Professor Starrett was looming over Bagsy, who was lying in a soft bed, when she woke up. First, Bagsy saw the ceiling of the infirmary, carved stone arching high above her head in gothic patterns. Then, her vision blurry, she noticed the dark figure garbed in red standing over her with an enraged expression. Finally, Bagsy's memories came back to her, and she found her brow furrowing in confusion. 'I… fainted?' she mumbled, her head swaying from side to side.
'Technically,' Starrett enunciated harshly.
Professor Fitzsimmons was sitting on a stool on the other side of the bed. 'Bagsyllia,' they greeted her calmly, 'care to explain what this is?' Fitzsimmons held up a couple of vials that contained an oily, deep green substance; exhaust-gone. Bagsy cringed.
Something snapped in Starrett's angry face. 'Your stupidity is astounding, Miss Beetlehorn. Even after I warned you about meddling with dangerous things a silly little child like yourself couldn't possibly understand or execute properly, you continue to experiment with frankly deadly toys without any supervision.' Starrett folded her arms, her nails digging into her skin in anger. 'I demonstrated to you the dangers of that thing you called a wand training wheel. I'd hoped that would be enough to curb your foolish illusions of grandeur. You are a thirteen-year-old child. You are not capable of safely–!' as Starrett's voice rose Fitzsimmons placed their hand on her shoulder. Starrett cut off and turned abruptly away, walking swiftly from the room, the clack of her heels a furious noise as she departed.
Fitzsimmons dragging in a tired sigh. 'I apologise for her outburst, Bagsyllia, but she is correct. You created a substance you had little knowledge of and used yourself as its guinea pig.'
Bagsy looked Fitzsimmons up and down. 'What are you talking about?'
Fitzsimmons gave the vial a gentle shake, the oily liquid within churning from side to side. 'This little number of yours, Bagsyllia,' Fitzsimmons explained. 'Some editation of a wide-eye potion, if I'm not mistaken. I presume you've been taking this to avoid sleep. Perhaps you wanted more time to play with toys, muck about, or perhaps…' Fitzsimmons fixed Bagsy with a knowing look. 'Perhaps you've bitten off more than you can chew and have been making up for it by staying awake at night and working.'
Bagsy shrunk downwards, pulling the duvet she was beneath up to cover her face. She decided not to mention that the vial in Fitzsimmons hand didn't compose her entire collection. She still had a few more portions of the offending substance in her school robe. Bagsy reckoned letting Fitzsimons know just how long she had intended to continue using the stuff wouldn't be a good idea.
'Because of its untested nature,' Fitzsimmons pressed on, 'I imagine you didn't realise what effects it could have. Perhaps the issue of safety never crossed your mind.'
Bagsy averted her gaze. Fitzsimmons was right. It hadn't. 'What happened?' she asked at last.
Fitzsimmons reclined, inspecting the vial thoughtfully for a few moments. 'You've been unconscious for five days,' Fitzsimmons explained after a pause. 'It's Friday evening, now.'
Bagsy froze.
'You indebted yourself to sleep,' Fitzsimmons breezed on, turning the vial over in their palm as if nothing was wrong. 'You owed many hours of rest to your body, and your body took them all at once, without your permission. This was the effect of your untested potion. Very mild, considering what it could have done.'
'What could it have done?' Bagsy squeaked.
Fitzsimmons stilled the potion in their hand and stared at Bagsy. 'You could have never woken up at all.'
'Oh.'
'Bagsyllia, do you know why I stopped running our private lessons?'
Bagsy hesitated, thinking on Fitzsimmons' question. She suddenly had a sinking feeling in her stomach. 'Your test,' Bagsy began, recalling the first lesson of Defence Against the Dark Arts she'd ever taken, where she'd been thrown into a scary, and many-staged test in her mind. 'It was meant to pick someone out. At least, that's what Mezrielda said. She said you were looking for someone, and that your test found that someone, and that that someone was me.'
Fitzsimmons nodded. 'Very perceptive, your friend is.'
'Only…' Bagsy trailed off, a lump forming in her throat. 'Your test found me. And once you saw how pathetic and useless and–' Her voice cut off as she held back a sad sob. She couldn't even finish her sentence she was so pitiful. 'Once you saw that,' Bagsy forced herself on, worrying the duvet between her hands, 'you must have realised I was a lost cause and given up on whatever it was you'd picked me out for. You've probably found another student and been training them, instead.'
Fitzsimmons sucked in a sharp breath. 'Oh, Bagsyllia,' they murmured sympathetically. Bagsy squeezed her eyes shut, taking the sympathy as a sign she was correct. She'd never thought on the matter until now, but now that Fitzsimmons had turned Bagsy's attention to it, it seemed crystal clear. Fitzsimmons had been using their test to search for someone, but the someone they'd found had been so inept they'd given up on her. 'That's not it at all.'
Bagsy looked up slowly.
Fitzsimmons was softly shaking their head. 'It is true that you may not have the skills many of your contemporaries have. You cannot cast spells like your peers, and you do not take to magic in the same way. But, Bagsyllia, this does not mean that you are hopeless, or useless, or someone I would give up on.' Fitzsimmons sat in silence for a time. Bagsy could tell they were choosing their next words carefully. 'You are an incredibly hardworking individual. It does not take Mezrielda's perception to see that you throw yourself with fierce dedication into your projects, into your work, and into commitments you make to those important to you. I ceased our private lessons because it became clear to me that your progression would be better served by your own independent development, not by forcing more of the traditional curriculum that was suffocating your creativity upon your shoulders. You are still but a child, and I saw it better for you to have time and happiness to naturally grow, then for me to tutor something that did not come naturally to you.
'I mean to say, Bagsyllia, that I believed in your own ability to learn more than any other methods.' Fitzsimmons lifted the vial of exhaust-gone and gave it another shake, drawing Bagsy's attention to it. 'And though your risk taking, and lake of risk assessment, is concerning, it seems I have been proven correct. How many students do you know of that could create such a simple and yet effective new potion in only their third year?'
Bagsy swallowed, eyes wide as she took the vial in. Despite herself, she realised she felt some agreement with Fitzsimmons.
'Keep doing what you've been doing so far, keep being yourself, and you will be doing exactly what you need to.'
Bagsy nodded, accepting Fitzsimmons words tentatively.
'But,' Fitzsimmons continued, 'I will add that, this year particularly, you have taken on too much. Do not overwork yourself, Bagsyllia, it may feel like doing so leads to faster results, but in actuality, it will make everything much, much slower.'
With a slow dip of her head, Bagsy accepted that, too. But, then again, how could she stop being busy when she'd already said yes to so many requests? She couldn't back down on her word, especially not to her friends, and especially not to those in need like Winifred and Robin.
'You are important too, Bagsyllia,' Fitzsimmons reminded her. 'You'd do well to act like it.'
'Professor,' Bagsy asked, suddenly, 'what exactly was it that the test picked me out for?'
Fitzsimmons was silent once more. 'In truth, Bagsyllia,' they murmured, 'It would be most unwise to tell you until the right time arises and, in all honesty, I do not know how soon that 'right time' will be. I have been informed by a highly accurate source that revealing the answer too soon will have dire consequences, so I am erring on the cautious side.' They smiled softly. 'I hope you can forgive the cryptic answer, but I'm afraid it is all I can offer.'
Bagsy deflated at that, but she couldn't find the courage to protest. When Fitzsimmons had withheld information from her before, it had been in her best interest. When they hadn't told Bagsy about the blood eyed beast marking her, it had been to avoid giving her needless fear. But then again, Fitzsimmons didn't seem entirely trustworthy.
'Don't let me catch you in here again,' Fitzsimmons finished. 'Be more careful in future.' Before Bagsy's eyes, Fitzsimmons abruptly shifted and turned into a moth, fluttering up and away from her. Even as the moth joined a small spattering of other moths in the ceiling, and fluttered its way out of the room, Bagsy's eyes had no trouble tracking which moth was the real Fitzsimmons.
Despite Fitzsimmons words, however, Bagsy set straight back to work the second she returned to her private room. She quickly brewed some more phoenix quelling potion and hurried to find Winifred and Robin, who must have been going without the potion for a number of days since she fell unconscious. Bagsy hoped there hadn't been an inspection in that time. When she found Winifred and Robin eating happily in the great hall she let out an internal sigh of relief before slipping them the potions. Winifred and Robin nodded gratefully.
'Sooooo,' Winifred drawled awkwardly. 'You doing okay? You had us all worried, what with your fainting and all.'
'Oh, yes,' Bagsy murmured uncomfortably. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you. You had me worried, though, with your… uh… exploding.'
Winifred waved her hand dismissively. 'Ah, we're fine. Nothing can hurt us, right, Robin?' Robin nodded confidently, smiling wide. 'Sorry about dumping you in it as the explanation for having to pause the game, but at the time I couldn't think of a better cover story.'
'It's fine,' Bagsy told her honestly.
When Bagsy turned to the Hufflepuff table and sat down, she saw breakfast foods surrounding her, and realised how starving she felt. Her stomach gave a loud rumble as she tucked into her dinner.
Suddenly, someone was hugging Bagsy from behind. Bagsy startled and tried to turn to see who it was. 'Greenda?' she asked.
Greenda let go and sat down next to Bagsy. 'I am so sorry, Bagsy,' Greenda sighed, looking like the weight of the world was on her shoulders. 'I feel just awful.'
'Why?' Bagsy asked.
'Why?' Greenda seemed shocked. 'Because you were right there next to me, and you fell off your broom, and I was too busy being angry with Emmeline to notice you needed my help. I could've caught you…'
'Well, I'm fine now, aren't I? Someone caught me,' Bagsy pointed out, trying to be comforting. Greenda looked like she was about to burst into tears. 'Oh dear, I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?'
'No!' Greenda insisted. 'It's just that when you landed, no one did catch you.'
Bagsy blinked, stunned. 'No one caught me?'
'No one was near enough…' Greenda trailed off. 'You hit the sand with a thud. I swear I can still hear the noise when I'm trying to get to sleep. I don't think I'll ever forget it.' Her fists clenched. 'Here I am, aiming to be a healer, but I ignored someone who needed my help. It won't happen again, Bagsy.'
Looking down at her plate silently, Bagsy's stomach was now writhing not with hunger, but fear. She'd fallen, and no one had caught her. It had been quite a height, if she remembered correctly.
'You're lucky you have that Slytherin friend of yours,' Greenda mused. 'She cast the movement slowing charm as you were falling. The teachers were too busy dealing with myself and Emmeline fighting and hadn't noticed the trouble you were in.' Greenda placed her head on the table and groaned. 'I'm so sorry. You could have been badly hurt, and all because of my own immaturity.'
Bagsy was silent. Greenda was right; she'd been too busy fighting with Emmeline to think about Bagsy, and it hurt. But, at least she was admitting it. 'It's okay, Greenda,' Bagsy said after a pause. 'You can make it up to me by not fighting with Emmeline.'
Greenda lifted her head back up, a defensive look on her face. 'I never start anything with her!' she protested.
'I know you don't,' Bagsy said. 'I just… maybe try and avoid her, I guess? I don't know…' She shrunk in on herself.
Greenda said, 'I just defend myself! If it weren't for her I would have noticed what was happening with you,' she added angrily.
Bagsy shrugged. 'Fine. Whatever. In that case, you can make it up to me by not telling other people I have boy troubles.'
Greenda had the decency to look at least a little guilty about that. 'I thought Ford may be able to offer better advice than myself. I know I can ramble and be a bit… annoying with how much I talk, and I didn't want to smother you when it was clear the situation was sensitive.'
'You're not annoying,' Bagsy said. 'I find your advice very helpful.'
They sat in silence after that, eating their food.
'I better get going,' Greenda said at last, a tad awkwardly, excusing herself from the table.
'I mean it,' Bagsy murmured quietly, and Greenda froze. 'You're not annoying. I always enjoy listening to you talk, and I appreciate that, when I do have something to say, you always listen.'
Greenda was silent for a time. 'You mean that?'
'Yeah.'
Greenda hugged Bagsy again. 'You're a good friend,' she said. 'I promise I'm going to try to be a better one.' With that, Greenda went on her way, Bagsy feeling a little better about things with her.
As Bagsy left the hall, Teresa, Neve, Jon and Itsuki pulled her aside. They were all sitting next to each other and looked up at her expectantly.
'Well?' Teresa barked. Bagsy looked at her in confusion. 'What in the name of mac and cheeze happened?'
'What's mac and cheeze?' Neve whispered to Teresa.
'I fainted,' Bagsy shrugged.
'Yeah, and then you disappeared for five days,' Teresa shot back, agitated. 'I know you're the missing Hufflepuff but that's taking it to a ridiculous level. We were all worried sick!'
'I was in the infirmary,' Bagsy explained, shrinking in on herself.
Someone tutted from behind. Bagsy turned to see Primrose standing with her arms crossed and hip cocked to the side, Rebekah and Logan in tow. 'You're so attached to this pathetic act of yours. Maybe one day you'll make it through the year without fainting off your broom,' Primrose joked. 'Maybe you should tie a rope around your waist and attach it to that piece of drift wood you stutter about on, then next time you can at least be useful as a piñata for everyone else.'
Teresa looked like she was ready to pummel Primrose into sawdust. Neve elbowed her and gave her a harsh look and, with a harsh breath out of her nose, Teresa decided not to get herself into big trouble for assaulting another student.
'That's a… helpful suggestion,' Bagsy managed, looking at her feet. 'I'll consider it.' Primrose did have a point; Bagsy fell off her broom so often it may actually be a half decent idea to tie herself to it.
'Whatever,' Primrose sneered. 'Just get out of here. You're stinking up the hall with your nerves, it's going to put me off my food.'
'That's not very nice,' Itsuki said with a frown.
Teresa cut in, 'Just ignore her, Bagsy, she's not going to do anything, all talk and no bite.' She shot a glare at Primrose. 'Getting worked up about it is pointless.'
'Sure,' Bagsy murmured, ducking her head and rushing away from them and out of the hall, feeling as though a tail was between her legs. She wasn't sure why but Bagsy's feet carried her straight to the library nook. As she approached she was overjoyed to see her friend already there.
Mezrielda was sitting in her usual spot, her work organised neatly in front of her and, as always, receiving none of her attention. But instead of looking out the window, or at the ceiling in boredom or frustration, Mezrielda's glazed over eyes were emptily staring at the vacant seat opposite.
'Mezrielda?' Bagsy asked in concern as she reached the corner. Mezrielda perked up almost instantly and, before she could hide it, Bagsy saw the trace of a smile that was quickly schooled into a frown.
'About time,' Mezrielda grumbled. 'How are you?'
'I feel fine,' Bagsy said, taking her seat opposite Mezrielda and looking out over Hogwarts lake.
'What happened?'
Bagsy twiddled her thumbs.
'Bagsy…' Mezrielda warned, 'you have three seconds to tell me.'
With a sigh, Bagsy accepted her fate. 'I invented a potion to replace sleep. Only, as it turns out, it simply pushes back when that sleep happens. I took it too much and ended up owing my body five days.'
'Bagsyllia!'
'I know, I know.' Bagsy cringed. 'Please don't use my full name, it makes you sound like Professor Fitzsimmons. Or worse, my parents.'
'Then don't do silly things like trying to replace sleep with a potion. It's as I told you before – nothing can replace the real thing.'
'When did you say that?'
'Back when we had that lesson on the wide eye potion. I'm guessing that's where you got the idea from, correct?'
Bagsy shifted guiltily in her seat.
'As I thought.' Mezrielda tutted. 'Don't do it again.'
'Yes, mum,' Bagsy responded jokingly. Mezrielda gave her a look and then returned to, or perhaps finally began, her homework.
'Oh,' Mezrielda said before even five minutes of solid work had been completed. 'I thought I should inform you that I will be staying at Hogwarts for Christmas this year,' she explained, a tightness in her voice.
'How come?' Bagsy asked.
'My parents say they have a lot on their plate right now and want me to stay at Hogwarts, away from whatever it is they are dealing with.'
'What is it they're dealing with?'
'They wouldn't tell me,' Mezrielda sulked, placing a letter onto the table. Dantura and Palid's writing was as neat as their daughters.
Dearest Mezrielda,
Unfortunately, due to unforeseen circumstances, you shall have to remain away from home this Christmas. We will miss you dearly and look forward to seeing you again come the Summer holiday. Be sure to work diligently. Best of luck for your exams and give our best to Bagsy.
Stay at Hogwarts.
Love,
Mum and Dad.
With a huff, Mezrielda folded up the note and placed it gingerly in her pocket. 'On an entirely unrelated note, I was wondering what you were doing for Christmas?'
Bagsy shrugged. 'Usually I go home,' she explained.
Mezrielda returned to her work. 'I see,' was all she said.
'Usually,' Bagsy emphasised with a smile. Mezrielda looked back up, and the smile Bagsy had caught a glimpse of earlier was threatening to return.
'Do you mean to say you will be staying over Christmas, as well?' Mezrielda tried to sound uninterested, inspecting a speck of dust on her sleeve.
'I don't see why not,' said Bagsy.
Mezrielda breathed in sharply, writing neat lines along a scroll and pointedly not looking at Bagsy. 'I suppose it will be nice to have some familiar company over winter.'
After an hour or so of quiet work, Bagsy swore she heard Mezrielda mutter the most reluctant 'thanks' the world would ever experience under her breath. Bagsy muttered a soft 'you're welcome' in response and, like a ray of sunshine breaking through a cloudy sky, Bagsy saw Mezrielda finally allow herself to smile fully.
