Forgotten

Book 1 ch 6 after Halloween

I don't remember November ever being this cold. The world beyond my nook in the window along the Transfiguration corridor had molded to a black-and-white tint. Somewhere between the time I had faced the troll and when I had been released, a frost had fallen over the grounds. I had only woken up yesterday and I was released from Madam Pomfrey's care only this morning, so the grounds were still burning my eyes.

I hugged my jacket closer to me as I watched the students below move around. In spirit of the Quidditch match tonight, most of the students wore colors that represented what team they wanted to win. My red-and-gold scarf tied around my neck showed where my loyalty stood.

"Leira, why aren't you down at breakfast?"

I looked up to Professor McGonagall who was heading down the corridor towards me. My legs unfolded from underneath of me so that one was hanging out of the window and the other waited inside. Neither of us seemed too concerned that I was halfway out of the window.

"I ate before I left the hospital, professor."

"Are you feeling any better?"

"My eyes still hurt a little when I look outside for too long." I said. "Other than that, I am fine."

"You shouldn't have taken on the troll on your own."

Professor McGonagall had taken longer to scold me than I had expected. I almost anticipated her to come as soon as I woke up to tell me what I had done wrong. My head fell back onto the stone behind me as I looked up at McGonagall.

"There wasn't really much of a choice. If I didn't act then Harry and his friends would have been trapped in the bathroom on their own with the troll."

"I am not saying that they were in the right either."

"I would do it again."

"You saved them."

"They are smart kids. I'm sure they would have done fine without me."

McGonagall fixed her robes and nodded. There is more that she wants to say, but she is holding back. The woman raised me, I could tell when there is more on her mind.

"Are you going to the Quidditch match today?"

"Of course. I wouldn't miss it."

"Just don't overdo yourself. If you aren't feeling well, comeback to the castle to rest."

"I know, professor."

"And don't fall out of the window."

"Do I ever?"

McGonagall continued down the corridor to her office, leaving me alone once more. I dug a book out of my bag and read through it until the clock hit eleven. By the time I got to the stands that surrounded the Quidditch pitch, there were barely any seats left. Alison waved for me to join her near the top row of the stands. A pair of binoculars hung around her neck.

"Look." I pointed a little further down the stands from us.

A group of Harry's friends, Ron and Hermione included, had painted a banner for him. The words read "Potter for President" in several colors. A lion had been drawn neatly underneath of the words. Alison grinned at the banner and looked at me.

"Do you think he will be any good?"

"You could show a little faith in him." I grinned.

"I'm just saying." shrugged Alison, "First years don't ever play."

"You think Oliver would just let any first year on his team?"

"You mean your Quidditch obsessed boyfriend? There is a better chance that I would spend a night in the Forbidden Forest then there would be of Oliver just letting anyone on his precious team."