Detention that night was awful. It was served in the Great Hall with Umbridge walking up and down the isle of students before settling in the headmaster's chair with a cup of tea and a pleasant smile. Closing her eyes as she relaxed while the students before suffered the pain of having their own words carved into their hands. A second time for Harry and Lellian, but a first for Usagi and the others. Fred and George glanced up at the woman with a glare.
Walking out of the Great Hall some hours later, students ignored or brushed past Cho. No one spoke to her. They blamed her. She had ratted them out and she got out of detention for it. It wasn't fair. "Harry!" He looked up at Cho as he and Lellian came out of the hall with Usagi and the others just behind them. He merely shook his head and moved around her. Lellian squeezed her shoulder.
"I'm sorry…" Lellian murmured before walking away. Keeping her head low as she held her hand carefully to her chest. Cho shrank away from the cold glares of the other girls that followed the red head. The Ravenclaw lowered her head as the stairway emptied. Leaving her alone.
Lellian gave a gentle nudge to Usagi and motioned her to follow. Neither girl said anything as they walked to their usual meeting place. Myrtle's bathroom. "How's your hand?" Lellian finally asked. Usagi turned her head and looked at her with a sad smile.
"I've had worse...what about you? This is the second time and on the same hand." Lellian shrugged and lightly rubbed her hand. Lowering her head a little.
"I'll be okay...the boys can take us to see Madam Pomfrey." Usagi nodded but frowned with worry as she looked at her friend.
When the girls finally reached the bathroom, they realized they were the only two there. The boys had not yet arrived. Sighing, Lellian turned one of the sinks on and lightly splashed some water at her hand. Hissing as it stung. "Should you be doing that?"
"The cold water helps...A little." Lellian murmured. Turning her head to look at the blonde. "I don't know how you do it...deal with the pain, I mean." Usagi shrugged and looked at her hand before coming over to Lellian and the sink. Following the red heads example of splashing water on it.
"...I ignore it and think of something else." Usagi answered. Smiling a little at the Gryffindor before looking to their hands. "I'm sorry you and Harry had to go through that again. The pain must be even worse for you than me."
"I'll live. But thanks." Lellian turned and gave her friend a gentle hug. Each being mindful of their hands. Suddenly their hug was interrupted by the sound of rushed footsteps coming into the bathroom. The girls turned and looked to the doorway as the boys came rushing in. Draco and Blaise stormed over and looked at their hands. Draco felt such an anger swell inside of him, as did Blaise, who gently hugged Lellian to him.
"That...that witch!" Draco growled. "I can't believe this! This is torture!"
"She can't be aloud to get away with this! This is twice now she's done this to Lellian's hand."
"How could Cho rat them out like that!?"
"It wasn't her fault. Umbridge must have threatened to sack her mum." Lellian tried to reason.
"What will we do now?" Usagi wondered. Lellian looked at her then the boys before looking down in defeat.
"I...I don't know."
"Well I do. And that's go see Madam Pomfrey to take care of your hands." Neither girl said anything as they allowed the boys to escort them to the hospital wing. Blaise and Lellian in front, Draco and Usagi behind.
Blaise looked down at Lellian with worry. She looked so down and defeated. It was different then the girl he normally saw. "Lels..." He lifted her injured hand as she looked up at him. Gently he placed a kiss on her hand and gave her sideways hug. "It's going to be okay. We'll figure something out, love." He turned his head and placed a kiss atop of hers as she smiled.
"I know...thank you." Blaise smiled back at her. Just happy to see that smile of hers return.
"Anytime, Lels. Anytime." The two stopped for a moment to share a kiss before Draco cleared his throat.
"Can't you two wait for later or something?" He grumbled. Lellian chuckled and leaned against Blaise a little as they continued on. She felt a little better already.
As they started walking again, Usagi was not quite dealing with the pain as well as she was leading Lellian to believe. Granted, she truly had experienced worse injuries, but none that burned quite so badly or lasted as long and definitely not in her civilian form. Though she made no outward sound, she was biting her lip and cradling her hand. Draco glanced at her and felt his anger at Umbridge swell anew, in an almost protective brother sort of way. He knew that even with Usagi being a Slytherin that had been put under Umbridge's quill, he wouldn't be able to get his father involved because of exactly how Usagi had ended up under the quill. So he sighed and settled for pulling Usagi close for a sideways hug.
"It'll be alright." He whispered before carefully taking her hurt hand in his free one and gently rubbing it. "Madam Pomfrey will make it better."
She looked at him in surprise before nodding and smiling softly as his action was taking away the pain for the moment. "Thanks." She whispered.