Chapter Six

Chapter Six

Slumping into her chair at the head table, Pomona put her head in her hand and rubbed. That hangover potion didn’t last long, she thought with a scowl. Sighing heavily, she lifted her head, attempting to look normal and not as if her head was about to split in two. As she surveyed the food in front of her, her stomach lurched. The very thought of food at the moment had no appeal at all.

A movement to her right captured her attention. Poppy slid into the chair next to her. Leaning toward her, she murmured, “How are you feeling?”

Letting out a long breath, Pomona replied, “Is it that obvious?”

“Oh, no! Ro just filled me in this morning on what a good time you both had after Minerva and I left last night. How you went home with a certain bartender?”

Turning toward the matron, Pomona’s eyes boggled. “She told you? As if it wasn’t already bad enough that Filius knows,” Pomona grumbled, closing her eyes and leaning back in her chair.

Placing her hand on Pomona’s arm, Poppy leaned in. “Filius knows? That explains a few things.”

“Like what?” Pomona asked, looking deflated.

“When I saw Filius this morning, let’s just say he was less than his usual chipper self. I don’t think I have ever seen him so... blue... for lack of a better word, since the man got here.”

“That’s odd. Why on earth would he be blue? Mmm, Poppy, you wouldn’t happen to have some Hangover or Pepperup potion, would you?”

Wrapping Pomona’s hand around a small vial, Poppy smiled and said, “I am way ahead of you, dear.”

Sighing with relief, Pomona took the stopper from the small bottle. “Poppy, you are a God send, thank you,” she murmured, quickly tipping up the vial and emptying the contents.

“Mmm, look what the cat dragged in,” Rolanda said, sitting down on the other side of Pomona.

Frowning, Pomona looked over at Rolanda. “Ro, how could you send me home with a man I barely know? W-we barely know!”

Giving Pomona’s shoulder a shove, Rolanda laughed. “Aw, come off it! You enjoyed it. Are you saying all that didn’t take your mind off your worries last night?”

“What worries? After that last drink it was like I didn’t have any or comprehension for that matter. Which isn’t me. You know that, Ro,” Pomona whispered fiercely. “And to top it off, Filius caught us snogging in the courtyard—”

Rolanda put her arm around Pomona’s shoulders and sudden sharp pain shot through her right shoulder. She stiffened and moved away, but Rolanda didn’t notice. “You—you mean to tell me, you snogged with Taurean on the castle grounds? And Filius found you?” Rolanda held her belly as she gave a hearty laugh. “This is better than a story in Witch Weekly!”

Both Poppy and Pomona frowned at Rolanda as she leaned forward, her shoulders shaking with mirth.

“I really don’t see what you find so amusing about all this, Ro,” Pomona said, rising from the table. “Please excuse me, Poppy. I seem to have lost my appetite,” she murmured, turning to leave and bumping into Filius as he stepped up behind her.

“Oh, Filius! I’m so sorry!” Pomona exclaimed, reaching out to steady the shorter professor.

His warm hand covered hers, and their eyes met briefly. Gazing at him, she saw what Poppy had been talking about. “It’s quite all right, Pomona. How are you feeling this afternoon?” he asked sincerely, looking from Rolanda to Pomona.

Sudden tears sprang to her eyes, and Pomona looked away, blinking rapidly in an effort to diffuse them. She just needed to get away for a moment to clear her head, try to remember everything that happened last night. And find out why her right shoulder hurt like hell. Clearing her throat, she replied, “Doing well, Filius. Thank you for helping me to my rooms last night.” Her last words broke a little.

“Oh, no problem! No problem at all, my dear. You know I will always assist you if I can,” he told her, bestowing a smile that did not quite reach his eyes. “Are you sure you are all right?”

“Yes, I just need some air suddenly,” Pomona whispered, pushing past him and pulling her hand from his.

Out in the hall, Pomona walked quickly down the stairs whispering a spell and burst through the door to her rooms. Once inside, she leaned against it and slid down as her tears spilled over. What must he think of me? How I must have disappointed him by throwing myself at a man I just met? The disappointment was written all over his face!

Pomona sat there for a few moments, feeling sorry for herself and wondering what Filius really thought of her when she remembered her shoulder. Rising from the floor, she took off her over-robe and under-robe. Turning in front of the mirror, she drew in her breath sharply when she caught a glimpse of her right shoulder blade.

She had a tattoo! When had she done that? She frowned. Looking back at it, her brows rose. It was a deep pink heart created from two different musical forms and had a banner of words running through it. The words: Love is the music of our hearts, waved at her every so often. Is it supposed to look like that? she wondered. The flesh surrounding the fresh tattoo was an angry red. She had never gotten a tattoo before, and she supposed it would be sore for a few days. Anything that required a needle placing ink under your skin would probably hurt for more than a day.

Funny, Ro had never mentioned it. Maybe no one knew she had a tattoo. And no one needed to know as far as she was concerned. If Filius ever saw it, he would know exactly how she felt about him. If any of the girls saw it, they would probably look at her with that pitiful look they saved for just her and her hopeless love for a man who would never give her the kind of love she needed in return. No, better no one knew about it but her.

Placing a hand over her eyes, she shook her head. How could I be so reckless? Drawing in a breath, she strode into the bathroom and grabbed a cloth. Wetting and wringing it out, she washed her shoulder gently, then put her robes back on. With a determined look, she left her chambers. She had one more double class this afternoon with Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw to get through before she could go find Taurean to pick his brain some more about last night.