Whimsical {James Potter}

Chapter 26

Chapter 26: Two Different Takes

Cressida sits on the white bed, a blush scorching her cheeks from the scolding she just received from Madam Pomfrey. Her arm is wrapped in compression bandages, now resting in a sling.

Across from her, Remus is perched on the end of the mattress, trying not to smile at Cressida's wide eyes. Of course, now he doesn't feel so bad that she's being treated. "That was quite an earful," he muses, checking over his shoulder that their healer has wandered out of earshot.

Cressida licks her dry lips, managing a small laugh at her unfortunate situation. "I don't think I'll be joining the usual celebrations tonight."

"No," Remus agrees. The school healer has ordered her to stay overnight – probably under the impression that Cressida would do something stupid and ruin the healing process. But it should be healed naturally within a few days completely, as long as she takes the medicine provided. "Don't doubt there'll be more through the year though."

Cressida hums in agreement, leaning back against the pillow that is braced against the back framing. She glances around the room, a cheeky smile tempting to show. "So. This is where you spend most of your time," she says. "Bit bland in colour, Remus."

Remus glares at her but it only lasts a second before he laughs bittersweetly, shaking his head at her antics. "Yes, but Madam Pomfrey has started bringing me chocolate now. Can't say I mind that part of the stay."

"I think James and Sirius are already building up a stash to lure you out of the dorm once exam season starts."

"Do you know where they've put it?"

Cressida laughs silently, shaking her head. "Trust me, if I did, there wouldn't be much left anyway."

Remus narrows his eyes, leaning slightly away from her. "Game on then," he taunts. Before her warm but equally as taunting reply can come, two pairs of thundering footsteps sound closer, each slap of a rubber sole nearly echoing off the stone walls.

"What in Merlin's bloody name happened?!" James is marching towards them with Sirius in toe. They've stripped of their game robes but still don the red and yellow jacket and Quidditch pants. His face is pale, tinted with red as theirs all were from the cold.

Sirius is the same, but his usual slick hair frizzes and where the others have red tints, he has just starker paleness. Cressida amusedly wonders if he's a vampire.

"Seven fractures is what's happened," Remus answers in her place, giving her a slightly pointed look as though to remind her of Pomfrey's chides.

Smiling tightly, she peers up at their towering figures that shadow over the bed. "Sorry for not celebrating, I just really wanted something for the pain." James' face does not lift to her surprise.

"I just got informed that my friend, and my Keeper, was injured during the game but she didn't tell me," he states, barely keeping himself from hissing the words. Cressida straightens her neck, shifting her weight closer to her centre. "What happened, and when?"

Her mouth stumbles for words, looking between him and Sirius who only stands quietly with his arms loosely folded. "I...It was about fifteen minutes in," she answers honestly. "I couldn't see well, and a Bludger came out of nowhere." She purposely leaves out the part of mistaking it as a Quaffle for the risk of looking like a fool.

James' mouth open, his jaw locking to the side and his tongue rolls over his teeth. "Fifteen minutes in and you didn't tell me?" His hands brace on the edge of the mattress. "Cressida that was a two-hour game." His voice lacks any sort of comforting compassion, more so just...frustration.