Song of Loralai- The Series

Recovery

         Madam Pomfrey walked over to the two boys, sitting next to the bed with the Siren lying in it. They had been sitting there for 12 hours now, and they needed sleep. "You two, get out of here." She said sternly but considerately. "You need your sleep. I'll send you an owl when she is awake." She said, watching them. Reluctantly they got up, and walked out of the hospital wing.

        They walked out, looking behind them as the doors closed. They both stood there in silence, thoughts racing through their head. Would she die? They didn't know.

      They both turned to each other, and saw a reflection of themselves. They were afraid. They nodded to each other solemnly, and went their separate ways, back to their common rooms.

       Michael sat in the Hufflepuff common room, hugging a pillow tightly. The same pillow Loralai would always lay on. He sat a tray of cookies in front of him, and staring at the fire ate them slowly. His housemates felt it best to leave him be, knowing some pain has to be taken alone. Long after everyone else fell asleep, Michael was still eating cookies. Eventually he laid down, holding the pillow tightly.

      Severus sat on the windowsill, looking out at the empty waters. He clutched his potions book in his hand, watching the fish swim by, and the occasional Selkie. The common room was empty, as usual, and the green hue on the room seemed to dim. He wrapped his arms around his legs tightly. He remembered when he saw Loralai for the first time, floating among the other Selkies, a jewel in the rough. He remembered pressing his hand against the glass over hers, and the swell of emotions he received from her. He remembered meeting her by the beach, watching her take the potion, and morph painfully for the first time into a human. What had he deserved to have this happen to him? He thought. What did she deserve to be wounded so? He didn't know the answer. For the millionth time in his life, he felt absolutely helpless. He fell asleep on the windowsill, still clutching to those memories and thoughts.

       They were sitting at their tables in the Great Hall for breakfast, but not eating their food. Their friends tried to cheer them up, but to no avail. But suddenly, tons of owls swarmed into the Great Hall, and for the first time that day, they felt a spark of hope. It grew even more when an owl delivered a letter to both of them, coming from Madam Pomfrey.

      They both bolted out of their seats, and ran out of the hall, towards the Infirmary.

      They burst in, and what they saw brought the first smile on their faces for days.

       Loralai was awake, sitting up against several pillows, and was looking much healthier. Her skin had retained it's glow, and she was no longer bleeding. Her hair was put up in a messy bun, and she was drinking a liquid Madam Pomfrey gave her. As they got closer however, they saw something was off.

      She was human.

       Upon seeing them a giant smile appeared on her face, reaching her eyes. She got up, carefully, and hugged them both tightly, standing on two legs. They hugged her back tightly, trying not to cry. 

       "Madam Pomfrey told me what you did." she said, smiling. "I would have died if it wasn't for you three..." she said, trailing off. "I know. Dumbledore came in and blasted Curnow out of the cabin, we didn't see him. Let's hope he's dead." Michael said, and Loralai sighed happily. That meant her sisters were avenged.

        "Let's go back to the common room." Both Michael and Sev said at the same time, and they looked at each other. Loralai laughed. "How about the Great Hall? I'm starving, plus the House cup ceremony is soon!" She said, and ran out of the Infirmary, and they followed her.

        The three of them all sat at Hufflepuff, eating giant portions after not eating for a day. Loralai was just finishing her apple juice when Dumbledore spoke up.

        "Welcome, students! It's the end of the year, and it has been a long one indeed. As you all know, it is time to announce the winners of the House Cup, but first, some last minute points." he said, his voice booming, and the trio looked at each other.

       "To Mister Michael Stebbins. For showing immense bravery during a time when most would have broken, and to not giving up on friends, I award, 50 points." He said, raising a glass to Michael, and he beamed and raised his empty cup back.

      "To Mister Severus Snape. Would it not be for his incredible skills in potion making and problem solving, I am afraid one of our students would have been lost. To that, I award, 50 points." he said, and Sev beamed at being acknowledged.

       "And finally, to our recent transfer, Miss Loralai Morvant." he said, and everyone looked at her. "It takes immense bravery to stand up to your enemies when facing great peril, and even more to not give in when death is near. To you, I award, 100 points." he said, smiling, and Loralai smiled, proud of earning so many points.

        The room clapped for each of them, and then the room was silent.

        "Now, with 362 points, and in fourth place, Ravenclaw." He said, and the Ravenclaw clapped un-enthusiastically. "Third, with 422 points, Gryffindor." Gryffindor table gave some whoops, but not excitedly. "In second place, with an astonishing 490 points, Slytherin!" he said, and Slytherin table cheered loudly. "And in first place, with 545 points, HUFFLEPUFF!" he said, and the Hufflepuff table threw their hats into the air as the banners in the hall turned into the Hufflepuff flag.

        "Now, earlier this year I promised a Hogsmeade trip, and that we shall have. All students to the courtyard! And Hufflepuff may get in without parental slips!" he said, and everyone cheered and ran out of the Great Hall, the teachers following suit.

       Loralai, Michael and Severus were the first to get on the carriages, and after everyone was loaded up they started moving towards Hogsmeade. Everyone could barely contain their excitement. 

      Upon arrival, they burst out of the carriages, immediately going for the candy and joke shops. Their entire day was filled with Butterbeer, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and Zonko's Joke Shop. At the end of the day, they sat in the Three Broomsticks, sitting in a booth in the back, Butterbeer in hand.

      "Besides the whole Pirate Captain Curnow ordeal, i'd say this was a pretty good year, wouldn't you?" Severus said, and Loralai nodded. "A very short year it feels like." she said, sipping her Butterbeer.

      "Well you were only here for a few months!" Michael said, and they laughed. "True, but next year will be different." Loralai said, looking back at Hogwarts from a window. "Yeah," said Severus. "I'll turn you into a potions master like me yet!" he said, and Michael laughed. "No way! Total Charms genius!" Loralai laughed. "And who said I couldn't be the master of something else? Like...Transfiguration!" she said, and they stared at her for a second before they all burst into laughter.

     The ride back to Hogwarts was long, and when they got there it was already time to leave on the train. Michael and Severus went down to the Black Lake to send her off.

      "Well, this is where we say goodbye for a whole summer." Michael said glumly, looking down at his feet. "Yeah..." Sev said, also looking at the ground. "I'll be here when you come back, don't worry. Besides, i'll send you mail." she said, smiling at them, and they returned the smile.

       They hugged her tightly. "You guys should go, or you'll miss the train." she said, walking backwards before doing a back flip into the water, coming back up with her tail and splashing water on them.

        "Ah!" they exclaimed, trying to shield themselves. "We're going!" they said, running back and laughing, with Loralai waving at them while they disappeared from her view. She could already see her summer would be exciting, spending her time with the Selkies and Syreni, who she hadn't seen in weeks. But she felt after summer would be even better.