The Dark Side (A Harry Potter Fanfiction)

Chapter 18: Sectumsempra

           I was in Herbology and we were plucking the leaves from the Dittany plant again, they had grown since last class, but my mind was occupied by other things. Both Harry and Draco were absent. I had a knot in my stomach, I knew something had happened. Fifteen minutes late, Harry walked into the greenhouse, trying to look casual, but his eyes were terror-stricken. He was fidgeting a lot, and I could see Hermione and Ron asking him about it. The knot in my stomach grew. Ten minutes passed, and I thought everything was alright, Harry seemed fine now, but then I saw Madam Pomfrey cross the schoolyard, obviously coming to the greenhouse. She and Professor Sprout spoke in hushed tones, I couldn't make out what they were saying.
           "Miss Marlie?" I looked up. "Madam Pomfrey needs you in the Hospital Wing," the greenhouse went silent. I nodded and started getting my things. "You can get them later, it is urgent," somehow, the room got even quieter. I put my bag down and walked over to the greenhouse door with Madam Pomfrey. Saying she was a short woman, she walked remarkably fast. "Goodness! He won't even let me take a look at him! Could have him fixed up in minutes, but no!" the Matron was muttering to herself, but I asked about nothing. We walked into the building and through the maze of moving staircases to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey opened the door for me. I walked in, expecting the worst. At the end of the hall, I saw one of the beds was surrounded in a curtain. I raced towards it, trying to suppress the urge to rip the hanging aside.
          "Hello?"
          "Come around the right side," I was very surprised to hear Professor Snape's curt voice. I walked around the curtain and saw Snape hunched over the hospital bed. He stood up. Draco lay on the bed asleep. His middle was covered in crimson bandages. I covered my gaping mouth.
          "What....happened?" my voice was small. Snape took out his wand and soundproofed the curtain.
          "Potter decided to try out a new spell. It was much worse, but fortunately, I found him after he performed the curse. It'll take some time, but he will be fine," it sounded like he was going to add 'hopefully' to the end, but didn't. I sat down on the chair beside him. Draco was so pale I could see the veins beneath his skin.
          "I've never seen a spell that could do this before...."
          "You won't find it in any textbook. I created it," my jaw dropped again. "It is called Sectumsempra,"
          "How did Harry find it then?"
          "From my old potions book, I presume. I created the spell in Sixth-Year, and I suppose he came across the book with my notes," I remembered that his potions book did look different than the rest.
          "How did Slughorn not notice? To just leave it lying around...it's senseless!" I looked back at Draco. I could see his eyes moving around beneath his eyelids. "Is he unconscious?"
          "Yes. If he wasn't he'd be dead already. The curse tears the body apart. For obvious reasons, I would like him to stay this way for a while."
          "How do you even punish a student for this?"
          "His own guilt should suffice. He'll likely get rid of the book," I slid my hand under Draco's and held it. "I've excused you for the day, but you must stay here with him, and make certain he does not leave that bed, no matter the circumstances," I nodded and Snape walked out. I sat down beside him, my fingers intertwined with his pale, clammy hand. I heard Snape talk to Madam Pomfrey, and then the door closed. I noticed a bloody cloth on the nightstand.
          "Tergio," the cloth was instantly clean again. I wiped all the blood from his forehead and hair. I guess I could've used a spell, but there was something more comforting about the cloth. I think he would feel the same way if he was awake. I sighed and put the rag down. I heard the bell ring, and through the window, I could see a cluster of students walking to Hagrid's hut for class and then Neville running to catch up with them.
          It had started raining. I had been sitting by Draco for an hour and a half and he'd done nothing. Snape had returned and showed me how to reverse the curse. Ever so often I had to check if he was still breathing. Professor Sprout had been nice enough to bring me my bag, and I was reading about spells, trying to figure out how Snape had done it. And in Sixth-Year! The magic involved in that spell was astronomical. I was still holding Draco's hand, and I felt it move. I snapped the book shut and put it on the table. I could see the muscles in his face moving, then he opened his eyes. I heard his breath quicken. He sat upright, thinking he could get up. He cringed and fell back down again.
          "Alex? Where am I?" he weakly moved his head around, taking his surroundings in.
          "You're in the hospital wing. Stop moving! You've practically just been torn apart. Just lay still!" He stopped fidgeting. "After Harry attacked you, Snape found you and brought you here. You've been here for two hours," I looked at his chest. There were new bloodstains. I grabbed the wrappings and started taking his old ones off. I poured some of the potion Snape had brought onto a cloth and rubbed at all over his skin.
          "That stings!" he hissed.
           "You've just been through hell, so this is nothing," I took out my wand, recalling the steps Snape had shown me. "Now stay still, this will probably be uncomfortable," he looked at me in confusion. "Vulnera Sanentur," I ran my wand along the largest of the incisions, and slowly, blood was seeping back into the wound. "Vulnera Sanentur," I spoke again, Draco grimacing as his pale skin knitted back together. "Vulnera Sanentur," I spoke finally, and Draco exhaled as if he was relieved. I put my wand back in my pocket and wrapped him up again. I cleaned off my hands and sat back down. "How are you feeling?"
           "Well, it feels like my insides have been ripped out, and my head is throbbing."
          "Do you think you could eat or drink? That might help."
          "No, I'm just sore. Well, I suppose being sore doesn't even begin to explain it," we were silent for a while, and I saw his eyelids flutter like he was falling asleep. "Potter found out."
          "About what?" honestly, there were so many things we were hiding, it wasn't even funny.
          "Can you soundproof it?" I nodded, taking my wand from my robe pocket.
          "Insulato," a popping noise came from my wand, and we couldn't hear Madam Pomfrey working with the other patients. I saw his eyes cloud with fear.
          "The necklace. I don't know how he found out, but he did," he was ok with using the Vanishing Cabinet, but when he had to curse the necklace and then Kristen Bell, he could barely handle it.
          "He's been suspecting you since day one, Draco. Now that Voldemort is back, he thinks you are like some reincarnation of him," Madam Pomfrey popped her head in. As quick as lightning, I pulled Draco's left sleeve down.
          "Can I get you two anything?"
          "We're fine, thank you," she nodded.
          "That was close."
          "Yeah, that would have been a one-way ticket to Azkaban. Along with everyone else."
          "Imagine what your father would do!" I swallowed hard. "Oh, sorry," I smiled.
          "It's fine. I've got to get used to it anyway. We still have to go home for Christmas."
          "I'm going to have a nap. I am seriously tired," he moved around a little and closed his eyes. I opened up the spellbook again and started reading. The rain battered against the windows and I continued to read until I heard the door open. Footsteps sounded moving closer to the bed. I closed the book and waited for whoever it was to come.