I finished this story ages ago but decided to revisit it and edit it. I wasn't ever completely satisfied with it and being a bit of a perfectionist had to change it. The majority of it is the same but I have changed the tense and some other small changes. Please review!
Revelations
Professor Dumbledore and Madame Pompfrey stood over a girl who was lying pale and lifeless in a bed. The bed was the only one in the small room which was near to but separate to the rest of the hospital wing at Hogwarts.
'How is she?'' Dumbledore asked.
'She is better but still very weak. We almost lost her.' Madame Pompfrey answered.
'She's a fighter.' Dumbledore replied and reached out to stroke a strand of long light brown hair from the girl's face.
'She will have to be a fighter to get through this and then all that she will have to face in the future. Although, are you sure this is the right place for her?'
'With all your expertise she nearly slipped away, she wouldn't have stood a chance in that Muggle Hospital. Trust me on this one.'
Madame Pompfrey nodded, 'You always seem to know what is best.'
'Very well, I will leave her in your capable hands. Let me know when she wakes up. I have to welcome back the rest of the students.'
Professor Dumbledore left the hospital wing and walked to the Great Hall
The girl in the bed stirred. She slowly opened her eyes. Her head is pounding. Madame Pompfrey entered the room and noticed the girl was awake.
'Hello, sweetheart', she said quietly. 'How are you feeling?'
'My head hurts a little.'
'If you drink this you will feel better.'
'Oh what is it? Some kind of paracetemol?'
'Paracetemol? What's that? No, it's a sleeping draught mixed with a pain-killer.'
'Oh, ok.' The girl took the small cup that Madame Pompfrey held out for her.
'I warn you it is not the nicest tasting of potions.'
The girl nodded and swallowed the potion in one go. Her face grimaced as she tastes the potion.
'Have a sip of water to take away the taste.'
'Thanks,' the girl said and takes a sip. 'That'smuch better, thank you.'
'You are welcome, try and get some rest dear. Sleep is the best medicine.' Madame Pompfrey said as she left the room. The girl looks confused, there are so many questions that she wants answering but her eyelids began to feel very heavy as the sleeping draught take its hold. After a few minutes she was fast asleep.
"Good morning, dear.' Madame Pompfrey said to the girl who woke up and looks around her, her face showing confusion. 'Did you sleep well?'
'Yes, thank you, very well. My head feels better as well.'
Madame Pompfrey nodded satisfied, turned to leave and said, 'that's good. We may try getting you to try and eat something later.'
'Where am I?'
'Hogwarts, dear.'
'Hogwarts?'
'Yes, try not to worry dear you are safe here. Everything will become clearer as time goes on. I shall tell Professor Dumbledore you are awake.' Madame Pompfrey left the room. The girl sat up in bed. The word Hogwarts had seemed familiar but she couldn't remember where from. She was still thinking when Professor Dumbledore entered the room.
'Hello Rebecca. It is good to see you awake.'
'How do you know my name?' Rebecca asked. 'What happened to me? Where am I?'
'I know you must have lots of questions. I will try and answer them for you. What do you know?'
'I don't know anything. I don't know how I got here, I don't know what happened.' Rebecca whispered clearly distressed.
'Well let's start with what happened. This may be painful for you but what can you remember?'
'Remember? I can't remember anything'
Professor Dumbledore walked over to Rebecca and placed his hands gently on both sides of her head.
'I need you to close your eyes. Do you remember your mother?'
'My mother... Mum, I do remember. We live together in a small house. She's more like a big sister to me then a Mum – we are really close… Oh she's dead isn't she?' Rebecca whispered with tears in her eyes.
'I'm sorry, Rebecca. Can you remember how she died?'
'My dad… he was there… he killed her.' Rebecca said with tears running down her face. Professor Dumbledore removed his hands from her head, sat down on the bed and placed a hand on one of her hands.
'I remember now, what did you do?' Rebecca asked.
'I removed the block that had been placed on your memories.'
'Oh.'
'I think that is enough to take in at the moment; you are still very weak and need your rest. I shall come and explain more tomorrow. Try and eat something.' Professor Dumbledore gestured to the tray of food that Madame Pompfrey was bringing in. They left the room together.
I laid back in my bed, my head was spinning. I felt so overwhelmed. Part of me felt like crying, almost expected me to, but for some reason the tears just wouldn't come. I tried and pushed the memories of that night, the night when… when my dad killed my mum to the back of my mind. Think of something else, Rebecca I said to myself and looked around the room for something to occupy my mind. My eyes fell onto the meal that had been left for me. Even though it was the last thing I felt like doing I picked up one of the sandwiches and took a mouthful. It was really hard to eat but I knew that I should try. I managed about half of the food and then lay back down. I felt so tired again, I tried and stayed awake to think about things but my eyes just keep closing.
I awoke to the lady bringing in some breakfast. I smiled at her. 'Thanks.' I said.
'It's my pleasure dear. Well done for eating what you did yesterday. How are you feeling?'
'Much better thank you. I am sorry but I don't know your name.'
'Madame Pompfey dear and you are Rebecca am I right?'
'Yes.'
'Well here's your breakfast.'
'Thanks.'
'Don't worry if you fall asleep again, you have been through a bit of an ordeal.'
I smiled as she left the room and glanced over at the tray. It was porridge, my favourite. I smiled at the memory of my mum making it for me just the way I liked and she would bring it up to me and I would wake up to the smell of it. I cannot believe that she is gone. I took a spoonful of the porridge. It was delicious and before I know it has all gone. The man came in who spoke to me last night. I think he is called Professor Dumbledore.
'Did you enjoy your breakfast, Rebecca?'
'Yes, I did thanks.'
'I'm Professor Dumbledore by the way.' He sat down on the chair which is next to my bed. 'I am the headmaster of Hogwarts which is where you are.'
'Hogwarts? Madame Pompfrey mentioned that name, it seems familiar but I don't know where I would have heard it before.'
'Maybe, your father mentioned it to you as he was a student here.'
'Oh, was he?' I said and remembering everything look away.
'Rebecca, do you know what kind of school Hogwarts is?' I shook my head and Professor Dumbledore continued, 'it is a school for young witches and wizards to learn all kinds of magic from potions to defence against the dark arts. Do you believe in magic?'
'A few months ago, I would have said no, but that night when my mum died revealed a number of things to me. So yes I believe in magic.' I said. 'My dad is a wizard, isn't he?'
'Yes.'
'Are you wizards like him?' I whispered.
'No, he has become very powerful and is what can be called a dark wizard.'
'He's killed other people hasn't he?'
'Yes, how do you know that?' Professor Dumbledore asked softly.
'That night… when he… killed my mum with a green light from his wand, he boasted about how many people had suffered the same fate, he put the images in my head.' As I said this some of them flashed before my eyes, all those people he killed innocent people, like my Mum.
'Images in your head?' Dumbledore asked.
'Yes, I know it may sound strange but I seem to be able to read people's minds, always have been able to. At first I thought everybody could but my Mum told me that it was very unusual. Anyway my dad knew this and made me read his mind when he was thinking about all the people he had killed.'
Professor Dumbledore looked at me strangely.
'Are you a truth-seeker, Rebecca?'
'I think that is what it is called.'
'And you have always been able to read people's minds.'
I nodded, thinking to myself about how it hadn't always a good thing.
'Rebecca, can you read my mind and tell me what my first name is?'
'Ok.' I looked deep into Professor Dumbledore's eyes, cleared my mind and let the connection between our minds happen. The name Peter sprung out at me but I knew that this is a false name, I smiled to myself, I don't fall for tricks like that, and looked deeper. The real name appeared to me. I closed my eyes which closes the connection and said, 'Albus.'
'Not Peter then.'
'No, Albus.'
'Well done Rebecca, can you transfer memories as well?'
'Well I can make them play out like on a screen.'
'Could you show me? Maybe you could show me what your house looked like.'
Transferring memories took more concentration; I closed my eyes and searched my own brain. I concentrated hard on thinking about what my house looked like and when I was happy that it was strong enough I opened my eyes and looked at a blank wall. I let the memories flow out of my head and images of my house appear on the wall. The front of my house, my bedroom, and the garden. I put my hand to my head and let out a sigh as it hurts a little.
'Rebecca?' Professor Dumbledore is looking at me.
'It just hurts a little, I must be out of practice.'
'Stop, Rebecca, if it is causing you pain.'
I closed my eyes and pull the memories back into my mind and close the connection to the wall. I opened my eyes again.
'Rebecca, that is amazing.'
'Thanks.'
'Truth-seekers of your ability are very rare. Very few people can learn to do what you have done even after years of studying. You must have been born with the ability which is even more rare as you are a muggle.'
'A muggle?' I asked, again the word seems familiar to me.
'A muggle is the name that wizards and witches use for non-magic people. It is very rare, in fact I think you may be unique, to be a muggle with truth-seeking powers which you have had since birth.'
He seemed thoughtful. We sat in silence for a few moments.
'Professor? Why am I here? I'm not a witch.'
He looked at me 'you may not be a witch but your truth-seeking sets you apart from other muggles.'
'Oh.' I said.
'Rebecca, your father after killing your mother turned on you. I don't think he intended to kill you but he did seriously hurt you. When I heard of your mother's death and your injuries, I transferred you from the muggle hospital you were in to the hospital wing of Hogwarts. You were ill for nearly a month and there were times when we thought we had lost you.'
'Why did you bother? Why didn't you just let me go?' I said, part of me wishing that I was with my mum wherever she was.
'Your father has caused enough people to die.'
I looked away. 'So what happens now?'
'You will stay here for the time being and when you are feeling better you can start lessons.'
'Lessons?' I asked surprised.
'Yes, I know you aren't a witch but you have a sharp mind. There is someone I know that may be willing to come and help you improve your truth-seeking skills.'
'Shouldn't I go back home, I'd be put into care as there is no one else to look after me.'
'I am afraid that I believe if you leave Hogwarts there is a chance you will die.'
'Why?'
'It seems that your father wants you to be here.'
I stood up, 'Well surely if this is where my dad wants me to be, then this is the last place I should be.'
Professor Dumbledore put a hand on my shoulder and gently pushed me so I sat back down on the bed. 'Not necessarily, you will be safe here.'
I covered my face with my hands. 'I don't understand.'
'Your father has become a very powerful wizard. Sixteen years ago he reached the peak of his power and would kill anyone that got in his way. He became much feared by wizards and witches, many still find it hard to say his name. Your father is Lord Voldermort…'