The Last Drop |Tom Riddle|

Chapter Eleven: Life Is A Dream

(Before I begin, I just want to say, I never knew Wattpad showed statistics for each story and like I finally got a look at it and it just blew my mind. I've been on this thing since 2012 and I've come across so many people who've supported my stories all the way through so just know, I really appreciate all of you and so sorry I haven't been updating in ages. Summer vacation is finally here so I'm ready to be back as long as I get the same support in return!)

Colin

The ambush was handled effortlessly despite being caught off guard.

Wiping a drop of blood from his lip on his long coat sleeve, Colin caught his breath that chilled his lungs and looked around. It was hard to focus on Eleanor when he had a whole team to lead.

As if he weren't angered enough by the situation those boys had put him in now, Colin had watched them blow up the ice beneath Eleanor's feet as they continued to run away. They were visible injured even from the other side of the river and were barely getting away. But of course, they strayed away from the plan and let themselves get caught. By who, though? That question was on the front of his mind but just as the other Aurors began rushing to find Eleanor who was somewhere beneath the river now, she was his only concern.

Colin apparated on the ice, careful not to crack it even more with the force of the apparation and took off running as fast as he could while trying not to slip.

Three unrecognizable men were standing by her body, now brought out from the water, and he narrowed his eyes at the one who was clutching her.

Deep down something told him it was that vile monster Tom Riddle, a man he had been studying since they met at the New Years party when his men were caught in a fight behind the scenes. He had reasons to believe that he was not only romantically pursuing Eleanor but something more.

Never mind that, Eleanor was nearly dead as she was left laying there on the ice. Despite his ultimate concern for her, he wondered what was really going on that she wasn't telling him.

---

The bone chilling cold that felt like one's body was an icicle did not fade even after the near full day Eleanor spent in bed.

St.Mungos was home to many ailments whether acute or long term, nestled in the guise of a department store near the Ministry. Since becoming an Auror, Eleanor's recklessness landed her more times than she could count on her two hands.

The room was small, home to a bed reminding her of that of Hogwarts' infirmary but much more bright with the fluorescent light stinging her  eyes as they opened and a semi more comfortable bed that she tried to burrow herself in.

But against all desires, Eleanor was awake.

Healers roamed the hallways, the pigment of their green robes different for what level they were. Different floors were a different hazard and it was almost chaotic to see how things were handled with patients suffering dragon pox here and paperwork flying there just outside the door.

But as Eleanor came to her senses, the shivers came to life as well and her body was freezing cold and she was horribly sore. As she tried to sit up, remembering the last few moments she was conscious, she sharply inhaled at the way her back spazzed.

"Merlin's sake..." She hissed.

Even when she needed the moments of peace to wake up, it wasn't long before her friends bombarded the door.

"Bloody hell, you're alive!" Marcella shrieked, Julius and James trailing behind her.

In a strange moment of thought, Eleanor could not speak as her eyes just merely lingered on her two friends and brother. In that moment she felt like they were back at Hogwarts again. Their faces, although filled with worry for their friend showed an innocence she only knew of from their teenage years. She looked on at them perplexed by her own thoughts but overcome with a sense of comfort that these were the first three people she saw and somehow, after all these years, it made her happy to see that the were still at her side.