The Girl From Hufflepuff

Chapter 22

Florence trudged along almost caring James weight. He was walking beside her but not quick enough, if they wanted to make it out of the forest without another guest coming their way they would have to hurry. The sun was starting to rise which meant all day creatures would be waking up soon and Florence hoped they would be far away before that time.
James walked silently and it scared Florence. Unnoticeable, she would glance in his direction. Silent tears slid down his face but his face itself showed no emotion. It looked void, dead almost and it made Florence try to move quicker. "James, we're almost there and you can rest, ok? But I need you to move a little quicker, please?" Florence pleaded.
He simply nodded and walked a little faster but not enough. The sunlight was shining brighter and brighter in the cracks of trees and Florence tried to pick up the pace. Finally she saw a light and an end to trees she patted James chest and pointed, "Look, we're almost there. Come on, James!"
The light grew brighter Florence as saw the castle, hogwarts castle and smiled. For the first time she truly smiled from the sight. She urged James on until they broke out of the forest. James fell to the ground and Florence stumbled on her own feet. She looked up and saw professor Mgonagall walking towards them, her expression of happiness turned somber as Florence watched teddy and the rest of the group walk out of the forest.
Lily immediately went to James who was sprawled our in the grass. "Are you good?"
He didn't respond and Lily looked up in panic. Victoire simply looked at her, "leave him alone, he's just asleep. He's drained, emotionally and physically." Lily stood up and walked over to Florence. They placed their arms around each other and looked at Mgonagall for guidance.
Mgonagall struggled to find words, "um, I guess, I guess bring him to the infirmary. All of you come to the infirmary." Florence looked down at James.
"What abo-" Florence started.
Mgonagall murmured a spell and James rose in the air and floated towards the school. "It's time to worry about yourself now." She told Florence. "Now come everyone."
The group walked into the castle in silence until something hit Florence, "how did you know we were coming?"
"Your mother told us before she went to the ministry with the death eaters." Mgonagall looked back at the young girl, her face looked so tired. Her eyes silken and dark bags hung under them but she still had the strength to help Lily walk. "But you don't need to worry about that right now. You just need to rest."
"No, I'm really okay." Florence said as they entered the infirmary. Seeing all the cots made her realize how tired she really was. "Maybe I will actually. But only a few hours."
She helped Lily over to a bed and and fell into one herself. Victoire came over and pulled the sheet over her. Florence watched as Teddy laid Bradie down on a bed and Casey was already out in another one. She tried to keep her eyes open as she watched James float down into a bed and a sheet rise over him. Victoire places a hand on her forehead and pushed her hair away from her face. "Seriously, get some sleep. I promise to wake you up in two hours. Okay?"
That was all Florence needed to hear to drift off into sleep. It didn't last for very long though. Florence didn't know how long she had been out before she woke to mumbled whispering. Peeking her eyes open, she realized there was a white sheet blocking her bed off from the rest. Learning this she opened her eyes fully and tried to listen to the conversation happening outside the curtains.
      She realized one voice was Mgonagall, " A lot has happened to him."
      "How long has he been sleeping?" A deeper voice ask, Florence could tell it was a man and it wasn't Teddy.
      "Since they came out of the forbidden forest, he collapsed as soon as they made it out." Mgonagall responded.
     A woman spoke next, she sounded as if she had been crying. "How did he make it out of the forest though?"
     "Florence," Mgonagall hesitated after the people had no response, "his girlfriend. They were originally just going to save her mother but teddy went missing the day before. So they set out for both of them. She's a good kid, they both are."
     "Wait," the woman asked, pausing. "Harry I've heard that name before." It was then Florence realized these were James parents, Harry and Ginny.
     Then another voice entered the conversation and walked towards the couple. "Well obviously you'd remember my daughter name. I'd be sad if you didn't." Florence mother hugged the two.
     "It's your daughter? Oh, I knew the name was familiar. It's so good to see you." Ginny said.
     "Yeah," Florence mother said. "I'm sorry about all this. I didn't know she would come after me and bring friends along to help. I also didn't know they were dating until they found me, they actually remind me of the two of you."
     "Well, where is this daughter of yours?" Harry cut in.
     There was a pause and Florence panicked, she quickly shut her eyes and calmed herself down. Her mother spoke again, "Minerva?"
      "Right here." Florence heard the sheet being pulled back and stilled herself. "Try to be quiet, she's supposed to be sleeping."
      Florence was screaming in her head, she was so scared they would realize she was awake and be mad that she ease dropped on the conversation.
     "She looks like-" Harry started.
    "I know." Her mother interrupted. "She acts like him too."
     "Mom, dad?" Florence sighed in relief as lily spoke up from her bed. "Is that you, I'm still half asleep so?"
     The adults attention turned to Lily who Florence could hear shifting in her bed. Thinking she was out of the spotlight, Florence calmed and squirmed around until she felt a touch on her cheek. Her mother lay a gentle kiss on her cheek, making Florence tense and she whispered, "relax, they're gone. And they like you."
      Florence smiled a little and whispered back, "love you mom." Before her mother moved away to see how Ginny was.