A Friend in Need(Mimosa)

The woman's dismissal of his concern caused Gaspard to mentally force himself to not react and show the emotions that were bubbling beneath the surface. For someone whose ire wasn't usually riled, only ever mostly irritated, the matron and her dismissal was beginning to come close. The matron would be going on his grudge list. It meant that she was now another adult that Gaspard didn't trust and wouldn't just take her word for any 'diagnoses' that she came up with. This meant that he would have to be asking to borrow some more anatomy books and see about getting some medical journals from his grandparents.

He prided himself on being logical and not allowing other factors to skew his way of thinking and looking at other angles. He would try and see the matter from the other person's perspective without being emotional. In this instance he couldn't. Aside from incompetency why else would the witch just brush off any concerns of the students about the well being of another that was clearly hurt and in distress? It didn't make sense in his mind. The only other prevailing thought over incompetency was that the witch had gone senile which in turn would make her judgements questionable.

"I understand it must be scary to see your girlfriend like this, young man." Caused said young man to blink in incomprehension wondering what her being a female friend had to do with anything before deciding that the woman was senile. He would definitely be asking for some medical texts and spending time in the library to read up on anything he could so something like this wouldn't happen again. If they couldn't count on the matron than at least Mimosa would be able to count on him to actually do something other than placating and brushing it aside with chocolate.

At the witch's comment about Mimosa not having to stay overnight he almost let out an inelegant snort. As if he was going to let her stay here when he knew that she wouldn't be looked after properly. Stepping closer to the Slytherin ready to pick her up and carry her to Ravenclaw Tower he stated firmly, "She's sure." As for the chocolate, he'd bin it if she so desired since the treatment was ludicrous in his opinion. It was something he was sure had been termed 'placebo'.

Glancing at his friend giving her his attention uncaring if it was rude to dismiss the useless matron, Gaspard wondered, "Ready to go? Maybe we can transfigure the sheet into a cloak or over robe until we get to the dorms?"

Mimosa wasn't sure what all the argument between Gaspard an the matron was, only that if given the option to stay here or go with the boy, she would always choose the latter. It seemed they both reached the same decision too as the boy came closer, ready to pick her up as he asked to transfigure her sheet into something more functional.

"I'll do one better," the nurse replied, now quite content that the matter was over and dealt with. "I'll help Miss Clement change into one of the spare uniforms we keep here. And she can rest for a while so that she may be able to walk on her feet. She might still need support though, but you won't have to carry her."

This sounded like a good idea to Mimosa who nodded. The curtains around her bed closed for a while and Gaspard disappeared from view, making her anxious. But the shadow of his tall frame was still very much on the curtains,. She focused on that, trying to relax her breathing.

Mimosa emerged from the curtains again after five minutes, wearing a plain Ravenclaw T shirt and a pair of black track bottoms.

"You can both stay here for a while, until Miss Clement feels up to walking again. If she doesn't, she's free to spend the night here."

Mimosa shook her head firmly. "N-no," she replied. "I'll go with G-Gaspard." It was the first proper sentence she had spoken since he had found her and she only hoped it was convincing enough. Hesitantly, she got to her feet, lurching almost immediately towards the boy as she lost her balance.

It shouldn't have surprised the Ravenclaw that spare uniforms were kept in the infirmary. It was the place that saw the most wrecked clothing and he supposed that it would be easier to just change clothing that to exert magic to remedy whatever befell the original clothing. Why the woman hadn't offered it before or even suggested changing into a night dress or pajamas was another check for the senile category. Gaspard kept his mouth closed to keep from giving a retort that would earn him another condescending look and or phrase, he instead resolved that he would do whatever Mimosa asked or required weather it was against the matron's wishes or not. The woman had already proved herself incapable of treating someone with the professionalism that was required.

At Mimosa's nod, Gaspard kept the curtain in his peripheral vision checking his urge to keep both females in his field of vision. He dismissed the relief he felt when the Slytherin came into view and gave her an amused smile at seeing her in a t-shirt from his House. It was the only time save the time she'd taken his jacket that she looked less than completely "stylish"; though he thought she looked alright dressed more commonly. Before he could either make a comment to the effect or something to tease the witch to try and get her to smile, the matron spoke. He'd almost narrowed his eyes at it seemed that she was pushing for Mimosa to stay there in the medical wing despite what the Slytherin had already voiced her preference to leave. Thankfully, Mimosa didn't let the older witch get away with it and voiced her opinion once again causing him to step even closer to her which was a good thing as he was able to catch her when she didn't quite get her feet under her.

Giving the matron a challenging look as if daring her to reiterate her statement about Mimosa staying the night where she didn't want to be, he stated for Mimosa's ears alone, "I'm here. If you want me to carry you, I will. Or we'll go as slow as you want if you want to walk." Not once did his hold lessen nor did he move his body away so that Mimosa could lean on him or not as she pleased.

While it was the mediwitch who reached out for her as she stumbled, Gaspard was the one who caught Mimosa in time. And reliably so. Even in this state, the young Slytherin knew he wouldn't let her get hurt.

Maybe if Gaspard had been there earlier... she wouldn't have been hurt in the first place.

"I can walk," she told the the Ravenclaw slowly, leaning considerably on him as he supported most of her weight. She didn't want to be carried again, the rocking motion might make her sick and she didn't want to throw up all over the boy.

"Take care of yourself, Miss Clement," the nurse noted warmly, probably glad that she wouldn't have to care for a student overnight. "If you feel sick again, please drop by and we'll see to it. Don't be shy, dear, it happens to everyone."

Mimosa tuned her out as she and the tall Quidditch player walked out of the hospital wing. The Head girl's legs were still a little wobbly but Gaspard held her steady, one arm around her waist while the other hovered nearby in case it was needed. It felt good to have him so stolidly there.

"I don't want to to go back to my dorm," she finally spoke as they were navigating the stone passage, Gaspard's steps small to keep in sync with her own slower movements. "Can we go to your room?" she added, something close to uncertainty in her eyes as she looked up at him. Lack of confidence was not something Mimosa was known for but tonight had thrown her off. under normal circumstances, she would have just shown up at Gaspard's dorm but now, she felt the need to ask permission.

She didn't like this fleeing at all. What if he said no?

they walked quietly, not meeting anyone on their way. Mimosa didn't know what time it was but she was glad of their uninterrupted walk. Now was the least she had ever felt like answering any intrusive question about her health.

"Did I disturb you when I called. What were you doing?" once again, the uncertainty was a strange look on her, as if her very core had been shaken.

Nodding in acceptance, Gaspard nonetheless made sure that he didn't make too sudden a movement and throw the girl off kilter when they began a slow walk. At the matron's farewell, he didn't snort but had muttered so quietly it was likely only Mimosa overheard. "Not happening." He was sure that he or at least one of his fellow Ravenclaws would have a stomach soother that could be given to Mimosa if she needed it. Stress did strange things and more than one Ravenclaw he knew had stomachaches due to that particular emotion. It usually fell around the O.W.L's and N.E.W.T's.

Since he'd joined the quidditch team, Gaspard had found that his spacial awareness had increased which came in handy at the moment. The teen was able to keep his attention on the corridors while subconsciously his body would automatically adjust to the subtlest prompting of Mimosa's.

A small amused smile came to Gaspard's face and he'd shaken his head. He had already figured that she wouldn't have wanted to go back to her dorm. Neither had he planned on leaving her alone after whatever had just happened. Tonight had been full of things he had disliked, didn't know and had caused him to question what he did know. It greatly confused him. "That was the plan," he assured her, his smile becoming more genuine before it slipped off entirely as he once more thought of what else Mimosa might need that he could get without leaving her alone for a length of time.

"Hmm?" He glanced down at the Slytherin with confusion before it cleared although his own stomach hurt at the expression he found there. He didn't like it. This wasn't his friend. At least, it hadn't been before. A lie wasn't something he even considered when it came to her, but it wasn't as if she hadn't interrupted him studying before. Usually he could split his attention and listen to her chatter while he studied or did homework although there were those times that he had to make sure his full attention was on her due to any mishaps she usually found herself in. Their DADA class sprung to mind as did other group outings with their friends.

"Nothing that couldn't be put off," came his reply with surety. "You're more important." As he said that, Gaspard wondered if he'd actually ever voiced that aloud to her before or not? He was sure that it was implied, but he had come to realize that things that might be obvious to him when it came to his behavior wasn't to others. It was something he was trying to work on since his parents had told him more than once that people needed words over actions sometimes. That was another thing that confused him and caused him a bit of trouble.

Trying for a joke and to see if he could get Mimosa to not feel so bad, he quipped, "As for disturbed...the jury is out. Some people would say I've always been disturbed."