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Of Earth and Stars

Chapter 8: The Good Ones

November 1988

"Why are we going out to the greenhouses, Suri?" Nate asked, trekking behind Suri after their last class of the day. He rolled his eyes at Mara's sour expression as she trudged behind them.

"Because they have the last flowers of the season," Suri glanced over her shoulder at her friends.

"Why do you need flowers?"

"Because, Mara, the hospital wing is dull. Clean," Suri hurried to add—she had grown a fondness for Hogwarts' Matron, and did not want to insult the woman even from afar—"but dull. It could use some color."

"You only have one more day of detention," Mara grumbled as the trio neared the greenhouses. "I don't see why you need flowers for the last day."

Suri rolled her sea-colored eyes and sighed heavily in response. She almost smiled when she heard Nate exhale, equally frustrated by Mara.

"Suri shouldn't have detention to begin with," Nate pointed out as Suri pushed open the door to the greenhouses.

Immediately the warm, humid air of the greenhouses engulfed the trio, contrasting the cold and drizzling climate outside.

"Miss Rosier-Black! Right on time." Professor Sprout greeted them with a quick smile.

"Thank you for letting me take some flowers. I have to be quick, Madam Pomfrey doesn't tolerate being late," said Suri, joining Professor Sprout in front of a row of non-magical flowers. Amidst the fauna and flora used for potions because of their magical properties, Professor Sprout also grew a number of plants simply for their aesthetics.

"I have just the thing," Sprout said and pointed to a bunch of yellow flowers with brown spots on them. "Toad lilies."

"Toad lilies?" Mara repeated, several paces away. "They sound horrid. I thought you wanted to brighten the hospital up, not remind Pomfrey of vomit."

Suri bent closer to the flowers Sprout showed her and ran a finger gently down one of the bright yellow petals. She found that she liked the brown spots on the flowers too. "I'll take them, Professor. They're very pretty."

"I'll help you pot these."

Professor Sprout moved deftly, her motions sure and without frill as she uprooted the toad lilies and put three of them into a transportable pot. She then sprinkled the flowers with some sort of potion. "To keep them fresh for a longer period of time," she explained before she passed the pot over to Suri.

When she took the lilies, she noticed the herbology professor give her a curious look. Suri raised an eyebrow in response. "Anything I need to know about these lilies, Professor Sprout?"

"Oh, no, my dear," Sprout shook her head and gave her another quick smile. "You're a good girl, Miss Rosier-Black, don't forget that."

"Er, thank you…I need to get going…" Suri backed away from Sprout before turning to leave with Mara and Nate.

"What was that about," asked Mara as they were halfway back to the castle. "'You're a good girl, Miss Rosier-Black?""

"I'm not sure," she answered, her voice trailed off as she stared pointedly at the lilies.

"Come off it," Nate pressed, his hazel eyes bright with knowing.

"Come off what?"

"Don't play innocent with me, Suri, it doesn't work." The three Slytherins were in the castle, near the hospital. Suri frowned and shifted from foot to foot.

"I am innocent," she answered, her eyebrow raised at her friends.

Nate glanced at Mara, and Mara nodded.

"Honestly, everyone looks at you because of your last names."

"So? You both get it too. You're an Avery, and Mara's a Selwyn."

"Sure, our families are known for doing bad things, but nothing like being you, Rosier-Black. A mum who turned her back on her family to fight You-Know-Who and died. A dad who went mad and killed muggles and landed himself in Azkaban."

Suri flinched at Nate's unapologetic tone.

"Everyone looks at you and wonders whether you're more of your mum or your dad."

"Well, I'm in Slytherin, aren't I? Isn't that the answer?" She shrugged her shoulders.

"But—"

"I have to go, guys, I'm already late. Save me a sandwich, okay?" Suri hurried into the hospital before Nate or Mara could say anything else.

"You're late, Miss Rosier-Black," Pomfrey greeted as Suri walked in. Madame Pomfrey walked along the empty beds and dusted the side tables. She paused when she saw Suri's flustered expression.

"Sorry," she answered, pushing her hair behind her ear. "I stopped by the greenhouses to get flowers." Suri walked over to the one occupied bed in the room and cleared some space amidst a table full of get-well cards and sweet treats for her toad lilies.

Suri paused beside the boy who hadn't opened his eyes in six days. "Hey Oliver," she said softly, though she doubted he could hear her in his unconscious state. "You can wake up anytime now. Your team needs you." She watched his even breath for a moment longer before she quietly walked into the backroom to start her daily chore of washing basins.

"Miss Rosier-Black when you're done, I'll need your help with another task," Pomfrey said minutes after Suri was elbow deep in warm, sudsy water.

"Does it involve re-writing all the labels on the potions bottles? I did that yesterday."

"No, I need help with my patient." Suri stilled and turned to look at Madam Pomfrey who clucked as she straightened a row of empty containers.

"Oh."

"Don't look at me like that, Miss Rosier-Black! You've proven yourself capable enough. Since it's your last day of detention, you might as well learn something in your time here. Come find me when you've finished."

Suri craned her neck around the corner, watching as Pomfrey left. Once certain that she was alone, she pulled her wand from her pocket and pointed it at the stack of unwashed basins. For the entire week, Pomfrey insisted that Suri do things by hand instead of using magic, something about keeping her out of the way.

"Scourgify." Almost immediately the basins were clean and dried, and the water audibly drained down the sink. She dried her hands and stacked the basins before joining Madame Pomfrey.

"That was quick," Pomfrey stated calmly, and Suri had no doubt that the older woman knew she had broken the no magic rule. Instead, she nodded and followed after the older witch, who pushed a trolley with various bottles, rolls of bandages, and other tools on the top shelf and a basin with water and a towel on the bottom, to Oliver.

"Put your hair up, Miss Rosier-Black," Pomfrey instructed, leaning over Oliver to check the bandages around his head. "It would be horribly impolite to get your hair stuck to Mr. Wood."

"Right." Suri pulled her thick hair into a high ponytail and watched as Pomfrey removed the bandages around Oliver's head and tossed them in a small waste bin attached to the trolley.

"His wound is healing quite nicely," Pomfrey murmured. "Hand me the green vial and a towel."

Suri did as instructed and watched as Pomfrey dropped a small amount of the liquid onto the towel before dabbing it against Oliver's head wound. "This is to keep the healing process free from infection as well as speed the natural healing process," she explained. "If the boy was awake he might wince now, as the potion does sting. Once the area is clean, you must let it air dry before applying new bandages."

"Sounds easy enough," Suri said, digesting the sudden information. Pomfrey then picked up one of Oliver's hands and gently bent his wrist and hand in a circular motion.

"See what I'm doing? I want you to do the same to his other hand."

"Okay." Suri fought the blush that crept up her neck as she took Oliver's hand in hers. She was surprised to find his hand so warm as she watched Pomfrey circle his wrist and carefully push on each finger. Suri followed suit and found Oliver's fingers to be stiff when she attempted to push them back.

"Don't be afraid of hurting him; I'll tell you if you're doing something wrong."

"His fingers are stiff," Suri explained, eyebrows knitted with worry.

"He's been unconscious for a week. Without movement the body grows stiff and circulation worsens. Since he isn't moving on his own, we have to do it for him."

Suri pushed Oliver's fingers back again and bent his arm just as Madam Pomfrey did. She copied the nurse's movements on Oliver's legs as well, bending and straightening with care. All the while she looked at Oliver's face and wondered if he felt any of this.

"I think that's good for today," Pomfrey decided. "I'm going to redress his head now, and I'll have you help with administering his nutrients. Then you've officially completed your detention."

Pomfrey set to work on Oliver's head. Like Professor Sprout, her movements were just as definite—something Suri had found comforting as she spent time in the hospital wing.

Finally, Pomfrey reached for a tall brown bottle and poured some of its contents into an empty drinking glass. The liquid appeared powdery and turned into a milky white after she stirred it for several seconds.

"This is packed with a day's worth of nutrients," she explained and handed a towel to Suri. "Now, you'll help Mr. Wood sit up and I'll pour this into his mouth. The towel is for anything that dribbles out."

Pomfrey instructed Suri in arranging Oliver's pillows and pulling him up so he was in a sitting position with his head tilted back just enough. "Hold on to his shoulders to keep him from slipping...just like that," Pomfrey said when Suri put an arm around the back of his shoulders and used her body to steady his.

Suri was in a position that had Oliver's head beneath her chin, his brown hair tickling her face. She watched as Madam Pomfrey carefully poured the liquid from the glass slowly into his mouth. Any time Suri saw any of the liquid escape, she quickly wiped it up. She imagined being in the same vulnerable position as Oliver and hoped someone would preserve her dignity as much as she tried to do for him.

This task took the longest amount of time. Though unconscious, Oliver's natural reflexes occasionally gagged, irritated by the liquid. After fifteen minutes, the task was done, and Suri helped lower Oliver back into bed and fluffed his pillow.

"That should do," said Pomfrey as she wiped her hands on a towel and began closing bottles and tucked away unused bandages. "I will tell Professor Snape that you've completed your detention in a satisfactory manner."

"I'm sure he'll be pleased to know," said Suri, sarcasm heavy in her tone. Madame Pomfrey glanced at her and exhaled a deep breath, too refined to roll her eyes or ask questions.

After she had gathered her belongings, Suri paused by the entrance of the infirmary and watched Madam Pomfrey move about the hospital beds in her busy, yet undisruptive manner.

"Thank you for teaching me, Madam Pomfrey. I really learned a lot."

Hogwarts' Matron glanced at Suri. After her time in the hospital wing, Suri knew Pomfrey wouldn't verbally respond, she was a firm believer in quiet while the infirmary was occupied. Instead, the woman offered Suri a rare smile and nodded her head, acknowledging Suri's gratitude.

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The next morning, Suri found herself to be one of the first students in the Great Hall. She had risen early and dressed casually, (it was the weekend at Hogwarts, and one of the only times students were allowed to be out of uniform for the entire day) eager to be out of the cold dormitories. Even with fires burning in the dormitories and common room, the Slytherin dungeons remained incredibly drafty as the seasons grew colder.

Suri put her book bag beside her as she sat by herself at one of the long four tables in the Great Hall. She poured herself a cup of tea and smiled at Isabelle who sat with two older Slytherins at the other end of the table.

The tea warmed her fingers through the ceramic mug as she students slowly trickle into the hall. Today was the quidditch game between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw. The peaceful silence did not last long as the hall buzzed with excited energy. Students from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff entered the room, cheering excitedly for their houses.

Suri having just finished her breakfast of toast and jam, prepared to leave when Nate and Mara sat across from her.

"I didn't hear you get up this morning," Mara said, filling a cup with pumpkin juice.

"Were you here this whole time?" Nate loaded his plate with eggs and fried tomatoes.

"Yeah, I got up early, and it was too cold to stay in the Common Room," Suri shrugged a shoulder.

"Where are you going?" Nate eyed the book bag on her shoulder.

"To the infirmary."

"I thought detention was over." Mara wrinkled her nose. "Why would you go back there?"

"Detention is over, but weirdly enough, I think I like being there. It's soothing."

"Weird," Nate agreed. "Does this mean you're going to miss the game between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?"

"I think so. Besides, Ravenclaw sucks, and I know I wouldn't be missing much. I'll see you both later." Suri left her friends and headed to the infirmary.

She expected the hospital wing to be vacant (aside from Oliver or Madame Pomfrey), so she was startled when Laurel Wood smiled at her when she walked in.

"Suri," Lauren greeted. She was sitting in a chair beside Oliver's bed. Her blonde curls were pulled into a single braid that hung over her shoulder. "Are you still in detention?"

"No. I finished yesterday…"

"Miss Rosier-Black? I thought I heard voices," Madame Pomfrey appeared from the other room. "Yesterday was your last day of detention, what are you doing here?"

A blush started to crawl up Suri's neck, and she fidgeted with her crystal pendant that hung around her neck. "I just thought I'd stop by." She glanced at Oliver who remained silent in bed. "After seeing him like this for a week, I needed to come by and see if today was any different."

Laurel glanced down at her brother, and Pomfrey's all-seeing eyes softened a fraction.

"Well, I have no problem with it," Pomfrey finally said. "But if you make too much noise, I will ask you to leave."

"Yes ma'am."

Quietly, Suri stood on the other side of Oliver's bed and watched as Laurel patted his hand.

"Madame Pomfrey said he's been unresponsive for the whole week," said Laurel; she had the same Scottish accent as her brother. Her large brown eyes brimmed with tears. "Mum and Dad are so worried."

"He'll pull through." Suri offered Laurel a comforting smile when the older girl looked up at her. "Oliver will be okay."

"How do you know?" Laurel thumbed a tear away from her face.

"I don't know much about him, but I do know he's competitive. He wouldn't die knowing he'd let his team down."

Through her tears, Laurel chuckled. "That's Olive in a nutshell." She caught Suri's expression at Oliver's pet name.

"Don't tell anyone that! He'll be so angry!"

"Your secret is safe," Suri promised. Not for the first time that year, Suri wondered if she had made a mistake asking the Sorting Hat to be in any house but Gryffindor.

Laurel sat up and rolled her shoulders back, stretching her muscles. "I can hardly sleep knowing he's in here, that's why I'm here so early." She patted her stomach, and Suri envied Laurel's slim, athletic figure. "I could use some breakfast. I feel better knowing Oliver won't be alone if he wakes up when I'm not here. Here, take my seat."

Suri walked around the bed to take Laurel's spot, noting that the older girl was also noticeably taller than her too.

"If he wakes up, will you let him know I was here?"

"Of course," Suri promised and waved as Laurel walked away. Now that she was the only conscious person in the room, Suri looked at the growing pile of get-well cards and sweet treats on the desk beside Oliver. She frowned thinking of her grandmother. Granna would have allowed her to keep only half of the sweets she saw on the table.

Again, she tugged on her necklace and frowned, lost in thought. Suri knew she wasn't unattractive, but her grandmother constantly reminded her that she had a "Rosier" body unlike the Black family or even the Maeve family (her grandmother's maiden name). That meant unlike her parents who were both tall and well-built for their sexes, she would be petite and have to put in twice as much effort to keeping her curves slim. Seeing other girls like Laurel made her question her own beauty.

"I don't care," Suri muttered to herself and pulled out her Defense Against the Dark Arts textbook from her book bag and flipped to the section on gargoyles. Her professor, an older witch who hadn't taught in over twenty years had taken the position this year and was quite fond of reading assignments for the weekend.

Upon hearing cheers from the crowd, signaling the start of the quidditch game, Suri paused from her text on gargoyle habitats to study Oliver. She watched the rhythmic rise and fall of his chest over his white bed sheets. Oliver Wood still had a boyish roundness to his cheeks and his eyelashes were shade darker than the hair on his head. She noticed his lips were chapped, likely due to some dehydration.

"You're missing the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff game," she said to him, "I hear Ravenclaw has an incredible beater, but Hufflepuff's offense is unstoppable. You should be there taking notes for your next game, not lying in bed."

Suri leaned back; suddenly aware of how close she had gotten to him. She hoped for a response from him, and after getting nothing, she returned to the gargoyles.

She was a one page away from finishing the chapter when she sneezed. She blamed it on the constant draft from being in Slytherin.

"...bless you…"

"Thank—oh Merlin!" Suri sat up and found herself looking into the brown eyes of Oliver Wood. "You're awake!" Just then, cheers erupted from the field.

"Yeah," Oliver struggled to sit up, and automatically, Suri rose to help him. She hooked her arm through his—the way she'd seen Madame Pomfrey do it before—and braced him as he sat against his bedpost. She adjusted his pillows to accommodate his position.

"Those are a lot of chocolate frogs," Oliver looked at his table. His voice was hoarse from not being used.

"What's all this fuss—oh, Mr. Wood, so kind of you to join us." Madame Pomfrey's stern expression changed to one of relief when she saw that Oliver was up.

"I could use some water."

"Certainly, dear," Pomfrey agreed. She glanced at Suri.

"I know, I know, no loud noises."

Suri watched as Pomfrey left before she glanced back at Oliver. He looked around, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. "I can hear people at the quidditch field. Is the game still going? Who's winning?"

"The game?" Suri quirked an eyebrow. "Oliver, how much do you remember?"

He frowned in thought. "It's er, kind of fuzzy. I remember the start of the game, then something wicked fast coming for me, and now I'm here."

"Oliver," Suri started slowly, unsure of the best way to proceed. "That was a week ago. You took a bludger to the head and you've been unconscious for a week. The game you hear out there is Hufflepuff versus Ravenclaw."

"A week?!" Oliver started forward. He immediately paled from his exertion and fell back against his pillows. "I've been unconscious for a week."

"Your parents were here, and Laurel has been here too."

"Who won the game?"

"That doesn't really matter, does it?"

"Suri…"

"Oliver, you really just woke up and—"

"Suri, who won?"

"Slytherin. By two hundred points."

Suri was both impressed and terrified by the sound Oliver made.

"What's wrong with you, Wood? What hurts?" Madame Pomfrey rushed to the scene, with a glass and pitcher in her hands, assessing her patient with a quick glance.

"Gryffindor lost and it's all my fault! I'd rather die than have another loss like that again!"

"For heaven's sake," Pomfrey muttered as she grumpily poured a glass of water for him. Her trained eyes watched as he gulped down two consecutive glasses.

"You'll stay one more night for observation. Your wound has healed quite well, I just need to make sure you gain back some of your strength before you leave."

"Alright," Oliver grumbled, still clearly bitter about the things he had missed.

"Olive!" Laurel rushed into the hospital wing, a bright smile on her face at seeing her little brother awake and talking.

"Lo!" Oliver looked swiftly at Suri. He grimaced when his sister kissed his forehead.

"She's sworn to secrecy about your name," Laurel assured her brother. "You've had Mum and Dad so worried you idiot."

"Sorry about that, Lo. Pomfrey says I'll get to leave the hospital tomorrow. It'll give me time to play in the next game."

Suri watched the siblings interact and could sense the deep affection they had for each other. Though five years separated them, something about Oliver seemed to mature as he spoke with Laurel, and she seemed to regard her younger brother with equal amounts of protectiveness and respect.

Quietly, Suri gathered her belongings, attempting to slip away without interrupting the Wood siblings.

"Suri spent the week checking in on you."

"She did?"

"Mhm. Tell him, Suri."

Suri paused, halfway between the door and Oliver's bed and glanced at the Wood siblings. She looked at Laurel and noticed the amicable mischief in her eyes. Oliver looked at her with open curiosity.

"We were in the same place at the same time," Suri answered with a shrug that cascaded her long black hair off her shoulder and down her back. There was no way she was telling Oliver about her detention, so instead she smiled at him. "I'm glad you're finally awake, Oliver. I hope you get well soon so you can play in the next match."

A corner of Oliver's lips turned up at the thought of playing quidditch to redeem his loss. "Yeah, there's no way I'm ever going to let something like this happen again! Thanks, Suri!"

Author's Note:

I'm going on vacation, and I wanted to make sure you guys have a chapter before I go!

Your reviews are love!

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