14. Silenced

                                    

                                          
Lucy couldn't wait until she got home.  She changed back into human form just as she rounded the corner and walked calmly the rest of the way to her apartment, tears pouring down her face.  She felt stupid getting so upset, but she couldn't help it.  She had just spent a wonderful morning with Severus and she didn't want to leave when it was over.  She didn't want to leave him at all.  Ever.  Unfortunately, because of her disease, she didn't have much choice in the matter.  That's why she had hugged him so tightly.  It was a silent way to say goodbye.  She unlocked the apartment door and walked inside.  Her wand was still lying carelessly on the coffee table.  She hadn't even bothered to take it with her.  She wiped her eyes and shut the door behind her.  She had a lot to do.  She had to have something to keep her busy.  
                          
Jo got home that night just as she was finishing up the cleaning.  Dinner had been made and the dishes were already set out on the table, but seeing her friend's tear-streaked face when she burst through the door told her that she wasn't going to be in the mood for a friendly meal.
                          
"Jo, what's wrong?" Lucy asked the minute she saw her.  
                          
Jo sniffed.  "It's Chad.  He was attacked just outside The Potion Notion.  I tried to stop them, but they cursed him before I got the chance."  She raced around the room gathering a few things.
                          
"Who?" she demanded.
                          
"Death Eaters.  It just happened, Lucy.  I came straight here after I took him to St. Mungo's."
                          
Lucy gasped.  "Oh my goodness!  Do you know what they wanted?  I mean, why they went after Chad."
                          
Jo sobbed out loud.  "No.  He was on his way to the store.  He sent me an owl and said there was something important he had to tell me.  But he never got the chance."
                          
She rushed over and wrapped her arms around her friend.
                          
"I closed the store early.  I'm going to stay with him.  I want to see if there's anything they can do for him.  He was hit with three curses at once.  One is bad enough.  He was bleeding."
                          
Lucy squeezed her tighter.  "I'm coming with you to the hospital."
                          
"You don't have to do that," Jo told her.  "I know you've been spending a lot of time in your room because you don't feel well."
                          
"I feel good enough to support my best friend.  I already went out once today.  I went to see Severus."
                          
"You did?"
                          
"Yes.  It was nice.  But I'll tell you about that later.  Is there anything else you need?"
                          
Jo nodded.  "A blanket."
                          
"We can get that from the hospital."
                          
"Lucy, what would Death Eaters want with Chad?  He wouldn't hurt a fly."
                          
She shrugged.  "I don't know.  Hopefully, that's something that Chad will be able to tell us."
                          
Jo and Lucy gathered a few more things.  Lucy picked up her wand off the coffee table.  She had better take it with her in case she needed it.  They opened the door and in fluttered Speedy.  Jo raised an eyebrow.  Lucy took the letter from her beak and patted her on the head.  The owl flew away, thankfully, because she didn't want to have to push her out the door.  Lucy took the letter with her as she went out the door.  Jo needed her more than Severus needed an answer right now, so she would read it and respond later.
                          

                          
~ * ~
                          

                          
Lucy paced back and forth on the shiny linoleum floor.  The nurses would only allow one person at a time in the room and Jo had been in there with him since they arrived.  She came out every hour or so to report that he was stable, but there was no change.  They had been there over four hours already and it was getting late.  She swayed a little.  Dinner had been long forgotten, so she was a little dizzy.  She hunted down a snack machine and got her a small bag of chips.  Lucy was extremely nervous.  All she could think about was the reason Chad had been attacked by Death Eaters.  Did they know they had killed the wrong one?  Were they after her again?  She prayed that wasn't the reason.  Otherwise Jo might not ever speak to her again.  She swore silently if Chad made it out of this alive that she would tell her the day he was cleared from the hospital.