Between Comfort and Chaos

Lessie’s POV

“It’s going to be fine, you’re safe.” Poppy’s voice broke through the fog of my dreams, and I forced my eyes open. She was gently stroking the back of my head, continuing her endearment as I made an attempt to move. The blazing pain shot up my back once more and I bit into the pillow muffling my cry.

“Yeah, I don’t really recommend doing that.” Poppy cooed.

Once, the throbbing had begun to dull I turned my head to face her, taking in the surroundings. She was lying on a cot pushed closer to mine than was usually permitted. So close in fact, that if she had been able to, she could have rolled from her mattress onto mine. Her leg hung up in a holster at the foot of the bed, immobilized on both sides with planks. The curtains were drawn, but I knew by the familiar scent and the bedding that we were in the infirmary inside the castle.

Poppy’s lips were twisted up in a smile, but her eyes held a torrent of concern. She looked like she wanted to speak but was waiting for me to open the conversation up. Not wanting to keep her waiting, and to also push the remnants of my dreams back into their little box I made to speak.

“Well Sweeting, I know we had said we wanted to have more girl time, but I don’t think I exactly had this in mind when I said that.”

She let out a snort, that turned into a full-on cackle, causing the Matron to swiftly pull back the curtain. Her continence was one of relief as she took in the scene before her. I made to push up from the bed once more, to get a look at her but was swiftly reprimanded.

“None of that Miss Aspen, you’re lucky we have a nurse on staff proficient in burns. Elsewise you’d be awaking in less familiar company.”

“Noreen don’t scare the poor girl. Stumbling into dragon fire while foraging must have been frightening enough.” The familiar voice of the Deputy Headmistress lilted.

I was glad she couldn’t see the look of confusion on my face. This must have been the lie that Sebastian had cooked up. If there was one thing that was a blessing at times, it was his uncanny ability to turn situations in his favor. No doubt him appearing in the hospital wing, with not one but two unconscious, gravely injured women would have raised a few eyebrows.

“Do you mind If I have a few private words with the students?”

“Of course, I have to go prep the next round of salves for them anyways. If you need anything feel free to call out, I’ll be down the hall.” Without a further exchange, I felt the weight of the bed near my feet shift as Professor Weasley sat between Poppy and myself.

“Good day, Professor.”

“That remains to be seen Miss Aspen. It seems that your companions can’t keep the story of what happened straight between the two of them. I was wondering If you would be able to share a more complete version?”

While her tone was kind and motherly, it held a slight threat of ‘Don’t you dare lie to me’. This wasn’t the first time I had been in a situation that needed a bit of coercion, however usually I had time to prepare beforehand. I snuck a glance over at Poppy, but she was looking away clearly not wanting to implicate herself further.

“To be honest, my mind is still hazy. I feel like my whole body is on fire and its hard to stay awake…. Do you think perhaps we could talk about this after I’ve had some rest?”

“You’ve been asleep for the past two days; I quite think you’ve had plenty of rest from how you greeted Miss Sweeting just moments prior to this.”

"TWO DAYS?!?" I shouted, pushing myself up and attempting to turn, only to be greeted once again by the searing pain. Flopping back down to my supine position I groaned, burying my face into the pillow muffling the sounds.

" Yes, two day, and I assure you that you'll be in confinement for at least a week more. I have no intention of punishment currently, however when not one but three students show up in the middle of the night within an inch of their lives, shouting about dragons no less, there are some procedures that need to be taken. The ministry may need to be summoned and I assure you both that my questioning is more gentle by far."

She took a pause which I could only assume meant that she was looking at Poppy. I ground my teeth slightly trying to sort through the events logically.

" Now, I'll ask one more time girls. Please, what happened?"

I could feel the nervous tension radiating from the Hufflepuffs' direction. Rummaging through the brief statement I could assume that one of both of my friends had said that we were foraging for ingredients. I could go with that lie; however, I had never been naturally gifted with lying to this particular person. She knew my tells to well.

I began to weigh the options. If I were to blame it all on Sebastian and tell the truth, Poppy and I might be let off with a couple weeks of detention. As he rightly deserved after that stunt. However, there was the possibility that he could potentially get expelled… Given the fact that faculty were walking on eggshells around him, he could have a lighter sentence.

After all, we've been through together? I can't possibly put him on the chopping block… but what about Poppy? Did she deserve this? She almost….

The proverbial angel and devil on my shoulder were arguing back and forth. He was the reason we were hurt, why we almost died. I didn't know the extent of my injuries, but he had lied, coerced, and manipulated both us girls. He should have some form of punishment.

" It was my idea, Professor. I lied to Sebastian and Poppy about what we were actually doing. They're completely without fault. I had heard a couple poachers in the Three Broomsticks talking about Dragons and I just thought…. Well, I am not sure what I thought I just wanted to rescue them."

There was a pause and she said nothing. No sound came from the other girl either. As if weighing the truth of my words the weight lifted from the edge of the bed.

" Mr. Sallow stated that the dragons unfortunately perished. If they are alive, I'll need to contact the ministry to have them relocated."

The implied question hung heavily. My mind wandered to the nab sack where the Vipertooth lay in wait. I shuddered thinking about it.

" Sallow would be correct. They are all dead."

"Indeed. We will discuss your punishment when you have healed. For now, I would say you've suffered enough."

I could hear the curtain being pulled back and then a stutter of Professor Weasleys' steps.

" Your predilection for attempting to help the beasts is something your uncle would applaud. Good day, Miss Aspen, Miss Sweeting."

The comment wasn't meant as a jab. No, it was a compliment, but coming off the terror of the dreams it felt as if someone had ripped open old wounds. I listened as her steps faded and the low drag of the infirmary door shut, and finally broke down crying. Releasing all the pent-up emotions that had been stored inside, I soon felt the pillow below me become a mess of soiled feathers.

The next hour passed in silence as both Poppy, and I were stewing in our emotions. Students could periodically be heard coming and going from the hospital wing, but our little corner stayed near silence. Our stewing was interrupted by Nurse Blainey coming back with a tray.

" I'm sorry to have to do this while you’re awake, but I must change the dressings on your back. Would you like me to get you a draught of peace?"

I shook my head.

"I'll be as gentle as possible."

As the Matron got to work removing the cotton from my back, Poppy’s hand found mine giving it a reassuring squeeze. Time seemed to creep slowly as the bandages were removed. The still wet pillow covered most of my whimpers.

"You're doing lovely dear, just the salve. It'll have a cooling effect and should numb you until the next round. "

She rubbed the paste on my back, and it gave an almost instantaneous icy effect. My ragged breathing began to level, and I shifted my face back to the side as my stomach began to rumble. The other two women let out a laugh.

" Let me find you something to cover your chest and we can have you sit up for a while and have some lunch."

She stood up whisking the tray away and for the first time I realized my top half, with the exception of the bandages on my back, was completely bare. I fierce blush light up my cheeks.

Poppy's eyes held an amused gleam.

" Not like I haven't seen them before." She mused.

"Yes, well, it's rather inconvenient don't you think? What If a boy had walked in here on accident!?"

"You mean Sebastian? He did."

At that, the coloring went from a light pink to a deep scarlet. The mortification at Sallow seeing me exposed conquered up a mixture of shame and repulsion.

"Yes, several times over the past couple of days."

"Several?!"

"Oh, don't worry Professor Weasley pulled him out by the ear after the first time, gave a whole lecture about propriety…He isn't to come back in. There is a chair outside that he sits in."

As if summoned the curtain pulled back and the end of my mattress bounced with a heavy weight. By the way, Poppy's expanded and then narrowed her eyes, I knew it was the mastermind behind our current situation.

“I’ve only seen them once Aspen. Not like there much to look at anyway.” He chuffed.

“Sebastian!” Poppy yelled in indignation.

" Now, now I just had to come in and check for myself. I heard you were awake. What Weasley doesn’t know won’t hurt her."

"YOU HAVE 3 SECONDS TO LEAVE SALLOW!"

He let out a faked gasp as I buried my face deeper into the pillow. If I had been mortified before I was now deceased. If I could I would have warped into the floor never to be seen or heard from again.

"Is that anyway to speak to your savior?" The cocky lilt in his voice only made the Hufflepuff angrier.

"Savior? More like harbinger of doom! I mean it. Sit outside or leave!"

"Now, now I just wanted to apologize."

The weight on my bed shifted and a hand touched my exposed ankle. A shiver ran up my spine as I felt the calluses.

"GO AWAY!" I shuddered into the pillow; the sound muffled.

"I'm an idiot. Listen, I'm sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt, either of you. I was just trying…."

Poppy cut him off a chill to her voice.

"I didn't either."

Before Sebastian could question as to what, Sweeting had pulled her wand from the bedside table and cast Depulso sending the Slytherin flying from our makeshift room. A crash sounded as he hit something metallic. A string of expletives reaching our ears as footsteps came upon the scene.

We could hear the Matron threatening the boy and his protests as she all but dragged him from the ward. His impromptu attempt at a feeble apology thwarted. I made to sit up, having an icy numb feeling coating my back, and put my hands over my exposed chest before replacing them with the pillow.

“Thank you.” I offered with a chuckle.

“Oh, believe me, I’ve been wanting to do that since they reset my leg. Bloody painful.”

Eventually, the Matron came back and gave me a bib of sorts to protect my modesty, or what was left of it along with a generous portion of lunch. I scarfed it down with a vigor as Poppy and I chatted about everything and anything, eventually leading to the retelling of what had actually occurred.

The hours dwindled down, and supper was brought over to us as well as more salves to keep the pain at bay. Somehow between cursing our predicament and discussing classes the topic of the future came up. We had just under two years left at Hogwarts and when confronted with the possibility of life outside its walls all manner of scenarios began to play out.

“Well, I hate to admit it, but I think I do kind of fancy him.” Poppy let out a weighty sigh with one hand cradling her cheek.

“You can’t be serious. You literally tossed him halfway across the room 6 hours ago.”

“I was mad then.”

I shook my head in shock. On a scale from 1 to 100, the compatibility between Sebastian Sallow and Poppy Sweeting was -10 in my mind. Sallow was manipulative and crass, often too forward, and had a penchant for trouble. Poppy on the other hand was kind-hearted, soft, and above all else loyal. She would never cause anyone intentional harm or mislead them. No, she was much more suited to be with someone like Ominis.

No, not him.

As soon as the thought crossed my mind, a spike of jealousy piqued. The thought must have made its way to my face. Poppy looked me over a question poised, as her eyes became downcast.

“You like him, don’t you?”

“What?!? No! How could I?”

“Are you sure? Because the way he caressed your ankle earlier told another story.”

My eyebrows quirked up in confusion. “Wait, you’re talking about Sebastian?”

“Were you not? Who did you think I meant?”

The color rose to my cheeks once more and I would rather die on the spot than admit my inner thoughts.

“No one.” I hastily covered up. “Although I don’t think you and Sebastian would be very compatible. He’s a boorish oaf, who throws tantrums when he doesn’t get his way. You on the other hand are so sickeningly sweet. You need someone who would treat you right. Someone who would wait for you after class or bring you little treats out of the blue. Someone dependable.”

Poppy nodded her head with a sly smile on her face. She laid back on the pillows as I made to get back in a supine position lying face down on my now dry pillow.

“I don’t think there are many men in our year who fit that description, and the ones I can think of have their eyes elsewhere.”

“Oh, I smell gossip!”

The Hufflepuff let out a laugh turning on her side towards me.

“Well, I think it’s obvious that Garreth and Nerida have a flirtation going on between them. He went down to the boathouse with her last week. The official story is that he was trading potions for mermaid scales, to further peaceful negotiations with the Merpeople. However, with the way they look at each other, I’m pretty sure they were snogging.”

‘Oh, how scandalous! So, I take it you think Garreth fits the bill for that description aye?”

“Somewhat, however, I think I need a bit more to go off of, if a man is good enough for me then he should be good enough for you. What would you want in a partner?” She asked.

I thought for a second trying to conquer up specifics, but the only person I could think of was a fair-haired Slytherin. I gulped down the idea as soon as it surfaced. What were some qualities that I would like?

“I think I’d like someone who is patient. They have to be able to understand me on my good and bad days.”

“Patient, got it.” She held her hand up in the air, one finger raised as if counting an important matter, goading me to continue.

“Loyalty is another important quality. It’s important that even if the odds are against me, they’ll be on my side.”

“Mhm, loyalty sounds good.”

“A good conversationalist who is intelligent and can keep my mind stimulated. Maybe someone who pushes me to do better for myself.”

The light was playing into the Sweeting girl’s eyes making them sparkle as she held on to every word with rapt attention.

“What about looks?”

“Hmm… I don’t really think looks are that important, as long as they have a good heart. Although I do think they’d have to be taller than me, not too muscular but not too soft either.”

Images of Ominis popped back into my mind, the way his shoulders would roll forward when he laughed, and the little crinkle that would form at the corners of his mouth. The blush he would get when I would tease him about things. His eyes with their star-burst pattern that would light up like they contained a whole galaxy when he tasted something sweet.

“Hello? Are you going to continue or is that the whole list? You’ve been staring into space for the past two minutes.” She chided.

I was snapped out of my musing by the question, my mind going faster than my mouth, and I couldn’t stop myself from spouting my train of thought out loud.

“I also like the way the sun shines on his hair, it makes it light up like light beams.”

“Him? Oh my gosh! I knew it.” She lowered her voice to a whisper, sitting up in bed and grabbing my hand.

“You fancy…”

“Ominis!” I gasped, squeezing Poppy’s hand as the curtain whipped back and our makeshift room lit up with a blinking red light.

A sweaty, disheveled man stood in front of us, his breath came in heaving gulps. The usually perfect coifed hair plastered to his forehead. It was as if he had run all the way here. I sat up without thinking, the numbing salve working wonders as I stood up in front of the disheveled man. All modesty was forgotten as I took him in, the worry etched into his feature, eyes blown wide in concern, taking in the image before him with his wand.

My throat constricted as I restated my prior exclamation.

“Ominis?”