Turquoise

Turquoise is most efficient in healing.

“Wow, you were right.”

“Told you so!”

“No need to rub it in. We’ll need to get Albus or Scorpius.”

“They’re too far away. Maybe James?”

“Nah, he’s off in detention with Geoffrey.”

“Well, we have to get her there somehow.”

“You do it then, Rose.” Peregrine snaps, pushing her curly hair from her face. It was white today, mostly from worry. She looks back at the bed, her friend lying beneath three blankets and still shivering. Her face is pink with fever and she’s sweating bullets. Spots, like spider bites, litter her neck and the backs of her hands. Her face is screwed up in pain. She had been like this since the night before, when she had stayed in bed the whole day after waking up with a stomach ache from the party the night before that.

“Look, just go down to the common room, see who you can find.” Peregrine rushes down, hoping someone is there.

“Jonathon?” She stops at the bottom step, surprised that he was there. Savannah had told them of what had happened at the party. She had expected him to stay away for a few days. The boy was at the bookcases, perusing some of the spines and holding a daisy in one hand. The light from the early morning sun almost made his hair appear blonde and he wore a grey turtle neck with dark blue jeans. He actually looked pretty cute.

“Oh, hi Peregrine.” He stammers, putting a book back into place and turning around. His eyes strain to look behind her.

“Savannah isn’t up there, is she? I was hoping to talk to her today.” Peregrine hurries over to him, lifting an arm and feeling the muscle.

“You seem strong enough. How much do you lift usually?” She demands. His mouth is slightly open but he answers anyway.

“I can do a hundred on a good day. Er…why?”

“Come with me.” She drags him up the staircase, mildly surprised it didn’t turn into a slide.

“Oh my god, Savannah?” Jonathon blurts as soon as he’s through the door, dropping the daisy from his hand. Rose is sitting by her head, a wet washcloth in hand. Savannah hasn’t moved.

“Can you carry her to the Hospital Wing? We would, but it would be hard going down the stairs and opening doors might make us drop her.” Rose asks. Jonathon says nothing, only pulling back the covers and sliding his hands under her knees and shoulders. She’s still in her pj’s, a simple black tank top and some old soccer shorts. Her entire body is sweat soaked and she begins to shiver as soon as the air hits her. She gives a slight whimper.

“How long has she been like this?” Jonathon asks as they hurry down the staircase. Rose hurries ahead to open the common room portrait.

“Well, we left the party early because she wasn’t feeling well, and then she stayed in bed all day yesterday from a stomach ache, and then last night she got a fever and those strange bite marks on neck and hands. She hasn’t been conscious since then either.” Peregrine lists. They’re still a few floors from the wing.

“It sounds like Dragon Pox.” He had just read about the illness a few weeks ago, thinking about aiming for being a Mediwitch. With his stomach in knots and the urge to get as far away from the sickness as possible, he was now reconsidering his decision.

“Rose, go on ahead and warn Madame Bones.” Peregrine instructs as they maneuver down the staircase. She takes in a whirlwind of ginger hair.

“Pe-Pere….” Peregrine goes to his side, looking down at Savannah.

“Hey, I’m right here. We’re getting you some help.” Her lips are blue and her shivering has taken a whole new level.

“C-co-cold.” Savannah chatters. Peregrine brushes some hair back from her face, where it had stuck to the sweat. Her eyes are rimmed with red and her nose is bright pink.

“You’ll be warm in a few seconds.” Peregrine promises, smiling gently. Savannah gives a slight nod, curling up in Jonathon’s arms, and whimpering again.

They make it through the Hospital Wing doors.

“Set her down right here, Mister Allerby. There’s a good lad.” Madame Bones murmurs. Madame Pomfrey had passed on a few years ago, and had blessed Madame Bones taking over. Madame Bones’ husband, Ernie MacMillan, was running for Minister for Magic.

“Symptoms?” She asks. Peregrine lists them off again while Jonathon takes up stance by the end of the bed. Madame Bones runs her wand along the length of Savannah’s body, ‘Mhm’-ing occasionally as Peregrine spoke. Her long, dirty blonde hair falls to her shoulders, her brown eyes warm and concerned.

“Good news, she’s going to get better.” She says as she straightens up a few minutes later.

“That’s great!” Rose exclaims. Madame Bones raises her hands.

“Bad news is that it will take at least a week, depending on when she wakes up.”

“Is it Dragon Pox, Madame Bones?” Jonathon speaks up at last, his face slightly green.

“A very mild version of it, thankfully. As far as I can tell, non-contagious. Nonetheless, let’s not let it get out about what exactly she has, shall we?” The students nod.

“Just to be safe, go take warm showers and scrub profusely. Head to classes. First sign of sickness, come straight here, understand?” She says sternly.

“We promise, Madame Bones. May we visit later?” Rose asks. She nods and waves her wand, pulling the curtains around the bed and ushering the three out. They leave reluctantly, bidding good bye to Jonathon after many a thanks.

“She’s going to be okay, right?” Rose asks as they head to their common room. They had half an hour till classes.

“Definitely. She survived how many years on her own? She’s going to be fine.” Peregrine says strongly, hiding her doubt. They run the rest of the way to the tower, wanting a spot of breakfast before classes.

~~~~

Scorpius pushed through the crowd of students at dinner, eager to get to his friends. Lionel had just told him the most disturbing news, and he had to see if it was true.

“Get out of the way before you get detention!” He yells at a backed up hallway. He smirks as it dissipates immediately. Sometimes, he loved being a prefect. The patrolling hallways at night and helping the teachers out all the time were annoying, but detention powers? Wicked awesome.

“Oi! Potter!” He yells as he spots his best mate ambling along the second floor hallway. He jumps the last few steps on the staircase, just before it drifts away to a new location. He jogs up to the waiting prefect. He looks exhausted from a long lesson of Arithmancy and his bag is nearly tottering him over.

“What? I’m hungry.” He says crossly. Scorp knew he was extremely tired then. Albus was impossible to get irritated unless great effort was put forth.

“No need to get your knickers in a twist. Have you talked to Rose or Peregrine today?”

“No, we had no classes with them today, remember? Why?” They push through the Great Hall doors, noticing immediately the tense air of the hall, the way everyone’s heads were together and whispers carried furiously through the room.

“Okay, what happened?” Albus demanded. Scorpius was about to respond as they sat down across from Rose and Peregrine, but James and Geoffrey joined them before he could.

“Is it true? That’s she’s deathly ill?” Geoffrey demands. Rose opens her mouth and looks up from her French Onion Soup. Peregrine slowly puts down her spoon, looking pointedly around them at the suddenly quiet people that were closest.

“Muffliato” Albus mutters, waving his wand. The people turn angrily back around and continue with their dinner. Scorpius readjusts his knapsack and locks his gaze on Rose.

“What’s going on?” He asks harshly. Peregrine glares at him.

“Nicer tone, we’re not at fault here. We were going to tell you after dinner, but I guess the cat’s out of the bag now.”

“Is she dying?” James breaks in. Rose shakes her head, paling.

“Of course not!” The four boys sag in relief. “She has a small case of Dragon Pox, but don’t tell anyone.” She adds, wincing slightly as Scorpius turns a brilliant shade of red.

“AND YOU DIDN’T TELL US?!” he yells. A hand appears on his shoulder, sitting him back down.

“Scorpius, please relax. I have visited Miss Merlin myself and she is in no immediate danger. The entire hall is watching and we don’t want a panic.” Hermione says cautiously. Scorpius scoffs and gets up again, marching out of the hall, all eyes on him.

“He’s so gone.” James comments before he and Geoffrey move over to where their friends are sitting. Albus also rolls his eyes and tucks into some Shepard’s Pie while Rose and Peregrine pick half-heartedly at their food.

“Buck up guys, I’m researching some medications. Maybe Professor Sprout or Professor Longbottom can suggest something.” Professor Malfoy reassures them before heading back to the teacher’s table.