Anna Black, The Girl Who Lived (Book 6)

28: The Love Potion

Three days had passed and Anna had not dared leave the Gryffindor Tower. Not only did she not want to see Caspar, but she caught up on sleep.

Seriously, Slughorn's potions worked like a charm...especially when she downed a double dosage.

Hermione and Ron interrogated Harry on the situation but he refused to give up any information. They tried to keep their speculations at bay and settled for bringing the girl occasional meals from the Great Hall the few times she was awake. 

And, oddly enough, Anna wasn't too annoyed. Not only with them, but Caspar too.

A part of her felt relieved that the two would be broken off soon. She didn't have to worry about Caspar's perfect facade dropping on her unexpectedly because it already did. She could commit to beating the war and keeping her own issues under control instead of being in a committed relationship. She could also let her mind wander to a certain raven-haired boy without feeling guilt...but she wasn't ready to admit that yet.

It was Wednesday, though, and missing two consecutive days in N.E.W.T.-level classes caused a nasty amount of stress and work. Anna knew she had to pull herself together and get out, but her bed was just so comfy. 

But it was as if someone heard her internal dialogue. Parvati Patil was the last of the other girls left in the dorm. She started for the door, but a glance at the messy blonde made her pull back. The two had never been relatively close, only partnering on a few projects and passing greetings in the corridors, but Parvati always secretly admired Anna's strength.

She walked over to the bed after seeing that Anna was at least a bit awake. "Hey...um, I just wanted to ask if everything is okay?"

Anna groaned as she sat up, not even caring she looked scraggly as ever. Her stormy eyes met the other's light brown ones, radiating kindness. "I'm just catching up on rest...haven't slept a whole night since last year."

"I, um...I'm sorry for your loss and everything else that's happened." She was met with silence so she just tried to continue. "I think it's brilliant how you've been able to move forward and all. That's why...well, maybe you should come to class today. Professors have been asking about you. And Harry...well, he misses you."

Anna perked up a bit at this despite the lack of surprise she should have felt. "Oh, that's funny, I was just thinking this should be the day I try to get back to normal...well, whatever that is at least."

The two shared a smile. "Do you want me to walk you to class?"

"Um, have you seen me?" Anna asked as she motioned to her disheveled self, chuckling, "It'll be a while and I'd hate to make you late."

"I'm happy to hear you're ready to come back...see you in class, Anna!" said Parvati with a grin before heading out the door. 

Left in silence, Anna embraced the stillness of the room, looking around. It was starting to hit her how out of touch with reality she was. The clothes and belongings around the room, moved with daily use. She wasn't even noticing the simplest parts of life anymore. Her life had been a never-ending battle with Voldemort and self-destruction. 

She was a teenage girl, supposed to obsess over hair and makeup and boys, making friends and craving attention, from the school and trips to Hogsmaede. The friendship bracelet on her wrist, formerly her mother's, felt as if it weighed more than before.

With one last glance around the room, she got up and headed to the restroom, bursting into fits of laughter once she saw how much of a mess she was. Her hair was the equivalent of a bird's nest and her eyes were undoubtedly puffy. For once, though, she finally felt like she was in reality as she wasn't overtaken by fatigue any longer. The dark circles under her eyes were starting to lighten up, her skin gaining color again.