Cielie

I finally finish the work Umbridge has given me for today. Every time Umbridge gets new papers I have to file them. This is the fifth time that I have filed things for the old hag. My fingers are throbbing and I crack my back. If this goes on for any longer I think I will die. Luckily the month is almost over. I never thought I'd be happy to see September end.

As I walk to the Gryffindor table I spot Malfoy. He is looking rather unhappy; Pansy is stroking his hair. Suddenly his eyes catch mine, they are cold and hard, but hungry. For me? Well, guess I'll have to fix that. Maybe I can try out that new hex I found written in the margins of Fred's paper.

"Did you have to file more papers today?" Luna asks me. She gently soaks my hand in essence of Murlap. I can't believe how lucky I am to have found a friend in Luna.

"Yeah. The old hag had 230 papers from just the first, second, and third years. Tomorrow I have to file the fourth, fifth, and sixth years," I groan as the cool liquid soothes the aching.

"Well, at least the month is almost over," Ginny consoles me.

"That's the only thing that gets me through the day. The thought of freedom," I sigh.

XxX

I toss and turn, the bed covers are too hot, and the curtains are blocking to much light. I feel bile coming up my throat. Oh no, don't vomit, not now. I don't have time to get to the chamber pot. The horrible acidic vomit forces its way up my throat. I wretch and wretch, probably waking the entire house.

"Cielie, are you okay?" Hermione asks, making the vomit vanish with a swift sweep of her wand. I groan. Ginny barges in and is next to me in a second.

"Cielie, what happened? It sounded like someone was dying," Ginny questions frantically.

"I'm fine. I just threw up. Probably because I tested out Fred and Georges puking pastilles, don't know why I agreed to do it. I'll live," I reassure her.

"What happened? Cecilia, are you all right?" Professor McGonagall says, coming through the door. I feel another wave of nausea coming, and before I can stop myself I projectile vomit all over the professor. She simply waves her wand over herself and nods tersely. "Well, I suppose that answers my question."

XxX

I wake up to a bright light. I'm in the hospital wing, figures. I wince, my throat is so dry. I wonder what time it is? Madam Pomfrey comes over, she is carrying a tray with breakfast on it. So, it must be morning. She sets down the tray and pours a foul looking liquid into a cup of hot chocolate.

"Drink it all, dear. It will help with your throat," she tells me as I gag down the foul stuff. The hot chocolate does little to mask the flavor.

"How long was I out?" I ask, digging into the porridge.

"Just a day. You gave your friends quite the scare. They've been waiting for you to wake up," Madam Pomfrey informs me.

"What time is it?" I wonder if I will have to help Umbridge today.

"Lessons have just started," she says as she arranges the sheets.

"When can I go?" I begin to ask her.

"You'll be staying here till the end of the month, dearie. I've got it all figured out for you," she says.

"But I feel fine, and I have to help Umbridge…"

"You don't need to do anything for that monster. As long as I'm at Hogwarts I will keep my students safe. Your fingers were rubbed rawer than the polished marble in Gringotts."

"Won't Umbridge come and see?"

"I've told everyone that you have a rather contagious disease. She won't bother you until you leave the hospital wing."

"Will I have to make up all the work days I missed?"

"I've taken care of that to, or rather your friends have. Ginny and Luna, the sweethearts, did your work."

"Thank you, but why would you help me?" I am rather puzzled as to why Madam Pomfrey is helping me when I hexed a teacher.

"Hogwarts shouldn't be controlled by the Ministry. You showed them that their spies aren't welcome here, that we won't go along with them. See this as my thanks," Madam Pomfrey tells me as she carries the tray away.

XxX

Ginny and Luna come during lunch. They know that I am not really contagious.

"You should have seen the look on Umbridges face when we showed up," Luna says through giggles.

"Umbridge was like 'Where is Ms. Diggory?' and we were like 'She has a highly contagious disease so she decided to not come' and Umbridges' face went pale. It was paler than a cloud," Ginny laughs. I smile, serves the old hag right.

XxX

Clip clop, clip clop, the sound of shoes smacking the floor wake me. Another pair of shoes is quickly waking towards me as well. Madam Pomfrey hisses in my ear, "Drink this, it will make you sick. The old ministry toad decided to come and see you unexpectedly. McGonagall warned me."

I swallow the burning liquid just as Umbridge comes around the curtain. I thank McGonagall for the warning. The hag is about to get what she deserves.

"Aah, Ms. Diggory. How are we feeling?" the toad asks, her voice is enough to make anyone vomit, regardless of any potion. I open my mouth as if to answer, but instead vomit comes out. It douses Umbridge, she shrieks and waves her arms, as if that would help. I force myself not to laugh.

Umbridge runs screaming from the hospital wing, and as soon as she is out of ear shot I burst out laughing. The image of Umbridge covered from head to toe in vomit will forever be in my memory. I will have to act it out for Ginny and Luna later. I don't notice another person coming in until Madam Pomfrey starts shouting. She is telling someone, not me, to be more careful when teaching fifth years about strength potions. It must be Snape she's yelling at. I smile to myself, after Umbridge, Snape is my least favorite teacher.

That's when I notice who is lying in the hospital bed. The smile is wiped of my face instantly. Draco Malfoy is laying in the bed across from mine, Madam Pomfrey is bandaging what looks like burn marks. I groan, using my sleeve to wipe away the remaining vomit, wishing I could get out of here, regardless of Umbridge.