New Beginnings

Chapter 26: Mark of Love

Draco stood by Sarah’s bed. It was the first day that he had gone back to class and school was going to finish in two days time. He only hoped that Sarah would wake up before then. He stood there looking down at her.

“Class was boring as normal.” Draco whispered to her. “Snape is angry. Everyone is kinda angry actually. Well not everyone just the people who know you.” Draco knew that Sarah wouldn’t reply to anything that he was saying. He just stood up and thought of things to say. He heard a little rustling noise from Sarah. He looked over her wondering where the noise was coming from.

Draco watched as Sarah’s right hand stirred. His mouth opened to say something but nothing came out. Her hand rose and moved towards Draco. Draco stared at her in awe, she was still sleeping only her hand moved. Her hand rested on his left shoulder. “Sa…Sarah?” Draco finally mumbled. Sarah didn’t reply. Her hand stayed os shs shoulder. Draco began to feel a burning sensation appear in his shoulder. Sarah’s grip tightened. “Sarah let go.” Draco tried to push her hand away but it was to hard.

A bright white light exploded around them. The pain Draco felt in his shoulder intensified. He wasn’t able to see. The pain got worse and worse and worse. It felt as though something was being burned into his flesh. Suddenly the pain got to its maximum and Draco’s mouth shot open and a loud scrof pof pain escaped. Draco could hear another scream over his, it was Sarah’s.

All of a sudden the screams stopped and the light disappeared. Draco felt dizzy and light headed. He looked at Sarah. Her mouth was open and her arm lay limp hanging over the bed. “Sarah?” Draco ignored the pain in his shoulder. “Sarah!” Draco thought that this was it. That this was the end of the girl he loved.

A rush of footsteps came towards him. Draco looked at the people and saw the healers. They pushed him away from Sarah as they checked her. Madam Pomfrey came out and took Draco aside.

“What happened dear boy?” Madam Pomfrey asked.

“I, I don’t know. She moved her hand and then there was this burning pain in my shoulder.” Draco pulled aside his jumper and shirt to look at the burning area. Right there was a bright red heart shaped burn mark. Madam Pomfrey ogled at the mark.

“The mark of love.” Madam Pomfrey whispered to herself.

“She is fine.” One of the healers confirmed as he walked towards Draco and Madam Pomfrey. “She is the same as yesterday, maybe a little better.” The man looked at Draco’s exposed shoulder and gasped. “I have never ever seen the mark of love in my life.” The other two healers rushed over. Draco had no idea what they were on about. The healers began to mutter to each other. On healer strayed from the group and walked over to Sarah. The healer pulled aside Sarah’s gown and saw a bright red burn mark on her left shoulder.

“Miss Harrison has one too.” The healer exclaimed.

“This is truly extraordinary.” The male healer touched Draco’s burn. Draco flinched and jumped away.

“Don’t.” Draco pulled his shirt over his shoulder feeling a sting from the fabric of his shirt rubbing over his burn.

“Sorry Mr. Malfoy.” The healer apologised. “It is just extremely rare to see the mark of love. It is one of the most powerful love binding marks to ever be done. It has only been rdedrded to happen once.” Draco looked over at Sarah with a grin.

“She’s going to be ok.” Draco walked back towards her. “She’s been listening to me. She knows she’s going to be ok.” Draco picked up her hand and kissed it softly. Sarah’s eye’s fluttered open and looked at Draco.

“Draco?” Sarah moaned.

“Yeah, yeah it’s me.” Draco said excitedly. The healers stood by watching them as they talked.

“I shall get Professor Dumbledore.” Madam Pomfrey walked off.

“Draco?” Sarah cried, tears of happiness running down her cheeks.

“It’s ok.” Draco bent down and kissed Sarah’s forehead. “I knew you wouldn’t leave me.”

“I’d never leave you.” Sarah smiled. “I want to get out of here.”

“You’ll get out soon enough.” Draco whispered. Sarah lay there as one of the healers was checking over her.

“You may go later.” The healer announced looking a little perplexed.

“Thanks.” Sarah sighed. She hated being in the hospital beds. “How are you?”

“I’m fine.” Draco looked down at his leg. “I’ve been fine for ages.”

“Good. Where’s Matthew?”

“He’s gone now. He’ll never come back.” Draco assured.

“Even better.”

“Why didn’t you tell me what he did to you before?” Draco asked angrily.

“I didn’t want to have any problems. I just wanted to forget it, it didn’t really work though.” Sarah sighed.

“No it didn’t work. If you told someone then you wouldn’t be here you know.”

“I do know that.” Sarah watched as Dumbledore and Snape walked in to the infirmary followed by Madam Pomfrey. Sarah looked at Snape and winked at him. Snape kindly returned the wink with an air of relief flowing through his body. “How long have I been in here for?” Sarah asked.

“3 days.” Draco replied. “School is over in 2 more days.”

“Oh, well I guess that that is good.” Sarah looked at Dumbledore. “Hi professor.” Sarah smiled happily.

“Hello Sarah, it is extly gly good to see that you are well again.” Dumbledore held a frown on his face, but he felt happy. Sarah noticed the frown.

“Why are you glum professor?” Sarah asked softly. Draco and Snape looked at Dumbledore. Dumbledore’s facial expression changed immediately.

“Sarah I assure you that I am ecstatic to see that you are fine. Although I feel as though I have let you down.”

“Nonsense.” Sarah pushed herself up sp that she was sitting up. “There are things you can do and there are things that you can’t do. I’m fine and I don’t blame anyone but Matthew. So just forget everything please.” Dumbledore didn’t reply to her. Sarah looked at Snape. She didn’t say anything to him.

*****

Sarah’s parents walked through the halls of Hogwarts once again, escorted by Snape. Students roaming the halls watched as the walked past. Snape walked them up to the infirmary. Talia and Thomas looked around for their daughter.

Sarah looked up as she was sitting alone in her bed and saw her parents. A smile spread over Sarah’s face. Talia looked at her daughter and ran over to her.

“Oh Sarah!” Talia wrapped her arms around her daughter. Thomas walked over to Talia.

“Mother, to tight.” Sarah croaked. Talia released her daughter.

“Sorry sweetie.” Talia said through the tears of joy.

“It’s ok.”

“Sarah my love.” Thomas bent down and hugged his daughter. “I am so glad that you are alright.”

“So am I father.” Sarah smiled. Thomas kissed his daughters head and pulled away.

“How are you feeling?”

“I feel fine. A little tired and sore but I’m fine.”

“Good.” Talia put her hand on her daughters upper arm.

“Yeah.” Sarah looked over to Snape. Thomas walked away from his daughter and over to the black haired man. Sarah watched them talk as her mother talked to her.

“Do you want to continue going to Hogwarts next year?” Talia asked.

“Of course I do mother. I love it here.”

“Ok, what ever you like dear.” Talia patted Sarah’s arm. Sarah watched as he father talked to Snape wondering what they were talking about she began to feel slightly Ill. A new set of footsteps came into the infirmary. Sarah looked at who it was and saw Dumbledore. Sarah’s mother immediately stood up and drew the curtain around her bed.

“What was that for mother?” Sarah asked.

“Nothing dear.” Talia said quickly. Sarah eyed her mother curiously wondering what was going on with her. Sarah then heard irs irs of footsteps walk off. The curtains around her bed opened and in came Snape. “Oh Severus.”

“Yes?” Snape looked at the mother of the girl he had slept with.

“I shall be back in a little while. Do look after Sarah for me.” Talia walked over to the gap in the curtains.

“Alright.” Snape sat down next to Sarah’s bed. Talia quickly smiled and then walked off.

“She’s acting really weird.” Sarah muttered.

“She’s probably just overwhelmed.”

“Maybe.” Sarah sighed. “Tell me what were you and my father talking about?”

“You and watching over you, making sure nothing like this happens again.” Snape replied. “And a few other things.”

“So what… are you and my father friends or something?” Sarah looked angry that she hadn’t known.

“Yes.” Snape nodded.

“Why hadn’t you told me?”

“I did not think that I had to.”

“Anyway I just don’t want them finding out about us or me with anyone for that fact, ok?” Sarah was scared at the thought of anyone but Draco knowing that she had been with Snape.

“Just what I was going to say.” Snape smirked. “I do not think there will be a problem in doing so.”

“Professor?”

“Yes Sarah.”

“Can I have a hug?” Sarah put out her arms. Snape looked at her for a little bit then stood up and gave his student a hug. “Thanks for being here for me.” Sarah hugged him tight.

“You need to stop coming in here.”

“I know.” Sarah chuckled.