Hello everybody, I have to admit, this story is giving me a terrible time but I am determined to finish at least this section. The third book for this story isn't as exiting as the other books mostly because Sirius is free already but hey once the fourth book starts that's when things get fun again. Thanks to all of those who have stuck by this story even after all the long waits, you guys are amazing.

Chapter 17

Waking up slowly, Rowena didn't recognize where she was until she looked around to find various other beds surrounding her. That meant she was in the infirmary.

"Why did I get here?" She whispered surprised and confused.

Slowly brushing the bedding away she turned herself and gently stood from the bed. For a moment she just stayed put before slowly making her way over to the windows overlooking the grounds to see that it was night time.

"MISS POTTER!" Came a shout that made her jump a foot in the air before spinning to see Madam Pomfrey standing there, clearly dressed in bedclothes, hands on her hips as she stared at her like a mother dragon. "What are you doing out of that bed young lady? You've been sick for the past three days and you think you're ready to get out of bed!"

"Three days." She whispered shocked.

"Yes three days, now get back into that bed this instant." Madam Pomfrey ordered while bustling over and ushering her towards the bed.

Once in the bed the woman began to wave her wand over her until she gave a soft hum.

"You're fever is gone, which is a relief, it finally broke last night but it was still a bit too high for my liking today. Are you hungry dear?" The woman questioned.

"Actually... I bit yes." She answered honestly knowing that the woman would at least appreciate that.

"Then I'll summon a house elf to get you something light to eat. While you eat, we're going to have a little discussion as to why you should never starve yourself." The woman remarked making Rowena's eyes grow wide.

"I... I wasn't starving myself. I was just not hungry." She told Pomfrey making the woman glare at her before her expression softened. "Well the next time that happens, come to me, al right dear?"

"I'll try Madam Pomfrey." She agreed earning a nod from the woman who then bustled away.

It was only a few moments later that she returned, holding a tray that she swiftly placed on her lap. When the lid was lifted Rowena had to smile. The house elves knew her far too well.

Taking her fork she began to dig into her chicken Alfredo while Pomfrey bustled around. When she was done she was allowed to read a book for an hour before getting some more rest. It was five hours later that she woke up, feeling far more refreshed then she had since returning from the Christmas Holidays. Sitting up she checked the time to see that it was just a bit past seven.

"Ah up are we." Pomfrey greeted while bustling over another tray in her hands. "Good, I'll be able to inform you're Head of House that you're awake. He was very clear that I was to inform him when you awoke. Seeing as it was rather late last night, I thought it best to postpone that to today."

"Thank you Madam Pomfrey." She gratefully said before removing the cover to her tray revealing two sunny side eggs, bacon, ham, sausage and home fries, with toast and jam on the side.

Slowly digging into her breakfast, she allowed herself time to savor the food but it seemed like she wouldn't be able to do that for long as a dozen minutes into her meal, the doors to the infirmary were opened and in walked her head of house, his normal frown in place.

Knowing she was going to get told off she gave a dejected sound before taking one last piece of bacon and placing her tray onto the table.

"Finally awake are you miss Potter." Her head of House greeted making her look up at him.

Looking into his eyes she saw anger, worry and disappointment in them and ducked her head.

"I am extremely disappointed in you Miss Potter. You're irresponsibility has worried you're friends. What, pray tell, caused you to loose so much sleep and eat so little that it made you sick?" He drawled making her bight her lip nervously.

"Nightmares." She lied not looking up from her hands. "It won't happen again Professor."

"I hope not Miss Potter because I am very certain that Cassandra and Narcissia wouldn't be very happy to hear that you ended up in the hospital wing because of exhaustion. I don't think you want to receive a letter little alone a visit from either or even both woman." He threatened making her look up shocked. "Now, finish you're breakfast."

With that he left leaving her alone until the platter was taken from the bed side table and place on top of her lap and she looked to see Madam Pomfrey giving her a narrow eyed look that made her gulp before continuing to eat.

...

"Why didn't you say something Row!" Hermione exclaimed making Rowena wince. "I could have tried to help!"

"Hermione, when it comes to gathering those souls, there isn't much you can do. I can deal with this." She told her friends. "Please, don't worry about me. I'm going to handle everything."

With that she turned and made her way into their library to get some homework done. Making her way towards the back of the library she sat in one of her favourite chairs, a deep comfortable chair that she could easily curl up on and do homework.

"They worry about you, you know." Came the unmistakable voice of Lord Damien Blackthorn. "They care for you and want to make sure you're in good health."

"I know, I guess, even with the last few years, people taking care of me, isn't something I know how to handle." She remarked while looking up at the painting of the man who gave her a smile.

"Yes but you just need to let them in a bit more. They care for you dear and maybe by opening up and accepting love will level the burden you've gained." He remarked making Rowena frown. "Just consider it Rowena, you're still young, you should be able to trust people to help you through your life, especially as a Guardian. Well what homework are you working on?"

"Transfiguration, I have five feet of parchment to do." She muttered earning a soft hum from the man who fell silent, allowing her to work on her homework in peace. It was hours later when she finished her paper and put it away did she rise to her feet and stretched.

"Wonder what time it is." She whispered before shaking her head and leaving the library. Arriving in the common area she found it pretty dark and noticed both Ron and Hermione asleep. Guessing she best join them she swiftly changed and climbed in.

…

Opening her eyes, Rowena frowned as she found herself in a home. Looking around, her heart sank to the bottom of her stomach as she noticed the dead body of a man lying against the wall, eyes empty and blood pooling around him.

Slowly walking over she grasped the small soul before continuing her search. She found two other souls after the fathers, his wife's and a little girl. Going to the last room she arrived to find it empty. There was no blood even though it had clearly been the room of a baby. Eyes widening she sent the souls to Ron knowing he would receive them before allowing her magic to spread out. It was because of that that she realised that there were still two more souls inside the house. Frowning at their close proximity she disappeared and reappeared where they could be found.

Turning her eyes narrowed as she spotted the man hovering dangerously close to the little girl who was cowering in a corner, fear in her eyes. For a moment she didn't know what to do. Her magic was telling her that it wasn't time for that little girl to die but she couldn't interfere on her own. She couldn't…

Eyes widening at the idea spinning in her head she took a deep breath.

"This better work." She whispered before walking towards the man. Shakily raising one hand she let it dip into the man before walking into him completely.

It was an odd sensation, being in somebody else's body. She didn't know how to explain it but it was very weird. Feeling the left arm rising she concentrated and held it firm in place.

"What the hell!" The man exclaimed clearly surprised and angry but it was this that gave the tiny little girl enough chance to escape her corner and run up the stairs. Keeping hold of the man as long as she could, it was sadly not long until she was repelled.

Stumbling back she gasped for air before watching the man speed out of the basement. Taking a deep breath she followed suit, running after him until they arrived in the living room where she was very happy to find Police officers standing by, guns raised. Clearly somebody had heard the racket caused by the man and had called the police.

"Put your hands up!" One officer shouted.

"You'll never take me alive!" The man shouted clearly panicked as he tried to get out of the house only to be shot down by a police officer with a rather good aim.

Walking over to the body she bent down and slowly plucked the soul from the body, looking at it she could see that black and grey color the soul held. Shaking her head she rose and looked to see the little girl crying in a female officer's arm.

"I wish you luck little one, you might have survived this but it's to survive after this that will be hard." She murmured before disappearing.

Arriving at the door of death she let the soul go from her hand and let it float towards Ron who glare at it before the door changed, not wanting to watch, Rowena disappeared not really wanting to see what would happen to the despicable soul that had harmed and finished so many lives.

Eyes opening, Rowena looked up at the ceiling before letting a shaky breath leave her lips. Turning around she closed them once more and curled to her pillow before allowing Hermione's magic to lull her to slip and into peaceful dreams.