Loneliness in Difference

Chapter 8: Desperate Times Call for Separate Measures

Adelaide was running. How long had she been running for? She couldn't remember. She felt like she shouldn't stop running, but why? What was she running from or towards? Why was she running again? She had a goal, she knew, but what was her goal? Was she just trying to hide? Was she trying to find someone? Where was she running to? How long had she been running for? Wait she had already asked that. Why couldn't she remember anything...?

~

Adelaide shot straight up in bed. Sweat was dripping down her back. She looked around to find herself in the hospital wing. What had happened? Why was she here? Suddenly her memories came flooding back to her. The other Slytherins! She remembered the professors of Hogwarts coming into her dormitory and them telling her what happened, but she didn't remember anything after that. Had she blacked out? That was the most logical explanation.

Adelaide climbed out of bed, grabbed the invisibility cloak that was sitting next to her, and went over to the door. There was no point in staying here. She needed to figure out exactly what was going on and how she could help, because she felt like this was somehow her fault. She couldn't piece together how that many people could be paralyzed in a matter of hours, but whatever happened happened and she needed to figure out a way to reverse it.

Adelaide ran through the castle. No one was in sight. The school was on lockdown after all, and after last night all classes had most likely been canceled. Adelaide headed to the great hall where every teacher she knew of was standing around dozens of people lying on the floor. Adelaide snuck in, as quietly as she could, and hid underneath one of the house tables.

She looked around the room again. There seemed to be hundreds of mats, and bedsheets were draped over every one. There were so many. Adelaide's felt like vomiting. All these people could die by the end of the day if she didn't do something.

"What is the total count?" Headmistress McGonagall asked.

"Two hundred and thirty-seven students," Professor Longbottom answered. "It seems some of the Slytherins were able to escape this fate, the other two Fions included. However we are unsure as to where they are hiding. Nitesh and Dax Fions are probably hiding themselves and the remaining Slytherins somewhere safe until the coast seems clear."

Adelaide took a deep breath. Not everyone had fallen victim. A daub of relief flowed through Adelaide.

"We need to question each student and try to find out any information we can." Headmistress McGonagall said. "We'll start with Hufflepuff then Ravenclaw, and finally Gryffindor. Let's move out."

The professor's turned around and headed towards the door. Headmistress McGonagall turned and looked directly at Adelaide as they past her. Adelaide held her breath. The Headmistress winked at her and kept walking.

Adelaide's eyes widened. Gryffindor was last on the list meaning she could get to Luke before the professors made it to his dorm. Adelaide sprinted out of the great hall after the professors were out of sight, and to a secret passageway. She took a left which lead her out of that passageway and she quickly went into the closest next one.

She emerged in the Gryffindor common room after traveling through several passageways. The Gryffindors were gathered in a circle in the center of the room. She scanned the crowd and found Luke in an instant. Unfortunately he was on the other side of the room. Sure she had an invisibility cloak, but what good was it if she bumped into everyone.

Adelaide pulled up the hood anyway and went to the edge of the room. She edged her way towards him slowly, but surely. She was almost there, she could almost reach him. Her fingers wrapped around his sleeve and she tugged. Luke's eyes narrowed as he looked in her direction quizzically. After a few seconds his eyes widened as he realized what was going on. He opened his arms and Adelaide shoved the other sweatshirt into them. Luke quickly put it on and pulled up the hood.