It was three days into quarantine and Polly was miserable. She tried to focus on the homework that was delivered to her, but the fever had finally struck and she had yet to break it. Her whole body was uncomfortable and hot. Polly was extremely fatigued but she couldn't sleep. The pain she was experiencing was dreadful. Throat sore, forehead hot, irrationally tired, and nauseous. She just wanted it to be over, but Madam Pomfrey insisted she just had to ride this one out to help her body create an immunity to it. Polly hadn't seen Fred or George during those three days, and she wondered if they even knew she was in the hospital wing. She doubted it.
"Polly?" Madam Pomfrey asked. "Are you ready to try and drink something?"
Polly groaned, but her throat was so dry it was like a match striking against wood every time she took a breath. She took the glass filled with the most vile tasting medicine she had ever tasted. Three times she had been basically forced to drink the orange tinted liquid, and this time she was doing it voluntarily. She brought the cup to her lips, liking how the cold glass felt against her chapped lips. It tasted awful, but it was going to help her in the long run. She had to think about it like that to tolerate the disgusting after taste. Well that and she wasn't willing to eat anything to make it go away.
"Can I see Fred and George?" Polly asked, setting the drink on the bedside table before she laid back into bed. She drew the blanket up to her chin, and then threw it back off herself when she got really hot really quick.
The last thing Madam Pomfrey wanted was those two twins in here making some big commotion while she had sick students trying to sleep. But Polly was a good girl who just wanted to see her friends. Madam Pomfrey told Polly the boys could visit for a few minutes, making Polly smile. Madam Pomfrey sent away for the twins, regretting her decision almost immediately.
Madam Pomfrey was shocked however, when the twins arrived and expressed nothing but concern for their friend. They sat next to her bed and talked with her quietly. Respectful to both Polly and the other students. Madam Pomfrey had judged them too quickly, as many people had. She set off to check on other students, leaving the twins alone with their ill friend.
"How do you feel, Polly?" Fred asked.
"Bad," Polly said simply, pulling the blanket up again.
"Maybe you should get some more sleep," George suggested. "And we can come visit later."
"Will you two stay until I fall asleep?"
"Of course we will," Fred said, smiling at Polly.
Polly smiled, closing her eyes as she shifted in an attempt to get comfortable against the pillow. Once she was satisfied enough, she fell asleep. The boys tip toed away, nodding briefly at Madam Pomfrey as they made their way out of the hospital wing.
"I'd been wondering were Polly was hiding," Fred said, leading George back down to the Great hall were they had been before visiting Polly.
"You're telling me," George said, chuckling. "Least we know where she is now."
"Too bad she's feeling so bad," Fred said, "She looked rough."
"Yeah," George said. He didn't like it one bit.
"She'll be alright," Fred said, noticing George's lack of enthusiasm.
"Yeah," George said again. Fred stopped answering in recognition of George not wanting to talk. Twin telepathy as some would call it.
Polly didn't get out of the hospital wing until two days after the Gryffindor versus Hufflepuff match. She always joked about those games splitting her loyalty into two equal chunks. The boys were never angry at her for cheering for Hufflepuff, that was her family after all. But even when Hufflepuff lost, Polly hid her disappointment and congratulated the boys. Polly believed there was no honour in a poor sport.
Currently, Polly was walking back to the Hufflepuff common room, still tired. Madam Pomfrey had told her that symptoms can last up to a month. But if they persisted then Polly was to return to the hospital wing. Polly was walking down a nearly empty corridor. The only other people around were Draco Malfoy, who was sitting on a bench doing nothing worthy of Polly's interest, and Professor Quirrell who was awkwardly walking in the opposite direction of Polly. He looked away when they made eye contact but stopped in front of her anyway.
"P-Polly," he started, "G-Good to see you b-back on your feet."
Professor Quirrell had dropped off homework for Polly several times and while she was appreciative of him taking the time to do that, she never got any of it done. He had even taken the time to speak to her for a few minutes before he had to go back to his duties.
"Thanks Professor, it's good to be up. I'm a little behind on the homework you gave me. I'll try to get it done by Monday." It was nearing the end of the week. So if Polly kicked herself into gear after classes and on the weekend she would be caught up in all her classes. It would be boring though.
"N-no rush," he said. "G-get lots of r-rest."
"Thank you Professor, I'll see you in class tomorrow."
"Ah, g-good."
Professor Quirrell continued walking down the hallway, stuttering to himself as he went. Draco Malfoy was laughing. He was far enough away that Polly could ignore him, but close enough that Polly could hear him.
But Polly walked on, deciding Draco wasn't worth her time. Although she'd admit without pause that he made her blood boil beyond belief. It could be debated that everyone felt that way. But Polly's parents were muggles, making tangoing with Draco a risky sport. But this experience gave her a scenario to cook up in her brain where she confronts him, and shows him to the door.
Polly made it up to her room, said hello to Tanya and promised her that she was okay now. But Polly wasn't in a talking mood. Polly was much more interested in going to sleep.
The next morning Polly was back off to classes. She was lost in most of them due to missing over a week, but she was trying her best. She really had to catch up fast. Fortunately for her, Cedric was willing to help her catch up. He was a good friend.
Polly went to the library with Cedric right after classes were done where they began working on the more important things Polly had to do. Cedric's help was a blessing as some of the work required information acquired in the classes she had been unable to attend. After a few hours Polly had finished all the homework for Defence Against the Dark Arts, and an essay for potions. Tomorrow Cedric and Polly were going to brew a potion after lunch, with Snape supervising them. Then she would have to finish homework for Charms, Care for Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies, and Herbology. Then on Sunday she would lie in her bed and catch up on all the reading for her other classes. Come Monday, Polly should be back near the top of the class.
"Thanks for everything Cedric," Polly said, closing up her books.
"Don't mention it," Cedric said, his signature charming grin gracing his features.
"Catching up on all these classes is no fun," Polly said. "But still more fun then waking up in the hospital wing. Funny thing is; I don't remember walking there."
Polly and Cedric began walking to the common room together. Cedric said, "That's because you didn't."
"What do you mean?" Polly asked, nearly dropping her books. She was holding what felt like a hundred pounds of paper in her hands, and she was unable to see her feet. Stumbling was inevitable.
"I had to carry you there, Polly. I was trying to talk to you at lunch but you wouldn't wake up. Figured something had to be seriously wrong," Cedric said, shaking his head. "Guess I was right."
"Huh." Polly mumbled. "Well, thank you."
"Anytime." Cedric waited for Polly to enter the common room before he followed suit. "I mean, what're friends for?"
"If you're ever super sick I'll return the favour," Polly said, laughing as Cedric did the same.
"You'll carry me?" Cedric asked, his eyes squinting closed as he laughed.
"All the way to the hospital wing," Polly said confidently. "Provided you're basically right outside the hospital wing."
"What're we laughing about over here?" someone asked, walking up to the pair. Polly fumbled to hold up her books as she caught sight of Laura's face.
"Polly was just being clever," Cedric said, placing a hand on Polly's back. "See you tomorrow Polly, I'll meet you in the Great Hall for lunch then we can head down."
"Bye," Polly said, smiling. At the same time Laura said, "Bye Cedric."
Ten seconds after Cedric had disappeared into his room Laura used all her might to push Polly's books onto the floor. "Stay away from Cedric, you've ruined enough. Cedric wants me." Laura turned on her heel and left Polly alone surrounded by all her books. Polly's jaw was hanging limp. Who does that? As she picked up her books a another set of hands reached down to help her pick everything up. A girl named Anya was helping Polly gather her books.
"Don't listen to her," the older girl said. "Cedric doesn't like her at all."
"How do you know?"
"He's loyal to his friends, and you're his friend. Everyone knows how she treated you. People shouldn't treat people like that; especially not in their own house." Both Polly and Anya stood up. Anya passed over Polly's books.
"I didn't think anyone cared," Polly said, her vulnerable sounding voice wasn't lost on Anya.
"We all care," Anya said, smiling.
After the two split up, Polly had so much on her mind. Not only did she feel more accepted by her house than she ever had but she seemed to finally be making more friends than just Justin, Tanya, and the Twins. She was spending lots of time with Cedric, Anya was now going to meet Cedric and Polly for lunch, and she'd met a lovely girl named Ellen in the hospital wing when Polly was on the mend. Everything was looking up.
Polly couldn't wait to tell George all her good news. So when she found him walking with Fred down the corridor leading to the courtyard, she ran over with a big grin. He seemed less than impressed. Fred excused himself, patting Polly on her back as he passed by her. Polly looked at George confused, but he crossed his arms and refused to meet her eye.
"What's the matter?" Polly asked, trying to get him to look at her.
"Nothing's the matter," George said, sighing. "I'm glad to see you're alright."
"Thanks George, and thanks for coming to visit me." Polly crept closer, wrapping her arms around his waist. She felt him tense, but then wrap his arms around her shoulders.
He asked, "What's going on with you and Cedric?"
"What?" Polly pulled away quickly to look up at George's face. "He's my friend."
"Do you want to be, you know, more than friends?" George asked, one of his hands continued to rest on her shoulder.
"No, just friends."
"Oh okay," George said. "Because I heard you were sleeping in his arms as he carried you around."
"Yea," Polly said, smiling. "Because I wouldn't wake up and he got freaked out so he carried me up to the hospital wing. That's all. And since we have all the same classes we've become pretty close. He's helping me catch up on work."
"I could help you," George said, crossing his arms again. "I am one of your best friends."
"Exactly, which is how I know you'd end up distracting me stopping me from getting any work done." Quietly, George looked at her, catching her amused eye with his playful one.
"Fair enough."