Playing with Fire | #6 Hospital

The Hospital Wing was well-lit with the afternoon sunshine, despite it being a rather cloudy afternoon. Most of the beds were neat and empty, except one in a corner near the door where a 6th year boy nursed a heavily-bandaged arm.

Madam Pomfrey briskly approached Lindsey, already noticing that something was wrong with her wrist. 'What happened?' she asked, though would wait for an answer before she decided how to inspect it.

As always, she hoped her patient would have the common sense to be honest with her so Pomfrey could properly treat it.

As they'd neared the entrance to the castle, Avery began to lag behind a bit again. Dragging her feet and grumbling to herself, she adjusted Lindsey's bag on her shoulder and sighed in dread.

It hadn't occurred to her until they were outside the Hospital Wing that she might be incriminating herself by being there. Or that Madam Pomfrey might notice her own injury. It wasn't as if Avery had never set foot in that room at least a dozen times since arriving at Hogwarts.

She first peered warily into the room, blue gaze checking each bed until she was certain that the ones who caused her injuries weren't present. One boy had at least a nasty black eye, but either he'd already been treated or was being a stubborn idiot. Either way, she didn't have to deal with it.

Avery kept back though. She lingered near the door, readying an escape if necessary. Well, she had, until realising she'd designated herself as carrier-of-bag. She couldn't just ditch it and run. Agitation grew, but Avery fought to be keep it together longer enough for Lindsey to get treatment and them to leave. The room still smelled funny and made her think of the other times she'd been there. A split lip and sore arm were the least of her worries.

As Lindsey was looked over by Madam Pomfrey, she allowed her hands to be relaxed and easy to move in case they needed to be moved or adjust for a better look by the healer. At her words, Lindsey found herself smiling slightly and nodded. "Aye, my ma told me never to wait..." It was a good memory of her waiting too long to have a splinter removed, which had become infected.

Once pointed towards the bed, she went and sat down and was brought over the balm, which was given to her. Lindsey liked how she was allowed to apply it and remembered how her mother would apply similar creams to her. The stinging made her wince and let out air through her teeth, but she applied it anyway. Soon, it was cool and felt rather nice and she smiled slightly. "Ah, much better..." She said to the healer before she looked around her wrist, checking over them again.

"I think I got 'em, Madam." She said calmly before looking up and seeing Avery. When Madam Pomfrey asked her a question, Lindsey smiled brightly. "She came with me, Madam. She was with me when it happened and offered to carry my bag... She is a good friend." Lindsey said as she finished rubbing the balm over her wrist. "Will I need to reapply this, Madam?"