Searing pain tore through Maria's head as she slowly regained consciousness. Her eyes blinked open only to shut tight again by the bright lights filling her vision. A soft groan escaped Maria's lips as she struggled to remember what had happened.

"Maria!" A voice exclaimed happily as Maria blinked heavily, her vision going in and out of focus as she struggled to grab her bearings. She rolled her head sideways to catch a glimpse at the person at her bedside who wore a relieved smile on their face.

"Fred?" Maria questioned as she squinted her eyes at the redhead, still slightly dazed from being unconscious. 

"Unfortunately not," George laughed as Maria furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, obviously still out of it. "I made the boys take a break ages ago, they refused to leave your side."

"What happened?" Maria questioned as she shifted into a sitting position. "How long was I out?"

"Maria!" A voice interrupted before George could get another word out.

Maria barely glimpsed the familiar black curls of her twin before she was engulfed in a hug tight enough to cut off her circulation.

"Perseus," Maria wheezed. "Can't. Breathe."

"Right, sorry," Perseus quickly released his twin, giving her more room to breathe and gain a full view of him.  "I'm just glad you're alright."

"What happened?" Maria asked as she thought back to the Quidditch game where the Dememters attacked.

"We're not exactly sure," Perseus replied honestly. "One minute you were freaking out and speaking Latin, the next you were passed out in my arms. You've been here for a week."

"A week?" Maria exclaimed in disbelief as she began freaking out.

"Hey, it's alright," Perseus reached out and grabbed Maria's hand to calm her racing thoughts. "Dumbledore thinks that your powers just had a bad reaction to the Dememters."

Perseus waited a few moments, giving Maria's hand a reassuring squeeze to help calm her. When he figured she was better, he pushed for more answers for what happened that day.

"Do you remember anything?" Perseus questioned lightly, afraid of pushing Maria too far over the edge too fast. "Did you see any visions or have any idea what you said in Latin? Fred and I were barely able to make out a few words before you passed out."

"No," Maria shook her head as she mulled over the incident in her head. "I don't know Latin, I never have."

"That's what I thought," Perseus muttered in defeat, wondering what they were going to do from there."

"Where's Fred?" Maria questioned as she glanced between George and Perseus.

"Last I saw, he was in the Great Hall," Perseus replied. "We've only left your side to eat."

"I can go get him if you'd like," George offered as he stood onto his feet.

"Can you both?" Maria's question caught the two off-guard and the Black girl quickly made an excuse. "I just want to be alone for a few minutes, to gather my thoughts."

Maria could sense the hesitation from Perseus, however, her lie was smooth enough that he nodded his head in understanding and took George to go grab Fred. She watched with cautious eyes as they left the Hospital Wing before she laid back in her bed and mulled over her thoughts.

"Only one can live," Maria muttered in confusion as she repeated the words in English. "What the bloody hell does that mean?"

Despite not knowing what it meant, the words brought dread and fear to Maria Black. After several more moments of pondering, Maria knew she needed to act fast as she had done something she hated doing. Maria Black had lied to Perseus. 

While Maria had never known Latin her entire life, she understood every word she uttered that night. The only thing she didn't understand was what it meant or the dangers it brought, but she knew there was one person who would. 

Only death would know the answers to her questions.

Maria slipped out of bed, sliding into her shoes before sneaking towards the doors of the Hospital Wing. She winced at the loud creaking noise of the door as she slipped out, escaping the place that had been her home for the past week. Maria only took one step when she bumped into someone else, causing her heart to drop in panic.

"Fred," Maria mentally kicked herself at forgetting the redhead was on his way as he stood before her with a confused and worried expression.

"Maria, what are you doing out of bed?" Fred questioned in concern at the Black twin who was trying to escape the Hospital Wing to do who knows what. 

"You need to come with me," Maria rushed as she grabbed Fred's arm and began dragging him away, figuring she could use his help with what she was planning to do. "We don't have much time."

Despite the warning bells in Fred's head telling him Maria was up to no good, he allowed the shorter girl to drag him away in hopes he could somehow prevent whatever mess was about to be created.