Chapter 17

By the time we got to the top, I was scared. A lot. They didn't say anything on the way up. Then when we got there, Neville asked the question that I had been thinking the whole way up. "What are we going to do with her?" Potter turned on him. "And why should I tell you?!" Then he sighed. "Sorry Neville. We are just going to give her a lesson like Professor Binns' lessons. They will end the same." They were going to beat me unconscious, and leave me up here. And nobody would be coming up here for a few days. They had chosen a good time and place. I was scared for my life now. 

Then I felt something brush against my mind. I knew who it was. Please, sir, I need help! I'm in the Astronomy tower! The others were still taunting me."We came up with a name for us, the Pride. After a group of lions." Wow, how original. A group of lions, as that is what they are. A true stroke of brilliance.

"Well, let's get started." Potter said. The others drew their wands. They sent spell after spell into my body, and it hurt, yes, but not as bad as I was used to. But I was starting to think that maybe my plea hadn't been heard. They stopped. "We will allow you the luxury of doing one spell on yourself. It can't be directed at us in any way. Understood?" Then he let me go. I fell to the hard floor. I cast a Concealment Charm on myself. They grinned. "Wise choice." Hermione said. I just glared at them. They glared back. Then I felt a familiar presence coming up the stairs. Snape was coming! I reached out to him. Thank you sir! I didn't get any response. Oh well, at least he was coming.

The Pride, as they now called themselves, were in the middle of a whispered argument. It wasn't hard to guess what they were arguing about. Me. The longer they stayed up here the better. They had taken my wand the instant that I cast the charm on me, so I didn't have that. The door burst open, revealing Professors Snape and Dumbledore. The Pride were frozen with shock. I kept sitting there on the stone floor, leaning on the wall. Snape glanced at me, saw that I looked normal, then proceeded to yell at the lions. Dumbledore, on the other hand, came straight over to me. "Don't move. We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey right away." I can't. "No, I am fine. May I go back to the common room, please sir?" He shook his head. "You are not fine, and we both know that. Come along." He turned and started to leave. Snape kept yelling at the others. I struggled up and went after Dumbledore. It hurt a lot, and I struggled to keep up. Dumbledore stopped and turned around.

"Let's see how bad it is. Finite incantatem."  We both could see how bad it was now, and it was bad. He sighed. "Come to my office. Fawkes can help." So I followed him the little distance to his office and collapsed in a seat. Fawkes came over and sat on my lap. He started crying on me, and it was the most incredible thing that has ever happened to me. I started healing. In an instant, I was completely better. I didn't feel bad for the Pride at all. Maybe they would stop picking on me for a while. Having a talk with a mad Snape can do that to people. Dumbledore finally let me go back to my room. But he said something as I was leaving that made me stop.

"Do try to sleep on a bed tonight. Or at least a chair next to the fire." I turned around, acting confused. "What do you mean sir?" He smiled sadly. "I know much more than you might think." He said. "Ge to bed, little one. And say hi to Salazar for me.' He laughed at my expression. "Yes, I know about your snake. It is fine. Go sleep." Then he shooed me out. 

I did as he said and slept on my favorite chair. It felt amazing, and I fell asleep quickly. And I woke up very refreshed. It was going to be a good day. And it was.