Delirium

Chapter 31 - Hospital

a/n hiiii!! DOUBLE UPDATE DAY!!!

sorry it's been a little longer than expected! these chapters (and the next...) took me forever to work on.

i hope you all enjoy :)

happy reading!

CW// Blood & minor injury description

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The pain in his head, nose, and hand had not registered in the heat of the moment.

The freezing rain soaking through his kit, the screams of the crowd, the threats of the professors—none of it had mattered.

All George had seen, as he'd tried to recover from the impact into Warrington's shoulder and the blood dripping down his face, was Warrington yanking Fred up off the ground by the collar of his cloak, choking him.

George was diving down to the grassy plain of the pitch in an instant.

He hadn't had a plan. Wasn't sure what he was going to do.

But with one look at the inflamed, red mark around Fred's neck, he knew he wanted to hurt Warrington in a way that the wizard would not soon forget.

He'd landed. Couldn't remember doing so, but he had.

As he approached, he saw Katie. Sweet, kind, gentle Katie trying to pull Warrington back, her hand on his shoulder.

Then Warrington's elbow came down, striking her.

George saw red.

He swung.

Then, he was sitting over Warrington, his right arm straining as he landed blow, after blow, after blow.

He couldn't remember if the wizard had tried to fend him off.

He had felt a sting. A jinx. Right in his chest.

But George hadn't stopped.

He felt nothing at all except adrenaline and pure rage coursing through him, fast and burning like Fiendfyre in his veins.

Then the world came back to him.

Cassius Warrington laid unmoving beneath him, his bloodied face stoic and wilted, eyes shut as though he were asleep.

Professor Flitwick's wand was pointed right in George's eyeline. Flitwick was shouting, but he couldn't tell what he'd been saying. He only saw the look of distress in the old professor's eyes, coalescing with remorse and disappointment.

George doubted he'd ever had to raise his wand to a student before.

So he had stood up, complying.

Soon after, the world had gone dark and quiet.

Now, in the hospital wing, his senses finally returned to him.

It was bright. And loud.

At the back wall, nearest the windows, Professor Dumbledore seemed to be talking through the events of today's match with McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick, and Sprout.

The Gryffindor Head of House looked angry and perhaps a bit uneasy as Snape spoke.

George could not hear what Snape was saying, but his mouth was tight, his words obviously clipped and furious.