☞ 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 28𝐭𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫, 1996

Standing outside the entrance to the Hospital wing, unaware of what lies inside, unaware of the state your father may be in, is truly haunting. I could hear the ticks of the clock in the clock tower echoing through this small hall from behind me. The noise was deafening.

Luna sat patiently on a stone window seat. Nervously playing with her fingers, her head hung low. I paced back and forth in front of her, biting at my nails. I was desperately trying to listen into the Hospital Wing, only to be disappointed when I heard nothing.

Besides from the heart-wrenching mystery of what's happened to my father, and whether or not he's still alive, there is this second issue that is making me feel sick to my stomach. They are here. Malfoy, Nott, Zabini and Riddle.

Why? That is another mystery. I understand they loved my father, for he always favoured them. Yet, the cheek they have to think that they have the right to be here, uninvited just to meddle in my family emergency, is unacceptable! If I wasn't so worried about my father, they'd all have neon-coloured hair by now.

"Miss Snape." Madame Pomfrey stuck her head out of the door. I stopped. Turning around to see the lady standing in the doorway, half of her body being concealed by the door itself. "Sorry to keep you waiting dear." She gave me a small smile and gestured me over. "Come in, Y/n."

I couldn't move. My legs began to shake, my mind filled with thoughts about what might have happened to him, what state he might be in, and whether or not I'd walk in and find that I was now an orphan.

A soft pair of hands cusps my hand, holding it tight. Luna. "It's okay, Y/n. I'll walk in with you." She beamed up at me, with a gentle yet solemn look in her eyes. I slowly nodded, gripping her hands tightly.

"I'm afraid there can only be one visitor at this time." Madame Pomfrey added, looking very apologetic as she looked between me and Luna. Luna began to protest, however, I placed a hand on her shoulder, letting her know I'd be okay.

I approached the Hospital Wing's entrance, my mind slowly becoming more panicked with each step. Madame Pomfrey stepped aside, opening the door wider for me to step into the room. As I entered, the door slammed shut behind me, making me jump out of my skin.

All beds were empty, aside from the one my father laid in. His bed was surrounded by curtains for privacy, meaning I still could not see him. Madame Pomfrey gave me a small saddened smile, gesturing me to follow her as she neared his bed. She pushed back the curtain, and stepped aside, revealing my father.

Blood splattered across his face and neck, the rest of his body covered in the bedding. One arm was tucked under the sheet, while the other was bandaged by the shoulder. His face was sickly pale, while his veins were now harsh red lines running from his eyes down to his arms.

"W-what..." That is the only word I could mutter. My stomach churned with bile that threatened to shoot up my throat. Joining my father by his side, I gently took his hand in mine. It was ice cold.

"He is still breathing, although it is irregular. As for how this happened, we can't be sure. However, Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall had concluded that his injuries were likely a result of very powerful dark magic." Madame Pomfrey explained, tears swelling in her eyes. She decided to give me a moment of peace with my father, alone, before allowing the others in.

I immediately began to cry, the sight of him in this state broke me. This is my father, my protector, the strongest wizard I know. Here he is, broken, barely alive. Reduced to nothing more than a helpless victim of pure evil. Holding his hand closer, I rested my head on his palm. Tears still flowing heavily from my eyes.

After a few minutes of heavy sobbing and cursing Merlin for allowing this to happen to my father, I heard the door open again. Despite that, I couldn't stop crying. My eyes opened, and I saw a glimpse of my fathers's arm concealed by his sleeve. Confused, my eyes narrowed on something dark. A smudge? Slowly peeling back my father's sleeve, I realise what it is.

The dark mark.

I screamed at the top of my lungs, pulling his sleeve back down as I jumped out of my chair. Footsteps slamming against the stone could be heard thundering across the room. Suddenly Luna appeared. "Y/n!" She looked around scared until she saw the frightened look on my face. Luna ran to embrace me, holding me tight.

I did not move, I stared blankly where Luna walked in, watching emotionlessly as the boys ran in after her. Do I tell her about the mark? Should I tell anyone? If I told people, would they suspect me of being a death eater too? I can't have that. I can't tell anyone. "Y/n, please answer!" Luna called again, with tears in her eyes.

"Huh?" I blink back into reality, looking around the small group. Luna's hands were on my shoulder from shaking me while the boys stood around me worried. Luna asked me what happened. "No one is sure, but they suspect dark magic." I pulled away from Luna, looking back at my father.

"Dark magic? You don't think..." Luna gasped, her mind racing just like mine. I looked at her, confirming her suspicion. I do suspect that death eaters are the cause of this, perhaps Voldemort himself. "But why would they? Surely not even death eaters would be stupid enough to attack a Hogwarts professor unless they had much to gain." Luna spoke, her voice breaking at the thought.

As she spoke, something in my mind clicked. "You're absolutely right, Moon." I gasped, turning back to the group. "Death eaters don't have a mind of their own. Everything they do has come from an order by Voldemort. They must've had good reason to attack my father." I frowned, my eyes now slowly turning towards the boys. They all looked shocked and confused at my words.

"What on earth are you insinuating!" Malfoy stepped forward, a pissed expression plastered on his pale face. I stepped towards him, mirroring his actions.

"It's not a coincidence that the son of Voldemort and the sons of death eaters suddenly seem to hate my guts, and then my father shows up all bloody and bruised due to dark magic only their parents would know!" I yelled in his face. Draco suddenly backed away, a frightened look replacing his offended expression. Mattheo then stepped forward, a calm look on his face as he stood between Malfoy and me.

"Y/n. We had no part in this." Mattheo spoke softly, his eyes looking deeply into mine. I could smell his cologne, the strong powerful aroma bringing back so many fond memories. Who knew this sweet scent could evoke so much turmoil in one's mind?

I shook my head. "Why should I believe you." I muttered, the venom in my voice slashing knives into Mattheo's skin. Mattheo's eyes flashed with sadness, his dark sultry eyes becoming glassy with tears. Why is he crying? He was the one to hurt me! He was the one to ignore me! It's my father who's tiptoeing the line between life and death! So why is he crying?

Suddenly, Riddle took my hand in his hands, holding it close to his chest. "I'll explain everything, Y/n." Mattheo began, his eyes looking apologetic yet desperate. I am beyond confused right now...

"Mattheo, no!" Theo stepped forward, pulling Riddle away from me. Mattheo harshly pushed Theo back, glaring daggers at the confused yet annoyed boy. "You can't." Theo stressed to his friend, now being the one to glare at Mattheo.

Mattheo leaned forward, muttering into Theo's ear, failing at not being heard. "Don't tell me what I can and can't do, Nott. I may be your friend but you shouldn't forget your place." I gulped. What did Mattheo mean by that? Mattheo suddenly turned back to me, stepping towards me.  His hands found my shoulders when he spoke. "Meet me in our room, a week today. I shall explain everything." He spoke softly at me, making my heart beat faster and faster.

"Y/n, why did you assume they have something to do with it." Luna spoke, nabbing my attention away from Mattheo. I froze. Luna was right, I'm not the type to simply accuse without proof, I'm not Harry Potter after all.

"Well, umm." I began, unsure how to explain myself. I began to panic. Should I tell them my reasonings, or should I lie? If I tell them I may risk losing my father to the cold pit that is Azkaban. If I don't tell them, I'll look suspicious, which may lead to the boys watching me too closely and have them risk finding out about the books... I'm at a loss.

"Yeah, Snape. Just because of our family background, you can't make assumptions about us." Blaise commented, a small sly smirk dancing behind his fake frown. I shook my head, commenting about the hypocrisy of that comment coming from a group that loves to discriminate against muggle-borns due to their family history. That shut them up.

I turned to Luna, who looked at me with a patient smile. She knew I had good reason to suspect them, and she knew trying to pressure me into revealing that reason wouldn't do anyone any good. Luna also knew I'd tell her anyway.

I sighed, giving in to the blonde. "Luna, you know I have good reason to suspect them, but I'm afraid to tell you... for you may think differently of my father and possibly myself." I looked down, ashamed. "Besides... I can't be sure myself if know the full details behind my suspicion. I'll have to hope my father wakes up before I can ask him about it before I can tell you anything." I began to tear up. Everything was too much to deal with in one go. I'm not sure what to make of the situation, my father being on the brink of death while he may also be an active death eater.

Luna stepped forward, pulling me into a tight hug. "I understand. I know you'll come to me when you've cleared your mind a bit." Luna smiled as she pulled away. "Until then I'll be here for you and your father. Besides, it will take a lot to make me think differently of you, Y/n Snape."

Luna's words made me tear up and smile. The boys behind me are nothing compared to the loyalty and beauty that is my Moon. Although she may not always be around, I know she's always there for me, to brighten my darkest moments.

Just then my father began to stir in his rest. Or so we thought, l as his body began to violently shake. Riddle ran to get Madame Pomfrey while I ran to my father's side. I took his hand once again, holding it tight as his muscles contracted uncontrollably.

Madame Pomfrey ran in, her face drained at the sight. "Get Professor Dumbledore." She commended with an eerie tone, speaking to no one in particular as she stared at my father with fear.