Chapter 8

Rose could feel the nervous eyes of her mother and aunt on her as she spoke to Uncle George about the changes he was going to make to his Hogsmeade branch of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. She just wanted Madame Promfry to come and say she was free to leave. It was bad enough to be starting a new school, but to start it a step behind everyone else? That would be horrible! No, she refused to do that. If they forced her to stay in the hospital room, she'd fall behind, and then everyone would think that she was over-dramatic and stupid. What could be worse?

Soon, Uncle Harry and her dad were in an argument over some sort of quiddich match, Uncle George and Albus were talking in whispers (probably about sneaking merchandise into school), and Rose was half listening to her mum and Aunt Ginny's conversation about an article in the Daily Profit. Rose didn't care about the possible leak of cursed cauldrons that can alter the use of the potions brewed in them. Well, she did, but she was more interested Madame Promfry releasing her – soon. The longer she was stuck in this room, the more anxious she became to leave.

Why did everyone want to ruin her life? Some people may think she was over reacting, but really! It was her first day of school, she was in a new place, it was almost like a fresh start. But now it could all be ruined! Why did someone have to attack her and end her here?

Speaking of which, who was it that attack her and her friends? Why? What on earth could any of them have done? Maybe someone was trying to hurt some else through them? "That could be it; I bet tons of people get annoyed with James – I know I do!" Rose thought to herself. "But no, just getting bugged by someone isn't reason enough to injure his brother, cousin, and their friends surely? Maybe some jealous ex-boyfriend of Victori's? Nah, that's not reason enough either. There must be a better reason! Maybe…..maybe it was because of Uncle Harry and her parents? But no, the Great War was almost 20 years ago; very, very few people who once supported Voldemort remained out of Azkaban. Besides, even if there were people who would want to hurt her because of her family's position, how would they have gotten into Hogwarts? Maybe it was someone's twisted idea of a joke?" But even that she doubted, for she had heard no laughter after the smoke.

Which bought her to another question; how had she been attacked? She'd never heard of Purple smoke filing the hallway so thickly or so quickly.

Thoughts buzzed around in her mind like angry bees as she impatiently waited for the matron to come. The more questions she thought of, the more bitter she became. She wanted to talk to her friends, but it just wasn't one of those things you did in front of adults – they'd just laugh and say you were too young to have any proper ideas. But people her age did have good ideas – Uncle Harry, Mum, and Dad seemed to forget that when they were in their first year they were fighting Voldemort. No, she'd just have to wait until she, Louise, and the boys would have to wait until they were alone.

Finally, after what seemed like hours of pure torture, Madame Promfry came over and instructed Rose to stand up. Rose swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood up, noticing for the first time what she was wearing. Of course, Rose didn't really care what she looked like, but it was relieving to find the school had changed from the traditional hospital gown to a much more comfortable pale blue tracksuit. She supposed they'd finally realized that students were more comfortable in proper clothes, not scratchy cotton sheets. Standing up, Rose walked over to the matron, right arm swinging peacefully. She wasn't in pain at all now; the roaring ache she felt earlier was simply an unpleasant memory.

Madame Promfry watched carefully as Rose came toward her. Something wasn't quite right about the way she was walking, the way she was swinging her arm. Hmmm…

"All right, Miss Weasley. Please follow me to the examination room." Madame Promfry commanded. "Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," she added, looking at Ron and Hermione. "You may come too." The four made their way over to a room at the end of the hall, where Ron and Hermione sat in red plastic chair along the wall and Rose stood in the middle of the room, which was almost empty. Madame Promfry took out her wand and waved it; charts and writing soon surrounded Rose. Madame Promfry looked at the charts and recorded thing down on a piece of official-looking parchment. As she did, she began asking Rose Questions.

"Any dizziness, nausea, lightheadedness?"

"Not since the potion you gave me."

"Aches, soreness, bruises that haven't been cured?"

"Nope, all better."

"Any troubles with vision; blurriness, changes in color…?"

"Nope"

"All right then, just sit down on this bench," Madame Promfry ordered, conjuring up a cushioned picnic bench, "And close your eyes." Rose walked over to the low table and sat down.

Closing her eyes, she heard Ron ask "Why does she have to do that?"

"Sit down or close her eyes?" Madame Promfry asked, obviously annoyed someone was questioning her expertise.

Ron, being as tactful as he is, said, "Close her eyes."

"So she can respond by touch and not get nervous by what I do; for example, if I look at her knee, it is obvious that is where I am examining. However, if she is confused and thinks her foot is her knee, I shall now be able to see that. Now, Miss Weasley, wiggle your toes. Good and your left foot. Your right."

This continued until Madame Promfry came to arms. "Your right arm next. Wrist. Fingers. Left arm." Rose continued to do as she was told, moving her left arm up and down, side to side. "Left arm, Rose." Madame Promfry repeated.

"That's what I'm doing," Rose said. Was the old woman blind now?

There was a slight before the old women continued, saying "Right elbow. Wrist. Fingers." Before moving on to the next body parts, the head.

When Madame Promfry finished the examination, Rose was instructed to open her eyes. She did so, surprised to see her Mother's concerned eyes and her Father's confused ones. "Now Miss Weasley," Madame Promfry said. "You could feel all the body parts I told you to use? As easily as before? No problems?"

"Yes, just like before," Rose confirmed, frowning when she saw her parents exchange a glance.

"Alright," Madame Promfry said. "Now, close your eyes again." Rose did so, but nothing happened.

After a minute or two of just being sat still with her eyes closed, Rose began to wonder what had happened. "Umm, hello? Are you still there?" She asked uncertainly.

"Yes, we're still here," Madame Promfry confirmed. "Now, tell me if you feel this," she instructed. Rose felt her right arm being picked up and starched forward.

"Yes, you're stretching my arm." Rose observed. She felt her arm fall down again. A minute passed and nothing happened.

"And now, Rose?" Madame Promfry said finally.

"You're not doing anything, Madame Promfry." Rose said, now annoyed. What kind of sick joke was this?

Another pause. "Rose, are you sure you can feel all your body parts exactly how you could before?"

"Well, my muscles feel a bit…. It's hard to describe… almost easier to move in my arm." Rose offered. "Why?"

Another pause. Maybe she keeps forgetting how to speak, Rose guessed. "Rose…open your eyes."

Rose opened her eyes, and was amazed to see her left arm in front of her, bent at the elbow to make an upside-down L shape.