mirror // pansy parkinson

twenty-six

— third person's point of view

The to-be patient was also a Hogwarts student. Carter desperately hoped that whoever it was, they knew Pansy. Carter hated relying on slim hope but he didn't have a choice.

'Win, I'm coming with you.'

'What?' Winona glanced at him while putting a coat on. 'No you're not.'

'Yes I am.' Carter already had a scarf around his neck. He ruffled his hair messy and announced brightly, 'let's go.'

'What's gotten into you?' she sighed. 'You've never asked to tag along when I was asked to fetch a patient before.'

'Stop being dull, Win. I just want to see what the school looks like with my own eyes,' Carter said. 'Plus, aren't you always scared going to Hogwarts?'

'Excuse me?'

'I mean, that's the reason why Poppy had to be the fetcher anytime a patient comes from that school.'

Winona smacked his head with her fist.

'Ow! Okay, okay, I'm sorry.'

'You're not wrong though.'

Carter grinned. 'So can I come?'

A long pause.

'Fine. Just don't make a scene.'

'I never do.'

—

They had gone in through the Hogwarts gates with the permission of the Headmistress. Carter was mesmerised by the school. The architecture was one of a kind. It looked magically ancient. Headmistress was probably as old as the building and probably didn't know anything.

'I was told that the Institute would be coming back for another patient,' the Headmistress had said. 'I truly owe my life to you all for taking in and healing my dear ill students.'

'The pleasure is all ours, Headmistress McGonagall,' Winona replied, the lies making Carter grimace in disgust.

Now they stood in front of the girl on a bed in the infirmary, looking as sickly and pale as ever.

'Blood curse,' Winona whispered to Carter. 'I am pretty sure that it is.'

Madam Pomfrey was beside the girl.

'Winona.' She said her sister's name so carefully, as if it was glass. 'So soon?'

'Greta's becoming impatient,' Winona answered curtly. She sized her sister up, glanced at Carter like wasn't she then supposed to be away? 'So help me out here, Poppy.'

'Oh, alright.'

'First, what heritage is she from?'

'You figured out her illness already?' Madam Pomfrey sounded impressed. 'As expected. Well, she's a Greengrass.'

Greengrass.

Oh. That reminded him.

Carter had another reason why he never tried to leave the institute. He knew someday, one fine day, a patient- no, a relative would come to him. Since Greengrass family was cursed with the blood curse, he was sure if he wasn't the one cursed, he would treat them in Richmond Marvess.

So this was it. Everything he needed was within his reach.

'Greengrass. I see.' Winona's voice was hollow. She didn't look at Carter. 'Permission to take her out?'

'Granted. Though the poor girl is still sleeping-'

'I can see that much.'

'-and her bags aren't packed yet. Will you be so kind to do that for her?'