#9 - Player In Need

Was it emasculating being hauled around the castle by a girl? Not in the slightest - not when that girl was brilliantly tenacious, the bomb at Quidditch and breathtakingly beautiful to boot. Yeah, Zach thought Tiana was attractive. How couldn't he? He was a teenage boy and any girl with a love for sports and a spunky personality was enough to win Zachary Ryder over.

'Thanks for dragging my arse across the whole school.' He chuckled awkwardly, and it turned into a wince. 'If I break my arm again, will you be the one to transport me? Because I'll break my arm fifteen more times, Tiana. I swear on pudding.'

He wanted her to laugh that big laugh of hers, the one that made it feel like everything was going to be alright - just like her words on the pitch after their loss. It was a tough pill to swallow. Gryffindor dominated from start to finish while being battered by bats and Bludgers, but still ended up losing. Freaking Seekers, man! If Zach could get rid of any Quidditch role, it was that one. It almost always undermined the efforts of everyone else in any given match.

Zach adjusted his arm when they arrived, making sure to keep it close to his chest. His face flashed with a smile when Tiana shared her joke. Fun. There was nothing fun about mending broken bones. Zach half expected having to drink something nasty. Yugh! But if Tiana wanted to be funny about it, who was he to rain on her comedy skit? He'd sell it like nobody else.

'Do you find my broken arm humerus, Ti?' He wove the afflicted limb in front of their faces, maybe enough to make them step back in shock. Zach had a weird sense of humor. It took everything in him to act like it didn't hurt too - because it bloody did. It was swollen and looked like a deformity. As ugly as it was, he didn't want it to go away. He wanted Jake to see it.

Tiana giggled at her friend's joke, but it was Pomfrey's humor that sent her over. She could see Zach and the nurse following true on their promises, meaning her Keeper being shipped off to St. Mungos. They had to have a ward for special folk, people like Zachary who thought injuring themselves repeatedly for a chance to spend more time with a girl was a bright idea. She couldn't help but smile at the boy's flattering comments, but didn't take them seriously.

“That's good news, yeah?” Ti commented on Zach's clean break, and took her balm from the nurse. She began to apply the ointment to the bruised areas on her arm and leg. As she did, she couldn't help but recall how they happened. It was pathetic how Amara Seabrook had to resort to such last ditch tactics because her team was flying rubbish - but more pathetic was how brainwashed the other Slytherins on her team were, copying her and just as violent.

“I think that'll do it for me,” she replied to Pomfrey, closing the balm and handing it back to her. “How about you, Zach? Do you think you can muster enough strength to spoon yourself some pudding? We should be able to at least catch dessert if we hurry.”

The captain smiled at the nurse and gave her a nod of appreciation, for once again tending to her and another one of her teammate's wounds. Having been too consumed by her own bruises, Tiana hadn't watched how she fixed Zach's arm, but overheard Pomfrey's instruction. He couldn't overwork the fix, so Ti was going to do what she could to make sure he followed those rules. Zach needed to heal, for his own sake and the sake of Gryffindor's next game.

When it looked like he was done, Ti yanked at his robes and gestured for them to leave. She wanted to sit and eat with the rest of their friends - but Jade in particular. She wanted to know what she thought of the game! It would be nice to sit and catch up with her best friend. After dealing with six hateful Slytherins in her face all day, Jade's face was definitely needed!

There was that magical laughter! Zach laughed along with his captain, wanting it to last as long as possible. Her laugh was nice, maybe one his favorites. Pomfrey's quips made everything all the better too. He didn't know she had a sense of humor, even if her delivery was a little stiff. But that's what made her funnier. He wondered if all the older teachers were as cool as her.

'You're a natural born comedian aren't you, Pomfrey?' He tilted his head at her and grinned that goofy grin of his. 'When you aren't handing out bruise balms and fixing broken arms, are you in Hogsmeade doing stand up comedy on the weekends?'

Zach flinched when she aimed the wand over his arm. He was being chicken about it. He feared the pain it could inflict. It would probably hurt more than when he broke it - at least that's what he believed! The idea of watching her fix it was too much to bare, so he turned his head and looked out the windows. It was already dark outside? It was much later than he thought.

'Ow, that last one hurt.' Wait, he was done? He spun his head around toward the fix. 'That's it? You mended it already?' Ryder wove his arm, originally disregarding her warning to not overwork it. That probably wasn't a good idea, but impulse got the best of him. He made eye contact with the nurse and gave a nervous laugh. He didn't want to be held overnight.

'Sorry.' He grabbed the sling and put it on, adjusting it so that it held his arm tightly against his chest. It wasn't comfortable, but if it meant he would be good as new in 24 hours, then it was worth it. But how was he supposed to do things without his left arm? This already sucked. Zach had his friends to help him - but they'd probably help while laughing at his expense.

'I already feel brand new - half bird, half boy!' He tried to flap his sling like a wing, but it hurt so he stopped. 'Is it okay if I fly south for dinner? I'm losing my flock.' He gestured at Tiana who already took off. She was a fast one. Too bad Zach wasn't nearly as quick.