time to waste, he had to go now.

Oliver rushed out of the emergency room to find somewhere he could apparate without being seen. He was only gone for a few brief moments but it was unbearable to have to wait for them. I hadn't even considered what could happen to him if he were seen also. Tears welled in my eyes when I saw Madame Pomfrey and Oliver rushing into the emergency room. She hugged me quickly before speeding towards the hospital staff, I knew she needed to see Eliza as soon as possible. She ignored their suspicious stares and began talking fiercely with them about Eliza. They advanced out of the waiting area and out of my sight, I couldn't gather enough focus to listen to their thoughts. Oliver wrapped his arms around me and I began sobbing into his chest, I desperately prayed that Madame Pomfrey could heal my daughter. I couldn't bear to lose her, I could never ever surmount that kind of loss.