In Which Gilderoy is an Idiot
I may have avoided Gilderoy most of the day. Not because I don't want to talk to him, because I really do. Mostly because I feel like he can read my mind. Or this journal. Not that I said anything bad about him...it's just weird. I'm weird. I feel awkward. Which is normal, I'm an awkward person, but not really around Gilderoy so I'm not really sure what's going on. The point is, by the time Charms came around, I was standing outside the door well after class had started, sweating.
When I finally found the courage to push open the door and walk into the room, Professor Flitwick was not very happy.
"You're late, Mr. Pettigrew!"
"I'm sorry, Professor."
I looked around for Gilderoy, but didn't see him at our usual table.
"Professor, where's Gilderoy?"
"Mr. Lockhart has been cursed. He's in the hospital wing being treated."
My mouth fell open. Gilderoy was cursed? I turned on my heal and sprinted out of class, even though Flitwick was calling after me. I just needed to see if he was alright.
I probably ran farther than I ever have without stopping, and only minutes later arrived in the hospital wing, gasping for air.
"Peter!" It was Gilderoy, and he looked completely fine. He actually looked quite happy.
"Gilderoy! Flitwick said you'd been cursed!"
I walked over to his bedside. He was sitting up while Madam Pomfrey was mixing something in a bottle beside him.
"Cursed? No. The idiot broke his arm."
That was Madam Pomfrey, who turned around to look at both of us with the potion in her hand.
"What? How?"
Gilderoy looked a bit embarrassed.
"I was walking up the stairs and didn't see that the staircase had moved, so I walked right off the end of it and fell down a couple floors. I was really embarrassed and didn't want to explain what happened to Pomfrey, so I, uh..."
"He tried to mend it himself."
"Gilderoy, you're a genius! Where did you learn to do that?"
"I didn't. That's why it didn't fucking work and I ended up getting rid of the bones instead of mending them."
Gilderoy sheepishly held up his left arm, which was entirely limp and bent like rubber. I must admit, I almost laughed.
"So I've got to give him some Skele-Gro to grow them back."
Madam Pomfrey shook the bottle pointedly.
"And apparently it's going to hurt like a motherfucker."
"Mr. Lockhart, watch your mouth!"
"But hey, aren't you supposed to be in class? I was going to get the notes from you!"
"I'll get the notes from Remus. Besides, I heard my friend was cursed! I sprinted right down here when Flitwick told me."
"That's very nice of you, Mr. Pettigrew, but I'm going to need you to leave. Mr. Lockhard has to take a sleeping potion so he can stay still long enough for the Skele-Gro to work. Run off to class now!"
"Can't I just stay until he's asleep Madam?"
Gilderoy looked at her with big, blue puppy eyes, and her gaze softened a bit.
"Alright, but only til he's asleep. Drink up, Lockhart."
Gilderoy drank the Skele-Gro and made a disgusted face, then quickly downed the sleeping draught and lay back. Madam Pomfrey gave the two of us a little space, which I was grateful for.
Gilderoy whispered to me once she was out of earshot.
"Pretty fucking funny, though isn't it?"
I snorted.
"Hilarious."
"Of course, you have to act like it's not in front of Pomfrey, or she'll kill you. But once the pain went away it was so funny. Wish you could've seen my arm at first."
"Wish I could've seen you fall two stories off the end of a staircase."
Gilderoy playfully hit me, but the sleeping draught was definitely working. Within moments his eyes were closed and he was asleep.
I sat on the side of the bed for a little bit just kinda looking at him. His arm, I mean. It was pretty funny, but I must admit I was worried. I mean, how do you even do that? What if the bones never grow back? Either way, I wanted to get Gilderoy a present. I know he doesn't have too many friends, and it's so nice to wake up to flowers and chocolates when you're in the hospital wing overnight.
Luckily, I have map that will take me straight to Honeydukes.