𝐃𝐑𝐀𝐆𝐎𝐍𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐃 - 𝘢 𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘺 𝘱𝘰𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘧𝘢𝘯𝘧𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯

08. | Infirmary

I wanted to apologize for the late, and short, chapter. Between illness and the end-of-school activities, I haven't had much time to write. Hoping next week will be better for writing!

*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*

"Oh, oh, she's awake." Trelawney's hushed voice warbles over me. My hand is clasped between her warm, leathery hand. "Jaylene, oh Jaylene, I am so sorry."

"Hmmm...," I mumble. My eyes flutter, slowly. Through my eyelashes I see crisp white curtains and large arching windows. The sky outside is dark, with a brilliant moon casting down beams of silvery light. My stomach is rolling, curling in on itself again and again. If I didn't feel so weak, I would've doubled over and vomited.

Hands clasp my shoulder and grasp at my fingers. The figures in front of me are blurry, but I can vaguely make out Trelawney, and my brother.

"I came as soon as I heard," Harry said softly, his voice thick with worry.

"Jaylene, I cannot apologize enough. I thought you were ready but you're still such a young witch, and I- I-" Her voice breaks. I blink, bleary, and mumble something- an attempt at "it's alright".

"It's not, it's not, it's not okay Jaylene, you fainted and have been out for hours, and oh, oh, it's all my fault." Professor's words become choked up, and I am vaguely able to make out the discomfort on Harry's face.

I suck in a deep breath. I try to say something more- anything- but my words fail me. My eyelids are heavy, fighting me every moment I remain awake.

"Leave her now," a soft voice says, "She needs her rest."

*.·:·.☽✧ ✦ ✧☾.·:·.*

My stomach has settled in my next surface to reality. I'm able to open my eyes and lift my head with much more ease than before. Harry and Professor Trelawney are gone, and with their lack of babble I'm able to focus on the dark room in front of me. The Medical Wing is silent, except for the faint crackling of Madam Pomfrey's fire. The moon has disappeared from my view out the window, showing me a sky full of stars I'm rarely able to see from my dormitory.

I turn my attention to the thin wooden chair positioned across from my bed. Folded into the seat, rather uncomfortably, is Draco. His blonde hair falls in his eyes, as he's long since nodded off. A pile of papers sits in his lap, a few scattered on the floor around him.

Even in my residual pain, I can't help the rush of heat to my cheeks. I don't know how he found out I was here, or how he was able to dodge curfew- but nonetheless, I'm touched.

"Draco," I whisper, running my fingers through my tangled mane of hair. My braid has been undone, casting messy waves down my back until they reach my lower back.

His eyes shoot open the minute his name leaves my mouth. He focuses on me, seemingly disorientated for a second, before sitting up. "Jaylene," he says quietly. "I heard that you weren't feeling so well. I collected your homework from your teachers." He offers what could almost be considered a smile as he sets them on my bedside table.

"How did you get here?" I ask, brushing a few loose strands of hair away from my face so I can see him better.

He scoffs and shakes his head. "Don't worry about it. Just worry about getting better." He holds a hand out to me, his fingers lightly brushing down my jawline. I shiver under his touch, the thin hospital gown surely making me cold. "There's a Quidditch match this Friday. First one, against Ravenclaw. We need as many people as we can to cheer us on," he says.

"Well, since you asked so nicely, I'd love to help support y-" I quickly suck in a breath. "-support Slytherin."

He nods, once, finitely. "I'll see you Friday then. Get better soon, Jaylene."

I settle back down into my bed as he leaves, keeping all my questions to myself as I watch his figure disappear into the hall. I pick up the homework he dropped off, flipping carefully through the pages.

In the blank spots, his swooping script has answered every question.

I don't bother to bite back the smile as I hug the papers to my chest.