Endless Sacrifice

Chapter 8

I could sense Eliza's anxiety the moment the elevator doors opened. I sped ahead of Oliver, Iris and the nurse towards where Eliza's thoughts were emanating from. Before I even reached the door her anxiety faded into tranquility, she knew I was near her. A proud smile formed on my lips when my suspicions about Eliza's telepathy were instantly confirmed, she could hear my thoughts, she could hear everyone's.

The excitement I felt for Eliza's telepathy was interrupted when I approached her crib. My heart plummeted into my stomach, even though I already knew she was healed now she still looked so helpless in the hospital's crib. I just wanted to take her home and away from this horrible nightmare. I carefully lifted her from the crib and held her tightly against my chest, tears welled in my eyes as she nuzzled against my neck. I was so thankful she was healed, these last several hours had been the most terrifying of my life. I heard a loud sigh coming from the entryway of her room, I turned to see Oliver clutching his chest trying to regain his composure. He had been so fearful of losing her too. Iris stood immobile behind Oliver, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes. The nurse cleared her throat and stepped between Iris and Oliver. I smiled feebly as she gently touched Eliza's back.

"You are cleared to take Elizabeth home now as she has passed all of supplementary tests. Your daughter is a survivor. But you must bring her back immediately if she has any issues in the upcoming days."

I nodded to the nurse, afraid to speak because I thought I would burst into joyous tears at any moment. The nurse patted Eliza's back once more before exiting the room. Oliver approached us and wrapped his arms tightly around us both. He kissed my forehead gently,his lips lingered against my head, he was so happy. Our rejoicing was fleeting when I remembered the horrible truth about Bradley that I still needed to tell Iris. I placed Eliza in Oliver's arms and waved Iris to sit beside me on the hospital bed. Iris watched me carefully as I mustered the courage to tell her, she was completely oblivious, this news would crush her.

"This is difficult to say Iris but it's about Bradley."

Iris concentrated on my eyes, she couldn't speak yet but nodded for me to continue.

"He was the one that did this to Eliza, he poisoned her."

Iris dropped my hand fiercely and stood up to storm out of the room, she didn't want to believe me. She was clearly angered by my accusation, she thought I was wrong.

"Think about it Iris, he was the only one outside the three of us that has been to our apartment and near Eliza. He--"

"I know you are desperate for answers Mel but you can't just accuse whomever you want. What about the party we had last Christmas? Dozens of our schoolmates came to the apartment, perhaps it was one of them?"

"I didn't even know I was pregnant at that time Iris, I didn't find out until after we returned to school. And only a very select few even know about her, no one would just randomly come to our apartment. Most of our schoolmates returned to Hogwarts and the ones that didn't are hiding somewhere, trying to dodge snatchers and Death Eaters. Believe me Iris, I don't want this to be true and I know it must be impossible to grasp. But Madame Pomfrey herself said Eliza was poisoned by an extremely rare and sinister poison, she almost died Iris. Who would do such a thing to an infant?"

"Maybe it was Draco." Iris sneered bitterly.

"We have hardly set foot out of the apartment Iris, you don't even have to step outside the door of our building to get to your job. And the one time Oliver and I do leave, and Bradley comes over, this is what happens. I am sorry Iris but it's the truth."

"I've never seen a Dark Mark."

I could easily hear the alarm in Iris's tone, she was desperate to clear Bradley's name but she was quickly realizing that he must be guilty, the evidence was compiled against him. She didn't want to believe this. They had been dating for a year now, she loved him.