ST. MUNGO

"HELP!" is the first thing Alex screamed out as soon as his feet touches the floor. All heads turn to him.

"Oh my-- what happen?" asked one of the people dressed in a white Healer uniform while another shouting instruction as they took Vanessa from his arms. Alex watches as they put her on the bed, wizard and witches hurriedly to her and casting spells, closing the door behind them. Their voices muffled and slowly the silence is deafening.

His brain went blank.

Alex brushes his bloody hands through his disheveled hair.  He needed to stay calm, he needed to think fast. Slowly he regained himself, and eye to eye with one of the Healer who has her eyes searching onto his brown pools.

"Dear, can you tell me her name?"

"Uh, yea, sorry. Um- Uh, Vanessa Finley, 17, I-I found her on our school hallway and, and uh, I think someone from school will arrive soon, too." Alex said hurriedly. The healer pressed his lips tightly and nodded. Passing the information to another witch.

 "And you are?"

"Alexander, her classmate,"

The healer write something on some books, before absent-mindedly nodding, "Okay, I'll need you to stay right here and I'll ask someone else to be with you in a sec, alright?"

"Hey uh, ma'am- Will, will she be alright?"

The healer gave him a reassuring smile, "We'll be doing our best," and with that she left and join the others behind the door.

Alex watches the closed door blankly and finally realized how sticky his fingers felt. He looked down to his hand and see how shaky it actually is. Her blood on his hands, it reminds him of his fallen teammate back in the war. It felt like he could hear and see it all again; the screams, the lifeless bodies, the blood splatters everywhere.

Feeling his breathing goes heavier, Alex clenched his jaw and balled his fist so tight that he could feel his nails digging onto his palm. Taking a shaky breath, he slowly breathe out. This is not the time to be panic, he told himself and-

CRACK!

Alex turned toward the sound and he saw the Headmistress walking in a hurry towards him. He loosens his fists. "Alexander, dear. Are you alright?" she asked, placing her hands on his shoulder. Worries could be seen all over her facial.

Alex gave her a sloppy smile and nodded, "I-I try to get here as soon as possible."

"I know, dear. Argus told me, but are you alright?" she asked again.

"Y, yeah, I'm not hurt," said he but McGonagall still looking at him concerned. "This isn't my blood, if that what you're asking," he tried to grin, but he can feel that it must've looked forceful.

McGonagall just rubbed her palm over his shoulder, as if trying to assure him that it's okay to tell the truth. 

"I have notified your uncle and the ministry," McGonagall told him. Alex nodded and that was when another loud crack filled the hallway.

"Speak of the devil," Alex said. McGonagall pressed her lips together and the two turns towards the sound.

Dorian quickly made his way towards Alex before enveloping him with a hug. "Are you okay, are you hurt?" He asked after breaking their hug, and examining every inch of Alex's face, neck and hand. 

"I'm okay," Alex replied weakly. "This, this is all Vanessa's." 

Dorian took a sharp breath, "So... How is she?"

Alex looked down before looking back at his uncle, "She... She was, I think severely cut on her throat," he made a slashing gesture over the right side of his neck, "And some other places around her body but I can't tell, because there's just too much of her blood, I can't--" he took a huge shaky breath in, and slowly let it out again.

Dorian noticed the slightly panic in Alex's eyes that he gave him a patted on his back, as if telling him to take his time. He knows how bloody the scene might've been, and how putrid the air must've been. He even had some of his teammates vomited on the crime scene during  investigation.

"--I saw that bastard have the knife pulled over their head, and they were about to stab her, but I guess they heard me coming and I was soo fucking close to catch them--" Alex clenched his fist, "But then I saw her, gasping for help, barely alive but I can't leave her there-- I mean, she was breathing," Alex looked at his uncle, distress on his face.

"And I let the killer go, uncle," he whispered, "--I'm sorry."

Dorian pulled his nephew head to his chest, and rubbed his back, "No, no, don't say that. You did great, Alex. You did the right thing," he let go of him and gave a fatherly smile, "I'm proud of you,"

Alex scowled at that and shook head, "But--"

"No, no. no, no, Alex. Shushh," Dorian placed his finger on his own lips, shushing his nephew, "What matters the most is you saved her." 

"There's no guaranteed yet."

"There is and she will live."

"But--"

"You did better than I ever could for the last 10 years." Dorian looked squarely at his nephew. "You saw the perp doing the deeds, and you get the victim to St. Mungo, alive. You did the right thing." he points out.

Alex just swallowed hard. His uncle is right. Right? He did the right thing, right?

Dorian sighs, "We still have time to catch the perp. So, don't let it get to your head, eh?" He tousled the younger wizard's hair, "It just the voices in your head, consult with them yes, but listen?" he shook his head, and then weakly grins, "Never."

Alex just nodded. 

"Dorian," McGonagall approached them. "I've notified her parents; The Finley's and they'll be here in a moment."

"Yes, thank you ma'am. And how about my team, have they got the permission to enter the school ground?" 

"Yes, and I have asked Argus to aid them."

"I, uh, I think I wanna go back to the crime scene as well." Alex said. The two adults looked at him. 

"Sure, Alex. Sure." Dorian smiles, "Detective Harlow and the gang probably already be there. He'll brief you if they have found anything when you arrive,"

Looking back at the closed door, Alex eyes dropped. Dorian noticed the heavy look on his nephew's face and so he said, "Don't worry, I'll stay here with her, and I promise, I'll update you with everything,"

Alex smile briefly at that and muttered thanks to his uncle. 

"And you have my permission to use the fireplace to my office, dear." McGonagall told him. Her eyes softened looking at the young wizard. Alex nodded and went to the fireplace near the receptionist counter. Throwing the green powder, he said his destination and gone.

Dorian brushes his fingers through his slick hair and let out a heavy sigh, "Is this really the right thing?" he muttered, more to himself but little did he knows, the Headmistress overheard him.

McGonagall just gave him an apologetic look. 

*****