Astrid

Chapter 4: Now

    This is not my couch. The next thing I tried to identify was, is this my bed? ...Nope. With a groan I forced my eyes open, glancing around the sunlit room.White. A lot of it. Why is there so much white? White isn't a favorite.
    "I see you're awake, Astrid."
    My head snapped up at the voice, groaning at the sudden pain in my neck. I felt my breath catch as I noticed the figure standing in front of me, a clipboard in one hand and quill in the other. "Cass.." She looked up at me, raising an eyebrow. I took in her features. She'd lost some of the adolescence fat in her face, as had I. She looked very much like how I remembered her mother except her nose was straighter than Narcissa's and not dipped and her cheekbones were softer.
    "You scared me," she said, walking over. Her walk was more purposeful now than before. I watched as she placed her quill on the ink pot on the bedside table and hang up the clipboard on a nail in the wall. It was also white, I'm not sure how that was achieved. I focused back on her as she spoke once again, "You have severe burns all over the back of your body. We have been treating them and I've already passed through a prescription for some strong scar potions for you. We stitched up your leg and do not put any pressure on it until I say so. You're lucky it wasn't amputated." She walked over to the table on the other side of me where I suddenly noticed the colorful bottles resting on it. She placed her finger on a red bottle, "Pain reliever." She moved on to the green one next to it, "Burn medication." Next, and last, bottle was a light blue, "Sleep medication." My eyebrows shot up at this as I looked at her. She smiled at me a bit sheepishly and it suddenly felt like we were fourteen again. "I talked to your regular healer and she sent over your records. Don't worry, I haven't told anyone, only your medical team here knows about it now. But your regular potion could have a reaction with some of your other medication so this one is different. Let me know any side effects that occur." I nodded at this, bitting my lip.
    "Are you mad at me?" I asked quietly.
    I watched as she sighed, sitting on the edge of my hospital bed. "No, not really. It didn't surprise me much. I have one question though." I nodded, letting her know it was okay to ask whatever she wanted to. "Are you happy?"
    That took me aback a bit. I don't think anyone ever asked me that. It took me a while to think about it. "Yes," I finally answered looking up at her.
    "Good. Astrid, it wasn't hard to see you were miserable. If you needed to disappear to be happy then I'm perfect with it." I smiled at her.
    "You're so amazing Cass, or should I call you Doctor Malfoy? Have I lost the privilege of calling you Cass?"
    "You haven't even lost the privilege of calling me Cassie," she smiled, taking my had gently. I wrapped my hand around her's tightly before pulling her towards me as much as I could and wrapping my arms around her. She returned it gently, probably because of the burns she had mentioned. "I'm so happy you're back," she whispered.
    When we finally pulled back I looked up at her, sighing once again. "This doesn't mean I'm staying."
    "I know, but maybe we can stay in touch this time?" She looked at me hopefully, biting her lip.
    "Maybe," I smiled at her. "Can you not tell anybody I'm back? Please? Including Draco." I asked, moving a strand of hair out of my face.
    "Of course. Speaking of that. I need to create a visitation list."
    "Just Charlie Weasley," at the look she gave me I rolled my eyes."We're just friends. Um anybody else who comes by, just ask me and tell them to come back later. That okay?"
    "Sure. Get some rest Astrid, you had a nasty accident."
-x-
    Looking at myself in the mirror was difficult. Burn marks crept from the back of my neck and were visible on the sides. I hoped I could fix that. Scrapes were sprinkled on my face and I'm sure they covered the rest of me as well. I could live with those. I placed my right hand against the basin, taking the pressure off the cane in my left hand and throwing it up to catch it in the middle. I looked at for the first time. It's was nice at least. Hopefully temporary as well. Letting the cane fall back to the floor I, once again, looked at the reflection in front of me. Removing my right hand from the basin I fingered a strand of my hair. This was appalling. The ends were burnt and jagged. I had been told often long hair wasn't a smart idea in my line of work but I'd opted not to cut it unless I deemed it necessary.
    It was now, most definitely, necessary.
    I brought my right hand up to the mirror, feeling around the edges and hoping for a cabinet. Luck was on my side (for once) and I curled my fingers around the edge and pulled it open. Looking at basic non-harmful potions patients might need daily, like Sleakeasys and skin potions, my eyes landed on the metal scissors on the bottom shelf. As I wrapped my fingers around them I realized I'd need both hands for the job I was about to do.
    Closing the cupboard and placing the scissors on the edge of the basin I looked around. My eyes fell on a chair in the corner. I'm not sure what it was there for but it served me well. I limped over to the chair, grabbing it with my right hand and pushing it in front of the basin. I pressed the back up against it and bent my right leg onto the seat. Once I was sure it would support me I leaned the van up against it before glancing back the the mirror.
    Picking up the scissors and taking a deep breath I used my left hand to measure my hair and snipping it with the scissors.

-x-
Not a lot of  comments this time. Update should be in two days. Hope you guys enjoyed :)

Check out my story Cassiopeia. It is part of this series. Both can be understood without the other, they simply focus on different parts of the same time.