Chapter 50
Chapter 50
Ginny is in the library surrounded by piles of parchment and stacks of books. Draco arrives as Ginny has her head on the table.
‘Hey Red, everything alright?’
He hears her groans of frustration and looks closer at the parchments.
‘Is this about your O.W.L.S.?’
Without lifting her head she nods.
‘Would you like some help?’
Slowly she raises her head and looks hopefully into his eyes.
‘I'll take that as a yes. Let's see what you have so I know where to start.’
She nods as he begins to scan the pages.
‘Do you have a study schedule?’
‘Yes, Lyra helped me create one.’
‘Ok, let me see it.’
Draco looks over the page and begins adding notes to it.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I'm adding specific books for the topics you are studying and I'm also marking times I can be here to help you if you want.’ He looks up from the parchment and sees a smile on her face.
‘That's awesome. I have been trying not to ask Lyra because I know she has been going through alot.’
‘That doesn't mean that she is the only one you can go to for help. She isn't your only friend who studies is she?’ He asks.
‘I guess not. Thank you.’ Ginny leans her head on Draco’s shoulder while he continues adding notes to her study schedule.
*.*
‘Lyra I have been thinking about alot lately and I remember you said to just tell the girl my feelings and see what she has to say and you are right I’m going to tell her.’
Lyra looks over at Blaise and smiles sadly.
‘That's great. I'm glad you are going to tell her. I hope it goes well. I will see you later.’
‘Why? I’m trying to talk to you.’
‘And you did. Find her, tell her. I need to check on a potion I have been brewing.’
‘I guess we can talk later then.’ He says sadly.
She turns the corner and sees her cousin down the hall.
‘Hey, Dray.’ she says sadly.
‘Are you ok?’
‘Yea I was just talking with Blaise about the girl he likes.’
‘He told you? What did you say?’
‘I didn’t say anything.’ She says confused.
‘So you don't like him back?’ Draco asks slowly.
‘What do you mean? He said he was going to talk to the girl he likes.’
‘What happened then?’
‘I told him I needed to check on a potion.’
‘So he was trying to talk to you but now you are here with me.’
‘Yes.’
‘I understand. Come with me.’
‘Where?’
‘Nope. No questions.’
He grabs her arm and pulls her in the direction she came from before. Not a minute later they return to where Blaise is still standing head against the wall in nearly the exact place Lyra left him.
‘Hey, Blaise.’
‘Not now, Dray.’ Blaise snaps, not even bothering to lift his head.
Lyra begins to speak but Draco covers her mouth with his hand quickly.
‘Did you tell her?’
‘How can I? Everytime I bring it up she rushes off.’
‘Any idea why?’ Lyra struggles against her cousin’s hold but he holds her easily.
‘What did you say? Did you tell her directly?’
‘You think I can just walk up to her and say “Lyra I like you will you go to Hogsmeade with me?”’
‘I mean she is a Gryffindor. I think that might be the best option.’
Lyra is frozen in place at Blaise’ sad words. Draco finally lets her go before walking closer to his friend. He leans against the wall next to Blaise while staring at Lyra. Blaise still has his head on the wall and eyes closed.
‘I wonder what lyra would say if you just ask her that.’ Draco says with a raised brow.
‘As if I will ever know she is always running off. I bet she isn’t in the middle of brewing a potion.’
‘Well, Blaise. You may be right she didn't look too much in a rush when I saw her across the corridor a little bit ago.’
‘Uugh, I wish I could just ask her.’
Finally finding her voice Lyra steps closer and says. ‘How sweet of you, Blaise, I would love to go on a date with you in Hogsmeade. Thank you for asking.’
While she is speaking Draco slips away and heads down the hallway. Blaise spins in place.
‘How long-’
’Draco brought me when I ran into him down the hall.’
‘You were there the whole time?’ he sputtered.
‘Well, I was sad because I thought you liked someone else.’
‘I like you Lyra.’
‘I like you too.’
The couple walks down the hallway side by side occasionally bumping shoulders as they walk.
*.*
Andromeda Tonks arrives at St. Mungos through the floo and immediately begins her search. Through the halls she walks seeking her friend Healer Jayna.
'I’m glad I found you. I need a consultation and I can't go to anyone else.'
'What do you mean?'
'Please can we have tea in your office?'
'Follow me. How many patients are we discussing?'
'Currently about 3 but that may change.'
They entered her office and she warded the door.
'Silencing too please.'
With a raised brow the healer did as requested.
'Alright start from the beginning.'
'How long can a wizard be kept transfigured into an object? What damages would be caused if the transfiguration were not ended?'
Shaking her head she says, 'this isn't hypothetical is it?'
'I wish it were.'
'Do you know how long the transfiguration lasted?'
'Before I answer I need to know your answers.'
'An hour in class? not a concern. A week or a month? Begins the potential for psycosis. This is a similar process to an inmate in muggle jail placed in solitary confinement,
but in that situation they would still be able to move around.'
'As an object would the damage not be worse?'
'Yes. I would say after a year, I would doubt the sanity of the person.'
Andy shakes her head.
'Longer? How long? Is the patient still alive?'
'Yes they are still alive. The transfiguation of the ones we have freed has lasted between 25 and 30 years. Who knows what timeline we would be looking at for the others.'
'OH my. How are their cores? Are they able to communicate?'
'Their cores are too weak to be transported magically. There is minimal communication. One or two word sentences, if that. Mostly just facial expressions.'
'That is remarkable. Can I meet them? I need to examine them to determine the extent of the trauma.'
'I will see what I can do. The families are trying to keep things private and asked me to be their healer.'
'I understand. Make sure you test thier cores regularly.'
'Pepper up potions won't be effective if they are that weak. Have you given them the core strengthener and mega nutrients?'
'Yes and when they improve they will be transitioning to the combined rejuvenation that we normally give someone being released from azkaban.'
'Good. Let me know how I can help.'
'For my next question, what is the safest way to break the transfiguration?'
'How was it broken already?'
With a pointed look Andy says 'Please.'
'Alright. The best way is for the original caster to undo the spell.'
'And if that is not an option?'
'Do you know a good curse breaker?'
'Why?'
'you need this undone carefully to be sure there is no additional damage done.'
'So, say the method previously used, was that it was dropped and brok-'
'You did not?' She gasps.
'It was not intentional.'
'And they are still alive?'
'Yes.'
'I need to examine them immediately. their cores may be torn or worse.'
'That's not possible.'
'None of this conversation has been possible. Contact them immediately or these patients may die. You can floo wherever you need from here.'
With a nod Andy stood hurriedly and crossed the room.
'Malfoy Manor.' She calls while throwing the floo powder.
*.*
'Alright everything is set up. Come through.'
'Where am I going?'
'The home of Lord Black to start.'
The healer entered the floo and followed Andy toward the patient. As she enters the room she stops dead.
'Thats… thats Reg-'
'Yes, this is Regulus Black. Please examine him.'
She gathers herself and begins the diagnostics before listing the potions needed.
'Take me to the other patients. If they are in a similar state I can prevent further issues.'
Moments later they floo to Malfoy Manor. She repeats the spells and gasps.
'Their cores are fully entwined.'
'What does that mean?'
'I'm guessing they always had a twin bond but now they are tied irrevocably. I doubt they will be able to live in separate rooms let alone separate homes.'
'Why?'
'This is a more tangible bond than a simple soul bond. Think of it like a rubber band.'
*.*