The first out of the hospital wing

The week passed quickly and mostly uneventfully. After lessons had finished, I went and played Wizard's chess with Peggy until one of us won. Throughout the week, I progressively got better and even managed to beat Peggy who had won the chess tournament last year.

We played Quidditch in all the Herbology lessons and Flying lessons of the week. That was one of the best things, as we learned better control of broomsticks (and the balls).


It was Thursday afternoon, Flying last lesson, a beautifully sunny afternoon and it was Ravenclaw Mixed vs. Slytherin Mixed. I had just managed to knock the Slytherin beaters off their brooms and we were winning by 50 points to 10.

From my place watching the match, I saw someone swaggering onto the pitch.

It was Luella.
She wore a smirk on her face as she swaggered on.


I was so busy glaring at Luella that when one of the Slytherins sent a bludger flying at me, it crashed right into the side of my head, and sent me toppling to the ground.
I thrust out my arm to catch my broom, but I was too late and I was just falling.


With a dull thud, I landed on the ground with no pain except from where the bludger had collided with my head.

"Hm, the ground seems rather springy today," I said, bouncing up and down on the unusually springy ground.

"That's because you landed on me, you great oaf!" A muffled voice said from under me.


I knew it was Luella, but I decided to act dumb.

"It's quite strange that the ground is like this."

"Get. Off. Me." Luella's muffled voice said from under me.

I then decided to act all innocent.

"Oh Luella, is that you that I am sitting on? Oh I am so sorry, I had no idea!"

"Just get your fat butt off me."

I raised an eyebrow and pursed my lips. Above me the match was still going on.

I sat down even harder onto her.

"C'mon Bolt! You're needed up here!" shouted one of my teammates.

Sighing, I got up and hopped onto my broom and grabbed the bludger bat.

Soaring into the air, I primed the bat to whack the bludgers to and fro.


I saw a bludger whizzing towards Scott McCraig, and even though I had seen him with Luella, I didn't want to see him hurt.

Urging my broom to go faster, I zoomed towards the oncoming bludger and intercepted the hit before Scott lost the Quaffle or got hurt.



The Quidditch ended and so did school.



The teams landed their brooms and gathered up their brooms and robes.



I saw Chicken, Titch and Stan all waiting for me by the stands.

"Hi guys!" I called to them. "Any news?"

Their faces which were normally so full of happiness were grave and serious.

"Annie, I didn't want to be the one to tell you this, but your friend Tash has fared far worse than Madam Pomfrey thought she would. She told me to pass on this message to you. Tash is being transported to St. Mungo's due to that stunner that hit her in her chest. She's in a very deep coma and the next few hours are crucial to her survival. The school have contacted her parents and they are on their way to St. Mungo's. Madam Pomfrey wants you to go up to the hospital wing right now."



I was shocked. "But, I went into the hospital wing every day! Tash seemed fine!"

Then suddenly it all made sense. That was why Luella had been smirking at me.

"Guys, I'll see you later."
Without another word, I sped from the Quidditch pitch, past some 5th years throwing dungbombs at each other, past some boys playing gobstones.
My feet literally flew as I ran.
"Hey Annie!" I heard Nike call, but I didn't answer.
I continued to sprint up to the steps of the school, past the stone hogs and up the enormous staircases, all the way to the hospital wing.

I burst through the doors to see a sight which made my heart stop.
Tash's parents, Madam Pomfrey and Laurie, who had come to earlier that day, all crowded around Tash's bed.

Tears were streaming down Tash's mother's face and her father wore a grim look on his face.
All I could think was It's all my fault. Tash might be dying, and it would be all because of me.

My bag slid off my shoulder and landed on the floor by the door.
With numb legs, I walked over to Tash's bedside. She was unconscious in her bed.
I crouched down by her bed and held one of her hands in mine.
"Please Tash, you'll get through this, you've got to."
Someone put their hand on my shoulder, but I shook it off.
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I didn't take my eyes off of Tash.
"Miss Bolt, she can't stay here. Miss Helyar has to be taken to St. Mungo's if she is to survive." Madam Pomfrey's voice sounded above my head.

Gently, she pulled me away from Tash, who was put onto a stretcher and was taken outside to a portkey with two paramedic wizards.

"Please Tash, survive. Live to see another day."