“Where is he?” My voice shattered into fragments of sound, blood cascading through my ears.

Nathaniel glanced in my direction, an emotion flickering behind his eyes at my question. The inquiry appeared to rattle him to his quaking core.

"Malcolm...he was hurt in the process of saving me from the merciless chase of the Griffyndor Pack,” Nathaniel's voice came out thick and filled with remorse. He paused, composing himself before adding, “It was my folly. He did everything he could do to get me home safe, even putting himself in danger on my behalf.”

The air around us filled with his words, the syllables aching to bring forth an apology...