Chapter 36:

Injured

A few weeks later, Jessa was making her way back from the library when she found herself suddenly sprawled on the floor. At first, she thought the staircases were simply moving on her again and she hadn't noticed. But as began to get up, a voice sneered at her.

"Traitorous Slytherin."

Okay…so it hadn't been the moving staircases. She tried to push herself up and had to bite back a cry. Pain seared up her wrist. As quickly as she could, Jessa gathered up her bag and made her way directly to the dormitory.

Taryn looked up as she dumped her bag on her bed before heading straight for the loo, immediately starting to run cold water over her swelling wrist.

"Are you okay?"

She nodded, not trusting her voice. She'd had worse injuries; surely, she could handle this.

Suspicious, Taryn made her way over, eyes widening when she caught sight of her friend's wrist.

"You should go to Madame Pomfrey. That looks bad."

Jessa shook her head again. "I – I'm fine. Just needs some ice."

Taryn thought for a moment, before offering up a second solution. "You know, Adrian's pretty good with healing spells. Do you want him to take a look at it?"

"I don't want to bother him."

"You need help, Jessa. That looks bad. And he'll be glad for the break from his schoolwork. Even for something like this."

Swallowing back more tears, Jessa finally nodded.

"Would you be okay going to the boys' room? I know you don't like a lot of attention."

"Th – that's fine. Thanks." She did appreciate that Taryn was trying to help make this easier.

So, with Taryn leading the way and Jessa cradling her wrist in a damp washcloth, they set out towards the opposite rooms, finally stopping in front of the sixth-year door, which Taryn promptly pounded on.

A large boy Jessa didn't know opened the door.

"What?" he snapped.

"Is Adrian here?"

"Go away," he scoffed at the younger girls.

"I'm here," a familiar voice reluctantly called out from inside.

Taryn carefully pulled Jessa past the larger boy, who glared at them as she pulled her friend towards her brother's bed.

"What is it, Taryn?" Adrian asked, still not looking up.

"Can you take a look at her wrist?"

Finally, he looked up from his notes and felt his annoyance disappear. He should have known better, but she was his annoying little sister…

"Of course. Come sit, Potter," he directed, gesturing to the end of the bed. She obeyed and he unwrapped the washcloth from her wrist, his brow furrowing.

"What happened?"

"I – I tripped."

"You tripped," he repeated monotonously.

"Yeah."

"You're sure? Because even with things like magical plant roots and moving stairs, it would be fairly hard to cause this type of damage on your own. What really happened, Potter?"

She sniffed a moment, swallowing hard, before replying shakily, "Someone pushed me. Don't know who. I didn't see them or recognize their voices when they called me a – a nasty name. I just know they're not from Slytherin."

As she looked down at her lap, the Puecy siblings shared a meaningful look. This was purposeful.

"I think you should tell Professor Snape."

"Especially if you're refusing to go to the Hospital Wing. Which I still think you should," Taryn chimed in.

"I'm fine," Jessa said softly, pulling her wrist back from Adrian's hands. "Really. I – "

" – was injured by a peer unprovoked. Professor Snape looks after his house students in particular. We'll walk with you if you'd like."

Realizing they weren't going to let it go, Adrian stood, slipping on his shoes, before escorting the two girls out of his room and the common room, directly towards their Head of House's office, where he promptly knocked on the door.

"Enter," a low drawl came from within.

The three students entered, causing Snape to look up.

"Yes?"

"Could you take a look at her wrist, sir? I'm not quite sure how to heal it, but it wasn't her fault, sir." Adrian said, gesturing to a quiet Jessa, who was stood behind him.

"Surely Madam Pomfrey would be better suited for this job," he suggested.

"Professor, she was attacked without any reason," Taryn said, causing the Potions Master to look at her, eyes narrowing.

"What happened?" he growled out.

Adrian stepped aside as his sister gently pushed Jessa forward. Snape's eyes widened minutely. He hadn't realized they were talking about Lil – Jessa Potter.

"I was walking back from class, sir, when someone pushed me. As they were walking away, they insulted me. That's all, I promise sir," she explained, uncomfortable with this much attention on her for such a silly problem.

"Do you know who did it?"

"N – no, sir."

Snape stayed silent for a moment, before giving his orders.

"Thank you for bringing this to my attention. Puecys, You may return to the common room. Mr. Puecy, after class tomorrow, I'd like to speak with you."

"Yes, Sir," they replied, before leaving her alone with the Potions Master.

"Miss Potter, let me see that wrist."

Quietly, she came forward, placing it into his hand as his other ran his wand over her wrist, casting a rapid diagnostic spell. He was surprised and angered by the results.

"Two fractures and one bruise to your bones. I'm going to cast a minor healing spell, but it won't work right away. As much as we may want magic to heal everything quickly, it is sometimes better to help it along, let the body recover the rest of the way," he explained and though she didn't notice, his voice had lost its normally hard edge.

"Thank you, Professor. I – I'm sorry to have interrupted your evening." For the briefest of moments, Snape forgot where he was and who was standing in front of him.

"You never have to be sorry for coming to me for help, Lil – Miss Potter," he said, only just catching himself.

"Th – thank you Professor," she said, perturbed, before she took in what she said. "Professor? Did you know my mother?"

"Yes. Yes, I did," he replied softly as he conjured up a brace.

"You're like her, you know," he continued, almost losing himself to wistfulness as he slipped the brace gently onto her injured wrist. For the first time, Jessa smiled a little bit, thanking him once more. He couldn't possibly know how much that meant to her…or to him for that matter.

"What did they call you?"

"Sir, I'd rather not say. It was just a stupid insult. I – I'm fine, sir. Really."

"Miss Potter, tell me," he repeated.

"They called me a 'traitorous Slytherin' sir".

Immediately, Severus' expression hardened. "And you don't know who did this."

"No sir."

He curtly nodded once.

"See me in a week," he instructed her.

"Yes, Professor." She replied, rising to her feet. However, just as she got to the door, she turned.

"Professor? One day, perhaps could you tell me about my mother?"

Swallowing hard, the Potions Master nodded once more, causing her to smile softly again.

"Thank you."