Chapter Eight Never the Same
Seamus continued pushing himself in his workouts during the remainder of the week. On Thursday Madam Pomfrey actually seemed pleased by his efforts and announced that the following day, should he be sound by morning, she would allow him to return to his dormitory that day and his classes on Monday. The only condition she set was that he had to go to the hospital wing at lunch times for the first month to continue taking his potions under her supervision after which time his dosages would be decreased and he would be able to take them in his dormitory.
Elizabeth could hardly express how overjoyed she was by this gigantic leap forward which she thought may never occur. In an attempt to show how pleased she was, she kept up with her promise and continued eating her meals in the Great Hall through the entire week. She found that she had a hard time consuming three meals a day, so ate only small portions for breakfast and supper, saving the majority of her eating for lunch when she visited Seamus in the hospital wing.
How much weight she had actually put off hadn't become evident to her until she was searching through the wooden chest at the foot of her bed that particular Friday morning as she was getting dressed to join the escort party to bring Seamus to his dorm.
"Lavender have you seen any of my robes?" She asked the other girl who sat before her bedside table, playing with her hair before the mirror.
"They're right here," Parvati said, pointing to the pile of black clothes on Elizabeth's bed where she sat.
"No, I think the laundry messed up, those are too wide for me." Elizabeth sighed, straightening up and snapping the lid of the trunk closed.
"They have your name inside." Parvati stated with raised eyebrows as she flipped out the name tag in the collar of one of the robes.
"You know you have lost a lot of weight since Seamus got back," Lavender said, looking over briefly before turning back to her reflection, and putting a final hair clip in its place. "Maybe you should go see Madam Pomfrey."
"As if I don't see enough off her already," Elizabeth shook her head, "Can I borrow one of your robes Lavender? These are all too big and Professor McGonagall will have my head if I show up to another one of her classes in these."
"You're too skinny even for my robes," Lavender said, sitting alongside Parvati, looking at the robes. "These are the same size as mine."
"Don't look at me," Parvati said, holding up her hands. "You're both taller than me and you'd look like Ron Weasley if you wore mine."
Elizabeth sighed and joined her friends on the bed. She looked mournfully at the oversized robes, she had never felt remotely insecure about her appearance, but now that she lost weight, she couldn't help but think that she must look like a bag of bones.
"Don't worry, you look fine." Lavender said, seemingly reading her mind which, Elizabeth mentally reminded herself she may well have been as Lavender spent so much time in their Divination class. "Besides, summer's coming up; you'll either gain it all back, or look wicked in a bikini."
Parvati laughed and Elizabeth smiled but her heart wasn't in it, though she knew the other girls couldn't tell.
--
When Friday finally arrived, it had already been decided that Seamus would return to Gryffindor tower during class time so he wouldn't draw too much attention to himself. Professor McGonagall made arrangements with Professor Flitwick and it was agreed that Elizabeth could miss her Charms class to join the escort party to Seamus's dormitory. Though Dean was denied permission to accompany the four (Madam Pomfrey included in the group) he arrived in the hospital wing with signs of a nose bleed down his front and a "Skiving Snack Box" in his bag. Seamus grinned broadly at his friend's appearance and thrust the box of cards and sweets he himself was going to carry to his dorm into his mate's hands.
The trip was uneventful at best and Elizabeth suspected that Professor McGonagall had employed the gaunt ghost the Bloody Barron to keep Peeves the Poltergeist away from them.
Though Seamus seemed fine as he made some hushed jokes with Dean, Elizabeth noticed with a painful twinge in her stomach that though he walked at a normal pace, Seamus had a slight limp in his step. Also she watched him wince as they passed a class full of second years who were chatting loud enough to put a hurricane to shame. She had an urge to reach out and take his hand in her own, but since the night he'd broken through and they'd forged their bond, she had refrained from touching him as he still tensed immensely whenever she accidentally touched him. Even when she was helping rub the lotion into his legs and arms, he fought to keep himself from involuntarily shaking.
When they reached the common room, Elizabeth saw Seamus brace himself as Professor McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey turned to him.
"Don't forget Mr. Finnigan, you are to--"
"Go to hospital wing every day at lunch for me potions," Seamus cut off Professor McGonagall, taking the pile of bedclothes Madam Pomfrey had put on the couch.
"You are to come and see me if there are any difficulties." The Professor continued.
"Aye," Seamus said glumly, Elizabeth saw his eyes flicker towards Dean momentarily.
"Both in and out of class," Professor McGonagall persisted.
"Aye," He said quickly.
"And if you're feeling too overwhelmed--"
"I understand!" Seamus snapped uncharacteristically but quickly added "professor," In a measured tone.
Professor McGonagall's mouth drew into a straight line, but even as Elizabeth watched, the professor's eyes filled with unmistakable pity. Whether he noticed this expression as well, or by coincidence, Seamus nodded curtly to the professor and the matron, and turned on his heel, soon after disappearing up the staircase to the boy's dormitory.
Dean followed but Elizabeth remained rooted to the spot, shocked by Seamus's behavior. He had always been calm and stable, he hardly ever snapped at anyone, especially someone trying to help him. She was almost used to his random outbursts of frustration which were growing less frequent by the day, but he never lashed out at a teacher anymore.
"Be patient Miss Thornburn," Madam Pomfrey reassured, handing her a tube of lotion which Seamus had neglected to collect from her before heading up the stairs. "He'll come around."
Elizabeth nodded slowly with a false smile, and turned to follow the other two.
"Miss. Thornburn, you and Mr. Thomas are to return to your classes this afternoon." Elizabeth heard Professor McGonagall's voice follow her up the stairs.
Like that'll happen. Elizabeth thought to herself.
Reaching the sixth year's dorm room, Elizabeth pushed open the already ajar door. Seamus was rummaging through his trunk while Dean was putting some books in his bag. After a moment, Dean took Elizabeth's place at the door as she sat on Seamus's bed.
"I'm going to get to class, Snape'll murder if I don't show." Dean explained before turning to descend the stairs but before he took the first stair he turned back momentarily, "Try to keep it PG ok kids?"
Seamus looked up but Dean had already hurried out of sight. Elizabeth set the cream on the bedside table and reached for the box of cards on the floor by the bed.
"Don't," Seamus said suddenly.
Elizabeth looked up as Seamus came over and nudged the box under the bed with his foot. She shrugged.
"So what're you planning on doing?" She asked as Seamus bent to untie and then remove his shoes.
"I would actually like to sleep for a wink," Seamus explained. When he looked up and saw the look Elizabeth gave him he continued. "Seriously, I couldn't sleep last night."
"Me neither," Elizabeth nodded. She stood and pulled back the covers while Seamus took off the robe he'd worn and dropped it on the floor. As he crawled under the blankets, Elizabeth picked up the robe and draped it over the back of the chair beside Seamus's bed before sitting on the bed beside his pillow. "But you can't get rid of me that easily. I've been waiting too long to have you back, I'm staying right here." Dropping her own shoes, she put her feet on the bed and leaned her back against the headboard.
Seamus looked up at her for a moment with an expression she was unable to read and after turning on his side to face her, she heard him whisper in a voice barely audible, "Thanks." It didn't take long before his breathing deepened. He was asleep.