Immortal Magic (Book 1)

Chapter Forty-Four

Allison's Point of View.

I sat cross-legged on one of the hospital beds while Harry occupied the bed opposite mine. Throughout the entire feast, he had kept me distracted, talking about anything and everything so my mind would not wander back to the scent of blood.

"Harry, you really didn't have to stay," I tell him quietly. He looks up from where he had been absentmindedly tracing the stitching on the blanket. A small smile appears on his face.

"Allison, I wanted to stay," he says simply. "Ron and Hermione can explain everything we missed later." I smile faintly and lower my gaze.

Before I could respond, the doors to the Hospital Wing suddenly burst open with a loud bang. I flinch violently at the sharp sound, my body tensing immediately.

"Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, you cannot just storm in," Madam Pomfrey cuts herself off as Hermione and Ron appear behind her, while Professor McGonagall pauses near the doorway, taking in the sight of Harry already sitting beside me.

Her lips twitch slightly, though she quickly schools her expression. "Madam Pomfrey," I speak up softly before she could usher them back out, "they're okay. Being around them actually helps."

The matron looks at me carefully. "I'm used to their scents," I explain quietly. Pomfrey hesitates before finally stepping aside.

Ron and Hermione enter much more slowly than they normally would, clearly cautious after everything that had happened over the last week. They sit beside Harry on the bed opposite mine.

I send them a grateful smile. It disappears seconds later. Madam Pomfrey suddenly moved quickly toward me, likely trying to examine me properly now that everyone had settled.

My body reacts before my mind does. I jerk backwards sharply every time she reaches for me.

"Allison," She reaches again. I flinch harder. "Madam Pomfrey," Harry says carefully, his voice tense, "you're overwhelming her." Hermione nods immediately.

"She's been reacting like this all week." The matron frowns. "I am only trying to help her." 

"And we know that," Ron says quickly, "but sudden movement makes things worse." McGonagall folds her arms. "Miss Granger mentioned a theory," she says calmly. "One we will discuss once Professor Dumbledore arrives."

Hermione nods. Meanwhile, Harry's eyes never leave Madam Pomfrey. "When people move too fast around her," he explains quietly, "everything gets heightened."

Only then does Pomfrey properly notice how rigid I am. Slowly, she takes several steps back. The tension immediately eases from my shoulders.

"Thank you," I whisper. Silence settles over the room for several minutes. Then suddenly, voices. Familiar ones. I sit upright instantly. Before the doors had even fully opened, I was already moving.

"Dad!" I reach Carlisle far quicker than I intended and practically throw myself into his arms. His arms immediately wrap around me. "Allison," he says softly, concern filling his voice. "Are you alright?"

"I don't know," I admit honestly. The moment I pull away from him, I turn and hug Jasper next. He wraps an arm around my shoulders protectively before guiding me back toward the bed.

Carlisle exchanges a look with Dumbledore while McGonagall steps forward. "Well," she says firmly, "I think now would be a wonderful time for explanations."

I glance nervously between everyone before finally taking a breath. "It started during Defence Against the Dark Arts," I begin quietly. "The lesson where Professor Moody used the Imperius Curse on all of us."