Hospital Wing
Typical hospital wing. The matron here, Madame Pomfrey,
can mend almost anything in an instant, though beds have been set up for
prolonged stays.
Helping out in the infirmary isn't generally someone's
favorite job. Right now it consists mainly of sorting potion pieces for
remedies into shelves. That's exactly what a certain Ravenclaw
Seeker is doing right now. Cho puts them into groups
based on what remedies they are used in.
Harry walks into the infirmary, glancing about for Madam Pomfrey. He wasn't going to follow Professor McGonagall's
hint that he should see the nurse. However that thought changed last night when
his head started aching so badly it interrupted his sleep and has ruined his
appetite today. He opens his mouth to call out for Pomfrey
until he spots Cho.
o O ( .....) He
manages to close his mouth, about face and head straight back out, only he's not paying too much attention to where he's
going and collides smack with the wall. A yelp is issued, more from surprise
than any pain of greeting the wall.
The collision and the yelp draw Cho's
attention. Dark eyes move towards Harry, and then glance around the room. He's
not visiting anyone most likely, so that means he came here for some medical
attention most likely. "Madam Pomfrey is out
right now, Harry, but if it isn't too advanced I could probably handle
it." She knows most the basic remedies for little things, but not allowed
to practice the advanced spells yet, of course. Her smile isn't as glowing as
it was a year ago, but it is there, if it does seem a tad forced on.
Harry immediately slaps a hand over his mouth, too late
as he's already made more than enough noise. The hand then slides up to rub at
his nose (ow) then adjust his glasses. He lowers his
head to look at the floor, anything to try and hide the guilt that he's been
carrying. "...." He clears his throat, then manages to to say, ".. I just. err, was wanting something for a headache.."
Hiding seems to have worked, because Cho
doesn't seem to notice. "I could get something together for you to take
care of that. Sit down and I'll get the remedy ready." The smile is still
there as she looks through the rows of ingredients and picks out the ones she
knows quite well. Headache remedies are one of the few that she's allowed to do
after all, so she knows it by heart. As she starts to pull the components
closer to her, she asks, "So... How have you been lately?" It's
voiced casually, like she isn't comfortable with the silence lasting too long.
Harry nods dumbly and sits down as instructed. He fidgets
a little unnecessarily, more from nerves than anything. ".. Me? Err.. well.. "
Yes you Harry, now stop sounding like you're still eleven. "I'm
alright.." All things considered. ".. What
about you?" He's been curious about that but hasn't had the nerve to
actually come find you to ask.
Cho puts the first few ingredients
into it, keeping her eyes on what she's doing. She pauses before answering,
almost reluctantly, "I'm doing all right." It doesn't sound entirely
convincing. She takes a breath before she adds, "I look forward to facing
you over a Snitch again one of these days." She drops the last piece of
the remedy in and puts it down. She seems to steady herself
for a moment before she turns around, "It needs to sit for a little while.
You don't mind waiting do you?"
Harry shakes his head, "I don't mind waiting. Me too.. we have a lot of new players
this term. The matches should be more interesting." Leave it to a boy to
find it easier to talk to you about sports. He's still not convinced that
you're okay, "You sure that you're okay?" He's almost afraid to ask,
as he doesn't want to push the subject or anything.
Sports isn't a subject that this girl dislikes
(especially this particular sport) so there's no apparent dislike of the
momentary change in conversation. "You're still an amazing Seeker."
She's just speaking the truth, but for a moment her faux mood falters, though
it is placed back up when he asks again. "I'm.. doing better." There's a tone to her voice that seems
to say she doesn't wish to speak on this more.
Harry can definitely respect that. He just nods in
acknowledgement that you're better. At the compliment, he colors slightly
against his will, ".. Thanks..
you're a great Seeker yourself." At least this is
a nice neutral topic of conversation. He nearly mentions the new Hufflepuff seeker, and then catches himself before the
words even come out. "We're getting Ron Weasley
to join our team as Keeper. So there's going to be one more to keep an eye on
out on the pitch." Be afraid, be very afraid.
Probably a good idea he caught himself. It was an
emotional strain to continue being a Seeker as it was. Most people figured she
would quit, or at least drop to reserve. A light shade of red touches Cho's cheeks at the return compliment, but it fades
quickly. "I haven't seen him play, but I'm sure he'll do well. It seems to
run in his family, after all." Probably not something Ron would want to
hear, but she doesn't really know him.
Harry grins a bit, "He's surprised I asked him to
join, of course we technically have to give him some sort of tryout I suppose
to be fair." He made you blush? Well that surprised him. "When I get
to stay with his family we play quidditch in a field,
he knows his stuff." Erk, he's rambling on like
a prat.. "Do you know
just yet when we face off against you guys? This way we can show Slytherin that it takes talent to play."
"I look forward to seeing him play." Cho moves back to the remedy, but doesn't appear to see
what she's looking for, because she turns back to him, responding to the
question about when the match is. "Not till after the break, obviously,
but I don't know the exact date yet. I'm trying to find out if I can borrow or
buy a better broom. My Comet Two-Sixty just doesn't seem to be that impressive
any more. Was when I first got it, but it really needs a replacement."
Harry nods. Dur, obviously not til after the break.
He knew that, honestly. He's not normally this idiotic. ".. You could probably
get something in the Nimbus series. Depending on your price range, I think the
cost on the Firebolts have
come down too. Your Comet is nice and stable." But just nothing compared
to the newer brooms as already stated.
Of course he's not. "I'm used to it, that's probably
the best quality it has." Cho smiles lightly.
She is rather fond of her Comet, and she won't get rid of it even if she does
get a better broom. It's has the whole 'first broom' thing that makes it that
much more special. She doesn't continue the conversation about the prices of
the other brooms though. She's never had shabby clothes, so she's not
exceptionally poor, but her family certainly doesn't have a lot of galleons to
throw around. She looks down at the remedy again and nods. "Finally."
She picks it up and walks over to where Harry's seated and holds it out.
"It's got a fairly tart taste, but it's not too bad. It should work right
away." If it doesn't, she did it wrong.
Harry is honestly trying to not sound like a prat, but nervousness will do that to a person. "Yeah,
I think we still have some pieces of my Nimbus somewhere." Unless it got buried on the grounds by his friends. As the
cup is handed over, he accepts it. "Thanks, I'm sure it'll work
fine." And taste fine. It couldn't be worse than other potions he's had. Pomfrey would be proud; he drinks the contents without
hesitation. The cup is handed back, "Thanks.. the pain's starting to go away."
Pieces of his Nimbus, which got broken
in his game with Cedric. A sad look comes into her eyes for a second,
but it is gone by the time Cho nods her head and
smiles (again, seems forced), "If they come back, you can always ask me to
make you another. Though Madam Pomfrey would make it
better." Her abilities with healing aren't anywhere near that of Pomfrey, but she is playing them down either way.
"So..." She seems to have run out of things to say.
Harry ought to kick himself for mentioning that.. Stupid stupid
Potter. Once again, he wasn't thinking. "No no,
you made it just fine.. I'll be sure to come back if
the headache returns." He raises a hand to rub at the back of his head.. "So.. ah...
thanks again.. I better go see if I can't find Ron..
I'll see you around." Yes, he better leave before he does or says anything
dumber.
Cho nods in thanks at the
affirmation of her work, "You're welcome. I'll see you later." She
starts to move back towards the rack of remedy ingredients, putting the jars
and vials that she took things from back into their places.
Harry gets up from his chair and heads for the door. This
time watching where he's going so he doesn't walk into another wall. Before he
heads out the door, he steals another look back at Cho
then leaves.