Chapter 442 - Hogwarts Infirmary Ⅲ (2/2)
Rowan happily digs into her soup and devoured every single last drop. Madam Pomfrey promptly stops by to grab the tray, when she says, ”Would you like a bit of dreamless sleep potion, dear?”
”I'm already used to the nightmares,” Rowan confessed with a shrug. ”They'll be nothing new. Might as well get this over with.”
Madam Pomfrey presses her lips together in sadness as she recalls the fact that the Prince grandmother had been killed before her own grandchildren. ”Yes, of course, call out if you need anything,” Pomfrey said as she closed the screens around her.
Exhausted, Rowan curled up on her side with her wand right under her pillow. She'd not been asleep for long, when she awoke to unseen eyes. The hair on her arms was sticking up as she slowly reached for her wand. The curtains slowly pull open as she points her wand at the intruder.
Ash brown hair, silver eyes, Barrett Boone says, ”It's just me.”
”Oh, it's you,” Rowan slowly began to lower her wand when she spotted Barrett's shoes. They were black boots; Barrett never wore black boots. He said he hated the color in boots as it was boring and cliché. He much rather preferred brown leather or various other types of boots especially ones made out of dragon hide and so forth.
Faking a smile, Rowan says, ”I just missed you. How about a kiss?”
”Sure thing, love,” the polyjuiced Barret said as he leaned his face closer in for a peck.
He didn't get a chance to as Rowan pointed her wand at him and said, ”Expulso!” Barrett Boone goes flying and crashing into a bed further away.
Jumping off the bed, Rowan runs out leaving the other patients behind in the infirmary behind. They'd be hurt in the backlash if they fought right in the middle of the infirmary. She shivered as she ran barefoot across the cold stones. Turning a corner, bright sparks just skid behind her as she stubbed her toe on a stone. Hopping in pain, she continues to run as she tries to think of a corner from which to attack from. Her magic was presently unstable given that despite the magic being fully absorbed it hadn't finished being digested much like a full meal.
Skirting around a corner, Rowan runs right into Filch. Before Filch can say anything Rowan says, ”On my signal swing!” Give Filch the credit he is due; he didn't even argue.
Pointing her wand, Rowan waits for the polyjuiced Barret to turn the corner. Simultaneously they both fire their spells at the same time as she freezes him in place and the severing charm cut straight across her shoulder. She hisses in pain and says, ”Now, Filch,” before the polyjuiced Barret can finish throwing off the Stupefy.
Filch swings his lantern with full force into the skill of the polyjuiced form of Barrett Boone. And for added good measure gives him another whack as the figure lays unconscious on the stone floor. Breathing harshly, Rowan grinds her teeth in pain and says, ”I greatly appreciate that, Filch. Now if Mrs. Norris would be a dear and summon help, I would be eternally grateful.”
Mrs. Norris meows loudly before rushing off to find help. But help was already on its way as Madam Pomfrey had heard the crash and rushed out see Rowan's bed empty and Barret Boone rushing after her. Dumbledore is followed by the Professors, who were aiding him in the search for the missing Professor Lye and the ministry members, who had yet to leaving including theAauror's.
Rowan is a ghastly color as she and Filch press their hands to her shoulder to halt the heavy bleeding as best as they could. Madam Pomfrey let out a gasp as she found them first. ”That's not Barret, it's someone else,” Rowan croaked in pain.
”They're over here!” Madam Pomfrey cried out and for good measure gave the unconscious polyjuiced figure a good kick. It was normally against her moral code. But to attack one of her patients such codes were instantly thrown right out the door!
Madam Pomfrey sighs and says, ”It cut down right to the bone. You'll be needing a blood replenishing potion dear and a muscle mending one. I'll give you the blood and pain alleviating potions first.” Madam Pomfrey stopped the blood flow with a wave of her wand as she said, ”Now hold to her side, Filch, and I'll have her lean against me as well. She'll be dizzy given the rapid blood loss.”
Filch does as he is instructed as he wraps an arm around Rowan, while Madam Pomfrey does to the other side. Madam Pomfrey glares at Dumbledore and says, ”I take that the polyjuiced Barret Boone is probably our missing Professor Lye. Which makes me think that he's not who he says he is! Might I suggest that next year a more in-depth investigation is done prior to hiring the next Defense Against the Dark Arts instructor, Professor Dumbledore!”
Dumbledore at least looks ashamed and worried as he says, ”It will not happen again, Poppy. I can assure you; it was not intention for any harm to fall any one of my apprentices.” Madam Pomfrey stiffly nods her head at them, before leading the ghastly looking Rowan away.
”Auror's please follow me my office,” Dumbledore said as Fabian and Gideon cast a binding spell on the unconscious polyjuiced figure. Mr. Amundsen and Mr. Flint were gone having left to inform the Minister of Magic. While the four Auror's had aided in searching the entire school and found nothing amiss except for the unexpected disappearance of Professor Lye. They'd remained behind at the request of Dumbledore.