Melody Riddle and the Goblet of Fire

Chapter 38: Fudge's Denial

 "I don't know," I said in response to Madam Pomfrey's numerous questions about why I collapsed. "All I know is it happened and I didn't wake up until I was in here —"

"It could have been the crowd — did you feel claustrophobic?"

"No, I was fine, I —"

"Have you been getting enough sleep?"

"Yeah, I went to bed at — like — ten last night and —"

"How much water did you drink today?"

"I didn't eat or drink —"

"You didn't?" she gave me a disapproving look.

"Okay, look, I wasn't hungry —"

Madam Pomfrey tsked and walked out the room, leaving me sitting on the hospital wing bed. I shouldn't even be here. I had a vision is all... though I can't really tell anyone that... at all. No one even knows that I have visions except for dad, Marcus and Professor Trelawney.

I sighed, scooting back to lean against the bedpost. The real Alastor Moody, I noticed, lay motionless in a bed at the far end of the room, his wooden leg and magical eye lying on the bedside table. "I'm sorry, Mr. Moody..." I murmured softly.

Returning from her office, Madam Pomfrey held a tray of food and a glass of water. To think that she actually had that at hand for just such an occasion.

"No," I said instantly.

"My dear, you need to eat —"

"I'm not hungry. Don't give it to me. Even if I eat it I'll just throw it up."

She gave me a look, "Are you all right?"

I groaned, "Why is everyone asking me that? I'm fine! I'll eat something tomorrow, for heaven's sake. I'm just not hungry today."

Her mouth pursed into a thin line. "At least have some water," she said, coming over and placing the glass down on the table next to me. "There has to be some reason as to why you're not hungry. It could be an overflow of stress or anxiety, but your exams are all over."

"Nothing is wrong, Madam Pomfrey. You probably have some more important things to do now than to take care of me."

She shook her head before placing the food tray down onto the table next to me, and bustled over to her office. I sighed, looking at the food she left next to me. I still wasn't hungry.

The doors to the hospital wing burst open, and Severus came marching in. His eyes glittered almost murderously.

"What's got you looking so out of sorts?" I asked casually.

"Are you —"

"If you ask me about whether I'm all right or not, I might just blow up."

He pulled a seat up next to me and sat down, taking hold of my arm. He gave a concentrated frown and looked at me about as inquisitively as I was looking at him.

"What's this about?" I asked.

"Potter is telling Dumbledore about the Dark Lord's return. I heard through the door, perhaps wrongly, that the Dark Lord told his Death Eaters that your magic was used in the potion that revived him... except you seem quite healthy, and your magic is at full potential."

I swallowed. I had forgotten about that part. Not only that, but if they heard the whole story induced from the Truth Potion, then there's no escaping one specific detail... "Well.... I guess I have no choice... Becky and I were about to go to the library earlier this month, and he grabbed me and went off with me for the day. He threatened that no one should know he took some of my magic for this huge potion... I had to console Becky into not telling anyone about it, because I didn't want it getting back to you knowing you would be very angry about it. And...."