AN: Thank you to everyone who reviewed! Sorry for the short chapter but more is coming soon, I promise.
Everything still belongs to JK Rowling.
Madam Joyce was pleased to see that both of her two patients were resting comfortably when she checked on them about a half hour later. Poppy was sprawled on the couch, looking over her notes when the current Medi-Witch walked back into the living room.
"How is your revising going?" the elder witch asked kindly, before gently sitting on a nearby chair.
"It is going pretty well. You know, they never covered how to be a concerned friend sitting on the sidelines when your friends are sick," Poppy answered.
"Well, that comes with experience. Are you excited to see your parents again?"
"Well, I might be staying at their townhouse in London but I won't see them, they went on an extended trip to North America. They left a couple of weeks ago," Poppy remarked.
"At least, you will have a quiet place to study. Do you want me to quiz you on types of common illnesses?" Madam Joyce helpfully offered.
"Yes, please."
Medi-Witches had to be familiar with illnesses, their treatments, emergency procedures and many other types of possible situations. Healers were considered the highest form of medical personnel in the magical world, with Medi-Witches being the second highest rank. Madam Joyce had first qualified for her Medi-Witch rank and then moved on to also obtain her Healer rank. Both ranks had the ability to write prescriptions for various potions.
After studying for a few hours, Madam Joyce looked up at the clock above the mantle.
"I am going to go check on Miss Rolanda and Miss Minerva. Are you planning on heading to bed soon?"
"Packing up my notes right now. Good Night, Madam Joyce."
Just then, Madam Joyce's wand began to vibrate, an indication that either Rolanda's or Minerva's wrist band had gone off. A flick of her wand told her that it was Minerva's wrist band. Poppy looked on, her eyes filled with concern.
"Good night, Poppy. I'm sure we will cross paths before you leave tomorrow," Madam Joyce said kindly, as she hurriedly got up and proceeded into Minerva's room.
As she entered the Head of Gryffindor's room, she immediately noticed that the Transfiguration teacher's forehead was covered in sweat. Her wrist band was flashing red, an indication that her fever went from low to midgrade. The wrist band flashed anytime a fever climbed more one degree in three hours.
A quick glance at the wrist band told the Healer that the professor's temperature was 101 degrees (38.3 C). Madam Joyce performed a complex diagnostic charm, however, it didn't give her any additional information. She had thought that it was a simple cold, as had Poppy, but most witches didn't have a fever that high with a simple cold. Since her diagnostic charm wasn't particularly helpful, Madam Joyce guessed that it was a severe cold, which might explain why the fever was higher than normal.
Quietly she conjured a cloth, charmed it to stay cool and gently placed it on Minerva's forehead, who stirred at the cold touch.
"Poppy?" she mumbled.
"No dear, its Madam Joyce. How are you feeling?"
"My head still hurts. What time is it? Time for rounds?"
"You are not going on rounds tonight, dear."
"But I need to do rounds, I am not that bad. I have nothing to do tomorrow, I can sleep all day," Minerva protested, as she struggled to sit up.
Madam Joyce sighed and pushed Minerva back down into her bed.
"You still have forty-five minutes until your rounds begin. I will call the Headmaster and ask him to excuse you from rounds. If he can't find anyone else to do it, then I will have to let you up. Deal?" the Healer asked as she readjusted the cool cloth on the professor's head.
"Deal" Minerva muttered, her heading aching less now that she was lying down again.
Madam Joyce walked out of the living room and made her way towards the Hospital Wing. While the three roommates had an Internal Floo in their fireplace, Madam Joyce did not want Poppy to overhear how ill her roommate was, it would only serve to worry the younger witch.
When she reached the Hospital Wing office, she knelt down and threw some powder into the fireplace.
"Headmaster's office!" she called.
"Ah! Madam Joyce! I am assuming at this hour this is not a mere social call," the Headmaster answered, his blue twinkling eyes obvious even in the floo.
"No, it's not a social call," she responded, chuckling to herself before continuing on, "I wanted to ask you if you knew of any staff members that might be able to cover Minerva's rounds this evening."
"If everything alright? She and Miss Hooch were just in my office this afternoon, I have to admit they seemed a little bit off color then."
"I would rather not let her out of her bed at the present time," she admitted.
His twinkling blue eyes stopped twinkling and he looked rather serious.
"Is she seriously ill?"
"Yes, but I can't tell you more than that, with confidentiality and all."
"I understand, where is she?"
"Her quarters. Rolanda is fairly ill as well," Madam Joyce said simply.
"Alright, I shall ask Mr. Filch if he would like to do some rounds with Mrs. Norris tonight. Thank you for notifying me. I trust that you will keep me updated?" he asked in an uncharacteristic serious tone.
"Of course, Headmaster," she answered formally, before she ended the connection. She and the Headmaster were friends, however they tended to stick to formal titles when discussing school business.
Once she had her answer for Minerva, she grabbed a couple more fever reducers and headed back towards the shared quarters. The wards on the quarters allowed her entrance, and she also had a password that allowed her access to any Common Room or teacher's quarters.
"Minerva?" Madam Joyce asked softly when she had entered Minerva's room.
"Hmmm? Do I need to get up for rounds?"
"No, the Headmaster is going to have Argus do rounds for you. Can you sit up to take this fever reducer for me?"
After managing to drink the whole entire bottle, Minerva collapsed back into bed. After readjusting the cool cloth on the Transfiguration teacher's forehead, Madame Joyce got up and quietly closed her door.
She walked past Poppy's room and was satisfied to her apprentice's even breathing coming from the other side of the door. Next, she reached Rolanda's room.
Rolanda was sleeping, although her breathing sounded slightly labored. Checking the wristband, the Medi-Witch saw that her fever hadn't climbed but the fever reducer did little to lower the fever. She sighed to herself and adjusted the charmed cool cloth on her forehead. Knowing that there was little she could do for the younger witch besides keep her comfortable until her next potions, she decided to just let her sleep. Since everyone was sleeping, Madam Joyce decided that the best course of action was to also try to get some rest. First, she put an alarm on Rolanda and Minerva's room to call her if either of them woke up or needed her in anyway. She went back to the Hospital Wing and fell into an exhausted sleep there.
AN: Thank you for reading! I promise, there is more coming soon! Please review, it makes my day!