2 Blood, tears and cold

"Right now, to the infirmary!" Albus spoke to the hairy giant who had just arrived at Hogwarts.

Hagrid took a few large steps without saying anything and was in the infirmary in a matter of minutes. Poppy was already there, as she always was, and didn't want to waste any more time. She told Rubeus where the dying lady should be placed in his arms. Apart from that, there was nothing Poppy couldn't handle when it came to the health of her patients.

While tucking Fiona in and adjusting her pillows, Pomfrey told the kind man, "Thank you very much, sir."

"You are most welcome, madam..." Rubeus' cheeks had changed color and were now a darker shade of red. Few people expressed their gratitude to him, but when they did, he felt like he was going to burst with joy. He was ecstatic when he could help others, and he showed it. He didn't that day. It was a very serious situation for anyone to be celebrating anything. "Well, if ye don't require my services, permit me to — " When the infirmary doors swung open, Hagrid grumbled.

"I see the lady is safe and sound. Thank you very much, Hagrid..." Dumbledore informed the giant, who bowed respectfully to the old man.

Albus then approached Fiona's bed and placed his palm on her forehead. "We'll show her that there's still hope, and I'll do everything I can to help, Poppy..."

"Meanwhile, I still need to get all of that poison out of her system. Please, sir, allow me to finish my work right now!" In response, the nurse stated.

She had to do what she needed to do in order to resurrect Fiona. Besides, the clock was ticking, and Fiona was dying on her with each passing second.

Albus was outside the infirmary and heading towards the Great Hall by the time Poppy was giving her fellow nurses orders. Dinner was being served, and he had to be there as usual. What he wasn't sure of was the best way and time to inform his students that there was another witch in the school. A witch whom the Hogwarts students had never met before. He could tell the kids right now, but... was everyone ready to learn about Fiona?

No. In fact, no one was prepared, not even the boy who survived, because the kids had other issues to deal with. Above all, they had to confront the danger they were in because Voldemort was still roaming the streets, committing his heinous crimes.

That day, the Great Hall was brimming with happiness. From simple sandwiches to steak and kidney pies, the young witches and wizards ate a little bit of everything that was served.

The old man made a mental note to make sure their visitors got a taste of something simple but delicious. He was determined to ensure she was treated as well as possible, and not allowing her to eat something she craved was clearly not in his plans.

Meanwhile, a young witch from the Ravenclaw table noticed Dumbledore's concerned expression. Her brilliant eyes twinkled with wonder, but she didn't dare to speak up in front of her Ravenclaws. She was also a girl who didn't have many friends. She was, however, more alone, and she had to admit that she enjoyed being alone.

That way, she could do a lot more things than she could when she was around other people: she could spend more time alone with the mythical creatures that only a few witches and wizards could see, she could read even more than usual, and she could write her own stories. Yes, that was Luna Lovegood, a lovely, inventive witch who was both like and unlike the other witches in her Hogwarts house.

Luna made a mental note to find out what was bothering Albus and what was causing him to be so irritable. Luna was sweet and innocent, but she wasn't stupid. She had a keen sense of what was going on and could tell when something wasn't quite right. The only thing she had to do was wait, enjoy dinner, and make an effort to see what was going on when everyone was supposed to be sleeping. She took another bite of her favorite spaghetti with a slight shrug; it was delicious!

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Poppy finished the last potion she had to give and sat in the chair she had placed right next to Fiona's bed. The Supreme was still sleeping, but she didn't appear to be in any danger. Poppy became concerned because she was sleeping so peacefully. What if the potions didn't work?

"They will, however. It's simply too soon to make such assumptions..."

Fiona was given a closer look by the nurse. Pomfrey's heart broke when she saw how vulnerable she was in the face of death. It was a disgrace that such a beautiful woman took her own life.

"Everyone, however, has their own reasons... I'm hoping that a second chance will persuade you to reconsider..." Pomfrey let out a sigh.

"Cordelia... what... what did I tell you about pitting other...people against each other?" Fiona spoke in hushed tones.

Pomfrey immediately took the Supreme's hand in her own. It was still cold.

"I'm sorry, my lady... this is not Cordelia..."

Silence. Anyone entering the room would only be able to hear the two women breathing.

"Am... am I dead?" Goode inquired, this time looking at Poppy. "Is this...Paradise or Hell, at the very least?"

"No, my lady, you are not dead! You're on our side... You're no longer in danger..." Pomfrey responded.

"And... where... where is this place...that I can finally be safe?"

"This is Hogwarts, sweetheart, and more specifically, this is the school's infirmary... where you were admitted as soon as possible, of course... and I am the one who managed to cleanse all that poison from your belly and blood... I'm Poppy Pomfrey!" The nurse clenched her fists.

"Oh, what have you done, Poppy..."