dedicated to WeGotThatWeasleySwag for the bad@ss cover/banner of Elle. I think it matches the chapter ;)

Ch. 31: Elle, Don't

Song For Chapter: Girls - Marina & The Diamonds

          This is all my fault. This is my fault. It is. 

     Fred had stuck by my side as we'd followed Hagrid to the carriages, but once we loaded the cart, the two of us were forced to part ways. I could tell that he hadn't wanted to leave me, but I was more concerned about Jenna.

     However, as I was called to an urgent meeting with Professors McGonagall and Snape, I found myself wishing that Fred was here, comforting me once more. Jenna had been immediately taken to Madame Pomfrey along with Katie Bell.

          Meanwhile, I was terrified. 

     McGonagall paced around the necklace that was set in the middle of the room, on her desk and open to the air. Lana gripped my hand tightly as we both gawked at the evil thing, both worried beyond belief for Jenna. 

     "Are you sure Miss Bell did not have this in her possession when entering The Three Broomsticks?" She asked, sternly staring down Katie's friend that I didn't know the name of. I felt slightly bad that I couldn't remember it, but the majority of me couldn't bring myself to care at the moment. 

     "It's like I said," the girl shook with fear, "She left to go to the loo, and.. when she came back she had that package." She glanced down at her hands before offering McGonagall a small frown, "She said it was important that she deliver it."

     "Did she say to whom?" Snape snapped, tired of how long the girl was taking to tell the tale.

           "Headmaster Dumbledore."

     McGonagall took a sharp breath and nodded, "Very well... Thank you Leanne, you may go." Leanne glanced nervously around the room before turning on her heel and stalking out of the room, hands tightly clasped together in fear for her friend Katie - the same fear that was in the hearts of Lana and I.

     "Severus, who would want to do this?" McGonagall sighed, cradling her head in her hands as she sat down in a stool across from the necklace, eyes locked on it's gleaming gems. "Why - what would they have to gain from it? What do you think?" She was so nervous she'd begun pacing, unable to keep seated for long.

          "I think that Miss Chase and Miss Bell are lucky to be alive."

     "I know who did it," Harry objected, getting rise from Professor McGonagall. "It was Malfoy. Malfoy did it."

     "That's a serious accusation, Potter," Snape snapped, eye hardening as he watched Harry, "Do you have any evidence, perhaps?" 

     "No," Harry groaned, earnest look over taking his face, "I just know. She was cursed wasn't she? I know Katie - off the Quidditch Pitch she'd never hurt a fly. If she was delivering that to Headmaster Dumbledore, she wasn't doing it knowingly. It has to be him. I just know it."

          "You just know?"

     "Yeah. I do." Harry crossed his arms over his chest. From the sidelines, Ron and Hermione were sparing him small frowns of uncertainty and nervous apperception. 

          "You must possess the substance that many mortals merely dream of possessing. How grand it must be to be the Chosen One." Snape's cold voice was so crude and sarcastic that Harry didn't have anything to say for a while. The silence was almost becoming suffocating when McGonagall decided to clear her throat.

     "I'm sorry, Mr. Potter," McGonagall breathed out, frown forming on her lips, "But, I simply cannot pin this - this act on Draco Malfoy unless there is hard evidence. Other wise it would be simply unfair."

          "Unfair?" 

     "Yes, unfair, Mr. Potter." 

     Harry's face showed how abhorrent he felt. It was so strong that it even seeped deep into my bones, taking root deep inside my chest. I believed Harry. I didn't know why Draco would have given Katie Bell a package to deliver Dumbledore, but it was more than suspicious that Jenna had known about it after spying on Malfoy and the Rachel girl. 

     Jenna could have told us whether or not it was Malfoy who had done this, but she was obviously unavailable. The thought of it practically made my anger boil over. 

     "You five may be excused," McGonagall offered a small, half-hearted, smile and waved us out of her office. "I suggest you go back to your dormitories," She shot Lana and I a withering glance, "All of you." Snape turned towards her and they both began to discuss matters together in low, hushed whispers. 

     "Here, I bought you a book while I was back in America over the summer," Lana broke the tense air as she and I occupied the two metal chairs beside Jenna's bedside. When I'd come to visit her, I'd hoped that she would seem peaceful. I hoped that she would seem as if she was recovering from the attack, but I wasn't greeted with my hopes.

     Instead, Jenna would twitch. Her body would spasm every other few minutes or so, and each time I felt horrible. Beside me, Jenna's legs jerked to the left, but her eyes didn't even flicker. I wondered if she was in any pain.

     "Oh?" I questioned Lana after what had seemed like a long time. 

     Lana simply nodded and dug through her satchel. I was slightly surprised that she'd gotten one for the new school year. She'd always said that backpacks weren't necessary. "Yeah, the book isn't really that popular. The guy has done a few other things, but I didn't care to read it because I was too lazy." A small, faint chuckle shook her chest, "Jenna was the one who demanded that we get it for you. I'd been reminding myself to give it to you, now's as good a time as any."

     She tossed me a thick paperback book that I barely managed to catch. Flipping the book over, I read the cover with an arched brow, "Game of Thrones?"

     "Yeah, supposedly it's supposed to be good - it just came out in August though... So, I don't really know how trust worthy that is." 

     A half smile broke across my lips and I cracked the book open, glancing down at the first page. "Thank you, I'll definitely check this out and I'll tell you if it's any good."

     Sighing, I set the book on the beside table and crossed my legs, leaning back in my chair and turning my gaze out the door, lazily trying to find something. I just wasn't sure what I would find. But, as I saw out of the open door to the infirmary, I caught sight of a blonde ferret scattering past the hallway, keeping his head down and his eyes wide when our gaze locked for a millisecond.

     Beside me, Jenna's body seized for a few seconds before dropping back down onto the sheets, an inaudible sigh on her lips. I jumped out of my chair, feeling the familiar sensation of anger lick through me. 

     "Elle, don't." Lana pushed her satchel over her shoulder, giving me a furious stare, eyes flickering down to Jenna's crumpled form. "Not without me."

     We shared a nod in agreement and leapt from the chairs, promising Jenna that we'd be back to visit again soon. As we stalked through the door, a nervous Neville came in, brow beaten and a bit sweaty with odd looking flowers in his fist.

     "Oh, 'ello Lana, Elle -"

          I cut him off, shooting Longbottom an apologetic smile as I dashed around the corner, "We've got to get something, Neville - but I'll see you later!"

     "Oh," his voice faded out, "I'll see you later then."

     We rounded the corner and entered the next hall, just barely watching as Malfoy's cape whipped around the end of the hall. I drew my wand as Lana and I picked up speed, running after the boy. Turning the next corridor, I flicked my wand, "Affligo, bitch!" 

     The spell hit Draco between the shoulder blades and knocked him onto the ground, winded and gasping for breath as his pale eyes danced from wall to wall, dizzy.

     "You - you fucker!" Lana hollered, grabbing Malfoy by his collar as he remained sprawled on the ground. Rigorously, she flipped him over. Stomping up beside her, I helped pin him down by sticking my wand under his chin, glaring into his eyes.

     "What did you do to Jenna?!" I demanded to know, pressing my wand harder against his pale skin, watching him cringe in fear. As I watched him, I couldn't help but notice how much paler he seemed, and skinny too. "What the hell have you done?!" I wailed, raising my voice, tears pricking the corners of my eyes. 

     "I-I, I didn't do anything to her!" Malfoy managed to sputter out, hand reaching towards his cloak pocket, but I stepped on his wrist, keeping it pinned down to the stones under it. "I didn't touch her," he hissed, growing angry. 

     "What did you do to that necklace?" Lana prodded, pressing her own wand against his temple, as if my threats weren't enough already.

     Draco's brow crumpled in feigned confusion and he frowned at the two of us, "I don't know what you are talking about. You-u'd both better r-release me right now, or else."

     "Or else what?" I sneered, vision practically growing red I was so seethingly pissed. "You'll tell your father?"

     "Don't talk about my father, you filthy Mudblood," Malfoy spat, straining against my wand to get in my face. For a moment, his anger matched my own. But, then it passed.

     I gripped my wand tighter and glared into his eyes, "You hurt Jenna. She's in the hospital wing. Why would you do that?! She's done nothing but be kind to you."

     "Right," he let out a boisterous laugh, twitching as I pushed the tip of my wand against his wind pipe, "Because stalking me is being friendly. I know you had her spy on me, Granger," he growled, countenance darkening, "The question is why. Developing a crush?" 

          "You wish." 

     "Shut up, Malfoy," Lana used her free hand to smack him over the forehead, causing his head to knock against the stone flooring. "Why did you curse her - that Katie girl?" 

     "I don't know what you are talking about." 

     "Don't try offering up that shit and calling it couscous, Malfoy," I rolled my eyes, but backed away a bit. "I know you won't tell us the real answer - so just listen to this: if you ever get near Jenna Chase again, even just if a teacher assigns you as partners, I will personally chop off your balls and feed them to you. You got that?"

     "You can't threaten me," he hissed, kicking Lana away with his feet and then shoving me as well, "You have no idea what I'm capable of, Mudblood."

     "You underestimate me," I hissed back, the three of us all getting to our feet. 

     Each of us quickly lowered our wands as the sound of footsteps approached, followed by the appearance of Professor Slughorn. 

     "Ah, Miss Granger," He acknowledged me, turning to Lana and Malfoy with a less familiar frown, "And Miss Dawes, Mr. Malloy." Sparing us a small grin, he waddled on his way, turning the corridor, "Have a great rest of the evening. I hope to see you at the dinner tomorrow, Miss Granger."

     Lana glanced at me with a small, curious brow and I turned to him with a nod, faking delight. "Of course, sir. I wouldn't miss it."

          Once he was gone, we turned back towards Malfoy, but he had disappeared.

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short, I know... sorry xD writer's block sucks