50 Dobby (1/2)
Madam Pomfrey wasn't at all pleased.
”You should have come straight to me!” she raged, holding up the sad, limp remainder of what, half an hour before, had been a working arm. ”I can mend bones in a second — but growing them back —”
”... Madam Pomfrey, I didn't have any broken bones.”
”What? They why did he get rid of your bones?”
”...he missed Harry and hit me instead.”
”...”
”You will be able to grow my bones back, won't you?” said Arth desperately.
”I'll be able to, certainly, but it will be painful,” said Madam Pomfrey grimly, throwing Arth a pair of pajamas. ”You'll have to stay the night... both of you.”
”Um... Madam Pomfrey, I cant change my clothes.”
”...”
Harry didn't know whether laugh or be mad.
Hermione waited outside the curtain drawn around Arth's bed while Ron helped him into his pajamas. It took a while to stuff the rubbery, boneless limbs into clothes.
”Does he think everyone likes him?” Ron growled as he pulled Arth's limp fingers through the cuff. ”If Arth had wanted deboning he would have asked.”
”Cant believe a teacher can be like that.” said Hermione. ”And it doesn't hurt anymore, does it, Arth?”
”No,” said Arth. ”But I don't feel anything else either.”
As he did sort of a jiggle with his torso, his limbs flapped around pointlessly.
Hermione and Madam Pomfrey came around the curtain. Madam Pomfrey was holding a large bottle of something labeled Skele-Gro.
”You're in for a rough night,” she said, pouring out a steaming beakerful and handing it to him.
”Regrowing bones is a nasty business.”
So was taking the Skele-Gro. It burned Arth's mouth and throat as it went down, making him cough and splutter.
Still tut-tutting about dangerous sports and inept teachers, Madam Pomfrey retreated, leaving Ron and Hermione to help Arth gulp down some water.
”We won, though,” said Ron, a grin breaking across his face. ”That was some catch Harry made. Malfoy's face...he looked ready to kill...”
”Yes, I'm so happy that Harry won. Now I'm sitting here on the bed with no limbs. As a human flesh toy.”
Harry gave a cheerful smile.
”It is kind of weird now that you think of it. If Lockhart was any better with his aim, then you would be down in the common rooms celebrating while I would be here with a boneless arm. That Bludger was out for blood.”
”I want to know how they fixed that Bludger,” said Hermione darkly.
”I don't think it was the Slytherin's. They don't have the brain cells nor the bravery to do that. Plus, from the way they were dominating us, they didn't need to do it.”
”...Then who?”
The door of the hospital wing burst open at that moment. Filthy and soaking wet, the rest of the Gryffindor team had arrived to see Harry.
”Unbelievable flying, Harry,” said George. ”I've just seen Marcus Flint yelling at Malfoy. Something about having the Snitch on top of his head and not noticing. Malfoy didn't seem too happy.”
They had brought cakes, sweets, and bottles of pumpkin juice; they gathered around Harry's bed and were getting started on what promised to be a good party.
Hermione came over to Arth's bed and sat down.
Arth gave a wry smile.
”I guess Harry has a higher priority than me.”
”Aww, lookie here. Is the very adult like Arth jealous?” Teased Hermione. ”It's ok, they still care about you, just know that they are excited because they won the game.”
Arth sighed and stared at the ceiling with a lonely gaze.
”... you reckon they brought me a turkey leg?”
”...”