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"Now, Miss Elderidge" Madam Pomfrey looked sternly at Cassiopeia as they were standing in a huge storage room full of healing potions. "I'm sure you understand that although you are expected to work hard here it is really a privilege seeing as we don't usually offer this post to other students. Therefore, your school results are not to suffer due to this work."
"Of course" Cass said while still looking around curiously. She had never thought the storage of the Hogwarts Infirmary could be so extensive and could not even imagine the rooms in St. Mungo's. Moreover, she wondered how was she ever to know what's what. Although Madame Pomfrey showed her around briefly, she assured Cassiopeia she would understand only after some time.
"One more thing, Miss Elderidge. Everything you see and hear in these rooms concerning the patients is strictly confidential. Under no circumstances can you inform another person about the patient's health problems, unless in rare conditions. If I find out you are spreading information about the patients private matters to the students, the repercussions will be very severe."
"I understand. What am I supposed to do now?"
"Now look around one more time to get better acquainted and then I will show you basic diagnostic charms." Madame Pomfrey said and Cass grinned. She could not wait to start her training.
Just as Cassiopeia tried the diagnostic charm for the second time with success, there was a timid knock on the door.
"Come in" Madame Pomfrey called and the door opened just to reveal two third year Hufflepuff girls. "Miss Carter and Miss Michaels. What is the problem?" she asked as she ushered the two girls inside and gestured for them to sit on one bed. The girls did so while eyeing Cassie curiously.
"Well, we- we were studying by the Black Lake and for the afternoon and now our back and shoulders are sore" one of the girl said quietly and Madame Pomfrey gave her a stern look.
"Studying, huh? Let me see." she said. As one of the girl threw another hesitant glance at Cassiopeia, she nodded encouragingly. "Miss Elderidge is here as my apprentice. You can trust her to be strictly professional."
Sighing, both of the girls shed her robes and their t-shirts to reveal their backs. Immediately, Cass saw that the skin on their backs and shoulders was angry red. Madame Pomfrey shook her head. "We don't need a diagnostic charm to find out what the problem is, Miss Elderidge, but it is a perfect opportunity to try it."
"Alright" Cassiopeia pulled out her wand and looked questioningly at one of the girl. "May I?" she asked kindly but the girl fidgeted uncomfortably.
"You've done it already, haven't you?"
"You don't have to be worried, Miss Michaels. Miss Elderidge knows what she's doing and I'm supervising her." Madame Pomfrey said and the girl nodded, though she still didn't seem very sure. However, the charm did not seem too difficult to Cassie and soon she was reading the results of the charm.
"A slight case of dehydration and rather extensive sunburns" she confirmed and Madame Pomfrey nodded.
"Excellent. Now, for light injuries of skin we use Murtlap essence and the potion for dehydration is among the potions for nutrition. Go and bring them"
It took a moment for Cassiopeia to find her way in the storage room but in a moment, she retrieved both potions successfully. Madame Pomfrey forced the girls to drink a goblet of the potion against dehydration and then gave them a flacon of the Murtlap essence to rub into their burned skin.
After they left, Cassiopeia grinned for she had just helped to cure her first patients. Happily, she sat down to the desk to make notes on diagnosis charms and healing of skin injuries on a clean sheet of parchment. Throughout the afternoon, there were three more cases of sunburn and frankly, Cassiopeia wasn't surprised. It was the very beginning of September and the weather was unnaturally warm, therefore, most of the students used the last of warm days to sunbath at the lake. Madame Pomfrey shook her head at the silliness and took ten points for their foolishness.
When Cassie returned to the Gryffindor Tower, she struggled to stifle a yawn. Her day sure had been busy. As soon as she entered the Common room, she spotted Lily sitting in an armchair near the back of the room, reading a book. Her eyebrows were furrowed in concentration and she was biting her lower lip, yet she still looked up when she sensed someone was approaching. As soon as she saw Cass, she smiled.
"How did it go?" she asked as Cassie sat down.
"Very good, I think. I received a tour and then I learned basic diagnostic charms and later actually tried them."
"That's great!" Lily grinned. "When's your next shift?"
"Saturday evening." Cassie grinned back. She couldn't wait. "Where's Mary?"
"Out. With Jack"
"Jack? As in Jack Doherty, the Hufflepuff in our year?" Cassie arched her eyebrows in surprise.
"That very one" Lily nodded.
"Well, he's nice. And handsome, too."
"He is. You should have seen Mary's face when he asked her to go for a walk with him after dinner. I had to kick her shin so she would stop just staring at him." Lily shook her head and Cass chuckled.
"No wonder. She's had a crush on him since last year."
"Speaking of boyfriends, Ian was looking for you." Lily said and looked up in surprise.
"He was?"
"Yes. He looked rather…pissed off, to tell you the truth."
"Did he tell you why? Because I told him I had the first shift today."
"I don't know. He seemed rather confused, actually. Didn't even know about your work in the Hospital Wing at all."
"What? But I told him the first day here and several times after. I even told him yesterday I would not have time today." Cassiopeia scrunched her nose in confusion.
"I know you did. He really seemed out of sorts. He suddenly said he had some work to do and suddenly he left, mumbling something about Black, though I didn't catch what. It was all very strange. You should talk to him." Lily said seriously.
"I will. But not today. It's never really smart to talk to Ian when he's angry. It usually makes the argument even worse. I'll talk to him tomorrow after breakfast." Cassie decided.
However, the next day, Ian was not present in the Great Hall, nor could he be seen at lunch. Cassiopeia managed to talk to him shortly after dinner and surprisingly, he did not even mention having talked to Lily the day before or being angry. He seemed to be in a very good mood and the couple spent a pleasant evening on the Hogwarts grounds. Feeling reassured in their relationship once again, Cassie did not even think to ask what Ian's problem the day before was nor what he had against Sirius.
Speaking of Sirius Black, Cassiopeia had not found a chance to talk to him yet. Either she was busy with homework or spending time with Ian, or Sirius would be out causing mischief with his friends. Although he did not seem to be purposefully avoiding her, judging from his occasional waves or winks at her from across the room. Still, Cassie was surprised when one evening, she was sitting on a sofa, leafing through a book and suddenly, Sirius sat down next to her.
"And how are you on this fine evening?" he asked with a smirk.
"Fine, actually. Where's the rest of your little group of friends?" she asked teasingly.
"Oh, well," Sirius said as he stretched and sprawled on the sofa comfortably. "Prongs is in detention. McGonagall obviously thought that Mrs. Edwina's Super-sticky Glue on the door handles of all classrooms was a bit overboard."
"I knew it was you." Cass pointed out.
"Because it was brilliant, right? And to your last question, Moony is tutoring Peter, though why anyone would bother with studies on the first week of school is beyond me." he scowled at Cassiopeia's book.
"Stop with this look. It's Defense. I need to study in advance considering I'm horrible at it. You sure would do so as well if you were rubbish in it." she said and Sirius shrugged.
"I wouldn't know. I'm not rubbish in anything." he smirked and Cassiopeia snorted.
"You're rubbish in being humble."
"That's not truth either. You just don't know me very well." he said, suddenly seeming more subdued. In a short moment, though, he shook the feeling away and smiled once again. "So I've heard that you're aspiring for a new matron." he said and Cassie grimaced.
"It sounds actually horrible when you say it like this. Besides, I'm just an apprentice to have a better chance to get admitted into the Healing programme after school." she explained.
"That's great. I bet you'll get in easily. So, I suppose I'll have to provoke some Slytherin, get some fight injury and then have you as my personal nurse. Such an opportunity does not arise everyday." he gave her a smirk.
"Shut up" Cass laughed, slapping his shoulder. She was glad everything was alright between them.
The Saturday's shift went rather uneventful to Cassiopeia. During the weekend, most of the students were either in the common rooms or outside enjoying the last warm days and therefore, there was not much need for medical attention. Therefore, Cassiopeia found herself labeling and ordering newly brewed potions by Professor Slughorn. It might seem as a dull work but Cassie liked working systematically and at least she felt useful. However, just as she was about to take a new batch of Skele-Gro to the storage room, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Come in" she called and to her surprise, Remus Lupin came into the Infirmary. As soon as he saw Cass, he froze on the spot. "Remus? What are you doing here? Do you need medical attention?" Cassiopeia asked when she recovered. Before Remus could gather his thoughts and answer, Madame Pomfrey came from her office.
"Mr. Lupin, you're quite early today. That's just as well. Oh, I suppose you might have heard about Miss Elderidge being my assistant." she said. From Remus expression it was clear he had heard but hadn't realized until he saw Cass in the Infirmary.
"Uhm, maybe I can…step out, if you are uncomfortable, Remus" Cassie offered, seeing Remus' still ashen face.
"Miss Elderidge! Do you intend to leave the room every time your patients are uncomfortable?" Madame Pomfrey barked.
"N-no, I suppose not. But they will not be my classmates"
"You can never be sure about it. Now, Mr. Lupin, it is, of course, up to you to whom do you decide to reveal your condition. But you must realize that Miss Elderidge will be my apprentice for two years and it is very probable you will see her here often. Perhaps you would feel more comfortable if she knew about it." Madame Pomfrey advised. "I can assure you she will be highly professional."
"Well, I- I suppose." he said after a moment.
"Very well, then. I will leave you alone since we still have time." Madame Pomfrey said and went back into her office.
When she was gone, Remus tiredly sat down at one of the beds. "I forgot you would be here." he said with a sigh.
"Remus, you don't have to tell me anything. I'm just learning here, I'm no healer. And I understand why it would seem awkward to you." she said kindly. Cassie considered Remus a friend, although they really spoke only sporadically, mainly during the Herbology class, in which they had been put together.
"No. Madame Pomfrey is right. We will probably meet in here more often. I should tell you."
"Then you have my word I will not tell anyone else."
"Thank you. Although, I'm worried about your reaction rather than about you spreading the word through school. Alright, I suppose I must tell you to find out. Well, the thing is…I am a werewolf" he said quietly and looked away in shame.
"Oh. Right." Cassie nodded, biting her lower lip.
"You don't seem awfully surprised." Remus noted and Cassiopeia shrugged.
"Lily, Mary and I kind of…suspected it." she admitted.
"What gave me away?"
"Well, perhaps the fact that your mother supposedly came down with scrofungulus at least twice and your grandmother died three times. Besides, the times of your absences were perfectly timed with the full moon."
For a while, Remus was quiet before looking her in the eyes. "Thank you. For not telling anyone and also for not treating me differently."
"We would never do that, Remus. Can I ask you how did it- how did you become a werewolf?"
"I was about four when I was bitten…" Remus said, proceeding to tell Cassiopeia about being bitten by Fenrir Greyback and his transformations in the Shrieking Shack.
"Oh, so that's the strange noises everyone in Hogsmead is afraid of."
"Yeah, it's me." he said grimly.
"I'm so sorry, Remus." she said, gently patting his hand.
"You don't have to be." he shrugged. "After twelve years, I kind of got used to it."
"Listen, my next shift in here isn't until next Wednesday but I would like to help you somehow. Perhaps I could come in the morning to help with your injuries. That is, if you are not uncomfortable with it." she said quickly and to her surprise, Remus broke out a smile.
"You heard Madame Pomfrey. A Healer can't regard patient's personal feelings."
"I know." she smiled back. "But I'm not a Healer, am I? Which is why I'm asking."
"Well, I guess my injuries will be a perfect thing to train on. And I'll be happy to become your Guinea Pig."
"Thank you." Cassie beamed. "I promise not to turn you into a toad or something."
"I appreciate that."
"Are you ready to go, Mr. Lupin?" Madame Pomfrey's voice suddenly sounded through the Hospital Wing.
"I am." Remus nodded.
"Very well. Miss Elderidge, you stay here and finish the new batch of potions. In case anyone is looking for me, tell them I'll be back shortly." she said, leading Remus away.
When Madame Pomfrey came back some time later, Cassie was already finished with her work. Immediately, she told the older Healer about her wish to come the next morning and she was allowed to come and help with Remus' injuries. Moreover, Madame Pomfrey taught her new charms she would need the next day so that Cassiopeia would be able to actually do something useful.
As Cassie went to bed that night, she was thinking about her friend, who was at that time somewhere in the Shrieking Shack, alone and most probably in pain. She sighed. Her life sucked sometimes but compared to others, she still was lucky.
