New Beginnings

Chapter 25: Visitors

Dumbledore walked into the infirmary to see Draco asleep on one bed, Sarah slee on on another and Snape by her side. Dumbledore knew what had happened between them, how could he not? He knew how bad what they had done was but he chose to ignore it like a couple or other things he had done, just that none of them involved a student. With out Snape they wouldn't have anyone giving them information about Voldemort. He trusted Snape and knew that he wouldn't do anything with out anothers concent. Over in the far corner he saw a bed with a curtain drawn around it.

“Severus.” Dumbledore walked up to Snape.

“Yes Albus.” Snape looked up at him.

“Who is that?” Dumbledore asked pointing over to the curtain drawn bed.

“That is the dead Matthew.” Snape replied.

“Why was I not informed of him?” Dumbledore asked angrily.

“I am sorry Albus, It must have just slipped past me.”

“Very well. How is she?” Dumbledore asked with soft eyes.

“No one really knows, she’s barely alive by the sounds of what they are saying.” Snape nodded over to the few healers crowded around at a table.

“Oh.” Dumbledore’s face fell, his stomach dropped. “This is not good. Have you told her parents?”

“No not yet, I fear their reactions.” Snape looked away from Dumbledore and over to Draco. Draco sat there staring at them.

“So do I but they must know.”

“I shall inform them later.”

“Good,” Dumbledore stood up.

“Where are you going?” Snape asked.

“I must have a word to Mr. Malfoy about what had happened. It is very important that I do know everything.” Dumbledore replied.

“Oh yes.” Snape nodded. Dumbledore walked away from Sarah and over to Draco. “No, Mr. Malfoy.” Dumbledore pulled up a chair. “Do tell me how all of this started.” Draco took in a deep breath.

“Well, it was around 8 30 last night when I went out side to get Sarah..." Draco explained what had happened last evening from start to finish.


“Yod nod not tell me how Mr. Pannet died.”

“Um, well I was holding out the knife after got it and he ran at me and impaled himself on it.” Draco motioned something going in to his left chest.

“Thank you Draco.” Dumbledore stroked his beard.

“Am I in trouble?” Draco asked.

“No, what you did was a mere show of self defense. That is no cause for big problems.” Dumbledore shook his head.

“Good.” Draco ran his hand through his hair. “Will Sarah be ok?”

“I do not know. She should be,” Dumbledore stood up. “Why don’t you go and talk to her. Professor Snape has left.”

“Ok.” Draco slowly hopped out of his bed and limped over to Sarah’s bed. He looked at her sleeping peacefully when there was a loud boom from the entrance of the infirmary. Dumbledore and Draco turned to see who it was. There stood Lucius, tall and angry. He rushed towards Dumbledore.

“How could you let this happen Albus!” Lucius snarled. “You are no good to be a headmaster! You have let gone to many fatalities! You are inconsiderate, un caring and as foolish as an ogre.” Lucius looked over to his son. Dumbledore did not show any anger or hurt.

“I assure you Lucius that you may do what ever you like to rid me of being headmaster, I must say that I do need the rest.” Dumbledore replied calmly.

“Do not patronize me Albus!” Lucius spat.

“I am not trying to Lucius, I assure you that I am only stating the facts.” Dumbledore replied with the twinkle in his eye that he would get when he was game. Draco ignored his father, knowing that his caring was fake, he wanted Dumbledore out of Hogwarts and he’d do anything to get him out.

“Hmm, yes.” Lucius flicked his nose at the old man that stood in front of him. “I shall talk to the board about your carelessness Albus. This is defiantly a reason to strip you from being headmaster here and Hogwarts.”

“Very well Lucius. I can not wait till I hear the news of the decisions the board make.” Dumbledore walked a little bit towards the infirmary doors. “I shall see you later, I must be going.” Dumbledore turned around and walked off.

******

Snape stood outside waiting for the hoarse drawn carriage to pull up. He was not looking forward to seeing the people that have to come out of it. He slightly paced along the path. He looked in the distance and saw a black carriage coming closer towards the castle. He stopped walking and stood up straight.

The black carriage pulled up in front of him. Snape stood there and watched as the coach man walked over to the carriage door and opened it. A tall handsome man with short dark hair, in a fine black robe stepped out of the carriage, looking angry. Next a woman with curly light brown hair in a dark purple robe and extremely stunning stepped out looking red eyed and sniffing.

“Severus how is my daughter?” Talia asked with a broken tone.

“I do not know Talia.” Snape shook his head. Talia burst out in to tears.

“How could you let this happen Severus?! I had told you to watch her! Now that she is know as a Slytherin.” Thomas was outraged.

“Thomas you must know that your daughter is 16 and I am not able to follow her around where ever she goes.” Snape retorted. “It would be highly suspicious.”

“Still Severus this is horrible. My daughter is between facing her life again knowing what horrible things have happened to her or facing death.” Thomas took his wife’s hand in to his.

“Maybe you would like it if I took you to her?” Snape suggested.

“Please do.” Talia wiped her eyes. Snape led Sarah’s parents through the hallways and up to the infirmary. Talia gazed over to the bed that she knew her daughter was in and saw Draco, then saw her daughter laying there in white bed sheets. “Oh Sarah!” Talia ran over to the side of the bed and grabbed her daughters hand. Draco looked up looking a little startled. Thomas walked over to Draco.

“How are you Draco?” Thomas asked.

“Um, I’m fine sir.” Draco mumbled dully.

“That is good and do call me Thomas.” Thomas said calmly, trying not to burst out all the feelings he had inside of him.

“Ok.” Draco nodded. Thomas walked over to his wife and looked down at his daughter. She looked so peaceful, but yet looked as though she was in so much pain. Talia stood there gripping on to her daughter’s hand for dear life, tears running down her cheek.

“Thomas what will we do if she leaves us?” Talia asked through her sob’s.

“She is a strong girl Talia, nothing will take her down.” Thomas assured.

“Yes.” Talia sniffed. “You are right. Maybe I can heal her?”

“No, I do not think there is anything you can do to help her Talia.” Thomas shook his head sadly. Draco and Snape looked at the couple oddly.

“Please just let me try.” Talia pleaded.

“Very well.”

“Thank you.” Talia placed her hand on top of Sarah’s left chest. She closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. A surge rushed through her body. Nothing happened. Talia looked over to her husband. “It isn’t working.” Talia was distraught.

“Don’t worry Talia.” Thomas pulled her in to his arms. “As time passes she will get better.”

“I can not see her like this Thomas, I do not want to see he like this.” Talia whispered.

“We may go home if you wish.”

“I do not know. What if she wakes up?” Talia looked up at her husband.

“We shall be called here immediately.” Thomas looked at Snape. “Isn’t that right Severus?”

“Yes Thomas.” Snape nodded.

“Ok, but I want to stay a little longer. Just spend a little more time with her.” Talia turned back to her daughter.

“Indeed.” Thomas agreed. “Severus, Draco do you mind if Talia and I have some time alone with Sarah?”

“No.” Snape and Draco said at the same time.

“Go ahead.” Severus pulled the curtain around the bed. Draco walked over to his bed and lay down again. He pulled his bed sheets over his head and closed his eyes. He was feeling horrible, this was probably the worst thing that has happened to him, other then having his father as his father.

*****

Draco sat on the edge of his bed watching as the aurors took Matthew out on a stretcher. Sarah’s parents were still sitting with her. Draco had just gone through an intense questioning session with the minister of magic, Dumbledore and a couple of aurors.

“Well thank you for cooperating with us Mr. Malfoy.” Fudge said.

“It’s ok.” Draco murmured. He was un happy and couldn’t stand being here.

“Bye, bye now.” Fudge turned around and walked over to Sarah’s bed. Dumbledore still stood with him. Draco watched as the curtains around Sarah’s bed opened and Fudge gave Sarah’s parents an apology. Then Sarah’s parents walked out. Dumbledore looked over at them with a strange look.

“Thomas.” Dumbledore called as he walked towards them. Talia looked slightly mortified.

“I’ll be outside.” Talia turned around and walked off.

“Sorry about her Albus.” Thomas frowned. “She is as you may expect extreemly upset.”

“I do understand Thomas.” Dumbledore sighed. “I am truly sorry about what has happened.”

“I must understand that it is no one’s fault for what has happened but that boy, Matthew’s and my name.” Thomas said calmly. “Talia and I are going home, we shall be back. If she wakes up when we are not here you must alert us immediately.”

“Yes of course Thomas.” Dumbledore nodded. “Do say hello to Talia for me. I did not get the chance.” Dumbledore looked upset.

“I will Albus. I best be off.” Thomas turned around and walked off. Dumbledore watched the man walk off with a frown.

“May I ask professor, why do you look so sad?” Draco asked.

“Oh.” Dumbledore turned to Draco. “That does not matter. You rest up Draco, I shall be back.” Dumbledore left the infirmary hastily. Draco got out of his bed once again and walked over to Sarah’s bed, he grabbed a chair and sat down.

“I know you’re not going to die,” Draco said. “It’s not you. I know you and to die isn’t you.” There was no sound no nothing from Sarah. Draco heard some footsteps, he turned around to see the threesome that he had loathed since the day he met them.

“Um, hi.” Hermione waved.

“Yeah, hi.” Draco replied.

“We’ll leave you if you want?” Hermione said, Ron and Harry finding it a bit hard to talk normally with Draco.

“No, it’s ok,” Draco shook his head. “You guys haven’t seen her as much as I have.”

“Thanks.” Hermione walked closer to Sarah.

“Is it boring in here?” Ron asked dumbly.

“What do you think Weasley? You’ve been in here before.” Draco retorted nastily.

“There is no need to be nasty Malfoy.” Harry spat. “In case you have forgotten we are by Sarah’s bed side. I do not think she’d wish to hear us quarrel.”

“For once Potter I must admit that you are right.” Draco leaned back in the chair. Hermione picked up a card that was beside Sarah’s bed.

“She has lots of cards.” Hermione opened the card and read that it was from Carmen.

“Well she’s got lots of friends.” Draco muttered.

“She would.” Ron frowned. “Has anything happened since we left here?”

“My father came in, then Sarah’s parents came in and left about 10 minutes ago, I was questioned by the minister and Matthew was taken away.” Draco answered.

“Quite eventful.” Harry mused.

“Hmm, yes.” Draco rested his chin on his hand. A healer came out of the office and walked up to the group.

“Would you all mind stepping away for a moment? I need to check her.” The healer said.

“Oh not at all.” Hermione stepped back. “Come on Draco.” Hermione motioned for him to get up. Draco stood up and walked away. The healer pulled around the curtains. Draco looked at Hermione.

“I don’t know how you could keep Sarah’s secret an actual secret. This wouldn’t have happened if someone knew.” Draco ran a hand through his hair.

“She told me not to.” Hermione stated.

“What secret?” Harry and Ron asked.

“Nothing,” Hermione shook her head to dismiss it.

“No it’s not nothing. Granger over here was told a secret from Sarah about Matthew… hurting her before.” Draco spat. Harry and Ron looked confused.

“How bad did he hurt her?” Harry asked.

“He cut her cheek, wrists, breast pretty bad.” Hermione looked down.

“How could you not tell anyone about that?” Ron asked angrily.

“Dumbledore and Snape already knew about it they just didn’t know who did it to her.”

“But I didn’t see any scars on her.” Draco whispered.

“Yeah, I can’t really explain why there wasn’t any scaring. She said it disappeared over night.”

“That must have been the day when I couldn’t find her anywhere and she didn’t come back all night.” Draco shook a finger as he thought.

“That’s not the point,” Harry snapped. “Mione you know that sometimes you can’t keep a secret. This secret should have been told. Maybe Malfoy’s right. If you told someone this wouldn’t have happened.”

“I’M SORRY OK?” Hermione shouted. “I was only trying to do right by Sarah.”

“Yeah, and the right wasn’t good enough!” Draco shouted back.

“Ok, calm down now.” Ron interrupted. The curtains around Sarah’s bed opened up and the healer walked out cheerfully.

“So?” Draco asked.

“Sarah seems to be healing very well. She should be fine.” The healer said with an air of happiness.

“Oh good.” Harry sighed.

“You all may see her again.” The healer motioned over to Sarah.

“Yeah thanks.” Draco walked back over to the chair. Ron, Harry and Hermione followed.