The Wizard's Guide to Timelords and Other Demons Book 1: The Forgotten War

Hospitality

Captain Jack awoke suddenly to find himself lying on a bed in some kind of infirmary. He had no idea how long he had been asleep but hoped it hadn't been too long. He noticed a window across the room and saw that it was still dark outside. Jack tried to sit up, but straightway discovered that restraints across his legs and chest prevented him from doing so.

Standing next to the another just bed beside him, Jack could see a tall woman wearing a maroon dress covered by a white, pinafore apron. Over her head was a long, white, veil-like cap that flowed down her back between her shoulders, completely covering her hair. A nurse? He thought. She was attending another woman who lay in the bed, also restrained as he was. The short, stout woman in the bed very much reminded Jack of an angry frog as she complained bitterly about her current situation.

"Release me at once!" the irate frog woman shouted. "You have no right to hold me here. The Minister will hear of this to be sure. I'll have all of you sacked, mark my words!"

"I'm deeply sorry Professor Umbridge," the tall woman said sternly, "but you were behaving very strangely yesterday afternoon and the headmaster felt that we should keep you restrained, for your own safety of course."

"This is preposterous!" She said, struggling against the restraints. "Fetch me Professor Dumbledore at once!"

"Of course, Professor," the nurse-looking woman said, gesturing to one of her assistants, who giggled quietly before heading down the long room and out the door at the end. "But first, you need more time to rest."

She removed a wand from her pocket and gracefully waved it over Umbridge's face. The Professor's eyes closed slowly as she fell into a deep sleep. Almost immediately, the tension level in the room seemed to drop. Nurses and patients together shared a momentary sigh of relief.

The nurse then turned about and stepped over to Jacks where she leaned down and looked straight into his eyes.

"Good morning Mr. Hartman," the woman said cheerily.

"That's Harkness, Jack Harkness" he said, struggling again to sit up with no success. "And who might you be...and why am I tied to this bed?"

"You may call me Madam Pomfrey the woman said, "I am your...physician? I believe that's the Muggle word for it. You are currently lying in bed in the school's Hospital Wing, where you have been unconscious for the nearly an hour. You are restrained for now, but it is for..."

"...my own protection?" Jack interrupted. "Yes, I heard you say that to the lady in the next bed before you knocked her out with your stick. Look, could I..."

"Mr. Harkness," Madam Pomfrey interrupted back, "what is the last thing you remember?"

"Well, let's see. I was lying on my back when a teenaged redhead holding a cat zapped me with her stick. Now would you please untie me?"

"Very well then," Madam Pomfrey said. She waved her wand over his chest and the restraints immediately detached and dropped to side of the bed. Then she did the same to those securing his legs.

Jack slowly sat up in his bed and surveyed his surroundings. His vision was somewhat blurred, but he was still able to make out some of the details. He was in a long room with several rows of beds made up with white sheets and pillows. There was a door on either side and the room was surprisingly well lit by a few candles affixed to large sconces mounted to the side walls. A couple of beds were occupied, and several more nurses scurried about, pulling up blankets, fluffing pillows and tending to various other things as they cared for their patients. Jack attempted to stand, but soon found himself face down on the floor.

"Ouch!" Jack said to the floor.

"I apologize, Mr. Harkness," Madam Pomfrey said, helping him back into his bed. "I'm afraid Miss Nott did quite a number on you with that stunning spell of hers. She really is quite good at it, you know."

There was a hint of pride in her voice, and Jack guessed that he wasn't the first person Kendra Nott and her stick had landed in the Hospital Wing.

'

"The spell should wear off completely within 20 minutes or so, and there should be no long-term effects." The healer explained. "Until then, you'll have to remain seated. I imagine you would not wish to plant your face on my floor again."

Jack agreed wholeheartedly. He had already spent too much of his time today horizontal and in pain. However, his business with the Doctor was urgent. He needed to speak to him, now.

"I really would love to stay, but I need to find the Doctor." Jack said politely. "But I'm guessing you have no idea what I'm talking about. Then again, this is a Hospital, and I'm sure there must be a lot of Doctor's to choose from..."

"Oh, I know exactly who you're referring to." She countered. "Tall man, brown trench coat, tends to carry on about things a bit. Great hair though."

"Yes, that's him!" Jack exclaimed, "When can I see him?"

"He's in a discussion with the headmaster at present, I'm told." She replied, politely. "I have just dispatched one of my nurses to inform Professor Dumbledore of your situation and I'm sure he and the Doctor will be here as soon as they can."

Jack started to object but was promptly cut off.

"Meanwhile," Madam Pomfrey said, "I insist that you remain at rest in your bed. Otherwise, I may have to sedate you."

"Like you did to the lady in that other bed?" Jack asked, gesturing towards the unconscious form of Professor Umbridge, who was now snoring loudly."

"Yes," she replied.

"With your stick?" Jack queried again, more timidly.

"With my...stick, yes," she said, a slight grin spreading across her face.

Jack sighed. Without saying another word, he leaned back on his bed, sunk his head into the pillow and closed his eyes. The pillow felt soft and enticing. He was tired and still felt rather lightheaded. He had also had enough of sticks for one day.