Potions class had not gone well today.

Regina had stirred her cauldron too vigorously, or perhaps not vigorously enough, or had not chopped her ingredients just so—it did not matter in the slightest to the first year what the cause was, only the effect: after her cauldron had bubbled over, it had stained her robes dreadfully in what was the most embarrassing thing to happen to her since beginning at the school. Worse still, the resulting contact had caused Gina to break out in hives, and now the Hufflepuff found herself in the hospital wing.

Her ruined robes had already been disposed of, and judging by the discolouration of her day dress, that garment would undoubtedly be next, though not until she returned to the semi-privacy of the Hufflepuff dormatories. She had been given a tonic to help with the reaction, and had been quite firmly directed to remain for the next thirty minutes, at which point the nurse would assess her again.

Dutifully, Regina had done as directed, crying quietly on her cot, only a thin, fabric divider on one side blocking her from sight of the door. Merlin help her—how did she get herself into these messes?!

I'll be back in a few minutes to check on you, the nurse had reassured before departing, leaving the Hufflepuff in the otherwise empty room. The door to the hospital wing, though, reopened far too soon, and G did her best to silence herself. It was too soon for the nurse's return, and the last thing Regina Pendergast wanted was to draw any more attention to herself today.

She sniffed involuntarily and quite audibly.

So much for that.