A Memory Of Shadows

16 - The Princess And The Jester

The pain seeped through the unconsciousness like water through a wet cloth. Like steel had been woven into her core, unyielding like her wand, pinning her down. She moved to curl up into a ball and an instant stabbing pain bolted from her right shoulder through her stomach. "She wakes up" The groan she could not hold back was met with the weight of hands pushing her down. Her mind tried to keep up. To remember and put the pieces together. Pieces that could tell her where she was. "No, Verin, don't move. Shh, hold still. You'll tear the wound again." Words directed to her, she knew, but it meant nothing to her. Someone took her hand, squeezing it tightly. A distinct smell of bleach came off the linen, mixing itself with an odd scent of herbs and a perfume she knew.

Another hand left her other, one she had not noticed before and she heard a chair scrape over what seemed to be a stone floor. There was a commotion in the background, shouts and curses fading in and out. "Can't they give her something against the pain? Where is anyone? Hello? Are you sitting down sipping pumpkin juice latte again? Useless lot of weirdos. What do they pay you for? I thought you were a healer, not a barista." "Calm down, Mr.Malfoy. I know you are concerned but there is no need to verbally attack the staff." "What else do you expect me to do, sit around idly like everyone else? I'd offer to get you some beverages to relax a little on your super hard shift, but it seems like everyone here is just served fine while your patients suffer." "MR. MALFOY!" Verin smiled a little, despite the pain. And then, darkness came back. Peaceful darkness.

*~ *~*~*

"THE WIZARDING DAWN ATTACKS AGAIN"

"THE WIZARDING DAWN: BLESSING OR CURSE"

"WHAT REALLY HAPPENED AT THE MALFOY OFFICES"

"Two weeks have passed since a group of rogue witches and wizards have attacked the large office complex hosting the Malfoy family's business offices. The attack, that left seven witches and wizards mildly, and one witch severely injured, has since been a hot topic in the British Wizarding Community. While this group, calling themselves The Wizarding Dawn, has been known to track down former criminals, it was the first time innocent people have been trapped in the crossfire. Many have seen this group as a blessing following widely spread concerns about the Ministry's supposedly slack sentencing and monitoring, especially former Death Eaters. This attack, however, instilled fear within the general public. "I though it was them. Death Eaters," one of the victims, who wishes to remain anonymous, told the Daily Prophet. "But then I saw them. The Malfoys. Fighting them. The young Mr. Malfoy himself deflected a curse directed towards me." As people ran screaming, he and his father were seen to be trapped, but they told people to get out and not help. "It was a nightmare," another wizard reconstructs the happenings, "I remember ashes and rubble everywhere. There must have been a dozen attackers. I thought, this was it. This was my time to die." The horrors of the night have shaken the victims in a fashion the editorial staff has no words to describe. To the victims, it was as if the war had not come to an end. It will take months to renovate the building, but the fear of the employees will remain for much longer. As everyone is healing and trying to return to their everyday lives, the Daily Prophet is looking to the Ministry of Magic for answers. "I currently cannot disclose too much information in this ongoing investigation, " Head Auror Robards tells the Daily Prophet, "But the hard work of our task force is already paying off and we are hoping to share some results soon." The task force of the Auror office is led by none other than war hero Harry Potter, who has been seen fighting at the scene of attack. According to an undisclosed source, the task force, running under the name Dawn Breaker, has already captured several suspects. But that is not all. The Daily Prophet has been informed that the witch who was severely injured was none other than Miss Verin Yaxley. Daughter of the infamous Death Eater Corban Yaxley and a Death Eater herself, Miss Yaxley has recently been released from Azkaban (The Daily Prophet reported). The convicted criminal has been seen appearing on the scene alongside Auror Potter, first helping others escape before joining the fight against the attackers herself. "At first she looked terrified, but she was so calm as she helped me climb down the stairs and told me I would be fine, that I was safe," reports an eyewitness. Upon inquiries of the editorial staff, both the Auror office and Miss Yaxley deny any comment on her involvement. While all other victims could be discharged from St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries within the day, Miss Yaxley is still being treated on the Janus Thickey Ward."