"You're quite welcome, dear. I'm happy to help you," Gabriella said, standing up so as to better give the potion to Nicoletta. She was just about to tilt the girl's head up when Nicoletta started questioning quidditch try-outs and water. Lowering the phial of potion to her side, Gabriella smiled and nodded in reply to trying out for quidditch. "Of course you'll be able to try out for quidditch! You'll be back to normal in a matter of five minutes. That's the magic part of...well, magic. It doesn't take nearly as long to mend broken bones with a wand as it does with a cast."

"As for the water, you're free to get a cup as soon as you've been healed. This will only take a few minutes," she replied, raising her wand once again. She began a series of swishes and flicks, aiming first at Nicoletta's left arm, then her ankle, then finally the three ribs. Little by little, the girl's broken bones began to piece themselves back together. Gabriella left the magic to work on its own so she could give Nicoletta the strengthening potion she'd need. She placed her hand underneath the girl's head and gently inclined it. "Drink," she instructed.

Nicoletta opened her mouth and swallowed it. She gagged when it went down her throat and struggled to keep it down. She got that throwing up feeling in her stomach again and placed her arm over her waist.

Gabriella placed a comforting hand on Nicoletta's back. Some children didn't take well to medication, even potions that served as medication. "It's normal to feel a little queasy. Some children...and some adults, too...often times feel that way after taking a medication. Even potions don't always have a pleasant taste," she explained. "All of your broken bones are healed, but you probably won't have your strength back until you take a nice, long rest. You're dismissed from the Hospital Wing, but make sure you go right to your Common Room."

"Thank you" she said " I will" Nicoletta left the hospital wing and headed off towards the common room.

"Ok thank you" said Violet

With an arm around the Healer Allison limped towards the ward. What a wonderful way to start the school year, Allison weakly giggled in her head.

As she made her way into the healing area, Gabriella turned towards Allison and said, "I certainly admire you for trying to walk on your own in your situation. Lots of people wouldn't be brave enough to do so," she complimented. She turned the corner and directed Allison into the healing area, nodding towards the little table on the far wall as she did so. "Just sit atop the table for me, and prop your ankles up on the little stool." She guided a stool closer to the table then abandoned it so she could get the potions and cream she'd need.

Rummaging through a few cabinets, Gabriella gathered a phial of potion for strength and pain, then a tube of cream that would help heal the injured areas. Finally, she gather a few bandages then made her way back over to the table. "Ready?" she asked.

"I don't want to cause any trouble. I blame it on my mum, kind of hammered it, I think that's how you say it...she hammered it into my head. Less trouble the faster things work out," Allison nodded partially to herself.

Sitting on the table Allison bit her lower lip, "It won't sting, hurt, or all of the above right?" Closing one eye and following the healer with the other Allison gulped, "I...I guess I'm ready."

She was the never the brave one for pain. Manners and breeding had her walking into the ward without causing trouble, but pain was another thing. That just caused yelps, screams, shrieks depending on the level, and Allison did not want to and had no reason to--she reminded herself, embarrass herself.

Gabriella simply smiled and nodded as Allison responded to the earlier compliment she'd been given. As much as she loved chit chat, any additional conversation of the sort would have to wait until Allison's ankles were healed.

When Allison asked about the potion and cream possibly hurting or stinging, Gabriella sort of bit her bottom lip and gave the girl a look that pretty much confirmed it wouldn't be altogether pain-free. "The potion, no. I'm afraid the cream may sting just a little at first, but that's only normal," she replied, giving the girl an apologetic face. "Why don't you take this potion while I work on your ankles? It'll help with the pain."

She passed the phial to the girl then set to work on her ankles. In less than a minute, the cream had been applied and a few bandages had been placed over the cuts and scrapes. "Two days...," Gabriella said, glancing back up at the girl. "That's how long the bandages need to stay put without getting wet." She stood up and discarded of the empty tube that had one housed the cream. "...and that's a wrap. You're dismissed Miss Scott, and if you feel it's necessary to come back, please do so."

Looking at the phial with little trust Allison grabbed her nose and swallowed it quickly. The taste was not particularly appealing, but it was better than...

"Merlin's beard!" Allison shut both eyes and squeaked loudly. The cream stung enough to have her eyes water over. Giving the healer a big fake smile that did nothing to cover the pain on her face Allison nodded to healer at her indications. Even though Allison didn't feel she was in state to thank her properly, Allison did what she knew best.

Grabbing into her bunny-pack Allison took out a family chocolate and left it at the table she was sitting. Walking out in slow motion Allison made her leave towards the dormitories waving goodbye.

Gabriella eyed the little girl with sympathy, knowing (from experience, of course) exactly what she was going through. If she remembered correctly, Gabriella had had a similar reaction to the stinging potion coming into contact with her skin. No additional words were needed. The poor girl had been healed, but at a painful cost. Gabriella would have to work on developing a new, pain-free potion.

Spotting the chocolate that was left behind, Gabriella called out a "Thank you, Miss Scott!" She was unsure of whether or not her appreciation was heard, though. Dropping the treat into the pockets of her robes, Gabriella headed back out to the waiting area to retrieve the next patient.

Enid followed the seamstress to her fitting room and grinned at the offering of a drink. "O, that would be most delightful, I'm feeling ridiculously thirsty!" she exclaimed rather dramatically as she let her gaze wander around the room. Hmmm... there were no fancy dresses like she had expected, but she supposed the seamstress merely kept them hidden somewhere for safety reasons; oh these are terrible times we live in!

Lady Alexa stared around herself in wonder as she entered the fitting area with Lady Enid. Scooting closer to her she whipsered, "Art thou positive that she is indeed a seamstress?"

She gave the woman a smile and nodded, "Punch sounds divine, kind lady. I have given my pumpkin juice to the Duke, he is in the waiting area." she said.

Being that she was walking just a few steps ahead of the two girls, Gabriella could bite her lip to control laughter without having to worry about being seen. As she thought of how quickly Alexa and Enid fell for the whole 'punch' line, she couldn't help but want to howl in laughter. She'd refrain, though.

For now. Although she imagined later on tonight, when she was lying in bed and settling down for a long night's rest, she'd get quite a kick out of this whole charade. That was when she got word that the 'Duke' was sitting in the waiting area. It crossed her mind to wonder whether or not the Duke needed a sip of her punch, as well, but she'd worry about that sometime later.

"Do take a seat, Mi---Lady Alexa and Lady Enid. I'll prepare the punch while you tell me what it is you've come for," she said, assuming that since they thought her to be the seamstress, they were here for some sewing related business. As she waited for them to explain, Gabriella headed towards the cabinets and retrieved two doses of wit-sharpening potion. Had this really been punch she was serving, she'd have fixed a far bigger glass. Being that it was a potion, though, she could only serve a minimal amount. Knowing this, she retrieved two of her smallest glasses and filled them to the rim with the potion. "For you...and you." She held the glasses of potion out, waiting for the girls to accept them and drink up.

Lorcan poked his head through the doors of the hospital wing. "Miss?" He waved at her to come over to him, his face a picture of anxiety. "I'm sorry they called you a seamstress Miss but it was the only way that I could get Alexandra to come and see you. She said that she'd been drinking this." He held up the jug of pumpkin juice. "She didn't mention it when we were on the train, but I think she must have bought it before she came to school. It smells... old or something." He held out the jug for the nurse to take. "I'm sorry I just came in Miss, but I thought you should know."

He knew that Nurse Avalon, the previous healer, would not have been impressed with the way he had entered the ward but he was sure that the juice had something to do with it.

Lady Alexa took the punch glass from the seamstress and said, "Well, isn't it obvious ma'am? We have come for thou to craft us new gowns for our meeting with the King."

She lifted the glass to her lips and drained the glass. Hmmm...

Immediately Alexa began to shake her head in confusion. She had no idea where she was or better yet, how she had gotten there. Looking to the Healer she asked, "Ummm... seriously. Where in the bloody Hell am I? And who are you? Enid... what is going on here?" She was starting to freak a little bit to be quite honest.

"Am I in the hospital Wing? Duuuuude.... somebody tell me what's going on!" she exclaimed, hopping up from the bench she had been seated on.

Enid took the glass from the healer and made a face. "What-- I suppose the business is not going very well, then, Seamstress?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "This amount of punch couldn't even help a cactus!" she said, a bit offended by how cheap the seamstress was with the drink. But either way, she proceeded to sip it down quickly. "Ah..." she let out a sigh of content, finding the punch to taste even better than she had expected. "Thou hast got to share the recipe for thy secret punch, Seamstress!" she said with a smile before coughing softly. Hmm... what was she talking about, again? "And... uh... wait, what was I saying?" she asked, furrowing her brows slightly and turning to Alexa as the younger girl asked her what was going on. "I dunno, I feel like we were supposed to get something from here. Hmmmm... wait! Gimme a second and I'll remember!" she said, now looking off into space with narrowed green eyes. After a minute or two, she finally looked back at Healer Ashford. "I think we were looking for band-aids? Nah, wait, we're not even injured... I dunno." She shrugged. "Thanks for the drink, though. Good stuff," she added, raising her eyebrows a bit at the small glass in which the potion had once been.

A new voice, a male voice that she knew belonged to neither Alexa nor Enid, sounded through the hallway. Gabriella turned her head to see a young Hufflepuff poking his head through the door to the Hospital Ward and Healing Area. She was about to call out to him and ask him to wait his turn when he said a few things that caused her to stop right in her tracks.

Finding his words interesting, she click-clacked her way closer, her hand reaching out to take the jug he offered. "The Duke, I'm assuming?" she asked, nodding towards the boy, a smile on her face. She studied the jug for a moment then glanced back up at the boy.

"I'm quite proud of you, and very appreciative of how responsible you've been in taking care of your friends," she said, placing the jug on a table off to the side. She fished into her pockets for a coupon, pulling one out just a second or two later. "Ahh, free butterbeer. I do enjoy butterbeer," she said, passing the coupon over to him.



"Be sure and use it, mmkay? Hogsmeade weekend is just around the corner," she said, calling out over her shoulder as she made her way back to the girls, jug in hand. "Oh, and...thanks again!"

"Gowns to see the King...., right," Gabriella said, thinking that she should have figured that much out. Of course they'd want gowns to see the king. "Alrighty, then, drink up, and I'll get my thinking cap on about those gowns..." Of course she didn't think a lick, though, for the potion would kick in soon, and the girls would, hopefully, be back to normal.

A second later, that's just what started to happen. "Miss Kennedy, you'll have to watch your mouth and your inside voice," she said, slightly fussing at the girl as she came to. "Give me a moment to tend to your friend, and then we'll talk."

No longer able to bite her lip to stop the laughter, Gabriella laughed lightly at the cactus comment. "Fair enough. Won't you drink up, then I'll refill your glass with punch fit for a queen!" she remarked. Gabriella smirked a little as the potion began working its magic on Enid, as well. "Band-aids, right. Won't you two take a look at this jug and tell me what was in here instead. After that, we'll discuss why you're here."

Alexa flushed slightly and looked from Lorcan to the... erm... Healer. "I apologize, ma'am. I uh... just freaked out I reckon. And what does the jug of pumpkin juice I bought on Diagon Alley have to do with anything. Dude, Enid what are you talking about?" Alexa said, shaking her head in confusion.

Lorcan gave the nurse an embarrassed smile. "Yeah, the umm, Duke. That's me. I had to pretend, to get her to come with me."

He blushed and his smile became even more embarrassed when she gave him the butterbeer tokens. "Oh, no thanks Miss. I didn't do it to be rewarded." He passed them back to her. "Could you please tell Lex- I mean Alexandra that I'll wait for her out in the corridor? Thanks." He ducked out of the room before she could answer him or try to give him the tokens again, totally missing the rest of what she had to say.

Upon hearing the full story of why this Hufflepuff boy was being referred to as a duke, Gabriella smiled and gave him an understanding nod. "I figured as much," she remarked. "Of course I'll give Miss Kennedy the message, but listen, I have a ton of these coupons, and I can't possibly use them all..." It was no use finishing that conversation, though. The boy had turned and fled the area before Gabriella could ever finish the thought.

"Well, I've never..."

With the coupon back in hand, Gabriella turned her attention to Alexa, who was busy saying her apologies. "Thank you, Miss Kennedy, and here," she said, passing the coupon to her instead.



"...might as well hand it over, since I've already got it in hand. Apparently your friend had no use for it," she said, nodding in the direction the "Duke" had fled. "I have about a million and one of these, and I can't possibly use them all. Please, have a free butterbeer on The Hog's Head. I hear you lot are headed to Hogsmeade soon."

She narrowed her eyes when Alexa asked what the jug had to do with her being in the Hospital Wing. Gabriella would have replied with an "I believe I asked you a question first, Miss Kennedy," but she gave up in the long run and explained. Besides, the two girls had been through an ordeal.

"Apparently, there was a mixture of something or another in this jug. It caused you two to become severely confused and in need of a wit-sharpening potion. I believe your friend, the Hufflepuff boy I just spoke to, can explain a bit better," she said. "Regardless, I think there must have, unfortunately, been a Confusing Concoction mixed in."

Confusing concoction.... I reckon that would explain loads. Alexa nodded, still unclear on what had been going on. She smiled and took the coupon from the lady and said, "Thanks a million, ma'am. I am still really blank, for lack of a better word. I can only remember little bits and pieces from the time I got on the train until now. Is that what a Confusing Concoction does? I am no good with Potions, so I am not even sure what that is."

She then grimaced and looked at Enid. "Dude, I am so sorry. I guess I shouldn't have shared that pumpkin juice with you?" she said with a crooked grin. She couldn't help it.. she began to giggle a little bit.

Turning back to the Healer she asked, "So what exactly have we been up to?" This was bound to be good.

Enid listened as the healer explained they had taken a confusing conctus... conction... con-- oh whatever, the point was they had taken something Enid had absolutely no idea what it was (she was an absolute disaster at potions), but whatever it was, it had made her and Alexa go completely blank for some time. "That's okay, I'm sure it wasn't that bad," said Enid, waving the matter off as unimportant when Alexa apologized. But then her green eyes widened a bit... "It wasn't that bad, was it?" she asked, now turning back to the healer. What exactly had they done while infected with this... evil potion... pumpkin juice... drink... thing... Oh Merlin. Now she was beginning to feel a little nervous.

"Mmhmm," Gabriella said, replying to Alexa's appreciation of the coupon. "A Confusing Concoction does just as the name suggests---it confuses a person in some way, shape, or form." She had previously thought to not tell the girl's of their behavior, but she supposed they deserved to know. "In this case, the two of you mistook yourselves for royalty, even going as far as believing me to be the be the royal seamstress. Oh, and I do believe your Hufflepuff friend was what you referred to as a duke."

"The Confusing Concoction itself isn't bad. It's what you do while confused that can be most unfortunate. You're lucky you only thought yourself to be royalty," she explained. "Anyway, your friend can tell you much more than I can, so I recommend asking him. For now, the two of you are dismissed. Just be sure of what you're drinking from now on, please."

Since she'd just given Alexa a coupon, she though it'd be nice to give Enid one, as well. She dug deep into her pockets and retrieved one, passing it over to the girl. "...and one for you, as well," she said. "Have a good day, girls."

Alexa's head was starting to pound and she felt like an utter moron. "Royalty... Dear Merlin, that's crazy. Thanks Healer... erm... Ashford? I think that's it. Anyway, thanks a million. Hopefully I won't be seeing you in here anymore this term" Alexa said as she made her way from the room, back into the waiting room. Yeah... she would most likely see her again... just hopefully she would be helping someone else in.