Hello everyone, I have a new story to share. This collection is going to be 14 short (100-500 words) stories having everything to do with Hannah Abbott. They are all unrelated but I'm going to try and keep a similar theme throughout.

This first one deals with Anxiety and panic attacks, if this isn't your thing or makes you uncomfortable, you've been warned.

Written for 2 Week Drabble Wars: International Woman's Day

Prompt: Write your character going through mental illness/dealing with another person's mental illness.
Dialogue: "Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it."

Hope you enjoy

She tried not to quiver in her seat, she failed. She'd been called into the Headmaster's office and she knew she was in trouble.

"Miss Abbott," Headmaster Dumbledore said.

She didn't hear him, too busy panicking. It was the first week of first year, the first week and she was in trouble. How did that happen? How could that happen? Hannah's breathing became short.

Oh, Merlin, Merlin, how, I don't, I can't, I can't, I can't.

A hand gripped her shoulder and it startled her enough to look up. When did I look down? She stared into the worried blue eyes of her Headmaster and she, somehow, managed to calm down.

"Miss Abbott, are you okay? I've called for Madam Pomfrey, she'll be here shortly."

Hannah's eyes widen and tears starting to form, I've caused trouble, more trouble, Merlin. No, no-

"Miss Abbott, Hannah," the Headmaster said sternly, "breathe with me."

Hannah felt the Headmaster's hand grab hers gently and pressed it against the steady rise and fall of his chest. He was exaggerating his breathing for her, keeping them slow and calm. Eventually Hannah managed to match her breathing to his. Then the floo flared to life and Hannah's breathe caught.

"It's okay Hannah; it's just Madam Pomfrey arriving. Can you keep your breathing calm?"

Hannah nodded her head with a jerky movement and focused on keeping her breathing in time with the Headmasters.

"Hannah," a woman's voice, "can you drink this for me?"

Hannah didn't speak but reached out for the bottle which was placed into her hand. Without thinking, she threw her head back and swallowed the lot. Instantly, calm seeped into her bones and she slumped back, exhausted.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered after a moment, she couldn't believe she had a panic attack in the Headmaster's office.

"No need to apologise. Are you okay?"

Hannah nodded, not wishing to speak yet.

"This is why I asked you here. Your mother informed me off your anxiety and I wished to speak to you about it. I see now, I should have warned you and I apologise."

Hannah closed her eyes, too tired to panic, or maybe that's the potion.

"I'm crazy," Hannah mumbled.

The Headmaster raised an eyebrow, "I don't think you're crazy, you just have an extra challenge. Fate has made it so you need to fight that little bit harder."

"Fate?"

"Our fate lives within us, you only have to be brave enough to see it."

Hannah looked up, remembering who she was with, she tried to sit up straight but found her limbs felt like jelly.

The Headmaster smiled down at her, "Madam Pomfrey will take you to the hospital wing tonight. Tomorrow you may go to classes like normal, if you feel up to it, sound good?"

Hannah nodded slowly as Madam Pomfrey helped her to stand. They left out the door, starting the long walk to the Hospital wing and Hannah could only wonder what the Headmaster meant.

(w.c 497)

WolfWinks –xx-