Weasley's the Name

Weasley's The Name: Seventh Year

Chapter 14- Questions

Four people slowly made their way to the Hospital Wing, Anthony with Taylor in his arms and Hermione and Soledad walking in front of him at a slow pace. Soledad hadn't stopped crying during the entire walk, and Hermione had a comforting arm around the young girl. Anthony knew that his mother was dying to cry too, and he was quite proud at how calm she had remained.

They reached the doors of the Hospital Wing and Hermione pushed the door open, holding it long enough for Anthony to carefully bring Taylor in. His mother's face was white and pale, and before she let her son enter the room, she put her hand on his cheek. Anthony closed his eyes and leaned into her hand, squinting tightly and muffling a cry.

"Everything will be okay," she said softly, her voice sounding remarkably strong, and completely Anthony believed her.

"Get her to a bed!" Madame Pomfrey's shrilly voice yelled at him from across the room, snapping Anthony and Hermione apart.

His eyes shot open and he saw that Soledad had shuffled her way over to the matron and was shakily sitting on the edge of the bed, looking ghostly and petrified. She was holding herself and flinching as Madame Pomfrey tried to pry her arms away.

I can't imagine what she's seen...I don't want to imagine what she's seen...

Shuddering, he made his way through some curtains and past some tables. Anthony was finally able to put Taylor down after he pulled back the sheets and made sure the pillows were perfect with small flicks of his wand.

She's beautiful, he thought as he stared down at her sleeping form, and he smiled for the first time in an hour.

Anthony sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, continuing to stare at Taylor. Her hand was inches away from his, and cautiously, as if not to wake her up, he took her small fingers and intertwined them with his.

He wanted to murder Malfoy for hurting her, for touching her, for...for just looking at her. The anger inside him had been boiling and if the coward hadn't used Taylor as a shield, Anthony had no idea what kind of damage he would have done.

"No one will ever hurt you as long as I'm here, I'm willing to do anything..." His mind traveled back towards his encounter with Richard, and with a jolt, he remembered the word he almost shouted, if he had not been interrupted by Soledad...

Crucio.

Anthony grimaced, his lungs jumping in his chest. He almost used an Unforgivable. He had started to scream the curse that had been torturing him for the past seven years...

I would've killed him.

Maybe not with the curse, but with my bare hands...

"I promise Taylor," he whispered, putting his other hand over hers. He held her tiny hand in both of his, and he scooted closer to her to place his forehead on the connected fingers. "You'll never have to deal with them again...

"I would've done it, Taylor, I would've, I know it," he said softly, his voice shaking. Anthony let go of her hand, and pulled himself up onto the bed, suddenly very tired. He laid his head on her shoulder, closing his eyes with a single sigh.

He was asleep in minutes, and didn't see her eyes flutter open, filled with tears of fear.

~~~

"Well, if you haven't noticed, our dear Captain and his...er...friend, are not here right now," Brian Weasley stated, his voice monotone. "We have as replacements, two fellows that have been practicing with us as reserves: my dear cousin, Orion Potter and his friend, Ewan Finnegan. You have all played a few times with them, and I'm sure they will succeed in taking over the positions of our missing teammates." Brian stood up, and stared at the Gryffindor Quidditch team.

"Any questions?"

Caitlyn Finnegan raised her hand quickly.

"Yes, Caitlyn?"

"What is she doing here?"

Sarah Lee sighed rather loudly and dramatically. Her wrist was tightly held by Brian's strong hand, and by the look on her face, she was rather annoyed.

"I don't want to be here," the Ravenclaw whined, "but your darling Co-Captain seems to think that I'd go and tell Daniel Martin about your replacements! I would never do that, that's so dishonest and mean."

The Gryffindor team stared at the two with odd expressions, because Brian was now blushing furiously and looking down at the petite Ravenclaw.

"Really? You...weren't going to tell Daniel?" he asked softly. Sarah's face flushed red and she peeked up at him, grinning.

"Er...no, I...wasn't," she answered meekly, not daring to look any of the Gryffindors in the eyes.

"Oh."

Rose Potter and Bridget Hagrid giggled in the background while Sean Wood raised some suggestive eyebrows at Brian. Caitlyn glowered at the two.

"Could we get out to the pitch already?" Caitlyn growled, brushing by the Head Girl and the Co-Captain. Brian didn't notice.

Rose and Bridget giggled again and followed their annoyed friend while Sean sent Brian another 'look' and ushered Orion and Ewan out of the locker room.

"I'm sorry I suspected you," Brian apologized, darting his eyes to the ground and letting go of her wrist. Sarah smiled softly and clicked her heels together.

"It's okay, I would've suspected you too." They shared a laughed, and then felt oddly uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry I kissed you," he mumbled, bringing his gaze up to look into her eyes. He was surprised to see that Sarah was staring straight at him.

"It's okay."

Before Brian could react to the fact that kissing her had been okay, there was a roar from the crowd, and the door to the locker room swung open.

Madame Hooch was at the door, followed by the Gryffindor team.

"What do you mean the game is cancelled?" Rose said in a shrilly voice. "It can't be cancelled!"

Brian's eyes widened and he approached Madame Hooch,

"What's going on? What happened?"

Madame Hooch's golden hawk eyes saddened as she looked at Brian. Something tugged at his heart, but the Co-captain had no idea what.

"There's been an accident," the referee said quietly, looking from Brian to Rose and Orion.

The people in the room fell silent, and the only sounds that could be heard were the booing of the crowd that was dispersing back into the school.

"What happened?" Brian asked, feeling the need to take charge. Madame Hooch squirmed a bit, but took a deep breath.

"Mr. Weasley and Miss. Diego...I don't have many details...but they're in the Hospital Wing."

Brian clenched his fists, and started towards the door.

"Come on, team," he shouted over his shoulder.

~~~

"We found him! Madame Pomfrey, come quickly!" Professor Potter yelled as he burst through the Hospital Wing's doors. He and Professor Snape had transfigured a stretcher and were leading Jacob slowly in on it.

"Just in time, here, let me see," Professor Dumbledore said quietly.

Jacob's hair was plastered to his forehead, his curls gone straight. His eyes were shut, and he seemed to be asleep with his mouth slacked open. The usually rosy cheeks of the Gryffindor Captain were now a ghostly white.

Soledad, from the other side of the room, watched as his chest rose up slowly under his blood soaked Quidditch jersey. She struggled to breath and buried her face in her hands.

"Headmaster, I think I have this under control! I have been here for more than twice Professor Potter's age!" the nurse huffed, looking panicky. Professor Snape rolled his eyes at the nurse and began preparing the bed for Jacob.

"Poppy, please, this boy's life is at stake," Dumbledore said, sending her a glare. "Go give Miss. Diego a Sleeping Potion."

"What happened to him? Harry, what happened to him?" Hermione asked frantically, her voice becoming higher and more distraught. She kept pushing her hair back and out of her face while her eyes traced over her son's body.

"Hermione, please..." Professor Potter said in a soothing voice, pulling her into a tight embrace. Dumbledore had levitated Jacob's body onto a bed, and now Harry was leading Hermione out of the room, for she didn't seem like she could take watching her son anymore.

The Headmaster, looking as calm as if he were reading a book, whistled a beautiful tune; it sounded like a flute escaping from his lips. Madame Pomfrey came back after putting Soledad to sleep, and she was eyeing the Headmaster with an unconvinced look.

~~~

Taylor shifted behind the curtain, and her eyes fluttered open at all the noise. She strained her ears to find out what was going on, but the only sound she heard were Madame Pomfrey's pacing steps, and...raspy, strained breathing.

She woke up completely, then, and remembered the events of the day.

Who's that breathing? Jacob? Richard said he was dead...he's not dead? Please don't let him be dead...

The blonde looked down at her boyfriend, who was still sleeping beside her. Her pounding headache came back as she recalled how frightened she had been of Anthony, when he was attempting to save her from Richard.

He's terrifying when he's angry, she thought with a worried look on her face.

Anthony wiggled, and opened his eyes, blinking a few times before he realized where he was. He looked up at Taylor, and smiled grimly, propping him self up to be level with her.

"How're you feeling?" he whispered.

"Tired," she answered while she wondered if she should tell him that Jacob was there. He didn't need to see his brother like this...

"Go back to sleep, then," he answered with a yawn.

"Headmaster, what are you doing? He looks worse!"

Anthony flinched, and his eyes changed from concerned to terrified. Taylor pushed herself up with much effort, and touched his face. He was pale and wouldn't look into her eyes. She knew what he wanted to do, so she pushed some hair out of her face and slid her legs off of the bed

"Come along then, come on." She stood with one hand stretched across the bed for him, her eyes telling him that she wouldn't leave him alone.

Anthony stared at her for a few moments before he took her hand and got off the bed. Taylor led him past the curtains, and she spotted Dumbledore standing at the edge of a bed. Jacob's cleat covered feet was all she could see at her position.

Madame Pomfrey stood timidly on the side of the bed, not daring to look the redhead in the eyes. Anthony stayed behind Taylor, his body shaking, as Dumbledore looked up and caught their eyes.

"Help will be along shortly," the wise wizard said.

Taylor nodded, but remained rooted to her spot. She didn't want to see Jacob, there was absolutely no way that she could look at him...what had Richard done?

"How is he?" Anthony choked out, brushing softly past Taylor and taking stand next to Dumbledore. She watched as all color left his face, his eyes focused on the body that lay before him.

His eyes blinked furiously, and he bit his tongue in order to keep his inevitable sob from escaping. Anthony crossed his arms and his eyes darted towards Taylor then quickly towards the ceiling.

As tears sprang from to his eyes, Taylor joined him, gripping at his arm and burying her face in his shoulder. Anthony held her closely, laying his head on top of hers, hoping for a distraction from his brother's quandary.

~~~

The Gryffindor Quidditch team and the Head Girl hurried through the hallways, trying to get to the Hospital Wing to see what happened to their Captain and Chaser. The girls were all talking in high-pitched, squeaky, and scared like voices, but it was Brian who was the most worried, though his calm exterior hid his true emotions.

They found Professor Potter and Brian's aunt Hermione in the hallway, both looking eerily nervous and frightened. His aunt was obviously crying, and Brian's breathing rate skyrocketed as he made his way towards the two.

"Aunt Hermione?" he croaked, Rose Potter rushing up to her father, her green eyes wide with confusion. "What-what's going on?"

His aunt sniffled and she opened her mouth to speak, but only a small sob came out and she turned away, briskly walking down the hall. Professor Potter gaped for a few seconds, and put his hands on his daughter's shoulders,

"Listen to me, Rose, just stay outside until I get back, ok? Just...stay."

"What happened to them?" Brian asked sternly, not willing to be left in the dark. Professor Potter looked towards him and inhaled a deep breath, shutting his eyes. He pulled Brian aside and whispered to him,

"Jacob and Soledad were attacked in Hogsmeade. She's a bit shaken up but...but Jake was stabbed...he's not looking too good. I need you to stay here while I get your aunt."

Brian felt all of his blood rush to his toes and a freezing chill swept through his body. Jacob was like his best friend, his favorite cousin, his teammate. How could he do nothing while his best friend was...was dying just meters away?

Professor Potter clapped Brian on his shoulder and sent him an approving glance,

"Just make sure they stay out here," he said.

"We'll stay out, Professor," he said, even though his heart was aching.

"I trust you," Professor Potter with a reassuring nod, and then he turned around in a sprint after Hermione.

Brian turned around to face the team, all of whom looked completely terrified at the idea of Jacob and Soledad being in the Hospital Wing.

"What's going on, Brian?" Caitlyn asked, looking alarmingly white. He closed his eyes for a second and took a deep breath, calming his rapidly beating heart,

"They were attacked in Hogsmeade," he waited for the surprised gasp to subside, "Soledad is shaken, but Jake...he was stabbed, and he's not looking to good."

The Quidditch team let out a chorus of groans and they all slumped against various parts of the hallway, looking very solemn. Bridget went hysterical almost immediately, so Rose and Caitlyn made it their job to try and get her away and calm down. The younger teammates were looked pale and sickly, but being the Gryffindors they were, kept on a brave face.

Brian released a deep breath and turned to the wall, dropping his forehead on it, letting the cool stone relax his forehead. His green eyes were shut, but he could feel the presence of someone itching towards him. He opened one eye and saw Sarah Lee looking grim and sidling up beside him.

"He'll be okay," she whispered, leaning against the wall. Brian nodded slightly, closing his eyes again. This was not the way he had wanted to grow close to Sarah.

It wasn't the kiss he had given her earlier that had made him actually notice the girl, though it did push aside all of that icky stuff like building up courage to ask her out. Brian had actually begun noticing the studious Ravenclaw in their fifth year, when the Gryffindors had Herbology with the Ravenclaws.

She was an uptight newly appointed Prefect and he was a short Quidditch player mad at the world. He took every opportunity to drive her crazy and she loved to tattle and get points taken away from Gryffindor. His roommates would hit him and try to get him to stop, but there was something about the way she glared at him that made Brian want to get in more trouble.

There was always a sense of attraction between the two, but Brian had always been so...well, scared of her that he didn't move past the teasing stage of courtship.

"This is definitely not the way I expected this to happen," he muttered, turning to face her slightly. Sarah looked a bit confused, but she stepped closer to him, knowing he was willing to give an explanation, "I wish I had just asked you out instead of attacking you like that."

The girl blushed a furious red and her eyes fell down to the floor in embarrassment. But, she nodded after a few seconds, and managed to catch his gaze.

"I'm sorry I was rude to you," she said, looking sheepish. "I...I just didn't know how to react..."

"S'alright, I was being a bit of a prat."

She giggled slightly, and then looked scared because she realized she laughed in a very serious situation. Brian smiled and reached out for her, but then he saw his little cousin Emily making her way down the corridor. His heart clenched; she didn't know about her brother's condition.

He noticed Ewan Finnegan get up as well at the sight of Emily, but even if the two had a 'thing' going on (as Brian suspected after their abrupt departure this morning), he knew that it would be easier for family to tell the girl.

Brian left Sarah, sending her a soft smile, and jogged up to Emily, who was looking incredibly confused. Ewan was off to the side, his mouth gaping and face white. There was no way he'd be able to tell Emily.

"What's going on?" she asked, walking slowly up to Brian, her eyes warily watching the grim faces of the Quidditch players. "Why was the game cancelled, where's Jake?"

Brian always knew she was a smart girl, she had immediately realized that her brother was not present. The seventh year sucked in a deep breath, and put both of his hands on Emily's shoulders, making her lip tremble in anticipation.

"I don't know many details, Emily," he began slowly, making sure he never lost eye contact with the girl. Her eyes watered fearfully, and she shook her head rapidly, "but there was an attack in Hogsmeade..."

"No," she whispered, covering her mouth with her hands. "Not Jake, not him too!"

Brian released shuddered breath and nodded, making Emily release a few tears from her eyes. She tried to pull away, but he kept a firm grip on her shoulders.

"He was stabbed, Emily," he winced as she released an agonized cry, "We can't go inside, we have to stay out here."

Her shoulders shook with uncontrollable tears, and Brian couldn't hold his for any longer. Emily sank into his arms and cried, and the seventh year held her closely, hoping to comfort her and make the pain go away.

"Look!" someone shouted, though Brian couldn't tell whom. He released Emily and turned around slightly. With blurry eyes, he saw what was going to save his cousin.

Fawkes, the Phoenix.

~~~

The door of the Hospital Wing burst open and Fawkes flew in with incredible grace. It landed daintily on Dumbledore's outstretched arm, looking ready for action. Its long tail fell smoothly to the floor, and its crown of feathers radiated brilliantly in the afternoon light of the Hospital Wing.

Professor Potter and Hermione had rushed in behind Fawkes and now they stood on the other side of the bed, Hermione gripping Jacob's limp hand. The Gryffindor Quidditch team, along with Emily Weasley and Sarah Lee, entered slowly behind, not sure if they were allowed.

Anthony and Taylor wiped their eyes so they could witness the event. His eyes were locked on Fawkes, but Taylor's had drifted to the motionless body that was her friend; she shuttered and sobbed, burying her face into Anthony's shoulder again.

Dumbledore slowly moved his arm over Jacob's wound, leaning on Madame Pomfrey for support. Professor Potter gripped Hermione's free arm as his face began to gain some color; he remembered the many times Fawkes had saved his life.

The Phoenix tilted its head slightly, and pearly white droplets fell from his eye, splashing softly on Jacob's torn skin. Hermione covered her mouth in anticipation while Anthony closed his eyes and silently prayed.

The room was silent except for the raspy breathing of Jacob. Fawkes leaned back and turned its head to Dumbledore, as if to tell him he was finished.

Slowly, everyone in the room leaned forward to get a look at Jacob.

"Oh, thank goodness!" Hermione squealed, tears flowing out of her eyes.

Jacob's gash was completely healed, although dried up blood remained on his chest. His eyes were shut softly, but his mouth had closed and his cheeks had turned a slight pink.

Anthony sucked in a deep breath of excitement and leaned onto the edge of the bed forcefully, making it shake. His eyes glistened with tears of joy as his twin's eyes began to stir under their eyelids. The Quidditch team made their way over; excited whispers escaping their mouths.

He let out a great and long yawn, but then the baby blue eyes of Jacob Weasley fluttered open, darting around to stare at the people that surrounded him.

They all held their breath, still not fully believing that the boy who was just lying extremely close to death was now staring up at them, eyes wide with curiosity.

"Did the game start?"

Anthony and Hermione groaned while the rest laughed softly. Professor Potter shook his head, crossing his arms.

"No, I caught Madame Hooch before she was headed out to the field, told her to cancel the match," he explained, with a grim smile. Brian managed to peek over some shoulders and waved slowly to his cousin, shrugging in apology.

Jacob's eyes grew ten times their normal size. He quickly pushed himself up, only to grimace greatly as the pain from the injury raced through his body. Hermione immediately put her hand behind his back, with a nervous look on her face. It looked like she wanted to hug him until he couldn't breath, but was politely containing the urge.

"Take it easy, Jacob," Hermione whispered, gently pushing him back down. Jacob shook his head, but winced and lightly touched his stomach with his right hand.

"Oy, I was so stupid," he moaned. "I knew I shouldn't have cancelled practice..." His face grew red with anger as he stared down at his ripped Quidditch jersey. "Bloody hell..."

Anthony's stomach grew heavy as he remembered the events of earlier that morning. He had helped Rose (who had become noticeably paler) convince Jacob to cancel practice...Anthony put his hand to his head, covering his eyes. He didn't want to mention this and cause more drama, but...

"Wait, where's Soledad?" Jacob asked suddenly, sitting up quickly and throwing his legs off the bed. "I sent her back with him! Where is she?" He grimaced, wrapping his arms around his stomach, but still looked around the room in search of Soledad.

Professor Potter immediately pushed Jacob back, but the Gryffindor Quidditch Keeper did not want to sit still. He looked frantically around at all the people standing by his side, searching for the curly haired Chaser.

"Don't worry, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore said softly, running a single finger down one of Fawkes' wing feathers. "Miss. Diego is under a bit of Sleeping Potion, she was hysterical earlier."

Jacob looked up at the Headmaster, his eyes filled with concern.

"Why, what happened?" he asked, his voice terribly soft.

Hermione helped him lie back down, and she pulled the covers carefully over his body. Jacob kept his eyes locked on Dumbledore's as he slipped back into a lying position.

"She suffered some injuries," Madame Pomfrey explained, sliding past Dumbledore with a bottle of something pink. Jacob looked ready to jump out of the bed, but with one glare from the nurse, he remained on his back.

"And she'll be okay?" he asked weakly, and a pang of pain hit Anthony in his heart. Madame Pomfrey smiled grimly.

"She'll be fine, Mr. Weasley, here, now take this. But before you do, I have to explain some things to you," she said sweetly, in a tone that caused Professor Potter and Hermione to share a confused glance.

"Jacob lost a lot of blood, and will have to have plenty of rest before he can be up and about again, so no visitors besides family...direct family," she said, realizing that she was talking to the Weasleys, "And he might not be able to...oh,"

Everyone's gaze followed hers, and they realized that Jacob had already taken the Sleeping Potion; he lied as if he had absolutely no worries.