The Potion of Life

Chapter 14: Back to Normal

Again, a day late, but I am on vacation currently so you'll have to excuse me. With that said, I want to let you know that I'm not sure if I'll be able to update next week as I am focusing on relaxing and doing the things I want to do during my holiday, as I'm sure you guys will understand. If I don't update next week; the week after that I will resume the regular update schedule again!

Despite my initial confusion when I woke up and the wave of sadness washing over me when I realized I wasn't in that type of relationship with Garreth, I was happy to be back in the world that made sense to me.
   The world that I've known my whole life and the Wizarding world that I've come to know since I was eleven.
   It felt good to be held by Garreth and see the familiar faces of my Professors, all of them telling me that this, this was all real. Not a dream.

When they explained to me that I'd been asleep for over a month, I couldn't believe it. But one glance out of the window was all the proof I needed. It had been snowing.
   Once Nurse Blainey was done making sure I was physically okay, the Headmistress wanted to send me to my common room, but I had questions that I needed answers to sooner rather than later.
   She was quick to reassure me that my schoolwork wouldn't suffer and I would still be able to graduate. That was not my worry in the slightest though.

"What about my family? Do they know? Mum, dad, Quinn?" I looked at my Professors and Garreth.
   Headmistress Weasley cleared her throat awkwardly. "They only know you've been sick and are recovering. Since we couldn't involve the Ministry, it was either telling them that or not letting them know at all."
   I slowly nodded. She was right. If my parents had known, they would've demanded to come visit me or take me to St. Mungo's. But for Muggles to visit me here, a special permit needed to be granted by the Minister of Magic himself and St. Mungo's needed to report any strange cases to the Ministry as well.
   It wasn't like I had told them about the last incident either. Nor any of my struggles during fifth year.
They're muggles.
   I doubt they'd understand much of it and as much as I love them, I know they wouldn't be able to trust me on my word that I am okay. To them I was still their little girl, not a woman yet and especially my father would have wanted me home if he knew what dangers I had been through at Hogwarts.

"Did they write me a lot?" I asked. Garreth smiled.
   "They knew you were recovering and wouldn't be able to read much of it, but they did write a few letters. Besides that, they did send you a gift almost every day. They're kept in your dormitory next to your bed. From what Aurélie told me, it's quite a lot."
   That made me chuckle and all of a sudden I wished I could see them. I missed them.
"Will I be able to see them soon? I uhm, feel a little homesick." My cheeks flushed since I hadn't been homesick since first year. How embarrassing.

"Since it's Christmas break, you are allowed to go and visit them." The Headmistress told me gently.
   I looked at Garreth and thought about it. He would be here at Hogwarts this break and I would love to spend some time with him. But I really wanted to see my family even if it was just for a little bit.
   "Is it possible for me to visit them just for a few days? I think it'd be good for me to see them, but two weeks is a long time. Especially since I got swept away in the Muggle world in my dream." Actually I had no clue whether it would do me actual good or not, but I was sure that two weeks would be too much for me.

"It shouldn't be a problem. We can arrange a carriage that'll take you to Hogsmeade station where you can board the train next week. You'll celebrate New Year's Eve with your family and at the end of the break, you'll be returning to school together with the other students." Headmistress Weasley told me kindly.
   "It does mean that you'll spend Christmas, which is the day after tomorrow mind you, here at Hogwarts. Is that a problem for you? You'll find most of your friends are staying here during the break as well."
   "No that's fine. I think I'd love to spend it with my friends." I answered her honestly.
"Good. Now it really is time for you to go back to your common room. I know it's just the start of the day, but you'll be safe there and well cared for." She gave me a warm smile and I knew she was right.
   "Don't worry Ms. Cole. We're all working on finding whoever is behind all of this." Professor Sharp assured me as we parted ways. I only nodded, not sure if I had much faith in it.