Cadence looked around at the other students in the room, hoping for help. Surely others of them had noticed some of Cela's peculiar behavior. "I-I don't know... earlier she was just staring at the ceiling and mumbling something about someone sleeping and someone dying. I... couldn't quite catch it. If it's necessary, I would wake up this boy," she pointed to the boy with bandaged shoulder. "He was talking to her earlier..."

Cadence stood up and backed away from Cela, moving to stand close to the Headmaster. She was scared. The Professor was in an awful state, the CreeperDude could wake up at anytime, and Cela was... well there was something desperately wrong with her. Quietly, Cadence mumbled, "I don't know what happened. I... I just did what I was told, and then... then she... and she won't wake up.."

And to her mind came the images of another student who wouldn't wake up despite her many attempts. Set. And he had been dead. She rushed away and sat down next to where Nate was sitting on the floor, hoping he would give her some comfort.

Change of plan?

Gold had taken two steps out of the Headmaster's Seating Area, when she saw Headmaster Tate. Who was followed, almost at once, by Professor Lupa and... an unconscious Remi.

Looked like she did not have to leave, now. She was sort of glad about that, too; because this meant she could stay with Dylan. His actions were absolutely disturbing her, and she did not want to leave him, alone. She went back to him, now, and quietly held his hand.

She didn't want him to run off to Remi, again. She had brought him here, to keep him out of the way, and now Remi was here. That wasn't good, not one bit. But at least he was with her.

Safe.

Gold glanced at Cela. "Is she under a curse?" she asked no one in particular. It wasn't even a real question. She was just thinking, and not really aware that she had spoken out loud.

She was worried about Cela, and the sudden anxiety in her eyes, as she looked over at the Ravenclaw Prefect, showed it. Most of them were now healed, or close to being healed, but Cela? She was a different story altogether, right now. It was like nothing was really working.

And she had noticed.... Professor Kazimeriz had said something along the lines of what Cela had spoken, a while ago, when he had stirred from unconsciousness. Gold had been able to see him through the hole in the wall, on the fifth floor; and, though she had been too far to clearly make out his words, the movement of the lips had been enough to catch a bit or two of what he had mumbled. Only a bit or two, though.

Something like ...

I am not anywhere?

Eh?

"Celadine's been talking out of her head about things going on on the fifth floor. Her head seemed to clear after she kissed Raiden." Which seems weird to Sidney, she thought Cela has a boyfriend whose attending another school. It sure did upset Raiden. "Cela drank the potion, then had a seizure and passed out. Her breathing and heart rate seems to be strong. She hasn't moved or talked since the seizure." Sidney hopes Healer Ashford understands what she's told her. Sidney doesn't know anything about health issues.

"He got heavy, Less?" Tate gave her a sympathetic look and pointed his wand at the man. "I can take him the rest of the way if you'd prefer."

His eyes cut to Healer Ashford, and he gave her a short nod. "He was speaking to me earlier, so I think he's in and out."

Tate headed for the stairs. Time to get rid of the Frenchman.

Sabel!

Gold suddenly remembered that she had told him she was going to fetch Healer Ashford. Things had taken a U-turn, though, what with the appearance of the Headmaster here, not to mention Professor Lupa and Professor Kazimeriz and, of course, Remi; and it looked like Healer Ashford was going to stay here. But Sabel might still be waiting for her to arrive!

"Wait for me, and don't be a bad Dylan," Gold said, looking up at Dylan, as she suddenly - but gently - let go of his hand, and headed for the stairs. She had to get back to the fifth floor.

How could she have been so forgetful?

Arrow of Poor Memory, drat!

"Yes, real heavy, Casey," She said... "I can continue, but I may hit his head trying to come through your threshold." She moved the hair out of her face... "Purely accidental..." She added and followed him it.

Now that she was back here for the -- well, she had lost count now. 467024th time, maybe? - Gold was glad she had left, in the first place. Yes, it had meant letting Dylan out of her sight, but it also meant that she was able to help Alexa, who was in a terrible condition.

She levitated the second year Gryffindor into the Seating Area now, and very gently lowered her. "You'll be fine, now," she said softly, as she sat down next to Alexa. Sabel and Lorcan should arrive, soon - and she still felt like she should have levitated Sabel, too. She could have had.

If he had let her, that is.

But he was so stubborn! In a good way, yes; but that 'good way' was not being particularly beneficial to the boy, at this moment. Gold raised her eyes, to look in the direction of the stairs, for a glimpse or half or Sabel and Lorcan. Things weren't back to normal, yet.

She wondered when they would be.

Soon, hopefully.

Alexa had kept her eyes shut tight as Gold levitated her down to Tatertot's seating area, but the tears kept flowing. She was broken beyond repair, it felt. As Gold placed her down she opened her eyes and whispered, "Thank you so much, Gold." She snuggled into Gold as she sat down beside Alexa. Sabel's blood soaked makehift bandage was still on her head and she held her left arm across her chest as she sobbed uncontrollably.

"Has anyone seen Mr.Kapoor?" she asked quietly and started to sob harder still. Her entire body jerking as she did so.

Lorcan was panting as they reached the Headmaster's seating area and very nearly unceremoniously dumped Sabel in one of the arm chairs.

"Do you have to be so ruddy FAT?" He demanded with exasperation. This was laughable since Sabel was rail thin almost, but right then, after helping him down three flights of stairs, Sabel felt heavier than a hypogryff.

"Lifts..." He panted, "This place... should have... lifts..."

A pained groan nearly escaped Sabel's lips as he was half-lowered, half-dropped into the chair, the sudden searing pain cutting off any vocalization. Dropping his head back against the chair, he pressed his eyes closed, realizing how much it had hurt to run around for so long like this. How much it hurt to hear Alexa crying; and he couldn't seem to do anything for her.

About the only thing he could do right now was reach over with one hand, grab Lorcan's sleeve and yank him down into a chair beside him. If the boy was panting so much, it was best he sat down before he fell over. At least the boy could pant though. Right now, getting air into his lungs was like Gollum trying to willfully give up the ring. He just needed a minute, and then maybe he would make a jab back at Lorcan; something about complaining about him being fat when he was the one asking for lifts.

Lord. "Healer Ashford is here, everything will be fine," Gold said gently, as Alexa snuggled up to her. The fifth year wrapped her arms around the sobbing girl, and held her close. It felt undeniably warm, the hug, and she only hoped it felt the same to Alexa.

Poor Alexa.

"I don't know," she replied softly, when the younger Gryffindor asked if anyone had seen Mr. Kapoor. The librarian... where was the librarian? Gold bit her lip, and resisted the urge to heave a cold sigh. Then she looked up at Healer Ashford. Time to talk, again.

"Alexa hit her head, ma'am," she said, slowly, as she glanced at the makeshift bandage around Alexa's head. She didn't want to speak too loudly, and disturb the girl snuggling into her. "She was blasted into a wall, and then fell to the ground. Severe backache." What else? Gold glanced at Alexa's arm. "Her arm is broken, I think."

She fell quiet, arms still around Alexa. This felt so peaceful, Gold wanted to sleep. But she wasn't going to. Not until she knew she wasn't needed to run around, anymore.


Finally!

Gold breathed a sigh of relief, when Lorcan arrived, with Sabel. She had been starting to get worried, about those two. Lifts? She resisted the urge to point out that Sabel could have just let her levitate him, up here. That would have saved plenty of energy.

Sabel's and Lorcan's.

But at least the two of them were here. She was just relieved about that. Now Healer Ashford could tend to them.

Thank God.

As Sabel sat down, the resulting lifting of the weight from his own body caused Lorcan to groan. It made him feel lightheaded.

Just as he was managing to gather himself, Sabel yanked him down onto the seat.

"'Ey up! What's your game like?" His Yorkshire accent, which usually was fairly smoothed out, came out as a strong objection to being dragged around.

Then he caught a proper glance of Sabel's and his brow knitted together. "Don't take this the wrong way or anything mate, but I've seen Merpeople out of water who look better than you do."

And Sabel had been told he was random.

Cracking open an eye he gave a small smile to Lorcan. "Are you calling me magical?" Probably not. If anything, that statement right there made him sound more delusional than anything at the moment.

"Thank you, Healer Ashford," Evelyn said quietly with a sigh of relief. She smiled as she watched the nurse move to the next injured person. The room was so noisy. Too many people talking, too many people stomping around. Evelyn grabbed the girl from under her arms and slid her over to a quieter corner of the room. She rested the girl's head on her lap again, hoping that it would be more comfortable for her once she woke up.

Evelyn closed her own eyes and rested her head back against the wall, all the stress and carrying of the Slytherin had left her completely exhausted. "You'll be okay soon," she whispered to the girl, "You probably can't hear me yet, but if you can, I just want you to know that you can keep your eyes closed if you want to. You can rest. I'll wait."

Wincing slightly, Jake hissed through gritted teeth as he felt slight pain when he was healed. His hand was soon all fixed, since that was his wand hand and writing hand... though he couldn't do magic or write... so... no harm done.

When the woman worked on his elbow, Jake did his best to stay quiet and brave. Ashford swapped his tie for his sling and that really helped; the boy smiled slightly. He shut his eyes and didn't focus on anything until the potion was raised to his lips, which he drank down, no questions asked.

Once Healer Ashford moved away, Jake allowed himself to relax, ignoring the throbbing pain in his elbow, until...

"Wwwhat?" he asked, startled. "Wh-who's thhere? I cccccan't suhh-see... mmmmmy g-glasses..."

Oh he hoped it was the evil guy. Jake could stomp on his face then.

Or... something.

Dylan was confused. First Gold had shouted at him. Why was that? He only wanted to wake Remi up. And now she was threatening that she break up with him. Second, she returns. So she wasn't breaking up with him. He was rather confused now.

He sat down. He would do nothing. Nothing at all. Even when they had brought Remi in. He was still unconcious. He had to help the poor guy. Tate was going to kill him.

Gabriella nodded at the headmaster, indicating she understood and would begin healing Kazimeriz right away. Her attention was diverted by Cadence, Gold, and Sydney, who were both questioning Cela's condition. The healer studied Cela for a moment before replying. "I believe your friend will be alright, but I also believe she needs further healing---at St. Mungo's, I mean. I've moved her to a cushioned area of the floor for now, though, so just keep a watch on her," she finally said. She'd see about sending Cela off to St. Mungo's shortly.

She turned her attention to just Gold when the prefect began explaining Alexa Kennedy's injuries. She knelt beside Alexa and gave the girl a warm smile before tending to her injuries. She gently removed the bandages on the girl's head, cleaned up the wound, then applied a new bandage wrap around the area. She then passed Alexa a potion which would help with the pain and back injury she was suffering from. "...and what's wrong with this one?" she asked Gold, nodding to Sabel.

Lorcan would have laughed if he hadn't been so worried.

"Magical? Sommat like that aye." Lorcan had lapsed into his Yorkshire dialect fully now, there was no pretending that he was well spoken now.

Lorcan looked around and saw that Lexi was crying. He really didn't know how to talk to her at that moment. He knew that he should say something but what that something was... he had no idea.

Sabel blinked at Lorcan, wondering for a moment if he had actually hit his head or if the pain was just making speech sound funny. Or Lorcan was just strange, that was a possibility.

He was about to inquire, or chuckle, which one he was not totally sure on, when Healer Ashford began speaking to Gold about him. Hadn't he come down here so that he wouldn't get in the way of Ashford? There were other people with more serious conditions than himself. He just needed to rest, that was all; he could be looked after later.

However, he knew Gold would say something different, so he hurried to speak first. Wind quickly leaving chest was not a good idea, and he couldn't help but wince as the words left him, waving a hand a little in front of himself. "I'm okay...I'll be fine for now...the Professors...the others..." like Kazi and Gandalf "...they need more attention than I do. I can wait."

Gold was exhausted. She had been up and down God-knows-how-many flights of stairs, in the past hour, again and again and again -- feeding people potions - levitating them to the Seating Area, for treatment -- and her arms and legs were pretty bruised, now.

Not to mention, the strain. The worry she had felt for her friends. The shock of seeing Candy go down. The hurt she had felt, when she had come to know of Dylan's unwilling role in all of this -- and the ANGER to match, when Dylan Denver had decided he wanted Remi conscious.

Holding on to Alexa, she could feel her brain want to drift off to sleep. But she couldn't, now. She wasn't going to, not until all of this was ABSOLUTELY over. Not until Alexa was healed, and Sabel was better, and Dylan was talking sense --- and Candy was awake.

Among other things, that is.

She looked up, when Healer Ashford mentioned Cela. St. Mungo's? Well, that was understandable. Gold personally thought Cela was under some sort of curse, but she was going to keep that opinion to herself. St. Mungo's would know what to do, more than well.

She gently detached herself from Alexa, when Healer Ashford came over, to tend to the younger girl that Gold had levitated here. Poor Alexa, she hadn't even been able to walk. The very memory clawed at the fifth year, and she quickly blinked it away, glad that Alexa was being healed, at least now. "You'll be okay in no time," she told Alexa, gently. She was about to say something else along those lines, when her attention was diverted by a question Healer Ashford directed at her.

"Chest injury," she said, quietly. From what Gold had seen, at least. "Damage to the ribs. He's been having trouble breathing -" She glanced at Sabel, as he spoke, a sign to say that he could add in anything, she missed out, or said incorrectly. "But he's been doing a fair amount of standing and fighting; and he walked all the way here, too."

That must have worsened things - and Lorcan's support counted, yes, but it was still walking. Gold looked up at Healer Ashford, again. "I'd say the exhaustion is getting to him, too." That showed on Sabel's face, now, no matter how much the boy tried to hide it.

Le sigh.

WHAT?

Gold glared at Sabel. "That's enough, I think!" She was beginning to get angry, now, and an angry Gold Laksh was NOT someone anyone could ever want to come across. "Don't listen to him, Healer Ashford, he's full of this stupid Gryffindor courage thing. He's been doing this all night." Acting brave, and not allowing himself to get any rest.

But Sabel WAS going to get some rest now, if Gold had any say in this matter - and she WOULD.

Sabel jumped a little at Gold's outburst. Normally, he might have argued, or tried to, even though he knew he wouldn't succeed, but the girl looked exhausted. They all did. He suddenly realized he was getting in the way by refussing, and causing a lot of people extra stress. Stupid indeed.

He really didn't want to be the one to be healed when there were so many others that were in worse condition, but he was just being a headache. He'd let Ashford decide what to do with him.

Bitting his bottom lip he gave Lorcan an appologetic glance and then looked over at Gold with just as much sincerity, speaking quietly to the healer but watching Gold. "I...got hit with three Stupify's in a row...one...threw me back against a wall...the other two came after...I...thought I heard something snap...but with all that was happening at the time I'm not sure...I've been running around ever since..." Did he really need to say it hurt to do anything that involved his upper body?

Lorcan shook his head as Sabel spoke. Now that Healer Ashford was there, he didn't make any sarcastic remarks but just looked at Sabel darkly thinking, If he doesn't get healed I'm going to kill him.

When Gold protested, Lorcan joined in. "She's right Miss. He can hardly breathe. He's just being stubborn. He's been running on adrenaline but I think he's used it all up. Tell him that you decide who gets helped and when Miss, please."

Gold's temper deflated like a badly punctured balloon. This was better. Sabel was being good, now.

Three stunners? That sounded bad. Gold half-winced, as she thought of it, then shook her head, as if trying to shake her imagination away. Sabel was here, now; and he was under the care of Healer Ashford. No more stunners, now. No more running around. Thank God!

"Thank you," she said quietly, when he finished speaking. She wanted to hug him, too, but she held back. For now only, though. Later, she was going to give him the hug of his life, for being a good Sabel, and letting the Healer know exactly what was wrong with him.

For all the bravery he had shown, too. It really was something to see, how calm he could stay in the face of a situation as critical as the one they had all been in, tonight.

Alexa grimaced as Healer Ashford came nearer. SHe knew it was going to hurt like hell when she healed the arm and whatnot. She actually whimpered as she cleaned her head wound and rewrapped it. She had not really realized the extent of her injuries until that moment. Alexa then took the potion with shakey hands and drank it down. It felt like ice going down her throat and she gagged a bit and then started crying again. It was the worst day of her life...

Alexa sobbed again as Gold detached from her. She then sat up straighter as Gold spoke to her. She wasn't sure that she would ever be okay after all of this... but she daren't say that to Gold. "Thanks. I am going to go up to the common room now, Gold. THank you again for all of your help... I-I-I am nnnot ssssure what would have happened to me without you," she said in between deep sobs as she shakily got up from her seat. "There are others that need help... I will go now," she said quietly trying to walk away before anyone stopped her or tried to speak her again. SHe was in no state to speak anymore. All she wanted to do was get her things packed and ready to go home... or to Silas and Dora's at least.

Sabel gave Lorcan another apologetic look, before turning his head to give Gold a small smile. It was at that moment that Alexa decided to get up and leave the room. His first question was to whether she should be moving around so soon, and the other was as to why she was isolating herself from everyone. The pain with which she spoke and moved nearly tore his heart out, and before voice, body or thought could object, he had jumped to his feet and wrapped his arms around her from behind.

For once in his life his feet didn't fail him, and the pain came after he was standing with his arms securely but comfortingly around her. If the searing agony that raced through his side had come any sooner, he probably would have collapsed into or onto her, which wouldn't have been good for either of them.

Holding her close he tried not to let his own pain show as he rocked her slowly, resting his cheek against her head, whispering to her in a gentle voice. "It wasn't your fault Alexa. None of this was. We all still love you. Please, don't fade away."