Madame Pomfrey was doing a very important thing when she heard Gloria's cough begin.  It was amazing how quickly the ear could distinguish between coughs.   

The trouble with so many sick all at once meant that one was forever on their feet. Even with the help from Mungo's, Poppy felt as if she hadn't sat down once all day, though she had. Ashby had needed an additional potion, though it that was because of actual need or simply to get him to stop whining, she would never admit. Pippa had somehow, in the daytime, left her bed and curled up against a still very weak Tucker and she'd had to send the redhaired girl, once again, back to her own bed. 

Ric, who had rarely seemed awake since his arrival, has to be checked on at least once an hour while in the oxygen tent and it was, while she was checking on him that the coughing began.  It was amazing how quickly the ear could distinguish between coughs.  Those that were painful sounding but relatively benign, those that called for action.  She practically flew to the other side of the room, one of the nurses from Mungos falling in to take her place by Mr. Morgan's bedside.

The girl had slumped over by the time she reached the bed, and though she was mindful of all of the eyes that could be watching her she wasted no time making her decision.

"Tracetolea"

She declared, and a perfectly round hole appeared in the young girls neck.  It was the quickest way to ensure she'd get the air she needed, though she'd be unable to talk until the procedure was healed.  With a flick of her wand the curtain around the bed shut so quickly it produced a breeze.  Madame Pomfrey then turned her wand back to her patient and listened to Miss Watkin's lungs.  Her face was distressed, but she kept up a steady commentary--meant to be comforting--in case the girl could hear her.

"Now then, I know it's uncomfortable, but you just breathe for me Miss Watkins and it'll be just fine.  Just breathe normally and everything will be back to rights soon enough.  Your Mister Warwick has sent another letter I see. Maybe you'd like to look at it while we drain this off."   She pulled the young girls robe down to rub a bit of numbing ointment on her chest, and was summoning a long elf bone tube behind the curtain.  Now on three, don't you decide to look now.  One, two..." The tubing was in Miss Watkins chest.  A Healer from Mungos had hurried over to assist.  "Sounded like fluid on the lungs--pus, actually--we'll get it drained out.  She's breathing."  She wasn't sure if that information was for the Healer, Miss Watkins or herself.   

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