It had been a few days since the events in the Black Lake, a few days too LONG since Derf had properly given his own condition any real thought or consideration. On the day, it had been about his classmates and making sure they were all safe and accounted for. The next day? Derf had slept through everything - literally EVERYTHING. The accumulation of OWL studies, regular school studies, extracurriculars, prefecting, quidditch, and just beening a teenage boy had finally come to a head and being bitten by a grindylow had finally been the tipping point. Sorta. But one thing was for certain was that the fifth year had slept the entire day, missed lessons and patrols, and just barely woke up in time to grab a couple of dinner rolls and gravy at dinner before collapsing back in bed again. His head had been throbbing a bit as well from the pieces of treasure that had thunked his head and gotten tangled up in his hair - all of which had been returned when requested by Professor Wayland once they were all ashore. But...he still had the coin he had collected last minute in his possession. And it was becoming a bit of an obsession to him - WHY was there uncharted treasure in the Black Lake that Bartholomew Henry knew nothing about? WHY were grindylows guarding it? WHY didn't the merpeople know anything about it either? WHY...well, there were a lot of why's.

Anyway...here he was. Hobbling into the hospital wing with a leg that he SHOULD have had treated day one. He had seen bites like this before...from sharks on surfers mostly. So, needless to say, the grindylow had done a number on his thigh and he had barely kept standing when he had stepped out of bed that morning - the result him essentially collapsing into a pile on the floor. It was like when you woke up and your leg was still asleep and you didn't know until you stood on it...........only FAR more unpleasant.

After checking in, Derf slumped on to the bench and waited for the Healer to call him over. Maybe he could just...lay down in one of those beds? He was feeling terribly sleepy again.

What had happened in the Black Lake was still fresh in Lydia's mind. Too fresh. For the past few nights since it had happened, she'd been having nightmares. They'd wake her in the middle of the night, and she found it hard to fall asleep again. Lack of sleep was beginning to take its toll, and she found herself almost falling asleep in classes, which was unacceptable to her. Maybe the nurse would have some sort of tonic or potion that would help her sleep.

Unbidden, the memory of the cold lake, the dark cave, and the terrifying grindylows with their yellow eyes arose in her mind, and she shuddered. She could still hear the screams of her fellow students and see the blood that had floated through the water. Luckily, she had emerged physically unscathed thanks to Rylee's quick actions. But mentally? It was probably going to take a while to get over it.

The waiting bench in the hospital wing was currently occupied, which startled Lydia. She hadn't expected anyone else to be here. But wait...she recognized him. It was the boy from the lake who'd almost ended up as fish food. Although they'd never formally introduced themselves, she knew his name was Derf.

She said his name now. "Derf!" she exclaimed. "Are you ok?" The boy looked like he was about to fall asleep, and she didn't think that would be a good idea, especially if he hadn't had his leg treated until now. Why had he waited so long to get help?

Unlike the young Slytherin, Derf's nightmares were not of caves and grindylows - he had seen and experienced much more fierce horrors in his years at Hogwarts. His own thoughts about the day were still preoccupied with why a Dark creature just so happened to be dwelling in a cave that housed treasure - though they were only dark because they, on occasion, would eat people. He was certain that they were there to protect it, but for how long? The treasure had been old and weathered by what Derf could tell - and he HAD studied the coin still in his possession a fair bit - so it naturally made the Hufflepuff's mind and imagination spiral into unsavory historical references.

Cave set out with traps to protect something precious? Sure sounded a whoooooooole lot like the cave stuff full of inferi Voldermort had established in the protection of Slytherin's locket. Just a little watered down.

Har har har.

Though presently his thoughts were on his leg and the pressure he felt around the wound there (maybe they would have to chop it off?) and his eyes were semi rolling back in his head as sleep began taking him...until he heard a voice and then he jolted upright and gave a bit of a yelp like a kicked crup when his leg muscles tightened. "Lydia? Hey," he grimaced as eh re-situated himself in his seat. "Yeah...I'm okay. Just getting my leg looked at by the healer." Finally but, you know. "Thanks for getting that grindylow off me, by the way." Though there was no by the way about it, it was hardly a casual thank you. "I really owe you one." A favor, a chocolate frog, whatever.

Penelope was in the back room when she heard a faint rustling outside the door. She put her supplies down and turned to open the door, to see a paper fluttering there. Ahh so some students had checked in had they?

She smoothed a hand down her skirt and the rushed towards the waiting room to see the two students who were sitting there.

“Hello Sugars! Why don’t you both come on back and I’ll get you settled and we can see what’s wrong yeah?” She said as her blue eyes scanned over the two kids who were sitting there.

“Do you need some help Honey?” She asked the boy who seemed to be favoring one leg. Not to mention he looked like he was about to fall asleep on her. Which might be best, it was always easier for her if the patients didn’t wiggle around while she was treating them.

“And you too peanut.”She said kindly as she motioned to the girl. “Both of you back to the beds.”

Lydia winced as she looked at Derf's leg. She remembered how the grindylow had really chomped down on it hard. She didn't know too much about the creatures really. Why had they attacked like that? And why had there been what looked like Viking treasure in an underwater cave full of monsters? It had been terrifying down there in that cave...but a small part of her had also found it thrilling. And she was very proud that she'd been able to help Derf even though she was just a little firstie, lowest on the totem pole.

"Not a problem," said Lydia. "I'm just glad you're all right! I admit I don't know much about grindylows. Do you? Why did they attack us? And how in the world did that treasure get there?"

Lydia had about a million more questions, but she didn't want to overwhelm Derf, especially not in his injured state, and he looked on the brink of passing out still too. Just then Lydia heard the healer coming towards them.



Lydia smiled at the cheerful healer. She hadn't had much cause yet to visit the hospital wing (luckily) and so had only seen the healer in passing mostly, but she seemed like such a kind, caring woman, perfect for her job.

"Hello, ma'am," said Lydia. "Derf hurt his leg, and I...well, it's nothing in comparison to what happened to Derf, but I've had trouble sleeping lately. I don't suppose you can help at all with that?"

Maddie stepped into the unfamiliarity of the Hospital Wing. In all her three years at Hogwarts, she'd never once found herself needing the Healer. Even now, she didn't need the Healer--someone else did. The woman must have been in the back tending to the patients, because the waiting room seemed completely empty.

"Healer Macmillan?" she called out. "Erm, if you're around, I've been sent from Charms class. Professor Marchand asked me to come get you." She listened to the emptiness that surrounded her. "...and I think you might need to look at Professor Marchand, too. He doesn't look so well."

She suddenly felt strange talking to no one at all, but maybe, just maybe, the Healer was around and would hear her.

Penny smiled down at the young girl as she spoke. “Well I will take care of Mr. Ashbury-Hawthorne soon enough, right now you tell me what’s happening with you sweetie.” She soothed as she helped the young Slytherin up onto the bed and gave her a warm smile. She stood back and listened as she spoke and nodded.

“I do have some sleeping potions that could help, but what seems to be troubling you darling? Why the nightmares?” She asked, her blue eyes full of concern.

Penny was indeed in the back, making sure some of her potions were well stocked when she heard a voice calling out her name. She hurried out to the waiting room, her blonde hair bouncing as she scurried towards the young Hufflepuff.

“Charms class you say?” Merlin, please tell me no one had turned themselves into stone or lit themselves on fire.

“Come sugar, let’s hurry back, and you can tell me what happened on the way.” She said as she hurried the girl out of the Hospital wing.

Derf found himself smiling softly at the first year, though he was also trying to ignore the throbbing in his leg so the smile was a bit tight. "Oh yeah, loads!" he chirped, clearly excited about the possibly opportunity to get to offer another impromptu creatures lesson...and offer up a small sampling of his theories on the treasure...but they were interrupted.

Sugar. Honey. Peanut.

Something told Derf that the healer was hungry, because she kept calling them food items. Which only brought him back to his fantastical first year theory about hags hidden among staff by means of Polyjuice potion. But he was trying not to give into the delirium at the moment - his grindylow bite was not infected THAT badly yet to cause any sort of hallucinations.

"Yeah...I...er...got bitten by a grindylow," he grimaced as he rolled up his trouser leg to reveal slightly aged wound.

But something Lydia said perked his ears - trouble sleeping - and it reminded him of some things Natalie had said. "Do you sleepwalk too?" Because Natalie had and it was scary to think about. Plus...there was something he recalled reading about with sleepwalking at Hogwarts. Sleepwalking and vaults...and a CURSE.

Lydia smiled at the healer. She was so nice. Never before had she encountered someone who called her things like sugar or honey so much either. It must be a Southern US thing, she supposed.

"Well, I've had nightmares about that awful experience in the lake," she told the healer. "Do you know about that? We got attacked by grindylows!"

She turned to Derf. He'd asked her something about sleepwalking. Lydia shuddered. "Oh gosh, I really hope not," she said. "Although...I might be doing it and not realizing it. Maybe I sleepwalk myself back to bed when I'm done. That's so scary! Imagine all the places I could've gone to in my sleep, and I don't even know. Although, honestly, now I think about it, that would explain why I'm always so tired, wouldn't it?"

Her eyes grew huge as she looked at Derf. She was really hoping he'd say nah, that's not likely at all, you're fine, etc. But what if he didn't? What if he confirmed her fear? Merlin's beard, what if she had been wandering the corridors at night unawares? Anything could happen!

Penny tsk’d over the two of them as they informed her of what was going on. As much as she adored Professor Wayland, she didn’t approve of him taking those poor students into the lake! There were all sorts of intense creatures that could hurt and scare the children, and Grindylows were one of them.

She turned to Derf as he revealed the wound on his leg and she shook her head, her blonde hair moving about as she did so. “All right sugar, I can easily take care of that, hop up on the bed here, and I’ll get you something to heal the bite and ease the pain hmm?” She said as she motioned to the bed. Not to mention he looked exhausted, she would also prescribe some rest.

She then turned her attention back to Lydia as she explained and she put a hand comfortingly on her shoulder. “You poor child, I did hear about what happened and I suppose I am lucky that not more of you got hurt. Though I do want to talk to Wayland about his choice of class location.” She said as she looked at the young girl. “I do have a few sleeping potions, including one that will give you a dreamless sleep, but let’s try a mild potion and see how that goes hmm?”

The older woman bustled off towards the back to get some of her supplies. Grindylows! For heavens sake!

It had been a while since she’d last visited the Hospital Wing, both because she was competent enough to heal whatever damage she’d done to herself and because she’d rather avoid the conversation on how she acquired her injuries in the first place. All her experiments were a learning processs and sometimes the learning processs got just a little out of hand.

Nothing she couldn’t deal with.

Today’s visit had nothing to do with her health and everything to do with finally having a more concrete plan for her future.

It’d been a good talk with her father over the Easter break and it filled her with new conviction. For the first few days, her motives had given her pause but the man had quickly dispelled any such anxieties with that rational mind of his. A job was a job and so long as it got done, it didn’t really matter why you were doing it.

Jessa moved into the room, looking for the Healer as she did. Of course, if it was a busy time, she was prepared to stand and wait. It was a hospital wing afterall. Anyone else here would automatically need more attention than herself.

*POP*


Tinka appeared in the Hospital Wing carrying a tray much too larger for her tiny body. It was loaded with cookies, sandwiches, and a giant pitcher of pumpkin juice. She may not be able to heal the studentsies, but she could feed them.

She took a moment to look around, then spotted an unused table near the side of the room. The perfect spot for a snack station. The studentsies would be arriving soon and she was determined to be ready to feed them.

As expected when Juni headed into the hospital wing no one had yet to make it up to the third floor. No one except for Tinka. Who was an elf who could pop in and out of places. Much easier way to go honestly. Lucky little elf. And quick to with the snacks. She had just left from the clock tower, she was just a hop, skip and a jump away. That was resuring had there been an attack where she had seen the whole thing unfold.

She knew that soon some of the injured would be transported by others and some would be able to make it up here on their own. Regardless she was here to help... somehow in whatever way she could. From here point of view she really couldn’t tell what kind of injuries there was. Some more mental than physical. Just watching it was pretty tramic for her even from her spot. Still she felt pretty lucky that they hadn’t entered through the clock tower.

The snacks which reminded her that she had only had breakfast today. Thanks studying… She had to remind herself that Tinka had bought those for the ones who were injured. She scooted over closer to the elf. ”Hey Tinka do you need help with those?” She might as well start helping somewhere. They distractions were needed at the moment, soon she would have plenty to keep her busy.

Just as she was finishing up, Miss Juni appeared. “Miss Juni hurtsies?” Her concern was evident on her little house elf face. She had been with the Ravenclaw not that long ago, but she didn’t know how badly the castle had been damaged in the battle. The teenager could have been hurt trying to get back to her common room.

Once she realized that Miss Juni was there to help, her concern was replaced with gratitude. “Tinka thinksies Miss Juni be good helper. Miss Juni hand out pumpkin juice to hurt studentsies when they arrive.” She waved the Ravenclaw over to where she was stationed, away from the main medical area and not underfoot of Mistress Macmillan. “Mistress Macmillan return soon with hurt studentsies. Tinka and Miss Juni stay out of way until needed. Yes?” She nodded and continued to pour little cups of pumpkin juice and place them on the table next to the tray of food.

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