Bludger To The Arm

Charlotte and one of her Holyhead Harpie team mates entered through the glass window with, what the muggles thought was a mannequin, although it wasn't an ordinary mannequin. This mannequin served as the guardian to St Mungos Hospital. Charlotte Topez's arm was bent at an odd angle and held by a badly conjured bandage. During Quidditch training she had misjudged a blusher and it had bombarded straight into her arm, shattering her bones and dislocating her shoulder.

'For God sake!' Charlotte muttered furiously under her breath as she leered around the busy reception room. Just what she wanted: everyone to see her injured. Charlotte was one of te best beaters that the Holyhead Harpies had seen, having recently broken the record for most on target bludgers in a match. The devilishly attractive woman was one of the favourites to join the England squad and having damaged her arm was most likely going to effect her chances, especially seeing as word would soon travel fast due to the volume of patients and family members gathered in the entrance. 'Just what I need. Blusher Finally Beats Topez.' She whispered as they joined the que.

After two minutes of waiting already she had gathered a fair amount of attention - one little boy had asked for her autograph to which she simply stared at him before pointing to her damaged arm and saying: 'I can hardly sign your scrap of parchment can I!' Charlotte was known to be blunt and cold, however with her fans she usually put on an act although due to the damage that had issued in her training session she wasn't in the mood.

'Do you know who I am?!' Charlotte yelled impatiently before barging to the front of the line where the welcome witch then directed her to the correct ward. Not caring that this had created a bigger scene she hurried to the ward that would solve her problem. Charlotte would think of an excuse as to why she had behaved so short. Pain would do. Everyone would understand.

Charlotte withdrew her wand and aimed them at the double doors leading to the ward. With a wave they were blasted open as her and her team mate cantatas into the ward with White linen bedspreads and huge windows casting light upon the Healers at work.

Jack had to come in to pick up her employee's potions - because he had been seemingly injured on the job, she was paying his medical bills, and picking up his medicine. As one might imagine, Jack was absolutely thrilled to do this. Who wouldn't love to pay when their employee was cursed, and get the chance to visit St Mungo's every three days? Because Jack knew one thing for certain...

She sure as hell hated it.

She was in the hospital enough as it was. Their coach was incredibly strict about their health, doing everything from requiring weekly physicals and giving them all personalized meal plans. Jack loved his gusto, but thought he was a little too strung up in the past. He was so strict about his methods because, when he had played, he had a dormant condition in his knee that became active right before his final season, forcing him into early retirement. She felt for him, she really did, but she was getting really sick of the cheesy background music in St Mungo's.

She had been headed out when she heard an old acquaintance from her Ministry days was recovering from a bad break in his ankle. She paused to carry a quick conversation with him when their words were drowned out by nearby screeching. Jack went to check the other room, managing to jump out of the way in time as their ward was invaded by the biggest diva in Quidditch.

Charlotte Topez was celebrated for her looks almost as much for her skills. Jack had followed her career for sometime but had always thought the woman lately relied more on public opinion than actual ability. Yes, the woman was talented, incredibly talented, but Jack had witnessed some of her weaknesses during matches in the past year. Jack had been highly anticipating going against her.

However, she'd need a functioning arm to compete. Jack looked down at the potions in her arm and set down the others, leaving an extra-strength pain potion in her hands. She approached Charlotte and cleared her throat. "Drink this - it'll get rid of the pain while the Healers get to you."

Whether or not Charlotte recognized her would be on her own awareness of the league. If she actually paid attention to new recruits, she would know she was looking at one of the most highly anticipated players, let alone Beaters, of the year. If she was still focused on her book-signings and her own appearance schedule, she may easily mistake Jack for another civilian that happened to be nearby.

Hallie scanned around the ward looking for a healer. Can I? 'No!' Charlotte snapped to a grubby looking wizard with yellow teeth and warty skin who was holding a piece of parchment for her autograph. Why Charlotte had to come to St Mungo's of all places was beyond her. Surely the Holyhead Harpies would invest in their own personal healer soon to perform physical checks before training - however they already had a massage therapist for after who didn't come cheap.

Charlotte's eyes thinned as a ginger haired lady walked towards her with corked glass vials in her arms. It wasn't a healer, it was 'Jaquellene Dylan.' The beater muttered disdainfully to her team mate. As Jack reached Charlotte she put a fake smile.

She thought through the pain to mask her distaste for Jack. Although Jack was new on the Quidditch scene Charlotte knew exactly who she was: a beater. A bloody good beater at that who would most likely be securing a place on the England squad over herself. No. That couldn't happen, not if Charlotte could help it. That spot would be for her. It simply had to be!

'I'm not feeling any pain at all actually.' Charlotte lied, falsely laughing on the end. 'I just need a healer to mend my arm, you know, fans yanking at me for an autograph. One got carried away, ha ha ha.' Ha ha ha There was another forced laugh.

The woman did not make any move to recognize Jack, but by her strange tone and the self-indulgent boasting, Jack guessed that Topez knew something of who she was currently speaking to. Jack quirked an eyebrow - what reason was there to brag about giving autographs? Jack had never gotten the whole fame-lust thing.

Then again, she had been accidentally flung into fame since her seventh year of Hogwarts. It was hard being Triwizard Champion, first pick for the Quidditch draft, and a dedicated and public member of the cause for Light and not getting recognized by a few people. And anyone who had gone to school with her knew her. Everyone had found themselves the butt of one of her pranks at least once.

"It's going to hurt like a b!tch," Jack warned. "Of course you've probably suffered many injuries from fighting off adoring fans. Must make it highly inconvenient to keep your Beating record with that, eh?" She tossed the bottle to her - her Quidditch training would surely force her to catch it on reflex.

Charlotte let a cold look escape her pseudo friendliness as Jack seemed to let out a witty remark about her number of fans. One thing Charlotte people didn't enjoy was being mocked and right now she felt that this, early twenties, fair flyer was doing just that. Already her dislike for Jack was growing.

With her good arm Charlotte reached out, grasping the bottle with her fingers. She didn't mean to, it was the sheer amount of training that had caused her to catch it without a second thought. Charlotte leered at the murky, khaki coloured liquid in the glass bottle. 'Ugh.' She muttered before thrusting the bottle in her team mates hand.

'So, where are the healers in here don't they know how busy I am?' Charlotte said, pushing past Jack to get a better view of the room, accidently knocking the bottles of medicines from her arms as well. 'Oh.' She moaned, splashes of potion staining the bottom of her robes. 'Well this is just magnificent.'

Jack suddenly spotted a look of dislike cross the celebrity's expression, suddenly changing her feminine features into the ugly shape of disgust. It was gone before it made its full impression upon her face, and Jack was glad it was so brief. She wouldn't have been able to help herself if Topez's expression remained that way. You're face'll get stuck that way, y'know.

Why Charlotte did not like her, Jack did not fathom. Many people considered the women sure picks for the English Beater positions, so it was strange there was not respect there. But there were two types of players - those who appreciated and respected talent that could rival their own, and those who felt threatened and spurred to compete in any way possible with those who were as talented.

Though, Jack would not presume to say she was more talented than Charlotte currently was. But she would dare to say she was more talented than Charlotte was when she began.

"The Healers are busy as well," Jack said. "I heard mention of an incident involving accidental magic. There's a few people who were hurt in the blast, and one muggle lost his arm. The whole hospital is booked a bit solid. Basic sprains and breaks are low priority - no matter how many autographs may possibly be left in the dust because of it." She would probably regret that. But, eh. Who cared.

Charlotte's nostrils flared at Jacks added remark about her injury being unimportant. She didn't care if a giant had got in a brawl with a Dragon in Diagon Alley killing the many shoppers, she was beginning to feel pain and it needed to be sorted. 'I don't believe you.' Charlotte replied, her lips forming a tight pout whilst her eyes flashed unfriendly. 'If that really is the case then surely they should have asked more healers to come in.'

Charlotte glared around the room again. There were four healers, all of which were attending patients. A row of many occupied seats underneath a sign labelled 'WAITING AREA.' No. Charlotte wouldn't be waiting with mere peasants, another grobby hand laid on her royal robes would be cursed into oblivion and that wouldn't bode well for her reputation. 'Well.' She began, staring down her nose as Jack. 'Someone needs to clear up that mess-' her eyes flicked to the collection of smashed potions, 'and whilst they are over here doing that they may as well see to me.'

Turning her head towards her team mate she whispered. 'Get me a healer. Now.' Charlotte didn't care if Jack heard her being a bit blunt and her team mates were all used to her coldness but if a fan heard then that really could ruin her career. Unless of course she became known as the devil on a broomstick, which could either boost her fame and success or shatter it into millions of pieces. She'd worked in a shop before.... She wasn't doing that again.

She shrugged. "Don't believe me. It's the truth." What did she care if Charlotte believed it or not? It didn't change what was true. "Healers can't just be summoned. They aren't commodities. There's only so many." Was Charlotte that vain to make her seem so thick?

Jack waved her wand and the bottle of pain potion repaired itself, some of the drink remaining in the rounded glass. She summoned it, examined it, and kept it. If the woman didn't want it, she would deliver it as it had been intended. Why waste her help on someone who was obviously too proud to take the help - ironic, as Jack was typically considered the typical Gryffindor.

"Simple spell. You should learn it," Jack said. She was getting sick of little Miss Queen's attitude. She rolled her eyes. "Hope you get it all sorted."

She began to leave, when suddenly a Healer rushed in carrying someone who's shoulders had both been dislocated and was bleeding profusely. "Help, please!" the Healer begged. Jack quickly put her potions onto a nearby table and rushed forward to support the patient, helping get them to a bed.

Charlotte took a step back, a twinge on pain in her arm. Perhaps it would have been wise to accept help from Jack, even if she did consider her a rival. 'I know how to perform a repairing and summon charm I'm not a fool!' Charlotte said in a rather irritated tone. She wasn't usually one to show emotion other than sheer coldness and bluntness. Her irritation and feeling of threat from Jack and her beater abilities was clearly beginning to show through, much to her dislike. 

'The first healer to assist me will be rewarded-' But what they would be rewarded nobody found out, her words were drowned out by a healer screaming help. Hmm. Perhaps if Charlotte helped then she could jump the que.

Oh for goodness sake Charlotte thought as Jack beat her to helping. The only difference being Charlotte would have been assisting for self gain as opposed to pure kindness.

'Ouch.' Charlotte cried, clutching her arm in agony. Maybe helping Jack would have it's perks if she was rewarded the pain relief potion. 'CAN WE GET A HEALER OVER HERE!!' Charlotte bellowed as she swept over to the new casualty. She wasn't impressed that this baboon stupid enough to be severely blessed was being seen before her but if helping jumped her the que then she would keep her mouth shut. 

This prissy chick was going to get it soon if she didn't shut her mouth. Jack flicked her eyes upwards in irritation as she juggled the bottles, saying, "Great - I won't have to do it for you next time." She said it lightly, passing over the insult, but the bite was definitely here. Jack was not catty, but she was not about to be kind and gentle to someone so obviously vain and self-involved as Charlotte Topez.

She was on her way to bribing someone, Jack's cue to leave, when Jack sprung into action to assist the Healer who was so obviously out of their depth. Jack looked up at the healer and said, "I could perform minor healing charms on these smaller cuts and give her some relief from the pain while you fix the shoulders."

The Healer gnawed on their lip. "Usually, it's against protocol, but beggars can't be choosers-"

They were cut off as Charlotte paraded over, shrieking for a Healer. The Healer looked up with disdain. "I am a Healer." The Healer saw that she was injured and he said, "Minor injuries need to wait. We're understaffed."