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[Emmanuelle Armand]

Emmanuelle slowly walked out of the near-empty Hospital Wing, clutching her aching arm in her right hand. She glanced down the hallway to make sure no one was around; she couldn’t feel like more of a fool.


She had been practicing a charm in the Slytherin common room, when someone slammed a door shut, making her jump. Consequently, the spell hit her arm, which then turned green and took on the texture of a leaf. The nurse had given her some sort of potion, but said it'd take a while for the color to return to normal.


“Merci, again,” she called in to the kind old nurse, before slumping down against a wall.


Em examined her leaf-green arm and sighed. Luckily, none of her peers were anywhere nearby. Suddenly hearing a loud noise down the way, she gave a start, but was too tired to jump up and hide. Instead, she quickly reached to pull her sleeve down over her arm, when she heard footsteps drawing nearer.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander walked into the hospital wing, his hand pressed to his cheek. A terrible tooth ache was afflicting him, it wasn't the pain that hurt him, it was more so the fact he couldn't focus that irritated him. Feeling that he couldn't concentrate nor focus on any of the revisions he wanted to get through that day he decided it was best to go up to the hospital wing, it had been a few days since the tooth ache started but he didn't want to be bothered coming in the hospital wing, he wasn't a weakling and he didn't care for any of the molly-coddling he was about to be subject to by the school nurse.

Opening the tall hospital doors, Alexander looked for the matron taking his hand from his cheek. He spotted Emmanuelle who was slumped against the wall, trying very hard to hide her arm. Alexander sighed, he wasn't sure what was going to happen. He hadn't talked to the girl in a week now, not since she stormed out of the Common Room. Feeling it was best to ignore the situation and be cordial with the girl, he walked to the office door where the matron was.

"Hello Emmanuelle," he said pleasantly not wanting to be rude. He wished he could tell her he was sorry, but he didn't think the girl who was very much a hot head would accept his apology nor would they become friends. Not certain as to whether they even had been friends before, Alexander glanced away from the girl and back to the door. Rapping the door smartly with his knuckle, he smiled at Emmanuelle before turning back to the office door. He wanted the girl to not think badly of him, even if he couldn't change her mind.

[Luka Chancery]

Luka was starting to feel dizzy, though he never would have admitted it. Climbing all those stairs had not been fun at now. At least his nose had stopped bleeding, though the dried blood on his face almost looked worse and his left eye had swollen completely shut.
Luka had not been this badly beat in months.
That'll teach me to let my guard down.

He rounded the corner with his two escorts, now one supporting him on either side (telling himself he could manage perfectly fine on his own but if they wanted to help...) Then he saw that the Hospital Wing was not deserted.
Emmanuelle! Bliddy Sowerby!
He snatched his arms from theirs like they had turned to fire. Sowerby was the very, very last person he wanted to see him like this; bloody and cut and bruised and taken to the hospital wing by two girls.
Luka gave in chin a proud and painful lift. Well, he could do nothing about it now. If Sowerby was going to jeer, let him. Let him see what he would get.
Then he noticed Emmaunelle's arm. His first thought was that someone had hexed her.
But her battles are not my battles.
They had an understanding but they were certainly not friends.
"What happened to you?" he asked, carefully maneuvering the words passed his split lip. Perhaps if he just ignored Sowerby, that Slytherin would just go about his own business...

((My 'escorts' are Elisabet and Zella de Barre))

Edited by Luka Chancery, 24 October 2011 - 08:45 PM.

[Zella la Barre]

As they rounded the corner, Zella saw a few people in the corridor outside the hospital wing. Luka tore his arm from her and her sister's graps, and stood straighter. Zella narrowed her eyes ever so slightly as she took in this change. He doesn't wish to show any weakness in front of either or perhaps both of these people... She slowed her walking just a smidgen, and tugged Betta into step with her. If he wanted to seem more in control and less hurt that he was, now that they were at the infirmary and done with all of those bloody steps, then let him.

She glanced to her left and saw a familiar Slytherin on the floor with her arm carefully hidden.

"Hello, Emmanuelle. What brings you up here today?"

[Alexander Sowerby]

The sound of shuffling feet distracted him from both his toothache and the awaiting greeting or silence from Emmanuelle, the door of the Hospital wing opened and Luka Chancery was being helped by two twin sisters. He was white as a sheet, his nose looked possibly broken and the dry blood had covered most of his mouth and the front of his robe. He was shocked by the state of the boy, and while a small sinister voice told him that this was a perfect opportunity to sneer at him, jeer him out and make fun of him, he listened to another voice. A voice which had always been there, that he suppressed because he felt that it would be his parents wish.

Alexander said nothing, he knew who the perpetrators were. He felt sick, as well as guilty to a degree. He didn't ask the boys to do anything, quite the opposite he hadn't even told the boys about Chancery and his antagonistic relationship. They probably had overheard someone say something about Luka and Alexander and due to the fact that most of their fathers were employed by the Sowerby family, they up took his battle for him, which he didn't want. Whatever Alexander and Luka were to each other, Alexander did not hate the boy, he felt a sense of resentment and pity for him. Chancery wasn't Orion, who felt he was better than everyone but claimed he wasn't arrogant or a snob.

One way or another, he didn't wish Chancery pain. Sure, he'd duel him with wands but to beat him up like a common muggle was atrocious and despicable. The boys undoubtedly cornered him and one held his arms back while they took turns to pounded him like a mince meat.

Sure, Slytherin had a reputation for bullying and producing some seriously sinister characters but Alexander had considered these boys the closest thing he had to friends at the school. With friends like these, who needs enemies Alexander thought. He wasn't a bully, no, perhaps he was a bit pretentious, a bit pompous, a bit arrogant; most of that had a lot to do with his upbringing, it wasn't always out of choice. One way or another, he'd have to distance himself from those Slytherin's. It was at times like these that he wished the sorting hat had chosen differently.

Alexander looked away from the floor and stared around ensuring he didn't meet Luka's gaze, suddenly his tooth ache felt very small and not that all bothersome especially considering that a faint irritating feeling settled in his stomach.

[Elisabet la Barre]

Finally, we made it up those stairs! Whose crazy idea was it to place the hospital wing on the THIRD floor??

As they rounded the corner and opened the hospital wing door, Elisabet felt Luka tense up at the sight of the two students at the end of the hall. The only one she recognized was Alexander however, she had no idea who the girl was. She was trying to think if she remembered her when she felt Zella tug her backwards to let Luka proceed to the infirmary by himself.
Well, at least I know he made it alright. There would have been no way Luka would have made it up those stairs without their help

Hello, Alexander!!she called just as Zella greeted girl who was hiding her arm

Edited by Elisabet la Barre, 25 October 2011 - 08:01 PM.

[Emmanuelle Armand]

[OOC: my arm was already hidden, so unless you got there invisibly before i pulled my sleeve down, you don't know that it was green.]

Still clutching her arm, Em quickly stood up at the arrival of the other students. Simply shooting an icy smile Alexander's way, she turned to Luka and the two girls she'd never seen before. They looked similar; probably sisters. She eyed the one who had addressed her directly.


"I spend my free time at ze 'ospital wing," she sneered. "Doesn't everyone?"


Em had half a mind to walk the other way and return to the common room. She found that Luka asking her a question without mocking her or putting her down somehow made her feel very strange. Were they actually...acquaintances? Almost acquaintances? Mon dieu, she thought with a shudder.


"Nothing 'appened," she responded, pulling the sleeve further down her arm. Chancery would certainly think her a fool if he knew. "I accidentally, er, slammed eet against ze wall."


She usually had a knack for lying, but it was no use. At that moment, the nurse promptly came out to the hall and handed her one of the potion bottles she'd forgotten, not hesitating to remind her that her arm would be green for at least three more days. Em's face turned bright red, and she couldn't find the strength to say a word. She simply nodded and stared at the bottles in her hand.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Emmanuelle gave him a rather mean spirited smile. Alexander raised an eyebrow but was saved from any further commentary or conversation by the sudden voice which carried. Looking around he noticed it was Zella speaking.

"Hello, Emmanuelle. What brings you up here today?"

Having known Emmanuelle for these last few months, he could see this was not going to go very well. Undoubtedly she'd rather blow her top or start cursing everyone in French. She sneered instead.

"I spend my free time at ze 'ospital wing," pausing she finished "Doesn't everyone?"

Alexander bit his lip, he didn't care for the rudeness of his fellow Slytherin but than again Slytherin's weren't known for having good manners.

Just as she answered, Luka's weak voice carried. "What happened to you?" the eye which had not closed had looked at Emmanuelle. He seemed to be trying to avert his eyes just as badly from Alexander, as Alexander was from his.

This time Emmanuelle responded in a less dagger of a voice. "Nothing 'appened," she pulled the sleeve further down her arm. "I accidentally, er, slammed eet against ze wall."

Alexander didn't say anything although he could tell this was a lie. Her whole body was lying, he was certain of it. All the same, he was greeted by Elisabet before he could make an inquiry himself or think about what was happening.

"Hello, Alexander!"

"Hello Betta," he said politely. Walking over to her, since he didn't want to stand by himself especially not with Emmanuelle who looked like she could breathe fire on him. "Busy place, this hospital wing."

At that moment the Hospital Matron's office door opened and the Nurse Longbottom came through the door. Making a beeline for Emmanuelle who was given a sickly greenish potion. The Matron, undoubtedly unaware that Emmanuelle was doing her best to try and hide her injury told her that her arm would be green for another three days. Alexander wanted to laugh incredulously at this but thought better of it. He didn't even look at Emmanuelle, for all he knew; he could just pretend that he had not acknowledged what was said or it had not registered.

Nurse Longbottom must have finished with Emmanuelle because she suddenly gave out a great gasp, Alexander who had been facing Elisabet looked and it was obvious she had noticed Luka Chancery who had been beaten to a pulp.

"Merlin's Beard," she expressed loudly before asking "Who did this to you dear?"

Edited by Alexander Sowerby, 25 October 2011 - 11:30 PM.

[Zella la Barre]

"I spend my free time at ze 'ospital wing," she sneered. "Doesn't everyone?"

"Perhaps not everyone, no, but Betta and I are known to at home. Of course, the entire first floor of our house is a hospital wing." Zella smirked at the Slytherin. It would take a lot more to get her riled up. Perhaps it was this that got her so quickly sorted into Gryffindor? No matter.

While her sister went to talk with Alexander, Nurse Longbottom came out to give a forgotten potion to Emmanuelle, talking about how her arm would be green for a few days, completely unaware of how red her face was getting. When the nurse turned, her eyes settled on Luka. "Merlin's Beard," she expressed loudly before asking "Who did this to you dear?"

He won't say. If he does, I'll ask how Emmanuelle turned her arm green, and do it to my face. Instead of waiting for an answer unlikely to come, Zella piped up. "I'm not sure on the who, exactly, ma'am, but I saw several large boys, well I assume they were boys, surrounding him by the lake. He was on the ground, and I could tell they were kicking him at the very least. They must have heard me coming, because by the time I reached him, there was no one else there. I was too far away to have seen any House colors."

The nurse nodded her acceptance of this answer, and turned back to Luka. Zella turned to Emmanuelle, who was doing her best to fade into the shadows. "You know, I wish my arm were green. I think it would be sort of... Neat. Is it just plain green, or is it textured differently? Was it a spell? Or a potion maybe? I've never heard of anything turning someone's arm green, unless it was some sort of infection. That can't be the case for you, or you'd not be released with just a few potions." Zella's eyes brightened with curiosity, even though a little voice told her interrogating the poor embarrassed girl may not be her best course of action. She couldn't really help herself, though. A green arm was just plain fascinating, and Zella wanted to know more.

Edited by Zella la Barre, 25 October 2011 - 12:23 PM.

[Luka Chancery]

((Ohhh, I'm sorry Randi! I misunderstood you... I haven't time to edit my post, but Luka doesn't know that your arm is green. Sorry again))

It was killing him, just waiting for Sowerby to come out with some snide remark.... Luka even risked a glance his way, only to discover that Alexander was staring at the floor.
Why?
Luka hated not understanding. Even more than he hated being scorned, he hated not understanding....
At once the twins launched into a kind of conversation (meaning Zella had her head bitten off by Emmanuelle and Elisabet greeted Sowerby like they were friends) when they were interrupted by the arrival of the Nurse.
Luka heard her tell Emmanuelle that her arm would be green for a few more days.... Green? Why? Someone jinxed her? Jinxed herself by mistake? But he did not have time to think about that because Nurse Longbottom at once turned his way.

"Merlin's Beard. Who did this to you dear?"

Luka blinked in suprise. No one had called him dear in his entire life. He decided he didn't like it.
Luka opened his mouth to tell her that no one had done it, that he had fallen down the stairs or something. As if a boy like Luka, graceful as a cat's shadow, could ever fall down stairs...
But he never got a change to tell his lie. Zella de Barre leapt in while he hesitated, explaining in exact detail what she had seen. Luka glared at her as fiercely as his face would let him.
Who asked HER to split on me? Who does she think she is?
He is battles were his own. He didn't need teachers or nurses to know what was going on. Those boys would think HE had told, would scorn him, think of him as running off to the nurse like a baby... And now that Sowerby had heard, the story would be all over the school, Luka was sure.

Luka said nothing to Zella. His glare would be enough... and he did not have much chance, for the nurse had gently taken his arm and was guiding him inside.
"I can fix things like this in a moment. Sit there," she gestured to one of the beds. "But you had better stay until dinner so it can set properly. And I'll be finding out what kind of boys would do this to a fellow student."
Luka felt a squirm of fear that he at once pretended wasn't there.
"You needn't," he told her crossly. "It wasn't that bad, they were just messing about and I fell over... Zella exaggerates things all the time." No idea if she did or not, no idea if the Nurse would possibly believe him, but he had to try.
I'll get them back on my OWN. I don't need help.

[Emmanuelle Armand]

(( i didn't mean you, hehe. laura said she saw my arm was green.))

Em glared at the Gryffindor girl; she was talking far too much. Another Meghan Morris, perhaps? That was the last thing she needed. Control your temper, she told herself, pushing away the thought of putting the little rosbif in her place. Swiftly, she popped open the potion bottle and took a swig, wincing at the foul taste. It seemed more like it was made of leaves rather than a cure to change things back from leaves.

She chose to ignore the chatterbox and turned to Luka after the nurse had gone back inside. The boy was looking quite miserable, but of course held his head high anyhow. It was a once obnoxious trait that Emmy was starting to find very impressive and respectable.

"What 'as 'appened to you?" she asked coolly, trying to make it sound as though she was just passing the time. "Whatever eet was, I'm sorry I missed eet."

Edited by Emmanuelle Armand, 26 October 2011 - 08:08 PM.

[Alexander Sowerby]

Alexander watched as Nurse Longbottom looked over Luka. He felt that Luka had glanced over at him, but he refused to look up. Acting as if Luka had not been in the room. Looking out the window, he saw that snow had begun to fall again. Great flakes of snow fell onto the grounds, the sky was white and the air was full of white snow. It would be another afternoon with full out white out conditions.

Alexander sighed. His tooth ache was still giving him a sharp pain in the back of his head but he tried to clear his mind. He spoke to Betta; "Looking foward to the Holidays?"

He tried hard not to listen to what Nurse Longbottom was saying but her voice carried throughout the Hospital Wing.

"I can fix things like this in a moment. Sit there," the matron seemed to gesture Luka to a bed "But you had better stay until dinner so it can set properly. And I'll be finding out what kind of boys would do this to a fellow student."

Alexander felt a pang of hot molten lava fill the depths of his stomach, he knew that Luka would not say anything and at the same time. At the same time, Alexander was not a rat he wouldn't tell on his fellow housemates even if they deserved to get into trouble; but would he say anything to them at all. That plagued his mind for a few moments. The sound of Emmanuelle brought him back to where he was.

He didn't care to look, but since they didn't seem to be on speaking terms other than for greetings she must have been talking to Luka. "What 'as 'appened to you?" the girl asked coolly, undoubtedly trying to weasel something out of him. "Whatever eet was, I'm sorry I missed eet."

[Elisabet la Barre]

(((Sorry, about the green arm thing. I couldn't remember if you had fully hidden it or only attempted to hide it, my original edit added it in because I didn't think my post was long enough))

Betta heard Zella explain to the nurse what had happened and had noticed Luka's not so pleased reaction to her answering the question for him. Betta also noticed the surreptitious  glances Luka and Alexander were trading with each other I wonder what kind of story there is between those two, its looks as both are waiting for the other to say something rude.

"Looking foward to the Holidays?"

Upon hearing Alexander's voice Betta snapped out of her mini reverie and had to think for a moment on what he had asked.

I suppose so, there won't be much to do except help out my parents in the infirmary, sometimes we have a Yule Ball, but not often. I'm sure our tutor will make us keep up on lessons even tho it is a school break. She is quite strict about that sort of thing, you know. Do you have any plans? Maybe, if we have a ball our parents can invite your family. It would be so nice to finally know someone there.

[Alexander Sowerby]

"I suppose so, there won't be much to do except help out my parents in the infirmary, sometimes we have a Yule Ball, but not often. I'm sure our tutor will make us keep up on lessons even tho it is a school break. She is quite strict about that sort of thing, you know. Do you have any plans? Maybe, if we have a ball our parents can invite your family. It would be so nice to finally know someone there. "

Alexander smiled at the girl, he shook his head slightly. "I'm staying here for the Christmas Holidays." he said, not wanting to add an adjective such as regretfully or sadly because it would only make him feel worse. It was hard enough to keep his voice calm and conversational without any hint of sadness. "My parents are" he paused and added in a rather stiff voice more so than he meant to "busy for the holidays", he knew that Luka would probably pounce on this. Although considering that he hadn't yet said anything to him perhaps he'd let it go; than again the boy didn't seem to have any tact at all. Of course, the boy didn't even have any parents, he seemed to survive only for himself and someone called Hero so what did he care whether he said anything about his family.

"I'd love to come, but I doubt the teachers would let me go by myself not without adult supervision." he said adding "I'm certain I could just take the Knight Coach." mentioning the Horseless Coach which magicked itself along the country picking up witches and wizards who needed to get to where ever they were going. Who for whatever reason didn't want to apparate, use a portkey or their broom. "I'm sure though, they'd still wouldn't want me to be going anywhere without someone and I doubt they'd let Bunce and Doge supervise me."

However the pleasantness in his voice rekindled. "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other during the summer holidays, my parents have garden soirées. I'll make sure that they invite your family." He knew that his parents would probably want to know all of the names and children he had met during the school year to see whether he had made any interesting links and acquaintances they could exploit and explore in their business ventures. He didn't care for this but he couldn't get out of it.

It would probably be the only conversation he would have during the summer holidays with his parents. They of course, didn't care what marks Alexander would get. So long as he took over the running of the business for them, so that they could spend even more of their time on leisure and not looking over their off-spring. In fact, Alexander had a fleeting suspicion that if his parents didn't care about what other people thought, they wouldn't have bothered to send him to Hogwarts one way or another. He was of course expected to carry on both the family name and the business. Julia, his eldest sister being a girl was entitled to some dowry but wouldn't be receiving any more (if their parents could swing it) than that.

[Luka Chancery]

"Indeed?"
said Nurse Longbottom in the kind of voice that meant she did not believe him. Luka watched her turn away, go to a row of shelves and began creating some kind of potion. He marveled at how his hurts would be cursed so quickly... Even if he did not deserve a healing, he couldn't help imagining himself entering the Hall at dinner without a mark on him. Let his coward attackers see that!

"What 'as 'appened to you?"
Luka flinched away from her voice and was at once cross with himself. Even though he knew it was just Emmanuelle, his nerves were still on edge. To try and cover that up, Luka spat some blood into his hand and wiped it on his robes. So she wished she had been there, did she? She had some nerve, saying that where the Nurse might hear.
"Oh yes?" he answered bitterly."Sorry to have missed the fun, are you?"

And even though he was talking, the coversation between Sowerby and Elisbet was flitering through his mind. Nothing interesting though, until...
Wait. Sowerby not going home?
Deep inside, Luka smiled.
Got a card to play against him now...
But not here. Not with Nurse Longbottom pounding her potions, not when Sowerby was behaving so strangly and refusing to speak a word against him... Luka shifted uncomfortably. Why? Why was Sowerby ignoring him when he could so easily have the upper hand? It did not make sense, and Luka hated things that made no sense.
But I will find out.

[Zella la Barre]

Rolling her eyes at the snub, Predictable. All Slytherins care about are themselves. Try to be nice and they think you're out to get them, Zella turned to walk over to Nurse Longbottom to ask her mother's questions.

"Madam, my mother and father are Healers, and wanted me to ask you a few questions. I see that you're making a few potions, which in fact answers a couple of them, but would I be bothering you to ask the rest?"

"Hmmm? Oh no, go right ahead, dear. I get questions all the time from parents. I don't mind at all!"

"Great! Well, they wanted to know who made your potions, and whether or not they're fresh, but I can see that you do, and they are. They also asked me to ask you if you needed any help with potions and salves and such? They often have an over-supply, and instead of them going to waste, thought you might be able to use them."

"Oh! Why yes, dear, that'd be lovely! Tell them to feel free to send whatever they wish. I could always use them. Students are always in need of them. Tell them thank you for me, as well."

"I shall, ma'am. I'll let you get back to your work now. Thank you."

That finally done, since she had been putting it off since the first of the year, after all, Zella relaxed a bit more, and went to talk with her sister and Alexander. "I'm sure we'll be seeing each other during the summer holidays, my parents have garden soirées. I'll make sure that they invite your family."

"Oh that'd be lovely. I've never been to a summer party. Mother and Father usually have our tutor come out to tutor us a couple times a week in the summer, as a break from every day the rest of the year," Zella rolled her eyes at her parents' idea of a break, "and then we usually spend the rest of the time helping them in the clinic, or helping to make simple salves, or playing in the garden." She turned to Betta and asked, "Do you think we should ask Mother if we could go to one?"

[Emmanuelle Armand]

"Very sorry, indeed," Em retorted, looking away as the boy spit blood into his hand.

How unsanitary. She looked around at the group; somehow, they didn't quite fit together. The twins had moved on to a conversation with Sowerby (which she didn't mind) and now she was stuck with Luka. Though, the latter seemed to be more concerned with the other conversation.

"Don't be shy, Chancery," she said with a knowing grin. "I'm sure zey wouldn't mind conversing about 'olidays with you."

She doubted whether he was going "home" for the holidays. Did he even have a home? Emmanuelle would more than likely be going home herself; it all depended on whether Adelaine was leaving or staying. Em had no intention of being cooped up in a house with her for any amount of time.

Edited by Emmanuelle Armand, 28 October 2011 - 10:12 AM.

[Luka Chancery]

"Well, then you can ask your dear housemates when they next plan to get me, and make sure you are with them,"
Luka hissed angrily. Careful to keep his voice down, not wanting the Nurse to know he knew his attackers were Slytherins.
He had expected this kind of talk from Sowerby, but not from her. Still, at least someone was doing it... it would have been almost too much to handle, if everyone had been nice.

At Emmanuelle's next comment, Luka hissed again. What did she mean by that? Was she getting at him for having no home? Was she suggesting that he was dying to talk with the twins but was too shy to do so? No one had ever accused him of being shy before.
"If I wanted to talk with them, I would be doing so," he told her with as much dignity as he could manage.
"And I care naught for holidays."
Just incase she thought he minding not having a home.

[Alexander Sowerby]

"Oh that'd be lovely. I've never been to a summer party. Mother and Father usually have our tutor come out to tutor us a couple times a week in the summer, as a break from every day the rest of the year," the girl rolled her eyes at the last idea. "and then we usually spend the rest of the time helping them in the clinic, or helping to make simple salves, or playing in the garden."

"At least you keep busy during the holidays. Which isn't bad. As for the parties, they're alright. Kids get the grounds to themselves while the parents and adults get the patio. Usually, we have games being played. All the usual, gobstones, exploding snap, wizard chess, two a side quidditch, tag and hide-and-go seek."

The girl turned to her sister suddenly, "Do you think we should ask Mother if we could go to one?"

Alexander smiled, he'd enjoy being with children his own age he didn't think were trying to kiss up to him because their parents had told them to do so.

[Elisabet la Barre]

We must ask mother, I think it would a nice break from the tedium  of the hospital and studying with Mrs. Glennon, don't you think? I'll send Hestia with a letter as soon as we leave here.

Elisabet was incredibly excited. More kids her own age? Yes, please! There were so many games that needed more than 2 players and their mother didn't approve of using Fenny and Wick as extra players. Betta scrubbed the kitchen for 3days for that idea.  You could only play wizard's chess so many times before it became drop dead boring, after all.

Edited by Elisabet la Barre, 01 November 2011 - 07:45 AM.