chapter 14
06 11 1988
Tates POV
Suddenly, Kinsley’s eyes fluttered shut and she collapsed into my arms.
Oh fuck, this isn’t good.
I didn’t understand what had happened to her. Did she collapse out of exhaustion, surprise at having a scar for the first time in her life, or something more? I decided not to question it. Instead, I cast a feather-light charm and picked Kinsley up off the ground and into my arms. I couldn’t take her back to her room in the Gryffindor dorms because
- That's where the party was, and Kinsley probably wouldn’t want anyone seeing her passed out
- I couldn’t get into her dorms anyway because I’m not a girl
After a brief moment of pause, I decided to carry Kinsley to the Slytherin dorms. Most people would still be at the Quidditch pitch or the party, which meant that the dorms would be relatively quiet and free from prying eyes.
“Incendere” I whispered to the portrait at the entrance to the common room, and I tucked Kinsleys head into my chest so that no one inside could see her face. I also changed her hair colour back to its usual dark brown, because the red and gold would be a little too obvious.
Only a couple of students were in the common room, some losers who weren’t interested in Quidditch or parties. Some looked up curiously when I carried in a girl, but I glared at them enough for them to turn away.
I walked into my dorm and laid Kinsley down on my bed. I sat down next to her and looked at her pale face worriedly. My hand found her forehead as I felt for her temperature - it didn’t feel unusually hot or cold. What’s happening to her? I brushed some hair away from her face and my eyes were caught by her scar. A scar. She’s a natural healer, and they aren’t supposed to scar ever. The idea is that they close up all wounds seamlessly. Wait.
My mind turned back to the Quidditch match where Oliver took a nasty knock to the head and fell to the ground. Kinsley healed up the deep cut on his forehead - right in the place where her scar currently sat! The dots connected. She may have healed Oliver's forehead seamlessly, but there is always a price to pay in magic. Kinsley was now paying that price because she was completely exhausted and passed out, and she had taken Oliver’s scar.
I spent the rest of the afternoon and night scouring the Hogwarts library for some sort of information about natural healers. Kinsley was locked in my dorm with a note that said;
‘Hey McGonagall,
Don’t stress. You’re okay, you just passed out for a second there.
I’ll be back soon, but you’re locked in the dorm so that no one else can come in while you're asleep.
If you need me, send Goldy.
- Tate
There was no solid information in the library. Natural healers were known about, but not by a lot of people, and since they were so rare there wasn’t much information on them.
After a lot of thought, I decided to call my house elf, Minnie, to see if she could bring me any books from the Nott Manor.
“Young master Nott, what can I do for you?” Minnie asked, bowing low at my feet. She was well dressed in a pillowcase of the Nott family's signature dark green, but I could see a slice across her forehead which must have come from father. Abusive asshole.
“Minnie, go to our library and bring me any books with information about natural healers. Please.”
“Yes, of course, Young Master Nott. I is will be back.” Minnie apparated away and I walked quickly back to the Slytherin dorms, hoping that Kinsley hadn’t woken up and started to worry. I don’t know why I felt so protective of her, it’s just that ever since our first potions class I’ve always liked the girl. She’s a breath of fresh air from all the pompous Slytherins.
I unlocked my dorm and walked in, seeing Kinsley sitting up and reading one of the books from my bedside table.
“Er, hi, McGonagall. How are you feeling?”
I wasn’t sure how she was going to respond. I wasn’t sure how much she remembered. For all I know she might have just thought I poisoned her dood and kidnapped her, locking her in my dorm. Thankfully, Kinsley didn’t look at me like she would look at her kidnapper. She just smiled and closed the book, leaning back into the pillows.
“Hey, Tate. Not too bad. What happened?”
I squished in next to her on my bed and leaned against the pillows, explaining what had happened after she’d passed out and what I suspected the reasoning for it was.
Minnie appeared halfway through my explanation with two books, which I knew would aid my reasoning nicely.
“Thank you, Minnie. This was very helpful.”
Minnie bowed deeply and apparated away with a squeaky, “You is welcome, Young Master Nott.”
“You treat her kindly,” Kinsley spoke up suddenly.
“I try to.” I nodded, wondering what she was thinking.
“But she has a cut on her forehead? One that looks like it came from a knife.”
“My father.” I ground out, my face darkening and my mind filling with terrible memories... “He’s, er, Theo and I just stay out of his way. It’s only the three of us in the house, so we don’t bump into him often. Minnie doesn’t have the same good fortune. He summons her whenever he’s hungry, lazy, or, especially, angry.”
“That's horrible.” Kinsley gasped. I imagine she was picturing Goldy in her mind and thinking that if anyone laid a hand on him, she’d hunt them down herself and make them pay.
“I know. Nothing I can do, though.”
Kinsley nodded thoughtfully and then we began to comb through the two books.
“Here. This is what we're looking for.” I spoke up after a while. “There’s a passage about natural healers healing others.”
“Perfect! Read it out.” Kinsley commanded. I obliged her.
“Healing Others
If a natural healer were to extend their gifts to another person, said healer would suffer detrimental after-effects.
One common result is a scar on the healer's body where they healed the other party. This scar does not fade or heal as other injuries usually would.
Another result is feeling extremely lethargic and tired, or, depending on the severity of the injury that was healed, passing out.
Healing others is an extraordinary drain on a natural healer's magic and, in extreme circumstances, could be deadly. Such a gift should be used carefully and only in important conditions.”
“Oh,” Kinsley said, eyes wide. “That makes lots of sense, actually. I obviously just have to think carefully about healing others and not draining my magic.”
“Oliver must have been worse than you thought,” I commented, feeling shocked myself.
She could’ve died. Kinsley could’ve died.
“Oliver!” Kinsley sat straight up. “I need to go check on him.”
“Oh yeah, of course.” I knew Kinsley wouldn’t want to hang around the Slytherin dorms for long, especially since her friend was in the Hospital Wing.
I was caught by surprise when Kinsley suddenly wrapped me in a hug. “Thank you so much, Tate. For everything. I really appreciate it.”
I encircled her with arms slowly, and held her close, relishing the physical contact. It wasn’t often I got hugs, and every single one counted.
“Any time, McGo-Kinsley.” I unlocked the dorm room and she rushed out, waving over her shoulder.
I sat back on the bed and sighed. That girl sure was something.