Complete and Utter Poppycock

Chapter 20: The Wandmaker

Chapter 20: The Wandmaker

I woke up feeling horrible, feeling heavy and fragile as if a large weight fell on me, not to mention the pain from being tormented over and over again by Bellatrix Lestrange. I was in a room in a small, quilted bed. I didn't know where I was or what I was doing here. I sat up quickly which was a terrible mistake as I was seething with pain all over.

"Lie back down, you're still gravely injured," I heard Bill Weasley whisper to me. I looked up to see him tower over me, helping me lie back down carefully on the twin sized bed.

"Where — are we at the Burrow? Is Fred here?" I asked quickly.

"No, I'm sorry. We're at my cottage," said Bill who had an apologetic look.

"You need to stay in bed to lie down and heal," said Bill, helping me relax in the small bed. "Can I ask where you were?" I nodded my head.

"Malfoy Manor, a couple of Snatchers caught us, Ron warned us the name was Taboo, but it was an accident," I said, answering his question. "I can't tell you what we were doing. Dumbledore's orders, or something like that."

"And so what happened to you?" asked Bill, turning toward a bucket of water that had turned pink from my blood and a wet rag inside. He took it and squeezed out the water, placing it on my arm. I winced and flinched away from the sudden sting.

"I'm so sorry, I've should've warned —"

"It's okay," I said, "I should be used to it. . . I was tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange. I found out she killed my mum as well. . . just like everyone else. My brother. . ."

"Your brother was a brave man," said Bill, trying to keep my spirits high, but he was obviously upset about his death just as I was. "He will be dearly  missed. . ."

Bill cleaned up my arm, finally getting rid of all the dried up blood on the scar that was beginning to form. I was able to walk again, but I was still hurting badly as I could barely keep myself steady on my feet. There were bruises and cuts that scarred up my body as it was not a pretty sight. I used the quit that Fleur let me borrow to cover them up so nobody would see them.

I was seated in the living room, painfully sitting down where Luna was, looking ill and small. Once her curious eyes met mine, she brightened instantly.

"Aquila, are you getting well?" Luna asked me, turning to me as I sat down next to her on the sofa.

"I'll be alright," I tried to sound convincing, even though I knew she would see right through me. She knew it once it was said, but didn't question me.

"Dobby is dead," said Luna gravely, "right as Harry turned up with everyone else, Dobby was killed by Bellatrix."

I didn't know what to say. I didn't exactly know the elf very well. He mostly admired Harry the most and stuck by him, so I never really paid much attention. Nonetheless, I felt sad upon the news knowing Harry lost another good friend.

"Harry's preparing a burial the Muggle way," said Luna, "it's quite interesting. He's working so hard. Dobby would be very pleased."

"I'm sure he would," I agreed, but didn't say anything else.

I fell rather silent through the burial ceremony where they held the funeral. We all stood around the place where Dobby was buried in the ground. It was dark and very late, and I desperately wanted to go back to bed for how exhausted I was. However, I remained where I stood to support Harry through this hard time.

"I think we ought to say something," piped up Luna. "I'll go first, shall I?"

Everybody looked at her expectingly.