Fortune Favors the Bold...

Ember almost actually made a sound as Sophia inspected her arm, but managed to contain it by pressing her pinky even further between the teeth of her key. The metal bit into her skin and she focused on it, not wanting to even think about her arm at the moment. She had never had a single injury that hurt this bad before. She had broken every limb, most of her lower ribs, and even her pelvis a couple of times, but she had never, ever before, broken one of her joints. Dislocated, yes. That was a walk in the park compared to the stabbing jolts of pain shooting up and down her arm like a million tiny jellyfish rubbing their tentacles tantalizingly over her muscles. And to think she hadn’t even done it on her broom this time. Surely it was a new record for her or something. Actually, up until now, the only serious injuries she’d ever gotten had been from crashing on her broomstick. What a thing to happen, and in front of Sophia too. It was… embarrassing, if Ember was honest with herself. She wasn’t exactly sure as to why she felt that way, but she did. Maybe because she didn’t know Sophia very well yet. If it had been Eveleen, or Darcey or one of the boys, she probably would have been fine. Then again, she wasn’t so sure Eveleen would be caught dead sliding down the banisters, and Darcey was too experienced at it to need any assistance.

Sighing, Ember looked straight back at Sophia and was struck by the worry within the other girl’s eyes. The only other place Ember had seen such emotion before, had been in her mother’s eyes whenever Ember had gone and done something reckless again. It struck a nerve in her, though not a bad one, because it wasn’t a look of reprimanding or disapproval, but one that stemmed purely from caring for another person. Sophia cared that Ember had broken her elbow, but she hadn’t told her off for it, which, to be honest, was kind of remarkable. Ember couldn’t remember the last time she hadn’t gotten a talking to for breaking or bleeding.

“I can’t miss too much Quidditch. We’ve got a match in a couple weeks or so, and no reserves this year. We’d have to locate one or forfeit.” Ember shook her head, not liking the idea of having to tell Potter she’d gone and put herself out of commission. She’d probably get the third degree and told to get her ass to the hospital wing before next practice if she just left it immobilized until it healed. ”I don’t want to go to the hospital wing, but if I have to I will. Maybe she’ll believe this time I wasn’t being… No. I was being reckless. But technically I wasn’t stunting this time, so it shouldn’t count! But if you can fix it… if you can try…” Ember frowned, eyes borderline pleading, but not quite there.

”Lady Sophia of the Badgers, I have great trust within thou abilities in the arts of healing. I beseech thee, to try thy best to heal mine elbow? And if thou cannot, I shall go to the land of the sterile and explain as best I can to the healing one there.” Ember reached out her good hand, her finger bleeding from the force of which she’d pressed it into her key, but it was only superficial. She touched Sophia’s hair, brushing it back out of the other witch’s face without even thinking about it beforehand. It seemed such a natural thing to do, getting someone’s hair out of the way. She paused slightly, her hand lingering, liking the soft smoothness of Sophia’s locks. She pulled away again, hand returning to her key and gripping it for strength. ”But I believe in you.”

“Don’t worry, I have a lot of experience with getting my bones healed.” Ember stated almost cheekily through her teeth. She remained as still as stone, knowing that if she didn’t it could go badly. She’d made that mistake once when she’d been a lot younger, not even seven yet, when she’d flinched during a bone mending and had to spend the night having it regrown. It was not the most pleasant of memories she had. Then again, breaking stuff was never fun, but it didn’t stop her from doing what she loved. Even if her mum disliked it a great deal and it drove her mad.

Ember didn’t so much as blink as Sophia pointed her wand towards her elbow and concentrated. The Gryffindor knew full well how this could end and she could easily spend another lovely night with a bottle of Skele-Gro plus a disapproving nurse. Trusting Sophia’s abilities though, Ember had high hopes for the outcome. Thought the Hufflepuff had said she’d never preformed the actual spell before, she was highly competent. If anything, it’d give her plenty of practice for when she got older, and even if she failed this time, well, it wasn’t like Ember wouldn’t be able to handle it. There was nothing wrong with helping a friend get practice anyway, and Ember was a more than willing candidate. She broke herself so often, that if Sophia was going to insist on fixing her, then the Hufflepuff may as well work on mastering that particular healing spell anyway, right?

As the spell finally engulfed her arm, Ember smiled, feeling the familiar sensation of warmth and comfort associated with it. She knew it had worked even before it finished and Sophia was lowering her wand. When the glow faded, Ember gazed down at her bare arm, bending it upwards, her strong, but lean muscles flexing beneath the skin. It worked, wonderfully whole again. The absolute feeling of normalcy in her arm had Ember beaming bright.

Without even bothering to tug her sleeves back on, Ember grabbed hold of Sophia, lifting her upwards in a tight hug. “Brilliant! You’re brilliant, Sophia! It worked! I knew it would!” She spun around, her loose robes flying outwards and slipping down her shoulder, but she didn’t give a damn. Her arm no longer caused her trouble and it was all thanks to this awesome Hufflepuff. She stopped, setting Sophia down and instead, grabbed the Hufflepuff’s face with her hands, holding it with wide eyes. “You’re bloody amazing, Lady Sophia of the Badgers. Thank you!” She was so excited, unable to not be impressed. Here was this girl, her age, performing magic that was quite a bit above their supposed skill level.

Ember dropped Sophia’s facee from her hands. She looked down at her wristwatch. “We’re late. You’re probably gonna get a tardy and I’m gonna be carting the ball chest. So much for trying to get there on time. I‘m sorry.” She frowned. If it hadn't been for her stupid idea of going down the banister, Sophia probably would have made it to class on time, but no, she'd gone and pulled another stupid stunt and here they were, late as always. At least, Ember was usually late. Sophia didn't seem the type to not be to class on time. 

“Oh right. History of Magic. You‘ll be fine then.” Ember laughed, nodding as Sophia mentioned that the professor for that particular class never noticed when someone came in late. Ember knew from personal experience that that was actually true. The professor either didn’t care if his students were there, or was so happy that they had actually bothered to show up for the most boring class Hogwarts offered he didn’t have the heart to punish them. Either way, it would be quite convenient today, at least for Sophia, as it had been for Ember in the past. It made the Gryffindor feel a bit better about being responsible for the Hufflepuff being late to her class. At least she wouldn’t get in trouble, and hopefully hadn’t missed much. Then again, Sophia seemed the type to take her studies quite seriously, so she may have already read ahead in the book or would figure out a way to find out exactly what it was she hadn’t been present in class to learn. At least, Ember hoped she would.

The lion blinked, catching the pause in Sophia’s speech as the Hufflepuff’s cheeks gained color. Now, Sophia had blushed before today, but that had been a completely different situation with obvious embarrassment about being picked on and revealing her intelligence. No, there had to be a separate reason behind it now, but what on earth could have caused such a reaction in the Hufflepuff? Ember processed Sophia’s words, a smile lighting up her face as Sophia admitted that she’d never had a good reason to be late to History of Magic before. It made Ember’s heart swell, hoping that that meant what was happening right now was a good enough reason… that hanging out together had outshined the hard-working Hufflepuff’s desire to get to class. It would mean she was having fun or actually enjoying this, despite having to heal Ember three times and nearly having hurt her own self by being egged on down the banister. That Sophia really did like their newfound friendship. That made Ember very pleased, her own excitement evident upon her face.

“Well, I hope now’s a good enough reason.” Ember tugged her sleeves back on and began buttoning her school shirt back up, knowing they really needed to get going now. She finished and reached out, cupping Sophia’s cheek, but tilting her own head to find the Hufflepuff’s hazel eyes. “Don’t worry about it. It’s not your fault we’re late. Besides, the team is used to it. One time, I managed to get myself tangled up in the willow down by the lake and…” She stopped, her train of thought lost as she became completely distracted by the tiny flecks of green that seemed to have made their way into Sophia’s eyes since the last time she’d really looked into them. The lighting on the staircases was different from that of the corridors, though not by too much. “…Er… I mean. Anyway, we should get going. Don‘t want you to miss too much of your lesson.” Ember let her hand drop, stepping away from the Hufflepuff, confusion filling her own brain as to how on earth she’d managed to get so impossibly lost in this chick’s eyeballs when she’d barely just met her. She shook it off mentally and then grinned. “Oh! Hey, Hogsmeade this Saturday, right? We should do something. My best mate and I always end up wound up on Honeyduke’s sweets. It’s a blast, you should come too!”