The Matron
The walk to the hospital wing was a slow one, mostly because Vi was leaning heavily against Caitlyn, despite her grumblings of, “I can walk y’know.”
“Considering you almost face-planted again on the stairs up to the castle, I highly doubt that,” Caitlyn sighed the third time Vi tried to pull away and walk on her own.
“You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?” Vi grumbled, “bossing me around.”
Caitlyn chuckled under her breath. But she did grow a bit worried when she glanced at Vi’s glazed over eyes. She tightened her grip on the taller girl’s waist and kept marching towards the hospital.
By the time they made it to the infirmary, Madame Pomfrey was already waiting, hands on her hips, looking as though she had been expecting trouble.
“Sit.” The older witch had kind eyes, but still left no room for nonsense or debate. Caitlyn set Vi down on the cot nearest them, and Madame Pomfrey bustled over. Vi grabbed Caitlyn’s sleeve, and inquired sheepishly. “Are you leaving?”
Caitlyn took a look at Vi’s eyes and saw a flicker of fear there. She realized then that Vi had probably never been healed magically before, and made up her mind. Hesitating only a second, Caitlyn sighed and perched herself on the edge of the bed. “Unfortunately, I think I’d just find you doing something even dumber if I left.”
Madame Pomfrey shook her head, but got to work muttering different diagnostic spells as her wand traced over Vi’s body. The damage was clear: a broken humerus and a concussion.
As Madame Pomfrey made her way to the office to grab some supplies, Vi turned to Caitlyn. “So, what color cast should I get?”
“What color what?” Caitlyn was bewildered, concerned even.
“Cast. Like for my arm?” Now it was Vi’s turn to furrow her brows in confusion.
Madame Pomfrey returned and, with a light chuckle, interjected herself into their conversation. “We do things a bit differently than in the Muggle world, dear,” she informed Vi gently. “You’ll be using your arm again in a tick.”
“No cast?” Vi couldn’t help the relief in her voice. She really was not looking forward to being out of commission for weeks.
“No cast, just a simple draught.” Madame Pomfrey busied herself with dosing out different liquids for Vi to take, but Caitlyn looked at Vi.
“What is a cast?”
Chuckling, Vi opened her mouth to explain, but was met with a spoonful of the most vile liquid she had ever tasted, accompanied by a soft, older hand holding her jaw closed. It took Vi a minute to catch her bearings and swallow, her panicked eyes meeting those of the Matron looking down on her.
“Oh my god that’s awful!”
“I find that for the first time it’s better to catch you off guard. Miss Kiramman, please keep Miss Lanes talking. Bone mending can be a bit uncomfortable.”
Caitlyn nodded obediently. “Yes, of course Madame Pomfrey.” Turning to Vi, she continued. “So, a cast?”
“Oh yeah! Well when you break a bone in the Muggle World, the doctor will put this thing on you– OW!” Suddenly, Vi felt a searing pain as she felt her shoulder bones crack back together. It was done just as quick, but the pain still buzzed. “Oh fuck that hurt.”
“Language, Miss Lanes,” the Matron chided gently.
“Sorry!” Vi quickly apologized, flushing a light pink on her ears.
Madame Pomfrey shook her head good-naturedly and uncorked two more bottles. “Here, this is a pain draught and the next a sleeping potion,” she administered the two vials to her patient. “Because of your head injury, I’ll need to keep you overnight and keep an eye on you,” she explained. Vi looked dazedly up at her, the medication beginning to lull her as she closed her eyes.
Caitlyn, however, nodded immediately. “Alright.”
Vi’s eyes snapped open. “Wait, are you staying?”
Caitlyn crossed her arms. “Do you trust yourself not to make a dramatic escape attempt in the middle of the night?”
Vi grinned sleepily. “Nope.”
Caitlyn just sighed and settled into the chair next to the bed, arms crossed tightly against her chest. “Then I’m staying.”
Vi let her eyelids fall heavy, a small smile playing at her lips. “Didn’t know you cared so much, Kiramman.”
Caitlyn scoffed, but her tone lacked bite. “Shut up and go to sleep, Violet.”
And for once, Vi actually listened.