Inside Your Mind

chasing cars

Chasing Cars - The Wind and the Wave

16th October 1998

'What happened?' McGonagall asked an hour later, her hair in an unusually messy bun at the nape of her neck, sporting a tartan green dressing gown.

Draco, who was getting the glass removed from the bottom of his feet by Madam Pomfrey, was too busy gritting his teeth to answer. The situation reminded him of when he had pulled the glass from Hermione's feet that first week. He realised how well she'd handled the pain and wondered if that was why she had gone so long without saying anything about this. Either that or Pomfrey had it in for him and was purposely making it hurt like a bitch.

Ginny, sitting in the chair between Draco and Hermione's bed, was trying to hold back tears so also kept her mouth shut for fear of letting sobs out as opposed to words.

Blaise, who unlike Draco had thought to grab his cloak from the hook on the back of the main door, pulled it tighter around his bare chest and cleared his throat.

'Granger told us last night that she'd been feeling sick for a while now.' He began, glancing at Ginny. 'We found her passed out in the bathroom with the door blown of its hinges. We think she was too weak to get up but knew she needed to get our attention somehow.'

'She must have misjudged her aim.' Draco said with a grunt as Madam Pomfrey removed the last shard of glass from his right foot. 'Half the bathroom was blown to bits.'

The Headmistress looked over to the girl, lying unconscious between hospital sheets, and noticed how frail she looked.

'What was wrong with her, Poppy?' McGonagall asked.

'What muggles call a stomach ulcer, I suspect. All the stress Miss Granger has endured in recent times may have been the cause. It is often seen in victims of the Cruciatus Curse and can go undiagnosed for months if it doesn't rupture. I think her recent duel agitated it and caused her discomfort.' Madam Pomfrey replied as she healed Draco's feet with her wand and bandaged them. 'All done, Mr Malfoy. Miss Granger has apparently lost her appetite recently and has been vomiting most of the food she eats. From what I could see the ulcer finally ruptured tonight and that's why she was vomiting blood.'

A small sob filled the otherwise empty Hospital Wing and Blaise swept over to Ginny's side.

'She's going to be fine.' He whispered in her ear as he rubbed her back.

'I should've known something was wrong.' Ginny mumbled. 'How did I miss it?'

'Miss Granger, though extremely bright, is exceptionally stubborn.' McGonagall said, much to the surprise of the three students. 'She has suffered an insurmountable amount of stress for someone her age but had learnt to mask it during the war. It is no surprise to me that she pushed this to the back of her mind. Thankfully Madam Pomfrey has now resolved the issue but we will be putting her on bed rest for the next two weeks so that she can fully recover.'

Ginny, Blaise, and Draco nodded at the Headmistresses words.

'The three of you should get to bed, you can see Miss Granger in the morning.' McGonagall said, giving Ginny a comforting squeeze on the shoulder.

'Actually, Minerva, I think Mr Malfoy should stay off his feet until the morning.' Madam Pomfrey said, sending Draco a quick smile.

'Very well. Mr Zabini please make sure Miss Weasley gets a cup of tea before she goes to bed, it may make her feel better.' McGonagall said before leaving the Hospital Wing.

'Come on, Gin.' Blaise said quietly as he pulled Ginny up from the chair. 'I bet I can get Winky to hand over some chocolate biscuits too.'

'We'll come back in the morning.' Ginny said to Draco, sniffling into the sleeve of Blaise's jumper.