"Give it back, Flint!" Sapphire overheard someone shout as she made her way through the courtyard. She rolled her eyes knowing exactly what was going on; Marcus Flint was picking on another first year. This time, Sapphire thought, she would do something.

Sapphire quickened her pace across the courtyard to find Flint holding up a broom above his head as a first year Hufflepuff girl jumped to reach it. Sapphire's blood boiled whenever she saw people picking on her fellow Hufflepuffs.

"Give it back!" the girl shouted once more causing Flint to let out a belly laugh, holding the broom even higher.

"Flint!" Sapphire called angrily as she reached the bully from Slytherin, "give the broom back to her," she ordered firmly. Even though Sapphire was two years younger than Flint, she wasn't afraid of him. He wasn't different from any other bully at Hogwarts besides his ugly teeth.

"And why should I, Phillips?" Flint asked threateningly as he shoved the first year out of the way and stepped face to face with Sapphire. Sapphire held her ground, placing her hand on the top of the broom he had lowered down to his side.

"You must think you're real cool, Flint. Picking on a first year and taking something that doesn't belong to you, yeah, you're parents must be so proud," Sapphire glared as she pulled the broom in her direction and out of his hands. She quickly turned to the first year girl and gave her back the broom. The younger girl smiled at Sapphire before giving her a small head nod and quickly hurrying on her way. Sapphire knew the poor girl was scared and wanted to get out of there as fast as she could.

As soon as Sapphire turned her attention back to Flint he hit her with a curse causing her to let out a small shriek in pain. Instantly, her hand clutched at her ribcage as Flint laughed and quickly left Sapphire in her own misery. Slowly, Sapphire's knees gave out as she laid back onto the ground still holding her side in agony.

From a few feet away, Draco Malfoy watched the whole altercation as Sapphire stood up to the captain of the Slytherin Quidditch team. Sapphire was a Hufflepuff in Draco's year, and he would never admit it outloud but he had taken a small liking to her since their first year when she accepted his request to share a cabin on the train. Despite the rude comments and harsh glares from Draco throughout the years, Sapphire never retorted or replied with anything mean like the rest of the kids in their year.

With one glance over his shoulders, Draco hesitantly approached the Hufflepuff who still laid on the ground. She had her eyes closed as she hugged herself around her rib cage clearly in pain.

"Phillips, what's the matter?" Draco asked harshly but without his usual sneer. He knew exactly what was wrong, Flint had hexed her, but he wasn't entirely sure with what curse. Sapphire looked up at him, the pain evident in her eyes as she she tried to force out words.

"Hospital-," she forced out as she slowly tried to sit back up with one hand still clinging to her side. Draco looked around nervously once more before kneeling down on one knee next to her and placing a hand on her back as he tried to help her sit up fully.

"Do you need to go to the hospital wing, Sapphire?" he asked softly. Sapphire looked up at him and nodded. Draco then wrapped his hand that was on her back underneath her arm as he slowly helped her stand. Sapphire leaned all her weight against him as they began the long trek towards the hospital wing.

"Why are you helping me?" Sapphire whispered out between breaths as they walked. Draco looked down at her as he thought.

"We'll talk later," he said firmly before turning his gaze back upwards and continuing on their way.

"Madam Pomfrey," Draco called out as he entered the hospital wing with Sapphire still leaning against him. By then Draco was practically carrying her as she held on to him the best she could. Madam Pomfrey hurried into the room.

"Oh dear," she gasped as she saw Sapphire clinging to Draco. The nurse rushed over to Sapphire as she tried to lead the two students to the nearest bed. Draco slowly sat Sapphire down on the bed before she laid back completely, breathing heavily through the intense pain.

"Now tell me what happened," Madam Pomfrey said sternly as she gently placed her hand on one of Sapphire's sides. Quickly, Madam Pomfrey pulled her hands back in surprise when she felt no bones.

"Someone hit her with a spell then she fell to her knees screaming. That's all I know," Draco admitted as he stood back and watched anxiously.

Madam Pomfrey instantly turned to face him, "The ribs on her left side are completely gone. I'll have to mix up an advanced potion to regrow them quickly. Wait with her," she ordered before rushing out of the room.

Sapphire laid back in bed with her eyes tightly shut as she still clutched to her side. She was breathing through her teeth, clearly still in pain, as Draco took a small step towards her.

"Sapphire," he whispered causing her to peek open one eye slightly. She was shocked to see Draco still in the room with her. He had always teased her throughout their years at school, but he was never cruel to her like she had witnessed with a few other kids he tormented.

Sapphire forced herself to open both eyes to face Draco, "Thank you," she managed to whisper out between breaths causing his facial features to soften a bit. He took another step closer to her.

"I saw what happened," he admitted slowly, "I..." before he could finish his sentence, Madam Pomfrey returned. She rushed back over to Sapphire and helped her sit up.

"Drink," the nurse ordered as she held the glass to Sapphire's lips. Sapphire forced down the disgusting concoction trying not to gag as she swallowed the last drop.

Madam Pomfrey then eased Sapphire back into the hospital bed once more before walking over to Draco. "Are you two friends?" she asked hesitantly. Draco paused, not entirely sure how to answer the question. "I ask simply because this process is going to be extremely painful for Miss Phillips. It will be a bit easier if she has a friendly face to help her through it," she encouraged. Draco looked over the nurse's shoulder at the helpless girl still lying back in agony. She had always been so nice to him despite how he treated others. For once, he decided he would return the favor.

Draco gave Madam Pomfrey a headnod before silently walking over to Sapphire's bedside and taking a seat in the chair next to her. "I'll be at my desk if you need me. Remember, it's going to get worse before it gets better," she advised before walking to the other side of the wing.