By the time Madam Pomfrey opened the door, there was a small crowd of people gathered outside the hospital wing. Apart from Dorcas and Cillian, there were Maeve, Mary's friends which included the four fifth year Gryffindor boys and Lily Evans, and Professor McGonagall. The matron only allowed the fifth years to enter, before she asked McGonagall if they could have a word.

When the professor disappeared into the hospital wing, Maeve opened her mouth, glancing nervously at the door every now and then. "She was coughing blood you said?"

Dorcas nodded. She kept twisting her fingers nervously, unable to keep the sight of blood pouring out of Mary's mouth out of her mind. "I think someone did something to her," she whispered. "It was so unnatural."

"Well maybe she just fell sick," Maeve tried to reassure her. "I've heard that people cough up blood when their throats get infected."

"Maeve, you don't understand," Dorcas cried, feeling tears welling up in her eyes. "It was different. She had blood gushing out of her mouth, like someone has turned on a valve. And she was having a seizure. It was horrible."

Maeve came forward and held her by the shoulders. "Dorcas, calm down. Okay, I believe you. It wasn't an infection. But why would anyone voluntarily do something like that to an innocent girl?"

Cillian spoke for the first time since they had arrived at the hospital wing with the distressed girl in their arms. "The same reason people are disappearing and dying everyday," he said with conviction. "Voldemort. She must have done something to anger the death eaters."

A heavy silence fell over them. Even fifteen year olds weren't safe from the cruel hands of death eaters now. The temperature around them seemed to have dropped suddenly and Dorcas shuddered.

She looked up at Cillian. "Wasn't she coming out of the dungeons when we saw her?" she asked in a whisper. He frowned, trying to remember.

"I can't be sure, but it was close to the dungeons, that I can say."

She leaned her head over Maeve's shoulder, craving warmth more than anything. "How can anyone be so cruel?" she whispered. "She was – she couldn't walk, and I'm pretty sure I saw blood seeping out of her sleeves. It must have been Dark Magic, no normal spell would be capable of doing such a thing."

"Shh, relax, Dorcas," Maeve comforted her, running her hand over her arm. "Don't worry about such things. When the hospital wing is empty, we can go in and see her."

As if on cue, the door opened and the five fifth year students walked out. Their faces were ashen, fearful, and they spoke in hushed voices. They glanced briefly at the three of them, before stepping towards them. It was Lily who spoke.

"You were the ones who brought her here?"

"These two did," answered Maeve. She gently nudged Dorcas, as she seemed quite reluctant to speak. Dorcas straightened herself and looked at them, feeling her heart shatter in her chest as she observed the terror plastered in their faces.

"Yes," was all she could say.

"Thank you," said Evans, grabbing her hands and squeezing them gratefully. "Thank you for getting her here."

"Don't worry about it." She managed a smile. "How is she doing?"

"Madam Pomfrey says she'll have to go to St. Mungo's. Her parents have been informed, but things are a bit complicated seeing as they are both muggles."

"Do you know anything about this?" she asked warily. "Who may have done this to her?"

"It was Mulciber," Sirius Black said, with so much viciousness that everyone stared. "It has to be him. Remember when she said that she thought Mulciber was following her? It couldn't be anyone else."

Dorcas pressed Lily's shoulder comfortingly, but she looked at all of them as she spoke. "Well, don't go running after him now. I'm sure McGonagall will do something about it."

"Oh, we know she will," said James Potter, eyes glinting dangerously behind his spectacles. "Doesn't mean we can't help her a bit."

Dorcas pressed her lips, not knowing how to respond to that. Maeve saved her the trouble. "Black, Potter, we all know you are fond of getting into trouble. But things are different now. Stay away from anything and anyone that doesn't involve you." She glanced at Remus Lupin who was standing quietly with the group. "Lupin, keep an eye on them for me." The boy gave a small nod before ushering his friends away.

They climbed the stairs and entered the hospital wing.

Inside, Professor McGonagall was speaking quietly to Madam Pomfrey and they stopped upon seeing them enter. Hesitantly, they stepped towards the bed where Mary MacDonald lay. She was cleaned up now, with no sign of blood anywhere. Her face was pale, lips cracked, and unless one paid particular attention to her, she almost seemed like she wasn't breathing. Dorcas touched her hand. It was cold as ice.

She felt a hand press down lightly on her shoulder. It was Cillian. She had almost forgotten he was there, but she was grateful for the support. He spoke quietly, respecting the rules of the wing, "Are you alright?"

She nodded.

"Do you want me to walk you to the Gryffindor tower?"

Before she could answer, McGonagall came towards them and spoke. "Meadowes, Davies," she instructed in her usual commanding voice. "Meet me at my office in twenty minutes."

Then she turned and left, but not before offering a brief but sympathetic glance at the unconscious girl on the bed.

"Now, there's nothing more to see here." Madam Pomfrey came at them with a dust mop, waving it in the air. "She's going to St. Mungo's, where she will get proper treatment. Off you go."

"Is she going to be okay?" Dorcas asked anxiously.

The matron hesitated for a moment. "I can't tell now. Of course, there might be some permanent effects, but that's nothing for you to worry about. No more questions!" she added in a loud voice when all three of them opened their mouths together. "I believe the news will spread like wildfire. You will know everything in due time."

Thus they had no choice but to leave the wing, where Mary MacDonald lay, unconscious and alone.

Once outside, Maeve offered to go with Dorcas to McGonagall's office, but she refused. "Thanks, Maeve. But there's no need. I'll be fine. Besides, Cillian will be there. Don't worry."

She pressed her hand reassuringly and after hovering uncertainly for a few moments, Maeve left, giving both of them an odd glance.

At McGonagall's office, they stood silently in front of her desk. Dorcas's hands were behind her, where she continued to twist her fingers nervously. Cillian seemed to notice the movement for he placed an arm gently over her shoulder, giving her a side hug. She responded with a small smile.

"You both were there when the incident happened?" asked McGonagall.

"No," Dorcas corrected. "We saw her coming out of the dungeons. We didn't see who did this to her."

"She was coming out of the dungeons? Are you certain?"

Dorcas exchanged a glance with Cillian, ensuring that it wasn't a trick of their minds. "Yes, we are sure."

"Okay. Tell me exactly what you saw and what you did."

They told everything they remembered about the incident to McGonagall, about how Mary had limped towards them whimpering, how she had had a violent seizure and how blood had begun to pour out of her mouth. They also mentioned what Sirius Black had said about Mulciber. McGonagall remained silent as they spoke, and continued to remain silent for a long time afterwards. They glanced at each other, unsure of whether to stay or leave.

Finally Dorcas decided to speak. "Well, is Mulciber going to be punished?"

"We do not know for sure if it was Mulciber," the professor replied. "We cannot base our decision on what Black has said."

"But if it is Mulciber?" asked Cillian.

"Whoever has done this to MacDonald will get their just punishment," said McGonagall firmly. "Rest assured of that. You may leave now."

With nothing more to say, they left her office.

They walked down a few corridors silently, and when they were a sufficient distance away, Dorcas finally stopped, looking up at the Ravenclaw. She realised that her body was shaking. "Did you see what she looked like?" she remarked, her voice shaky. "I cannot believe someone can do something like this to a person. It's – it's horrifying, it's unfair. And I'm certain this incident will get hushed up like every other thing that is happening to innocent people like her."

She was taken aback when Cillian gave an odd little smile. "Well, the Daily Prophet doesn't control Hogwarts. It doesn't need to get hushed up."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that if people are united in a common cause, great things can happen. We just need to remain vigilant and talk about it. Do you see how people whisper all the time, as if Voldemort is going to jump out from behind a suit of armour and bite their faces? This is what is giving the Slytherins power. We need to show them that we are not afraid. We won't remain hushed up about Mary. We will spread the word and protest against the bigoted little bastards."

For the first time today, Dorcas found herself smiling properly. She elbowed Cillian lightly on the ribs. "You didn't refer to him as You-Know-Who," she said teasingly.

"Yes, well," he smiled as he looked at her. "What's there to be afraid of a name?"

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this chapter is disorganised and messy forgive me lovely humans