Author's Note

Hello Faithful Readers! I know I am usually better at updating early but I had a late night involving baking, chipping caramel of a pot, finding dragonballs to save the real life Destiny Flowers and I had to find my keys and wallet (which is pretty much my life right now). By the grace of the big man upstairs, it was found and I was able to actually go home... albeit like 2:30 in the morning. So I'm cutting myself some slack.

Disclaimer- Still Not JK Rowling, So I still don't own Harry, His Parents their school chums, their world, or their problems.

On With the Story

Chapter 21-

Mercy lay on the ground in shock; it felt like her arm had ripped open. Her vision was blurred for a moment with tears but she blinked several times until they cleared again. She made out a green figure on the ground, holding his head. It was the Slytherin she had just met, Blake's friend Dez Flowers.

Oakley crouched next to her. "Merce, hey Mercy are you alright?" She asked urgently, Mercy pushed herself up, and rubbed at one of her eyes but only grunted in response. She instead, focused her attention on Dez, who grinned cheekily at her.

"Rough game Quidditch, eh?" He slurred, and Mercy rolled her eyes and smirked back.

"Sure you can handle it?" She said as she smiled playfully. But her smile slipped off her face as quickly as it came. Her arm felt warm, and there she felt a dull throb. She whispered to Oakley, "It reopened, I should go."

Oakley nodded, and addressed Dez, "What say you to a trip to the Hospital Wing to get some ice, good sir knight?"

He started to shake his head to refuse, but a grumpy Madam Hootch shot him an evil glare and he rolled his eyes. "Not much of a choice, here."

Oakley, Merce, and Dez made their way from the pitch to the hospital wing, where the Madam Pomfrey greeted them with her usual look of disapproval and had all three sit down in a row of chairs. After listening to Mercy, Oakley, and Dez, she forced an ice pack on Oakley's shoulder and told Dez to lay down on one of the beds. Dez tried to protest, but after receiving an evil glare he rolled his eyes and compromised by sitting on the bed. She then began to take the wrap off Mercy's arm which was slowly beginning to seep blood through the excessive amount of gauze.

Mercy could feel Dez's gaze, and made brief eye contact with him. She tried to give him a smile but it turned into an exasperated grin. He made a face back.

Mercy cringed despite Madam Pomfrey's gentle touch and winced again as the dittany sewed her arm together again. The cut looked better, nearly as good as it did that morning, bet she still got reprimanded by Madam Pomfrey.

"What did I tell you to do, Miss Baines? You were to come to me immediately if it opened again." Many students would sweat under the death stare of Madam Pomfrey but Mercy was remarkably calm, though slightly uncomfortable.

"Ma'am, I came to you as soon as I could after it happened, I promise. I was fine until that bludger after the match decided to come after me." She said meekly.

Madam Pomfrey tsked, but didn't push the matter further. She moved on to Oakley, checking her shoulder and told her it would simply bruise.

"More like bruise her ego," Mercy muttered, extracting a grin from Oakley. Oakley was told she was free to go, but she said she'd wait for Mercy.

The matron then moved on to Dez who had developed a lump on the side of his head and a large headache. Madam Pomfrey, however, declared he showed no other obvious signs of concussion. She told him to take it easy for a while and asked him to stay put, to which he grudgingly agreed. He lay down on the bed and stared broodingly at the ceiling.

Madam Pomfrey wrapped Mercy's arm in gauze again. As she did so she said, "Miss Baines, I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to stay off of brooms until your arm is no longer at risk. And I mean fully healed."

Mercy's mouth opened in protest, "But I have Quid-" she began, but the matron's face effectively cut her off. She grumbled under her breath as she was given permission to leave.

At the door there was a light knock and Blake stepped into view still decked out in red from the match.

"Yes dear?" Madam Pomfrey asked as she entered the wing.

"I just stopped by to check on these three," She said as she walked over to Dez's bed and where Mercy and Oakley were seated.

"Miss Baines and Miss Milova can leave, but you may keep Mr. Flower company, provided he doesn't object." Madam Pomfrey said.

But Dez didn't, exhibited in how his face lit up when Blake took an unoccupied chair next to him. Mercy and Oakley rose to their feet and stood opposite Dez and Blake.

"Good match you two." Blake said.

"Thanks Blake. We have to go meet Charlie soon, otherwise we would definitely stay and chat," Mercy said. She hoped that he wasn't too worried about them. He had probably been pulling his hair out every time Oakley took those bludgers.

"Why did you play with your arm like that?" Dez asked, looking to Mercy. Mercy glanced over to Blake who rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"I dunno. I just… well, wanted to play. And besides, we didn't really have time to break in a reserve." She said.

Dez shook his head. "You know, you could've made yourself worse. Even if your team needed you, they also need you in top shape; which means you ought to not put yourself into a worse position."

Mercy kitted her brow. "I suppose that's true, but we might have lost the match." She said.

"Well, it's only a game after all." He said, closing his eyes.

"Why did you…" Mercy began, but stopped. Dez opened one of his eyes.

"Why'd I what?" He said, somewhat suspiciously.

"I dunno, push me. Why didn't you get yourself out of the way?" Mercy asked uncomfortably. The second she had said it, she regretted asking.

"Are you mad or something?" Dez asked. Mercy shook her head hurriedly.

"No no, I just…" She struggled to find words that wouldn't be taking the wrong way.

"You were just wondering why I bothered, huh?" He said.

"That's not exactly…" She trailed off. Well, it was her question… she just didn't want to phrase it like that.

Dez looked at her nonplussed. "Well I couldn't exactly just stand there and watch you take a bludger to the head. What kind of a person do you think I am?"

Mercy looked down. She hardly knew this guy. And he was a Slytherin… but maybe she put too much stock into the house stereotypes. "I know, I just feel bad, that's all." She and Dez were quiet. Oakley looked uncomfortable but Blake appeared to be holding back a smile. Mercy couldn't figure out what was so funny, but then she remembered something. "I never actually said thank you, did I?" She said.

"Don't worry about it." Dez said, grinning crookedly. Mercy smiled back.

Oakley cleared her throat. "We really ought to go; it was nice to meet you." She said, inclining her head slightly to Dez, who nodded in response closing his eyes again.

"I'll see ya later, in the dorm." Blake said.

Mercy and Oakley left the wing, heading first to their dorms to change, dodging their overly excited housemates who were quick to congratulate them.

Mercy was suddenly feeling like dragging her feet and collapsing in bed. She was no longer in the mood to face whatever problems Charlie was having at home.

But she had to. She had promised after all. She just wished she wasn't so fucking tired… She and Oakley left the common room, dodging the beginnings of what looked like it would be a party. Mercy was not feeling it though… sleep was beckoning stronger than the allure of a good Gryffindor celebration.

Mercy stopped walking abruptly. "Holy shit Oakley! It's Saturday!" She yelled. Oh Merlin, why!?

Oakley stopped and turned to look at her. "It's been Saturday all day. And you might not want to be shouting profanities in the corridor."

"That means tomorrow is Sunday!" She said running her hands through her hair worriedly.

"I'm glad you have figured out how weekends work. Took you long enough." Mercy wasn't amused by the sarcasm in Oakley's voice.

"Oakley I might have a date tomorrow!" Her stomach boiled up with more butterflies than it did before the Quidditch match.

"Wha d'ya mean might? Do you or don't you?" Oakley asked.

"Well he…" She started but Oakley cut over her.

"He is Remus, right?" Oakley asked.

"Yes. But we are supposed to meet up after lunch tomorrow. I wanted to ask you if that meant this is a date or just hanging out kind of thing. But I don't know what to wear and- and what to say..." Mercy spilled, barely taking time to breathe.

"Mercy calm down. This isn't that big of a deal." Oakley had a baffled expression on her face, but Mercy didn't think she was taking this seriously enough.

"This is a HUGE DEAL!" Mercy screeched.

"Calm down Miss Pterodactyl. You've jumped off a broom to catch a shiny flying ball, no problem. But heaven forbid you go out and talk to a boy." Oakley said shaking her head. "We'll go take care of Charlie but after that is done, we can deal with this."

Mercy took a deep breathe. "Sorry. I just entered full on panic mode."

"One thing at a time. Come on, we really ought to get to the Garden. Char is waiting." Oakley said, and they hurried off down the Staircases.

Alright, You know the drill at this point. This is where I ask for reviews and most of you just overlook this request... So here is a special thank you for those who have shot me a review, you guys are HEROES. You're my incentive to keep writing and even though I'm really really busy, I will keep updating as promised ;)