Wolf-Blood (Harry Potter Fan-Fic) Sequel

16

Leaning back she heaved a long sigh, doubling over resting her hands on her knees, panting heavily. Her entire body ached and the adrenaline rush she had trying to keep herself alive and conscious drained from her body and exhaustion over took her. She fell, without grace, and landed on her knees before face-planting near the entrance to the Great Hall. Her knees crunched, forehead stung and her ragged breaths slowly began to lull her to a state of unconscious.

The scent of dirt, grime and blood however, brought her back to a kneeling position. Looking down her side, the site of her raw arm didn't even phase her. Instead she was focused on the man she kicked unconscious beside her. She'd have to carry him back into the Great Hall, and that probably would have been much easier were he able to walk there himself. While she could have levitated him there she doubted she could even muster the power to do so, let alone the strength to carry him, and so she sat there revelling in the pain she had neglected for so long.

She only managed to roll him over and scoop her arms under his, dragging his legs along her path to the Great Hall. This only caused her more pain, and it seemed that perhaps that was all she was good for. A punching bag for life. Footsteps sounded and soon, around the corner Neville Longbottom appeared. Without a word he had taken the liberty of carrying George from her, she remained by his side and followed him in silence.

"Is he?"

She merely shook her head in reply.

"Does he need-" And again she shook her head. "Are you okay?"

This time she paused, both mentally and physically. Was she okay? Physically, that was a hundred percent no, but mentally? If her mind was as broken as her bones then there'd be no way she'd still be stubborn enough to be walking, in fact it was this recklessness that was going to make it much harder for her to recover. Neville had stopped, waiting for her reply, it was evident he was concerned. After mere moments she shook and nod her head simultaneously. However, this only looked like she was moving her head in circles, but Neville understood what she was trying to convey.

"Do you need healing?" Why was he asking her, there was no doubt he could see her mangled body. She couldn't walk straight and every time she took her step her ankles crunched unpleasantly, with enough volume to be heard from  a mile away. Blood was pooling slowly from her forehead, lips and there was a sickly warm trickle running down her back.

Once more she shook her head, and as though fuelled by some other force she continued forward. Why was the Great Hall so faraway? She hadn't been too far from it when she kicked George in the face. Looking up she saw it was just a few metres ahead of her, it was her slow pace that made it feel like forever.

"Scarlet, you know you can't help anyone in this condition." Neville spoke from behind her, she didn't look at him and merely dropped her head.

Her shoulders bounced and her eyes stung, fresh water clearing away the grime on her cheeks, she turned to face him. He had stopped and put George down, in fact he was a lot closer to her than she had thought.

Looking at him square in the eye, a look of determination she replied. "I know, but I can try."

He paused to give her a weak smile before placing his hand on her shoulder.

"That's what we're worried about."

***

"Perhaps, if we ask around..." Percy sputtered, earning himself some strange looks but more importantly shocked faces.

Scarlet had just explained the only possible way they could save Fred, she emphasised that whoever was to switch places with him had to agree to it. At once Arthur and Molly had volunteered, but Scarlet had instantly shut them down, stating that she already fought George for wanting to swap and that even though she was in pain she'd fight against any other Weasley who suggested themselves for Fred to replace.