Water Lily | E. Riddle

[25] Hospital Wing

The first-year students were taught three basic spells for self-defense: the disarming spell (Expeliarmus), the stunning spell (Stupefy), and the shield charm (Protego). Professor Gallagher demonstrated each of those spells first, taught them about dueling etiquette, and then allowed the students to practice in pairs while he supervised them.

Soon, the hall was full of red, green, and blue jets of light as the students used the spells simultaneously. It was by far the most interesting Defense lesson they had had that term and it piqued their interest to learn even more spells.

Eridanus, however, wasn't feeling as enthusiastic as he had been earlier. He had created a shield charm to block the stunning spell Fabian sent his way, and then he tried to disarm him, but something was not right.

The room was swirling with energy, and for some unknown reason, it was affecting him on a completely different level. His head started throbbing, and he retrieved the shield charm, but that was when it got worse.

All those red and green lights seemed to gravitate toward him, and seeing that unusual occurrence, the Professor had to intervene and create a shield charm to protect Eridanus. Everyone was confused as to why their spells had automatically diverted to Eridanus, but the shock and pallor on Lukas Gallagher's face showed that it was something to be concerned about.

Soon after the spells diminished, Professor Gallagher withdrew the shield charm. But a thud behind him alerted him, and he turned to see Eridanus, who had fainted.

Tristan and Cassius came rushing to their friend's side, but Fabian had helped him before they could reach him. He, too, looked worried as he shook Eridanus until the boy woke up.

Agate grey eyes stared at all the worried faces as he sat up, holding his still throbbing head.

"Danny, are you alright?" Tristan asked, crouching close to him.

"Yeah... What happened?"

"You fainted," Fabian let go of his arm, raising an eyebrow at the lethal glare Cassius was sending him, "I didn't do anything."

"Mister Nott, Mister Prewett, I suggest you should take Mister Whitburg to the Hospital Wing," Professor Gallagher spoke up, "And the rest of the students, we will conclude today's session here."

Tristan was also glaring at Fabian as if suspicious of the ginger-headed boy's intentions but Eridanus told him not to worry, "It's alright. He did nothing, I guess I wasn't feeling well since morning."

"No worries, Poppy will see to it that you're up and about in a jiffy," Gideon, the other Prewett twin, joined them as well.

"We're not taking the Gryffindors with us, are we?" Cassius interjected.

"Professor Gallagher told me to accompany you two," Fabian flashed him a brilliant smirk, "so I'm coming, whether you like it or not. And Gideon goes where I go. Plus, I am Danny's friend too now, right?"

"Boys, take him to the infirmary now," Lukas rebuked them, his concerned eyes flickering to Danny, "you can argue later."

The four of them stepped out with Eridanus and took him to the Hospital Wing. It felt that the Prewetts only needed an excuse to leave class early. But Fabian accompanied them to the infirmary even though his brother had vanished as soon as they had stepped out of the classroom.

"Let me know if you guys need anything," he winked at Danny right before leaving them, "and thanks for giving us such a good excuse to leave class, although we do care for your health and wouldn't want you to faint again."

"Preposterous," Tristan huffed but didn't say more as he noticed Danny give him a weary look.

Cassius fetched Madam Pomfrey, who came quickly after hearing that a student needed help. She made Eridanus sit down on a bed while she examined his condition, checking for any visible signs of injury.

"I'm fine now but my head still hurts," he told her when she asked what was wrong, "everything was alright when we started practicing spells in class but then all those spells got directed at me... I don't know why."

Madam Pomfrey nodded, and the conviction with which she whipped out a vial of medicine made them think it wasn't the first time she had encountered such a case.

"It's alright, dear. Just drink this and rest. I will have a word with your Defense Professor. But there's nothing for you to worry about right now. Just sleep it off."

He took the vial and drank it, feeling drowsiness take over him shortly after. Cassius and Tristan stayed with him until he had gone to sleep. Madam Pomfrey assured them that Danny would be fine when he woke up, so they eventually left.

"Do you think we should tell his Ravenclaw friends about him?" Cassius asked as they stepped out of the infirmary.

Tristan thought about it, then nodded, "We should. Danny will be happy to see them when he wakes up."

Both boys didn't show it, but they had started to care for their dorm mate too. They knew Eridanus enjoyed the company of Emmeline Vance, Felix Murphy, and Derek Haywood. So, despite their differences, they decided to look for them and tell them to visit Danny in the infirmary in a few hours.

***

By the time Eridanus woke up, he was surprised to see his friends waiting for him. They had shown up as soon as their classes ended and were huddled close together, worried for their friend.

"Thank God you're awake," Felix breathed out in relief, "we were so worried when Rowle and Nott found us. And it made everything worse as the Prewett twins had already told us that you almost died!"

Trust the Gryffindors to make everything twice more dramatic, he thought, shaking his head slightly.

"I didn't almost die. It was just a headache."

"Cassius didn't think so," Emmeline spoke up, her eyes narrowing at him.

Danny paused, surprised at the casual use of his friend's first name. "You know Cassius?"

"We're cousins," she shrugged nonchalantly, "from our fathers' side. Twice removed."

"Oh..."

"Wow, goes on to prove that you learn something new every day," Derek remarked, "I would have never thought you two were related."

"He said all the spells struck you at once, and if it hadn't been for Professor Gallagher, you would have been in St. Mungo's by now," Emmeline didn't let go of the topic, knowing there was something he wasn't telling her.

"I don't know why it happened either," Danny confessed, seeing that she was seriously asking him and was concerned for him, "I was dueling with Fabian Prewett when all of a sudden, my head started to hurt, and I don't remember anything after that."

"Strange," she mumbled, but she didn't get to ask further as an unexpected voice alarmed them.

"Eridanus, my dear cousin! What is this I hear? You've ended up in the infirmary again!" Bellatrix Black had sauntered into the infirmary, her eyes sweeping over the Ravenclaws in disdain.

"I'm fine," he mumbled but she paid no heed, putting up quite a dramatic display of concern over him.

Danny felt uncomfortable in her uncalled-for presence, but surprisingly, she didn't say anything mean to his friends. She only stared at them until they decided to leave them alone.

"Alright, Danny, we'll see you around," Felix spoke up as the three of them stood up to leave.

"Get well soon," Derek mumbled.

Emmeline didn't say anything just yet but gave Bellatrix a slightly wary look before leaving. She didn't know what Bella's deal was, but something about the Slytherin prefect and her obsession with Eridanus bothered her immensely.

***