Freaks: Year Two

The Forgotten Ones

Discussions about the foster system.

"What the hell happened?!" Jasper exclaimed when he saw both Harry and Alabaster approach the infirmary covered in dirt and scratches, Alabaster limping, and blood coming out of Harry's mouth.

"Forest..." Harry breathed out.

Jasper's eyes went wide. "What?!"

"I banged into a tree on the way here," Alabaster said matter of factly. "And a big rock. My ankle hurts."

"He twisted it," Harry coughed out.

Eve shook her head. "Will you ever learn to see?!" Alabaster slowly looked over to her. "I swear to Merlin, you are blind! Are you that stupid?"

"Well, according to your standards, yes–"

"SHUT UP!" Eve screamed, her voice echoing off the corridor walls. "GET INTO THE INFIRMARY RIGHT NOW BEFORE YOU FAINT!"

Jasper had wide eyes, but he immediately started to help Harry by giving him some proper support. "Can you help your cousin?"

"He should learn how to see," Eve said, shaking her head.

"I can walk myself," Alabaster said as Jasper placed Harry's arm around his shoulder. Jasper gave a nod and he opened the door to the Hospital Wing to see Madam Pomfrey in a conversation with Andy.

Andy gasped at the sight and that made Madam Pomfrey turn and she too, gasped. "Oh, good heavens, what's happened now?"

"They went into the forest like idiots!" Eve exclaimed before Jasper could answer. "They lack intelligence, I am sure of it now, and to think he was my cousin's tutor."

"Miss. Jackson, that is enough!" Madam Pomfrey exclaimed. "Mr. Odair, please place Mr. Warbeck right over there," she said, indicating over to a bed and Jasper nodded. She approached Alabaster who took a wobbly step back. "Mr. Jackson–"

"I am really sorry for disappointing you," he said, making her stop in her tracks. "I know you must have been disappointed when you heard..."

Madam Pomfrey clucked her tongue. "Nonsense, I should have known something else was going on. I apologise Mr. Jackson, I will clear it up with your Head Of House, now go take a seat."

Jasper looked over to her, confused and then over to Andy. "You told her?"

"I told her what I told you," Andy answered and she sighed. "It's what I should have done in the first place."

Jasper looked worried. "But what if..."

"I will be informing the Headmaster about this," Madam Pomfrey assured him. "We must get to the bottom of this, but for now, I promise you that Miss. Scott will be safe and we will clear Mr. Jackson's name."

Eve gave a nod. "Good." She looked over to Alabaster who was seated on the hospital bed. "Do not be an idiot. If I hear you go into the forest or do anything else that is considered idiotic, I will write to our family."

She was about to leave when Alabaster asked, "Have you heard anything about Theodore?"

Eve's nostrils flared and she turned towards her cousin again. "Do not bring him up, how dare you bring him up in front of all these people! I told you I could not talk about it!"

"You said you could not talk about the past," Alabaster said, switching to Tamil. "I only want to know how he is doing. You said you would tell me. Have you not heard anything?"