When Mr. Healer arrived and came over to her first, she'd been about to protest -- Miss Olivia had her face hurt, she needed to be first -- but he'd already started working. She guessed it would be faster to let him finish up then, so he could treat the older girls. She would be good and not scream or cry loudly.

As Mr. Healer had started working on her arm, he'd had to siphon off some butter and the first year whispered: "Please don't tell Professor Marchand he missed the butter. He'll be really sad." Her voice broke a couple of times, the tears running down her face possibly from strong emotions as well as pain now. Professor Marchand had already been so sad today...

The Gryffindor had bitten down on her lip, hard, to keep from crying out when Mr. Healer had taken physical hold of her arm to look at the injury. It was red, red, RED, and it felt like it was on fire and like her arm might fall off where he touched it. The arrival of the dogs with their first aid kits distracted Emmeline from the pain enough that she stopped biting her lip, revealing a little blood where she'd bitten down too hard, as she was impressed with the dogs' skills. She didn't know that Muggle dogs -- she didn't think these were crups -- could do amazing things like that. She gave the dog who put his head on her lap a small smile; her cruppy did that in the same way, with the same expression. She petted him gratefully with her uninjured left hand, and was only too happy to follow him and his doggy friend into the ward after Mr. Healer had helped the older girls too.

She moved over to their assigned bed and perched on one corner of it, taking up as little space as possible so that the older girls had more room.

River was quick to collect the potions and materials he needed, and neatly laid everything out on a nearby table. As usual, River did not waste any second and started the main healing procedure. He was too focused on his task that he nearly missed what the young Gryffindor had to say. Merlin, if only Gaston was here to hear what Emmeline said. He was sure the Charms professor would've hugged the first year right there and then. After cleaning the remaining burn-healing paste on Emmeline's arm, River grinned at the first year and summoned a few sheets of facial tissue from the bedside table, "Your secret is safe with me, Miss Sparkes." he said in a soft tone and carefully wiped the girl's tears away and the blood on her lips. River handed her another clean sheet of tissue after tossing the soiled one behind him, "Put pressure on your lip so it will stop bleeding. Your arm will be good as new in a few minutes, I promise." River gave the first year a reassuring grin as he prepared two sets of metal tray, laying in a few layers of clean gauze and poured two different liquids on each tray.

River pulled his metal stool in front of Emmeline and sat on it as he watched the soaked gauzes float around in each tray, "This might sting a bit, but it's a clear indication that the Murtlap Essence, and Essence of Dittany are at work. Tell me if the pain is too much, and we will take a break, okay?" The last thing he needed was a wailing student. River levitated a sheet of soaked gauze from one of the trays, and applied it on Emmeline's burns and blisters. Immediately, the gauze started to absorb blood on its surface, making it more saturated. River gently lifted it off and applied another fresh layer on her injured arm. "Take deep breaths, Miss Sparkes. It should help alleviate the pain..."

Melbourne sat quietly in the bed area watching Emmeline as she spoke and began to cry. Oh deary, ”don’t worry Emmeline, we don’t need to tell Professor Marchand” Mel gave the first year a small smile even if really she just wanted to give the girl a hug. She was sweet, and deserved to get them after all.

Listening Melbourne watched as Healer Reed put gauze on Emmelines arms…hmm, that was interesting? Really, would it have been a smart idea for her to write these things down…oh wait, her hand sure, it had healed mostly but the slight sting from the memory of the pain was still there. Sure there was that, and there was her innate desire to just be near the Healer.

She wanted to thank him for last year, for helping Tenacius…for everything.

”Healer Reed?...” she spoke her words soft and gentle as she leaned against the assigned bed. ”…I um wanted to say you have a really nice um bedside manor” and other things but it wasn’t like she, a 15 year old, were going to compliment him on his face or his bum. That was just weird.

River was busy, hyper-focused even on Emmeline's arm when Melbourne spoke. His name did resound inside his head, but it took him a few good seconds to realise that someone was trying to talk to him. It didn't help that the older Gryffindor's voice was soft. He did appreciate the gentle approach though. He didn't want them disrupting the rest of the patients trying to get some rest and whatnot.

River looked up and blinked, and slowly grinned when the words started to register in his brain. "That's nice of you to say, Miss Sorin-Ward. Thank you," it wasn't every day that students come to see him and thank him for his medical services. Most do not appreciate what he does for them, hated him even, but, he couldn't care less. He did function under the auxiliary services of the school. If anything, he was to provide them with his expertise as quietly and as efficiently as possible minus the drama.

After giving Melbourne and appreciative grin, he went back to healing Emmeline's arm. "Does your arm still sting?" he asked giving Mel a quick glance.