Beta: None [but this fanfic idea was passed to two of my friends, who liked the idea]
Original release date: 08/30/15
Disclaimer: I do not own anything in the Borderlands and Harry Potter universe. Obviously this is Alternate Universe. This story begins after Borderlands, Borderlands 2, and Borderlands the Pre Sequel are done with.
Chapter Three – Unexpected Complications
Arriving in the Great Hall, Gaige notices an abnormally pale Tina and makes her way to Tina.
"Tina, are you alright?" inquiries Gaige.
"Uhhh, I don't feel well" replies Tina.
"I'll take you to…I think it's the Hospital Wing" replies Gaige, helping a slightly shaking Tina to her feet before a voice stops Gaige, "And just where are you taking a Ravenclaw student?"
Turning around to see a taller female student, Gaige answers the challenge, "I'm Tina's sister, Gertrude. I'm helping her get some medical attention."
Expression softening, the female student responds, "I'm Penelope Clearwater. Let me help you."
Together Gaige and Penelope help the shaking Tina to the hospital wing, quickly assisted by Madam Pomfrey.
"What is wrong with-" begins Madam Pomfrey.
"Tina" adds Gaige.
"Tina then. What ails her?"
"She keeps saying that she doesn't feel—" begins Gaige before Tina sends a mostly liquid wave of food onto the floor.
With practiced ease, Madam Pomfrey vanishes the mess before quickly levitating Tina into a nearby bed. "Thank you ladies, but you'd best get back to the Great Hall if you want a chance for food before classes begin."
Exiting the Hospital Wing, the two quietly make their way back to the Great Hall before Gaige speaks, "Thank you for helping me with my sister. While I may be Gertrude, I'd rather you call me Gaige."
Smiling, Penelope replies, "Certainly, Gaige. And it wasn't a problem. But I wonder what has affected Tina."
Pausing to thinking carefully over her words, Gaige replies slowly, "It might be of the amount of food or the richness of it. Maybe it was something else. But please keep me informed if anything happens when I am unable to be there for her, please. I'm in…Gryffindor."
Sitting down at the Gryffindor table, Gaige begins to eat before a voice interrupts her, "How are you this morning, Gaige?"
Looking up from her plate, Gaige gives a brief smile before replying, "Tina, my sister, is in the hospital wing because she isn't feeling well."
"Don't worry so much. I'm almost certain that Tina will be fine" states Harry.
Eating, Professor McGonagall sweeps down both sides of the Gryffindor table, handing out the appropriate schedule to each student. Looking over their schedules, Gaige sighs in relief as she realizes that she has all of her classes with Harry and Neville.
Finishing their meal, the trio make their way as a female voice calls out, "Wait up, please!"
Turning around, the trio see a brunette female with curly hair following a little ways behind. Reaching their group, the female takes a few breathes before saying, "I'm Hermione Granger. You all seem to know where you're going, so I'd like to come with you."
"Sure, come with us then" offers Neville.
Hermione joins with them and begin to talk about how she thinks classes will be as they make their way towards the Transfiguration classroom. Entering the classroom, Professor McGonagall gives a small smile at Gaige before returning to her teaching face.
"Transfiguration is a class of learning to take one object and change it into another object" announces Professor McGonagall.
Hearing the sounds of something scratching something else, Gaige looks through her peripheral vision to notice Hermione taking notes, hanging off of every word that Professor McGonagall speaks.
"And now to demonstrate" states Professor McGonagall, transfiguring a desk that a redheaded male currently has his head on into a cactus, jolting the sleeping student wide awake.
'Maybe this whole seven years of schooling honestly won't be that bad' thinks Gaige as she and the rest of the class clap at the amazing show of transfiguration.
Studiously taking notes, Gaige fails to realize that the rest of the class had taken out their wands, and had begun on practicing on a teacup in front of them, transfiguring it into a pincushion. Taking out her wand, Gaige finally masters the wand movement just as the bell sounds, ending class.
Attending a few more classes, Gaige enters the Great Hall with Harry, Neville, and Hermione, all who show quite a level of intellect, at least compared to some of the people she had been around previously. Eating some lunch, Gaige looks up randomly and notices Tiny Tina entering the Great Hall walking slowly. Standing up, Gaige walks over to Tina and begins a quiet conversation, "How are you feeling, Tina?"
Holding her stomach, Tina replies somewhat weakly, "Terrible. But not as bad as last night."
Concern growing, Gaige inquiries, "What was wrong?"
"My tummy was upset" answers Tina.
Opening her mouth to respond, Gaige is interrupted by a female voice, "Miss McWaterson, may I speak with you?"
Turning around and facing Madam Pomfrey, Gaige nods her head before following Madam Pomfrey out of the Great Hall and into a nearby and deserted classroom.
"Now, Miss McWaterson, what I noticed with my examination is that your sister, Tina, has poor nutrition. She kept going on about tea and crumpets for meals, but that isn't acceptable. I'm hoping that there is a reason for this."
Lowering her head, Gaige quickly thinks of a response before answering, "Tina is quite a picky eater. There isn't much that she likes to eat, but she loves tea and crumpets."
"Hmm, a picky eater you say? Nonetheless, she will have to take a few potions daily to assist her nutrition, or risk her growing sick, especially with using magic now. Just try to help her get a more well rounded meal, won't you?" states Madam Pomfrey, concern laced through her voice.
Nodding her head, Gaige answers, "I will. When does she need to take these potions?"
"At every meal, three times a day, and one right before going to bed."
Again nodding her head, Gaige says, "I'll make certain she gets them during her meals, but seeing as she and I are in two different houses, I'll have to get Penelope to get Tina to take the potion before sleeping. Will she need one right now, or did she already get one?"
Smiling, Madam Pomfrey responds, "Not this meal, but at dinner she will need one. Thank you", before exiting the room.
Heading back into the Great Hall, Gaige stops behind Tina, barely any food on it before whispering in her ear, "I know you need to take potions four times a day, AND that you need to eat better. I'll have Penelope help with this."
"Gaige, no!" moans Tina weakly.
Penelope walks over at this and asks, "Is there something wrong?"
"It's just that Tina needs to take some potions every day, four times a day to be exact, and she needs to be eating more well rounded meals. I'm not certain if I can manage that alone, so could you help me with that?" asks Gaige.
Smiling, Penelope answers, "Certainly! Thank you for letting me know. Tina will be right as rain soon enough."
Hours later in her dormitory and all alone, Gaige hears her communicator going off, and quickly answers it as far away from any of the doors possible.
"Hello Gaige, are you there?" comes Lilith's voice.
Whispering loud enough to be heard, Gaige answers, "Yes, but we've got to make this quick. Not certain when the girls will enter the room."
"Have you discovered anything about a vault being under the castle?"
"I haven't. Too risky to ask or even poke around. This is going to take some time, and I mean some serious time to investigate. You all might be better off going to another vault and leaving us here or something."
Pausing slightly, Lilith answers, "That might be what we do. But, how long do you think it will take you all to find anything out?"
"It might be a few months, or it might be years even. And I don't think you could easily get past the teachers, unless you built a few hundred loader bots to distract them or something."
Pausing once more, Lilith states, "Contact me when you have more privacy and time, and make it soon. We need to talk this stuff out."
Author Note: Thanks to all who have read, reviewed, favorited, and followed. Releases for this fanfic may be slower than the rest, but I do plan on releasing chapters. This is partly due to that I have a job that requires ~55 hours a week of my life, and because I need to generate what is happening in this fanfic.
