Chapter 50

My parents were safe at St. Mungo's, but there was no mention of whether they were injured or how severe their injuries might be. I was still worried, though not as anxious.

Severus and Lily insisted on coming with me to St. Mungo's. The hospital was a large room with several fireplaces along the walls. As we followed Professor McGonagall out, others were Apparating or using the fireplaces to travel, and a few people walked with us toward the exit.

Outside, the area resembled a waiting room, crowded and noisy with a variety of patients waiting. Despite the chaos, some of the scenes reminded me of the bizarre symptoms seen at St. Mungo's.

Professor McGonagall went straight to the desk on the far left, where a witch in a dark green robe sat, similar to the witches and wizards walking around with notepads, all bearing the emblem of crossed wands and bones on their chests.

"Hello, I'm here to visit the Hill family. They're Muggles. Can you tell me which ward they're in?"

"Muggles?" The witch didn't even bother to check the directory in front of her. "Yes, fifth floor, sixth door on the left, Wade Last Ward."

"Thank you." Professor McGonagall turned to signal us to follow.

As we made our way to the fifth floor, I grew increasingly anxious. I didn't think to familiarize myself with the hospital layout, despite it being a place I aspired to work at.

On the fifth-floor corridor, I saw Headmaster Dumbledore and a tall wizard standing together. Seeing our arrival, the headmaster, likely considering my urgent state, took me into the ward first.

Inside, only two people lay on beds, motionless and quiet, seemingly asleep.

"What's wrong with them?" I asked softly, afraid to disturb their slumber.

"Dreamless Sleep Potion," the headmaster indicated we step outside to talk.

Back in the corridor, nearly at the end with little foot traffic, the headmaster introduced me to the tall wizard waiting outside.

"Let me introduce you to Caradoc Dearborn. He participated in the rescue of your parents and can tell you what happened."

"Thank you so much for saving my parents!" I bowed sincerely, deeply grateful to him and immensely thankful to Headmaster Dumbledore for establishing the Order of the Phoenix, which allowed such timely rescue.

"It was a team effort from other Order members," Dearborn said earnestly. "When I arrived, the Death Eaters were already inside your home and had captured your parents. But they didn't leave immediately. Some enjoy torturing Muggles..."

My heart sank. "They stayed to torture my parents, which delayed them, allowing you to rescue them?"

"That's essentially correct," Dearborn said seriously. "The Hills endured over five minutes of the Cruciatus Curse. This curse causes more harm to Muggles than to wizards. They're very weak now and will need time to recover fully."

Cruciatus Curse. I clenched my teeth and fists to suppress the urge to scream.

"Don't worry too much; the chief healer will give you a detailed report," he reassured.

I forced a smile and thanked him again.

After seeing off Dearborn and Dumbledore, I found the chief healer, Burns Capello. He confirmed what Dearborn had said and added a bit more.

"In addition to physical damage, the Cruciatus Curse also causes significant mental harm. During treatment, it was difficult to calm them down, requiring extra doses of calming draught. The Dreamless Sleep Potion will keep them under until tomorrow morning, by which time their physical condition will mostly recover. However, they will need more time to regain their pre-injury health. When they wake up, they might experience mental distress, and you'll need to help them adjust."

I sat in the ward quietly for a while before leaving. Back at Hogwarts, the three of us quickly settled into the Room of Requirement.

"Sawyer, it's good that your parents are safe. They'll be okay," Lily said, sitting beside me as I silently flipped through a book.

"I'm fine. If it weren't for you two being by my side, I might have broken down." I squeezed Lily's hand and glanced at Severus sitting in a single armchair, conveying my gratitude without words.

"Don't be silly. We were always going to be here for you," Severus said, annoyed, glaring at me.

Lily pinched my cheek. "Alright, cheer up. We have our O.W.L.s in a month! Have you finished revising your potions? Your calming draught hasn't been perfected, has it? If you get tested on that, you're doomed!"

I exhaled deeply. Sometimes, a nightmare is best defeated by another, and thinking about potions was a good distraction from my gloom.

It was already past one in the afternoon, and I hadn't had lunch. Despite the short duration of the morning, so much had happened, and now that I was relaxing, I felt exhausted. I asked Tito to prepare some food and stayed in the hideout to eat and rest.

After lunch and a short nap, too lazy to return to my dormitory, I asked the Room of Requirement to add two bedrooms, one single and one double.

Lily peeked into the double room, rolled her eyes, and then darted into the single room ahead of Severus.

"You two need to talk. I won't get in the way." She made a face and shut the door.

Severus and I exchanged amused looks. I walked into the double room, turned to see Severus still standing there, and went back to pull him in.

"I'll just stay on the couch," he said awkwardly, trying to back away.

"Don't bother. There are two beds inside, and it's just a nap," I said, dragging him into the room. "Unless you're afraid I might eat you?"

Severus glared at me, both embarrassed and annoyed, which only amused me further.

Pushing him to sit on the bed by the window, I closed the door, casually took off my outer robe, and lay on the other bed.

"Good afternoon!" I turned to see Severus still sitting there. Realizing he wasn't comfortable undressing in front of someone, I turned my back to him.

A moment later, I heard rustling behind me and the quiet creak of the bed as he lay down. I turned to see him lying on his back, eyes closed, the blanket pulled up to his chest, his prominent nose quite striking from the side.

"Severus?" I called softly.

"Hmm?" He turned his head slightly, looking at me questioningly.

"I was really scared today," I said, my eyes unfocused on his bed's edge. "If anything had happened to my parents… I can't even think about it; it makes me feel cold all over."

Severus was silent for a few seconds, then spoke in a calming tone. "It's over now. They're safe."

"You know how important they are to me, right?"

If they hadn't adopted me, I would have grown up in an orphanage, perhaps living a difficult life. When I first arrived in this strange world as a helpless baby, unable to understand English, the anxiety and fear were overwhelming. Isaya and Hughes treated me as their own, ensuring I had enough to eat and wear, loving me as their own. Despite not being affluent, they gave me a home and the love of a family, allowing me to grow up healthy and happy.

In the early years, I often dreamt of my past life's parents and brother, waking up crying at night. As a small child, I could cry as much as I wanted. Isaya and Hughes, not knowing what I had experienced, took turns holding and comforting me until I fell asleep again. It wasn't until I was about three years old that I truly integrated into this family, accepting this new world and deciding to enjoy my new life.

Isaya and Hughes are the most important people to me.

"I understand. Just like Eileen is important to me," Severus murmured.

Though his situation was different from mine, I didn't need to explain; he understood the importance of family.

"Severus?"

"Hmm?"

"Can I sleep next to you?"

"Uh!?"

"I'm feeling very fragile right now... I need your hug for comfort."

"…"

"Then I'm coming over."

I jumped to his bed barefoot, looking at him expectantly. After a moment of hesitation, he sighed and lifted the blanket. Satisfied, I snuggled into his arm, laying a hand on his chest.

I kissed his prominent nose. "Good afternoon, Severus."

Not knowing how long had passed, I slowly woke up, feeling a gaze on me. I looked up to meet Severus's deep black eyes. Leaning closer, our lips met in a gentle kiss.

It was a warm, dry kiss, without any tongue, just a quiet closeness, sharing warmth.

After a long time, we separated, smiling at each other, stretching as we got up.

When I left the room, Lily was already on the sofa reading. She quickly put her book aside, looking at me from head to toe with a mischievous glint before shaking her head in disappointment, muttering, "Such a wasted opportunity..."

Realizing what she meant, I blushed and cleared my throat loudly in warning. Fortunately, she didn't pursue the topic, just hiding her laughter behind her book.

It was already past three in the afternoon. A good hour-long nap had refreshed me. We settled down to study quietly, the room filled with the soft murmurs of recitation.

I closed my Potions notes and was about to grab my Transfiguration book when I found a few letters tucked inside. They were the ones I had received in the morning. In my rush to find Dumbledore, I had slipped them into the book.

I reread the letters, wondering why the Malfoys had informed me.

"Sawyer, get back to studying—what are you reading? Oh, that letter from the Malfoys." Lily peered over to join me.

"Why did they tell you this? I still don't get it," Lily said, puzzled.

"They mentioned that Narcissa likes her 'cute little cousin'—is that it? Didn't you say she usually ignored you?"

I smiled wryly. "Compared to Bellatrix's hostility, Narcissa's indifference seems almost kind. Maybe I don't understand what 'like' means to the aristocracy."

"They mentioned you're Severus's girlfriend," Lily pointed out. "Could it be because of his friendship with the Malfoys?"

"Maybe. Or Malfoy guessed I wouldn't comply. Either way, I would end up opposing the Death Eaters and joining the Order. So, he saw an opportunity to gain favor by helping me. Now, both Severus and I owe him."

"How did he know you wouldn't comply? What if you agreed to be a spy to save your parents? Wouldn't that be a loss for the Death Eaters?" Lily quickly added, "I know you wouldn't."

I might have, but I would make sure the Death Eaters suffered. I would seek Dumbledore's help and, even as a double agent, cause them as much trouble as possible for endangering my parents.

"Even if I became their spy, it would be Bellatrix's doing, not the Malfoys'. What benefit would there be for them? Remember, one is a Lestrange, the other a Malfoy."

"Plus, this information came from Narcissa, benefiting you and involving the four of us. It ties Narcissa to your network," Severus added. "Slytherins are protective of their own, and Malfoy values family highly. Given his friendship with me, he'd prepare a fallback plan for Narcissa."

"Isn't Malfoy all about self-interest?" Lily asked, puzzled.

"That's what friends can discover," Severus replied, raising an eyebrow. "I don't mind showing my good side to friends."

"Slytherins do like their twisted logic," Lily sighed.

I laughed. "Which is why you're a Gryffindor, straightforward to the end!"

"And proud of it! There's nothing wrong with being direct," Lily insisted.

"Exactly. That's why I love—" I pounced on Lily, ruffling her hair. "—you so much!"

Severus watched us with a faint smile, shaking his head as he returned to his book.

Looking at Severus's calm demeanor and Lily's flustered face, I felt a deep sense of contentment.

You two are the most important people in my life.