Hospital Wing 2.5, 4/11

[Madam Pulaski]

Emma was not herself.

She was pottering around the infirmary doing odd chores that she hadn’t done in ages, and probably didn’t need to do. She’d reorganized all the potions in her cabnet but high alphabetical order, and then into ingredients. She’s refolded the linen, and got the house efls to re scrub the floor.

Still none of it took her mind off what had happened and what who was in the coffin hidden behind the curtains at the end of the row. The very thought of it made Emma’s mind shudder.

She wasn’t a stranger to death, in her profession she’d comforted and tended many people dying of illnesses, even the death of children. But what had happened to poor Cassandra Stone was the stuff nightmares were made of. Emma had been awake, waiting for the return of poor Lupin when the call had come in. She’d then been in charge of organizing the team to bring back the remains of the poor girl. It was not at all pleasant, and she was sure when she finally let herself sleep, it would haunt her.

Fortunately, she hadn’t been able to sleep. She’d been dealing with Killermen and the team of magical defence wizards until late that morning. Killerman had finally demanded several healing potions, taken the strongest painkillers and demanded she be able to return to her room. The language she’d used had been quite colourful. Emma had been extremely reluctant to let her go, not knowing the extent of the magical infections that monster could inflict or what the long term effects were. Killerman promised to return when she woke up, but Emma was sure she’d have to hunt her down herself.

Rookwood had completely disappeared. He’d been in bed unconscious, and then he was gone. He’d also had quite extensive injuries but apparently that hadn’t stopped him escaping the second her back was turned. Emma considered restraining her patients as a part of practice but figured that her supervisors would frown against it. She would certainly track both Killerman and Rookwood down the moment she could leave sickbay, unfortunately, that wasn’t until poor Cassandra could leave.

So Emma busied herself with everything she could think off, mainly so she wouldn’t have to think.

[Professor Galandra Killermen]

Galandra was sweating and pale by the time she managed to get up those damned stairs. She tried to slip into the wing unnoticed. Quietly making her way to the small area curtained off. She went behind this veil.

The coffin was small and she laid a hand on it. There it was, the marker of her failure. She ran a hand over its surface and undid the locks on the lid. Both magical and physical. She looked at what was left inside. It had been cleaned up and laid out but still. Nothing could change the truth that this was a student. A dead student. Mauled and ripped apart by that damned thing.

For a brief moment she saw another coffin. Another student. Another death on her account. Then in her minds eye she saw a tiny coffin. A babe in it almost like it was asleep. She turned and pushed through the curtain collasping onto her knees and throwing up. Nothing else could do this to her. Just this damned beast and it was over now. Why could she not let it go? Because behind that swaying curtain was one of her students. Another one dead.

She looked at Emma shakily.
"Back as requested?" She attempted a joke but her lip wobbled. A grown woman like her behaving like this?
"Emma. Am I a monster? I lost another one.... I failed but no more tears will come. Its like I am dead inside"

[Madam Pulaski]

“Oh no you don’t” Emma dashed across the room and managed to get a hold of Galandra before the woman fell to the ground . The soul wrenching effort that it must have taken her to get back here was hideous. “You are not a monster.” Emma said quite firmly, man handling Glanadra over to a bed away from the coffin.

Without giving Galandra a choice she stripped off the womans’ outer robes and shoes and tucked her into bed with military precision. Galandra was too weak, tired and hurt to put up much of a fight. In fact it looked like she’d given up.

“There is no one less a monster than you, you saved us all. It doesn’t bear thinking about what the creature would have done if it had gotten into the castle, little Cassandra would have then been one body among hundreds, mine included. Now stop fretting.”

Emma seized the curtains and drew them around the bed to give Galandra a bit of privacy. Then she methodically went over all the wounds she’d dressed and cleaned. They still looked just as terrible as they had been when she’d woven the healing spells. That wasn’t right, they should have covered over at least. She summoned new dressings and re covered them, while simultaneously, encouraging Galandra to drink another healing draft, it also contained a sedative, it didn’t look like she’d slept at all.

“You’re a Hero Galandra, you saved us all. Thank you.” Emma said, she could see the pain in the womans’ eyes, the uncertainty. She smoothed the dark hair back away from her face gently, “Everything is right because of you. Now rest.”

[Professor Galandra Killermen]

Professor Galandra Killermen found herself in bed once again. Hadn't she only just managed to get away from all this. She winced as her wounds were tended too. Curiously she looked at them and gave one a poke. They were not healing. She was not at all surprised, she had a huge book on poisons somewhere. Maybe she should get that and make sure that Gus is alright... Emma looked like she needed sleep.

Galandra stopped herself, she was making up things to do. She accepted the potion and looked at it. She could see Slughorns work, she could spot it a mile away.
"I am not a hero. Just a warrior, an old warrior trying to get through one last fight." she downed the potion not having the heart or will to refuse the sedative hidden in it.

She grabbed the hand that pushed back her hair and looked at Madam Pulaski. Really looked at her.
"You are the real hero. The people who work hard every day to make people well again. You who battle through sickness, infection and blood. Its people like you who deserve medals. You haven't slept" She added the last part looking at the dark circles under the womans eyes.
"Making up things to do... doesn't work. Making peace with it does. There is nothing more to be done except move onwards. No matter how hard that is. Moving onwards because we can not go backwards. Not even with a time turner could I manage to bring her back." Galandra held onto the woman with iron will.
"Sleep Healer. There is nothing more to be done. Except perhaps track that Rookwood. He has a rather interesting pendant on still more than likely. You could try tracking that...." she drifted off as sleep too her.

It was silent and still in her mind. She looked almost peaceful as she feel asleep, only the slight crease between her brows showed otherwise.

[Madam Pulaski]

Emma kept smiling as Galandra drifted into sleep. “Always thinking about other people aren’t you my dear.” She settled the blanket more firmly and tucked her in. “That’s why I’m here to think of you.”

She smoothed the sheets down and stood up, watching Galandra settle into the deep sleep. “I’m no Hero.” She said softly. She clicked her fingers and blinds slid down covering the large airy window blacking the room into a soft darkness, then she turned the lamp down beside Galandras bedside slightly. “I prescribe 12 hours of sleep no less.” She told her sleeping patient quiet firmly, before crossing back across the room. “Now if only I took my own advice.”

She glanced at the end bed where the coffin lay, tall candles burning brightly in vigil.

Emma gave a sigh and moved to her office. She needed to find Rookwood, the poison would be affecting him now more than ever it wasn’t safe for him out there. Glancing at the curtained area where galandra was she made up her mind. There would be no sleep for her.

[Professor Galandra Killermen]

Galandra Killermen sat bolt upright. A nightmare had woken her. She had gotten better at not crying out from them. They still woke her, she was sweating and trembling slightly. As she took in deep breaths of the still air the tremors left her and the terror too. Calm washed over her lightly as she picked up her wand. When she had her wand in hand she was in control again. It was trick she had taught herself. Wand in hand equalled calm. She would be okay so long as she had her wand. It wasn't always the case but as long as her brain didn't know that it was okay.

Killermen carefully eased from the bed. She slowly went to the coffin that was tucked away. Almost out of sight and mind. She rested her hand lightly on the lid. Sadness was there but it was manageable. She would live, things would go forwards. She was sure of that. She also knew she had two things to do. One go back to being grumpy around Aurora. Normal behaviour from her nothing less. That was what was needed. The second was to track down on Augustus Rookwood.

Killermen carefully summoned and dressed in fresh robes. Black. As usual. She would have to add some reds and purples to her wardrobe some day. Black black and black was a bit routine.