Chapter IV: Forming a Bond

I was simply put to bed, the nurse instructed me to stay for the night and said I should be fine when morning comes.
"Shall I call for Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley for your assistance?"

I looked at the nurse curiously... 'Why would I need assistance?'
As if reading my mind, she sighed and talked to me as if replying to my thought,
"When the night comes, there will be a few times you'll want to leave your bed. None of the other nurses will be able to assist you, Ms. Granger."
I blinked a few times trying to figure out why I would want to leave my bed... a few times.
I felt the need to go to the comfort room to pee and winced when the realization hit me.
"My thoughts exactly, Ms. Granger."
I bit my lower lip thinking which one of them to ask for help, I mean... They're both guys. And... Just...

"Maybe I can?"
My eyes followed to find Tom with an unreadable expression.
'Is he serious?'
The nurse turned to him, scanned him from head to toe and focused back at me,
"Mr. Potter or Mr. Weasley, Ms. Granger?"
I cleared my throat at the growing tension, bit my lower lip again and felt a crease on my forehead.
"It's okay."
The nurse raised an eyebrow.
"Tom's here, so I think I'll be okay. I wouldn't want my area to be... crowded."
She rolled her eyes and gave a sigh as if suggesting that I was making a bad decision.

The moonlight was peeking at me in the window across as I thought to myself,
'what's the difference? Harry, Ron and Tom are ALL guys...'
And then came back the little urge to go to the comfort room.
I struggled to get up, seeing me do so got Tom up on his feet to help me.
"It's okay..." I shied away.
"I'll help you get there."
I closed my eyes in embarrassment.
"You don't really have to help me." I murmured under my breath,
he kept silent but continued to help me make my way to the comfort room.
"... I'll wait here." His face still the same unreadable one earlier, I make my way into the comfort room, dragging my twisted ankle.
When I came out, he was leaning on the wall, his hands kept inside his robe pockets, staring intensely at the ground.
I took a quick breath to make myself seem more calmed after the awkward 'choice' I'd made to have him help me through the night.
There were no other patient at the clinic. It was just me. The nurses didn't attend to me because of some 'issues' that they had to check with Professor McGonagall.
The more I dragged my injured foot, the noise that came with it became increasingly annoying.
He was walking ahead of me for atleast three steps and I was feeling the need to talk to him to ignore my foot-dragging issue.
I scratched my right earlobe and started, "Uhh... y-you.. I..."
As my stuttering faded after echoes, I caught his shoulder tense up. He stopped a few minutes and took a step back so that he would be standing right by my side.
"I what?" He asked, his clear voice tingling in my ears.
"..." I bit my lower lip again. "I'm sorry you had to stay with me like this."
He let out a faint smile, somewhat disappointed, or pitying me... I couldn't make out which one.
"I... was more likely hoping to hear you say thanks, Ms. Granger."
I rolled my eyes with the intent to let out an 'are-you-kidding' expression, but seeing the glimmer in his eyes made me realize that he was being sincere.
I cleared my throat once more and let out a squeaky "Th-thank you." He nodded lightly and whispered, "Stuttered, but that's a start."