On a 7-9, you have to convince a scraped and bruised Golondrina

"Ow. Owww!" Golondrina says.

"Buck up, there," Miss Wormwood says. "Bravely now. Your friends are watching. You'll want to set a good example for your House."

Boarbristle's Nurse, the literally snake-haired Miss Wormwood, arranges a dressing on Golondrina's knee. Miss Wormwood's healing dressings often work by encouraging blood flow to the injured part, which makes it hotter and more sensitive. And from your experience, Golondrina runs a little hot, shaking off the Chilly Tarn in minutes, when for you it had taken the rest of the day in a hot bath.

At least Golondrina didn't need any injections. You cast a fishy eye upon Miss Wormwood's head full of waving serpents. Or half-serpents, perhaps. Tongue, fangs, beady eyes, and enough snaky body to get up in lots of places.

Places including all three of your main orifices. And some of your minor ones, at least with their little forked tongues. And then those fangs, bearing paralytic, stimulant, and aphrodisiac venom. You shiver, but you can't help but get warm and wet down there, recollecting intense scenes from last year when you were Miss Wormwood's assistant. And again, just days ago, when you helped Golondrina prepare the doses. Tongues and snakes.

"All done," Miss Wormwood pronounces. Lolo has dressings on one knee, one elbow, and the opposite hand. "I release the prisoner to you. Don't break her."

"Break her?" Fay exclaims. "Just as soon break Dorothy the Giantess."

Fay has a point. Golondrina could tie both you and Fay into pretzel knots if she felt so inclined. Simultaneously. Fortunately Lolo has only ever shown you her sweet nature, her wide-eyed sexual longing, and her protective fortitude, saving Fay from the attack of her escaped bottle-imp.

Miss Wormwood gives Fay a thin smile, nods, and gestures toward the exit of the Infirmary.

The three of you gather round the table in the scullery by Boarbristle's kitchen where you first got to know one another. A cauldron in the corner performs a stately dance on its three legs, turning one way and then the other, bowing and curtseying, sloshing its load of dirty dishes about in warm, soapy water.

"So what happened?" you ask.

"Hazing? Is that what they call it?" she says. "One of the second-years dropped my wand down a crack in the floor. Tutor told me I should see if I could find it myself. The way in looked to be through a storeroom piled high with stuff. As I was picking my way through, I heard a giggle and a wall of old this-and-that fell on me. I was so angry..." Golondrina's voice subsides. She takes a breath and sips at her tea. "Anyway I was bleeding in three places and Warden sent me to the Infirmary."

"But your wand?" Fay says.

Golondrina hisses. "Still down there somewhere."

"Oh," you say.

"Oh," Fay says. You meet her eyes and exchange a Significant Look.

⚅⚀ + 2 = 9.

On a 7-9, you'll have to convince her.

• Expend a FAVOR. They'll go along, taking +1 Forward on your next roll.
• Describe what you do to convince them, in character, to go along with what you want.
• Cast a spell on them like CHARM or COMMAND. (This is another roll).

"Lolo," Fay says, drawling out the word.

Golondrina looks up and meets Fay's eyes. Blood pinkens her cheeks. She swallows and clears her throat.

Fay looks to you.

You do your best to hold up your end. "We, ah," you begin. "We were hoping we could spend some time with you this afternoon. This evening. Ah..."

"In bed," Fay interjects. She brushes back a loose blonde tress and puts on a grin.

"Ah..." Golondrina says, frowning.

"But friends are friends!" you say. "Let's help you find your wand."

Fay kicks you under the table. "Morgan," she says warningly. "Remember Fifi?"

Fifinella Iris had run you all round Robin Hood's Barn, or as much to say, all through the Weirding Woods looking for some sort of golden fleece thing you were finally convinced didn't really exist until Pip had swanned in, snatched it from under your nose, and claimed Fifi's attention for a time, till Fi had gotten bored, or Pip had met her One True Boy.

"Fay," you hiss. "Not that way." You turn to Golondrina. "We'll apply Similarity and Contagion," you say. "What sort of wand did you have? What wood?"

Golondrina blinks. "Lignum vitae," she says. "I think...I haven't seen anyone else with one like that."

"Have her pick up another Lignum Vitae stick. Alright, well, that's Similarity," Fay says. She raises an eyebrow. "How are you going to get Contagion?"

You roll your eyes at Fay. "I know how I'd get Contagion with your wand," you say. You look to Golondrina. "D'you ever chew on your wand, suck the end or anything?" Your own nervous habit.

Golondrina shakes her head. Her red hair tosses endearingly. "No." She looks at Fay, then back to you. "How did you mean, with Fay?"

Fay smiles. "I diddle myself with my wand," she says.

Golondrina puts her hands over her mouth and opens her eyes wide.

Fay grins. "I even know a few spells to make it better. So if I were trying to find my wand, I'd get a limewood stick and rub it between my legs. Like calls to like."

Golondrina lowers her hands. She's smiling at Fay. "Well, ah," she says. "It just so happens..."

"I knew it!" Fay crows. "You are our kind of girl." Fay looks to you with an expression of bemused wonder. "There is hope for you, Woodbine. I've been wondering."

But the look in Fay's eyes is love.

"Shall we adjourn to a practice room?" you suggest.

Fay laughs. "We don't need a practice room, we just need to get Lolo the right stick and give her a moment alone. I know where to find one. Though we might need to wheedle Leontes' Warden to let the likes of us into their basement."

ENCOUNTER Leontes' Warden (Barbara Torch) to ask if you can help Golondrina find her wand.