Brave [2]

Chapter 51

Taylor's the first.

I'm not sure exactly when they start shaking me, but the moment I feel it I snap out of my nightmare with a scream, eyes wide before I manage to slowly relax, recognising the face of Natalie McDonald, one of the fourth year Gryffindors. Before I even get the chance to ask what's going on – I swear it's only five in the morning or something, barely even light outside – when she splutters, "Romilda told me to get you! Cassia, we don't know what to do!"

I recognise the fear in her voice immediately, jumping out of bed and darting down the stairs, just pulling on Fred's jumper over my pyjamas in the process. I can hear shouts the moment my bare feet hit the stairs. "Let go of me! I said I'm fine! Geez, have Gryffindors never heard of personal space or something?"

"Taylor?" I'm surprised to hear her voice, knowing she doesn't know the password to get in this year. Someone must've told her or let it slip, but before I can even question why, I catch sight of her face.

Romilda Vane and Demelza Robins are trying to keep Taylor downstairs, stop her storming up to see me, but from the way she's shouting I'd be surprised if everyone's not awake soon. "What, do I have something on my face?" Taylor scoffs sarcastically when she notices me staring, stuck in the same spot near the bottom of the stairs. "I'm gonna get those sons of b–"

"Wait, did the Carrows do this?"

"Someone catches on quickly," Tay rolls her eyes, clearly irritated and taking it out on me. "Those bloody little–"

"Nat, can you just run up and get– Actually, I'll get him," I correct myself, not exactly wanting the young girl to go into a dorm full of seventeen year old sleeping boys. "Watch over Taylor, keep her down here, get her to keep quiet. There's still an hour of sleep for everyone else and they're going to get it."

The three Gryffindor girls nod determinedly, although I inwardly flinch when Romilda pushes Taylor onto the sofa, not exactly what I had in mind. I go to the other staircase, rushing up before getting into the seventh year boys' dorm.

It feels so empty without Harry and Ron, although Neville, Dean, Seamus and Aiden are still here. I hung out with them, of course, but I spent most of my time with Ron and Harry. It feels strange now.

Whereas I'd usually wake Aiden up by jumping on him, this time around I just shake him from the shoulders, trying to get him up. He groans, swatting me away, and I roll my eyes before shoving his shoulder again. This time he jumps up with a surprised yelp, then his eyes go wide as he pulls the blanket up to his chin. "Knocking's a great invention, you know!" he squeaks, hair messy in his face.

"I'll bet," I scoff. "Since when do you sleep without a shirt? In fact, not even going to question it. You need to put something on then come down. It's Taylor."

He takes a little longer to wake up. "What about Taylor. Why's she here?"

"The Carrows did something to her. One of her eyes are swelled up and there's a large gash across her forehead. Bring your wand – I don't know what to do and you're the only person I can think of."

At the mention of her injuries, Aiden starts, rolling right out of bed and finding himself sprawled all over the ground. "Ow."

"Put on some trousers, too."

I kick his leg jokingly before heading to the door, only for Neville's voice to bring me back to attention. "What's happening? Why're you asking Aiden down and to bring his wand?" The others are still asleep.

"Nothing's going on, go back to sleep," I hiss, but Neville's awake much faster than Aiden is, the latter pulling on a shirt and getting the buttons all mismatched from exhaustion. "Okay, fine," I give in when Nev gives me the look. "The Carrows hurt Taylor. But Aiden's going to change before coming down and sorting her out. You can go back to sleep."