Memories Of Them

Chapter 17- The Tunnels

Cassie awoke early the following morning and hastily got ready before tiptoeing out of the dorm room. The soft snores of her dorm mates were blocked as she gently shut the door behind her. Making her way through the silent castle Cassie didn't see a soul, she was glad of that, not wanting anyone to ask any questions or offer to join her. Quickly grabbing an assortment of pastries and two steaming mugs of tea from the deserted Great Hall Cassie retraced her steps climbing back up the stairs to the upper floors of the castle. Using her shoulder to shove open the heavy oak doors she saw that the hospital wing was empty, soft winter sunlight was shining through the huge windows casting a soft golden glow over the room.

Heading towards her normal sick bay she placed the plate and two mugs of tea onto the bedside table. Behind her the squeak of the door alerted her to the presence of Madame Pomfrey.

"Ah, I had assumed it would be you, Miss Vaughn. Isn't it a bit early for you to be here on a Sunday morning? I had assumed I would see you around midday," the older lady said with a smile, heading towards the sick bay with her bag of potions and remedies at the ready.

"Sorry to intrude so early, I've got plans today but didn't want to miss an appointment," Cassie tried to explain, "I bought you a cup of tea and some pastries if that helps?"

"You really shouldn't have Miss Vaugh! But the school's apple danishes are my favourite," she said with a cheeky grin.

Before the woman got to healing the pair sat side by side on the bed, eating their breakfast and drinking their cups of tea. They made small talk about the dreariness of the weather and how Cassie's classes had been.

"Now for the question I have been dancing around for the last 15 minutes, how is your shoulder?" the older lady questioned as she stood up, brushing the crumbs of pastry from her front.

"I think it's doing better. It's definitely not as painful," Cassie said, "but then again I have been slathering it in the Murtlap Essence paste."

"Well shall we take a look and see what we're working with?" she asked, already bringing the curtain around the bed.

Standing up Cassie took off her chunky knit cardigan and neatly folded it placing it at the foot of the bed. Underneath she had decided to wear a lace cami that allowed Madame Pomfrey access to the wound without needing to completely strip down, she hoped to spare the both of them the same embarrassment as last time. Laying on her stomach Cassie began to daydream as her bandage was almost painlessly removed. Last night after dinner the twins had giddily invited Cassie and her group of friends to spend the day with them, when Cassie had asked about the plan the twins had told her it was a surprise and refused to divulge any more details. If she was being honest with herself Cassie was slightly nervous about their planned excursion. She was well aware that she had spent the last five years whining and complaining about the twins, now that they appeared to be friends again she wanted everyone to get along well. Cassie didn't want to have to act like a child of divorce, seeing her friends for one weekend then the twins for the next.

"Right then Cassandra, it appears that some of the more tender swelling has gone down slightly which has probably helped with your overall pain. There does appear to be a localised infection at the top of the wound closer to your shoulder blade. I think our best course of action is a complete wound clean with the antiseptic potion, then continue with our salves and pastes and the Murtlap bandages. How does that sound?" Madame Poomfrey said professionally, bringing Cassie out of her anxious daydream.

"Whatever you think is best Madame," Cassie said politely.

"Right, well the clean is going to be painful. I'm going to try and scrub away some of the residual pus and scabbing, hopefully that'll hit right to the cause of the infection and clear it up entirely," Madame Pomfrey said, taking out what appeared to be a gauze and a small brush.