"And, see, this is here is Polymorph Gel," said Gabe. "Eases the transformation process for beginning Animorphmagi and werewolves." As Gabe went through his stores, explaining things to Hastings as he went, Hasting felt more and more uncomfortable. And bored. Suddenly, she was reminded of a certain other Medi-Wizard who always had his mind on his job, but little else. Absently, she looked at her watch, which said it was well after the time she was normally in bed. Did they really have to have drinks with the others tonight? She'd been sick, then had to run for help right after, and had spent the last hour or so with a headache, trying to figure out why that git O'Reilly was in her office. It just wasn't fair—
"I know, it's not the most exciting thing in the world," said Gabe. Hastings looked up and realized he'd been staring at her.
"Oh, I'm sorry," she said, smiling, "I'm just distracted by the craziness from earlier tonight, that's all."
"No, you're not," said Gabe, laughing cheerfully as he flipped the Polymorph Gel, caught it, and placed it on a shelf. "You're bored out of your mind. That's okay… I don't really have an interest in this stuff either… jus a means to an end."
"What do you mean?" asked Hastings.
"Curing people," said Gabe, "Breaking curses—you know, fighting dark magic. That's why I'm here anyway. As the DA teacher, I'm sure you have the same goal, right?"
"Yes," said Hastings. "But mostly because I have lots of energy and almost no book smarts, Teaching DA is fun."
"Come on, you're smart," said Gabe, pouring a cup of the steaming potion for Minerva. "You're genius in Defensive skills and practical knowledge of curses is first rate. You've even had some Muggle defensive training, if I heard right."
"You did hear right," said Hastings. "Question is, who told you?"
"Odessa," said Gabe. "Always going on about you to me. She thinks very highly of you."
"That's nice of you to say," said Hastings. She smiled sheepishly. "Yeah, I've had more training than I knew what to do with," she said, "When I didn't show magical skill at the age of three like my siblings, mum and dad enrolled me in fencing, martial arts, gymnastics… all sorts of things. They wanted to know that at least in some way I'd be protected. That's not smarts, though… just a smattering of physical ability."
"But you're still smart, like in school and things. I happen to know that you got no less than five Outstandings on your OWLs, and one… well, one Satisfactory…Not to mention you did even better on your NEWTs" Gabe said quickly.
"That Satisfactory would be potions," said Hastings. "I'm hopeless at it. I can't even make a simple giggle potion. Tried once when we were jinxing some Slytherins as kids. I poisoned a kid—got three hundred points taken, and detention with O'Reilly."
Gabe laughed, and said, "Well, my parents had me in football as a kid," said Gabe. "Both of them became fascinated with muggles during the war. Probably because they spent so much time protecting them. I even grew up in a muggle neighborhood. My mum was what you might call—well, Americans call it—a "Soccer Mom." We had a mini-van, always loaded with soda and snacks for the kids on my football team."
"What's a minivan?" asked Hastings.
"Well, a muggles transport, you know, a type of car… Like a multi-passenger broom. Even had a telly inside to watch movies."
"Wow," said Hastings, "What muggles have to do for entertainment…"
"Yeah, well," said Gabe, "some of it was fun. I always preferred magic though. He walked the potion over to Minerva, who had drifted off. "Minerva," said Gabe, gently patting her on the arm. "Take some of this, you'll feel better."
"I hate medicine," said McGonagall, sleepily waking.
"If you take it, I'll let you go to sleep in your own room," said Gabe in a coaxing manner. Immediately, Minerva sat up, took the cup from him, and swallowed its entire contents. "There, now, was that so bad?"
"Hmmm," said McGonagall, smacking her lips, "Tastes like Butter Rum."
"All right, now Professor," said Gabe, helping her up to her feet. "Get some sleep. Would you like someone to walk with you?"
"I can handle walking on my own, Mr. Lupin," said McGonagall, "You finish up here and… then walk back with Professor Applespice." She looked at Hastings, and winked behind her square glasses, then walked outside.
"Well, should we clean up?" asked Hastings.
"Not much to do," said Gabe, "But rinse this cup out. I'll be right back." He was gone a moment, and when he came back, he switched out the light. "So, anyway, I did well in football, but I hated it."
"You wanted to do something else?" asked Hastings.
"Wanted to play the piano professionally, actually."
"You're kidding."
"Nope. Or be a writer. Silly, I guess."
"That's not silly at all," said Hastings, liking him even more.
"Ah, well, just a little." Gabe said, smiling. "Shall we go upstairs now? Odessa and Sirius might start some rumors if we don't show up soon."
"Rumors?" Hastings asked.
"Yes, rumors. About what two wizards were doing in the hospital wing."
"Oh, yes, of course," Hastings said, blushing.
"Don't want to give them the wrong idea. Come on." Hastings followed him out of the room slowly, embarrassed. Here she was interested in him and he didn't want to start any rumors.
"Well, I'd better get on to our common room. I have to do some research before classes…" Hastings said, trying to get away from Gabe before he suspected something.
"It's Saturday tomorrow, crazy. Stay up and play Snap or Chess with us."
"Oh, yeah," said Hastings. "I… I forgot.
"Everything okay?" asked Gabe.
"Sure it is," said Hastings.
Gabe touched her arm lightly, "You're a good friend, Hastings, thanks for hanging around me while I finished up."
Hastings opened the door, and walked in. "It's nothing," she said, mortified that he only saw her as his friend. She walked through to the Men's Common Room with Gabe in tow. Once inside, she sat at the table with Odessa and Sirius, took a bottle of Butter Beer, and gulped it down.
"Hello Hastings," said Odessa.
"Hiya," said Hastings in between drinks.
"Everything okay?" Odessa asked.
"Just fine," Hastings said quickly. Odessa decided not to pursue the matter for now.
"Exploding Snap, then?" she asked.
"Sure," said Gabe. "Funny, when I was in school here, it never occurred to me that our teachers might be playing the same games we did." He pointed toward Professors Vector and Greene, who were engaged in a heated game of Wizard's Chess.
They began playing, but Hastings wasn't paying attention to the game. She just wished she could get out of there, but couldn't come up with a good reason to do so.
"Well, that's enough for me," said Sirius about an hour later. "It's been fun, but chaperoning kids is tiring business. You coming, Lupin?"
"I'd like to keep playing, if the girls don't mind." Hastings smothered a groan.
Odessa stood up. "I'm actually rather tired myself, although its been fun. Coming Hastings?"
Thankful for the excuse to get away Hastings jumped up, "Actually yes. Sorry Gabe, but it's getting late and I'm not much of a night person.
"Well, you guys sure are boring," Gabe said with a smile.
"I don't want to hear it," Sirius said, "You had a lovely little nap when you fell into that dream ivy."
Gabe laughed, "I suppose I did. But that doesn't excuse you guys from acting like old farts."
"Please forgive us, Gabe, and our fartiness," Odessa said, laughing. Hastings rolled her eyes, she just wanting to leave.
"Just this once," Gabe said, winking. "You guys have good night."
Sirius grabbed Odessa's hand and kissed it, "Until tomorrow."
Odessa knocked on the door to Hastings' room. There was no answer. "Haste, everything okay?" She pushed the door open.
It was dark in the room, no candle burned, and Hastings was in bed with the covers pulled over her head. There was no sound, but for her breathing. "I know you're not asleep yet," said Odessa. "You've never been able to fool me. And I'm going to stay here and talk to you till you tell me what's going on."
"I'm fine," said Hastings.
"Yeah, as if I'm gonna believe that," said Odessa. "What happened?"
"Nothing," said Hastings.
Odessa pointed her wand at Hastings's blankets. "Wingardiam Leviosa!" The blankets lifted off her, even though she grasped at them, and floated to the ceiling, and dropped to the floor.
"Cut it out, Ode," said Hastings, rising from her bed. She stepped on a book and curse, hopping on one foot. "Lumos firai!" her wand lit up with fire at the end, and she lit an oil lamp on her night stand.
"You're not even dressed for bed," said Odessa, noting Hastings still wore her teaching robes and shoes.
"So what?" said Hastings. "I was tired. Um… Butter Beer, you know? Goes straight to my head."
"Now I know you're lying," said Odessa. "Even if it had been fire whiskey, you'd have had us all under the table in one drink. For the last time, Hastings, what's the matter?"
Hastings grabbed her blankets from the floor, jumped on her bed, and pulled them up to her neck. "He's not ever going to like me that way," she said.
"Gabe?"
"No, Professor O'Reilly," said Hastings sarcastically. "I've been harboring a secret passion for him for ages, you see, and—"
"All right, all right, come on," said Odessa, exasperated. "What happened to make you think he doesn't like you?"
"He didn't want to stay too long alone in the hospital wing – said he didn't want rumors to start. And then he said I was a good friend."
"I think he likes you," said Odessa. "As more than a friend. He was being a gentleman."
Hastings snorted, "Yeah, right. A gentleman. I don't know why I even try with men. I should just resign myself to being single. It certainly is easier." She turned over in her bed and pulled the covers up again.
"You're wrong, Hastings," said Odessa. "There's definitely something there."
Hastings sat up again, "Sod off, Ode. You and Sirius just need to leave well enough alone."
Odessa looked surprised and hurt, "I—I'm sorry, Hastings. I wasn't trying to hurt you…" She turned to go.
"No," said Hastings, "I'm sorry, Ode. That was unfair of me. I know you were just trying to help."
"I was," said Odessa.
"And I appreciate it. I just don't think anything is working."
"You never know what tomorrow will bring," said Odessa. "Good night, Hastings. Sleep well."
"You too," said Hastings, glumly.