Magic? || Years 5-7

A One-Sided Duel: Year 5

"Professor Lupin!" Amisty breathed a sigh of relief.

"How lovely for you to join us, Remus Lupin," Malfoy whispered with mock enthusiasm.

"Step. Away," Lupin repeated firmly.

"No," Malfoy replied, his voice getting frantic. "She's going to get my son killed, and I cannot let that happen -- "

"Stupefy!"

Lucius Malfoy fell to the ground limp, his wand rolling out of his hand, just as Amisty's blood ran cold.

"Incarcerous," Lupin murmured, stepping closer and watching as the bonds tied themselves around Malfoy's wrists and ankles, tying up his limp form. "Amisty, what spell have you just performed in this room?"

"Healing Bond," Amisty whispered, thankful that he kept his distance.

"With whom?" Lupin's voice was shockingly calm in response.

"Me," Ron giggled weakly from the floor, waving. "I feel much better now, other than my head."

"I can't fix the mental bit," Amisty explained softly, crawling up from the floor and hugging her knees to her chest. "That -- "

"Takes time, yes," Lupin nodded. "We need to get you all to Hogwarts."

"Can I..." Amisty cleared her throat and looked away as Lupin picked up a part of a shattered desk from the floor. "Can I stay behind for a moment?"

Lupin looked over at her, his gaze gentle, "Of course."

She watched silently as he turned the splintered wood into a Portkey.

"All right," He levitated the wood over to where Ginny was lying. "Amisty, could you help Ron?"

"Yeah," Amisty nodded shakily, offering her hands to Ron and helping him to his feet and over to the Portkey while Lupin helped Luna and dragged Malfoy's limp body closer.

"Tell Madame Pomfrey I'll be there in a moment," Amisty smiled weakly, settling back down on the floor.

"Take care, Amisty," Professor Lupin gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Thank you, sir."

The Portkey glowed, and Amisty was alone.

She closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around her knees and sitting in the silence of the room. Her chin trembled and she took a deep breath, resting her forehead on her knees and fighting back tears.

"Okay, Amisty," She murmured to herself, listening to her voice in the vastness of the room. "You are going to get up and you are going to get back to the castle and Heal your friends and then... and then -- "

She closed her eyes, wiping the tears from her cheeks and staring up at the ceiling, "And then you're going to find Draco and you're going to e-end this before... before he gets hurt."

There was a soft tap as Professor Lupin returned, "Are you ready to leave, Amisty?"

"Yes, sir," Amisty replied quietly, taking his extended hand and letting him pull her to her feet. "I'm sorry."

"Madame Pomfrey is rather upset with you," Professor Lupin replied casually as he picked up another chunk of the table. "And if I were less concerned about your own mental state at the moment, I'd also be very angry with your choice of spells."

"I know, sir," She whispered. "I didn't know what else to do, he was dying and I just -- "

"You did what you thought was best," Lupin cut her off gently, "and it's not my job to be angry with you after this ordeal. You saved his life, Amisty, even if you did it foolishly."