Paramour

Chapter 7

Hermione and Padma landed violently in the hospital wing.

Hermione gasped for air, winded by the landing. "Help!" She screamed.

Poppy gasped and ran towards the women, withdrawing her wand from her apron and enchanting her medical cart to follow in tow.

Hermione heard multiple sets of footsteps against the stone floor; they grew frantic as they approached her.

"Merlin! Hermione what happened?" Ginny exclaimed as she gently wrapped her arms around Hermione and lifted her up from the floor.

Hermione saw Harry and Poppy strip Padma of her jacket and her stomach churned.

A mound of skin fell from Padma's back and hit the floor as blood began to pool under all of their shoes. Padma shook violently as foam spewed from her mouth and her eyes rolled back.

Hermione pushed Ginny's shoulder and hunched over, expelling her stomach of its contents.

Ginny flicked her wand and banished the mess, as Hermione apologised weakly.

Ginny took ahold of Hermione's shoulders firmly and guided her to the closest bed.

She sat Hermione down and cast a diagnostic over her.

"Merlin, your ear Hermione! What do I do? Tell me what to do!" Ginny paled as she stared at her friend.

Hermione's mouth was dry. She couldn't speak.

Ginny inhaled deeply, her eyes fluttering shut momentarily, before she placed her hands on Hermione's shoulders and stared at Hermione intently.

"Hermione, you need to tell me what to do. Poppy's busy tending to Padma and— and" Ginny quickly glanced around the wing, "— and where the fuck is Lavender?!" She roared.

Hermione swallowed and lazily gazed up at Ginny.

"A— Arresto Momentum on the ear, but— but flick counter-clockwise twice." She said weakly.

Ginny did as she was told and Hermione felt the flaying stop almost immediately.

"Hermione, the skin is still peeling." Ginny said, as she held Hermione's cheek and rubbed it.

Hermione leant into Ginny's touch.

"You'll need to remove the cartilage and tissue, Ginevra!" Poppy yelled across the wing.

Ginny nodded and grabbed ahold of Hermione's back, gently laying her flat against the bed.

"Do you want me to stun you?" Ginny asked.

Hermione shook her head.

Her back arched violently as Ginny's wand ripped the cartilage from her ear.

The pain was indescribable and stars painted Hermione's vision as she disassociated from her body.

***

An hour passed and Hermione's body had lost the ability to convulse; her throat stung from screaming and still tasted bitter from the vomit.

Ginny gently cast a cleansing charm over Hermione's face and shoulders, ridding the dried blood from her features.

A blue diagnostic danced above Hermione's head — her vitals were stable.

Ginny exhaled and wiped her forehead with the back of her hand.

She tossed her wand onto the bedside table next to them and slumped into the chair bedside Hermione. She gently grasped her friend's hand and soothingly rubbed circles onto the back of it.