p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"The woman who Dixie had called Madame Noir walked into my room for the second time since I'd woken up in this world. Her attire had changed: she was now in navy blue formal robes. She held herself with poised elegance and seemed to be almost dancing as she made way to the bed. I then noticed that behind her a levitating tray with food was approaching as well, probably what Dixie had prepared for me./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Lizzie, emmon cherie/em, I am glad you're awake once more," said the French woman upon arriving next to me. "I brought you something to eat, it will help with zee recovery"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"I smiled shyly at that, seeing the look of utter adoration she was giving me. Who didn't like to be fussed over when feeling bad?/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Thanks" I responded, eyeing avidly the stew with mashed potatoes fluctuating next to her./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"The tray flew over me and landed on my legs, and after looking at my new grandma for approval, which she answered with a fervent nod, I dag in the meal. It was truly delicious./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"After a bit, Madame Noir spoke. "Dixie was telling me you were having memory problems?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"I almost choked on the bit of potatoes in my mouth and chased it with some pumpkin juice. After recomposing myself, I tried to be as convincing as possible./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I think I hit my head badly, so I was confused for a while" my hand moved to the side of my face pensively./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"She looked at me with a worried expression and seemed to think about it for a minute./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I will have to ask zee Healer later if we can give you a potion for it" her hands clasped tightly in front of her, "But what matters is that you will get better soon"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"As I wasn't responding at all she added "I can also give you some old photo albums, family heirlooms and help you with anything you don't remember"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""That would be great!" I was truly excited at the thought of going through more magical artifacts. Meanwhile, I was trying to think of subtle ways to ask for information about my new "family". The best course of action was using my knowledge of the Harry Potter world to at least look like I knew the basics of how everything worked around here. It would make me look less suspicious./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""So…" I began, "I can't quite remember what mom and dad did for a living" throwing an innocent look her way./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"The woman considered me for a bit and responded. "I suppose that they didn't talk about it to you a lot" she said. "They did not really tell anyone too, as they were Unspeakables"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"My mouth dropped at that./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""They worked in the Department of Mysteries?" I inquired in a heartbeat. It was so fascinating to learn more about my parents in this world and learn that they were two badass wizards who worked on top-secret projects for the Ministry of Magic. But immediately after that thought, I was hit with a pang of sadness, remembering that they had both passed away. My enthusiasm faded quickly./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"She smiled sadly at me "Yes, both of them. That's how they met years ago." Her eyes wandered to the nearest window./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Madame Maxime herself had recommended your mother Jacqueline when she graduated from Beauxbatons to work there. And Edmund had been one of zee top students from Hogwarts and had decided to take up zee job after interning for a while."/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""What house was Dad in?" I wondered, not realizing I had asked it out loud./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I believe he was in Ravenclaw house", Madame Noir said with a little smirk. "House of the intelligent, right?" she shook her head slightly. "I never understood how things worked at Hogwarts"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"She then turned to look at me curiously. "Have you thought of which house you would prefer?" asked Madame Noir breaking my train of thought./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"My perfectly crafted poker face probably faltered at that point, as I could feel my right eye twitching. Just when you think there aren't any more bombshells to be thrown at you…/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""What do you mean?" I asked in a little voice./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""You will be going to Hogwarts soon, emcherie/em, and you never told me what House you would like to be put in" she said with a little smile./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"That could only mean…/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Wait, when was I born again?" The panic in my voice was obvious at this point, and I mentally cursed for dropping my façade./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"Madame Noir seemed to be even more concerned, as she furrowed her brows pensively at me./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""The 17th of October 1979, emmon coeur/em". Her eyes seem to tear up looking at my puzzled expression. She walked up to me and put a hand on my head, most likely checking my temperature./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I will go fire-call zee Healer immediately" the woman announced and sauntered out of my room./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"In the meantime, my mind was on fire. I slowly looked down on my body, taking in the size of my hands./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"Moving my duvet away from me, I noticed that instead of my usual black leggings and baggy shirt I was clad in what seemed like lavender satin pajamas. My feet looked smaller than before, and I appeared to be occupying a very small amount of the big bed I was in./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"Christ. Or should I say Merlin?/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Lizzie, emmon cherie/em, I am glad you're awake once more," said the French woman upon arriving next to me. "I brought you something to eat, it will help with zee recovery"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"I smiled shyly at that, seeing the look of utter adoration she was giving me. Who didn't like to be fussed over when feeling bad?/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Thanks" I responded, eyeing avidly the stew with mashed potatoes fluctuating next to her./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"The tray flew over me and landed on my legs, and after looking at my new grandma for approval, which she answered with a fervent nod, I dag in the meal. It was truly delicious./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"After a bit, Madame Noir spoke. "Dixie was telling me you were having memory problems?"/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"I almost choked on the bit of potatoes in my mouth and chased it with some pumpkin juice. After recomposing myself, I tried to be as convincing as possible./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I think I hit my head badly, so I was confused for a while" my hand moved to the side of my face pensively./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"She looked at me with a worried expression and seemed to think about it for a minute./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I will have to ask zee Healer later if we can give you a potion for it" her hands clasped tightly in front of her, "But what matters is that you will get better soon"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"As I wasn't responding at all she added "I can also give you some old photo albums, family heirlooms and help you with anything you don't remember"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""That would be great!" I was truly excited at the thought of going through more magical artifacts. Meanwhile, I was trying to think of subtle ways to ask for information about my new "family". The best course of action was using my knowledge of the Harry Potter world to at least look like I knew the basics of how everything worked around here. It would make me look less suspicious./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""So…" I began, "I can't quite remember what mom and dad did for a living" throwing an innocent look her way./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"The woman considered me for a bit and responded. "I suppose that they didn't talk about it to you a lot" she said. "They did not really tell anyone too, as they were Unspeakables"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"My mouth dropped at that./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""They worked in the Department of Mysteries?" I inquired in a heartbeat. It was so fascinating to learn more about my parents in this world and learn that they were two badass wizards who worked on top-secret projects for the Ministry of Magic. But immediately after that thought, I was hit with a pang of sadness, remembering that they had both passed away. My enthusiasm faded quickly./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"She smiled sadly at me "Yes, both of them. That's how they met years ago." Her eyes wandered to the nearest window./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Madame Maxime herself had recommended your mother Jacqueline when she graduated from Beauxbatons to work there. And Edmund had been one of zee top students from Hogwarts and had decided to take up zee job after interning for a while."/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""What house was Dad in?" I wondered, not realizing I had asked it out loud./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I believe he was in Ravenclaw house", Madame Noir said with a little smirk. "House of the intelligent, right?" she shook her head slightly. "I never understood how things worked at Hogwarts"./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"She then turned to look at me curiously. "Have you thought of which house you would prefer?" asked Madame Noir breaking my train of thought./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"My perfectly crafted poker face probably faltered at that point, as I could feel my right eye twitching. Just when you think there aren't any more bombshells to be thrown at you…/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""What do you mean?" I asked in a little voice./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""You will be going to Hogwarts soon, emcherie/em, and you never told me what House you would like to be put in" she said with a little smile./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"That could only mean…/p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""Wait, when was I born again?" The panic in my voice was obvious at this point, and I mentally cursed for dropping my façade./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"Madame Noir seemed to be even more concerned, as she furrowed her brows pensively at me./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""The 17th of October 1979, emmon coeur/em". Her eyes seem to tear up looking at my puzzled expression. She walked up to me and put a hand on my head, most likely checking my temperature./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;""I will go fire-call zee Healer immediately" the woman announced and sauntered out of my room./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"In the meantime, my mind was on fire. I slowly looked down on my body, taking in the size of my hands./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"Moving my duvet away from me, I noticed that instead of my usual black leggings and baggy shirt I was clad in what seemed like lavender satin pajamas. My feet looked smaller than before, and I appeared to be occupying a very small amount of the big bed I was in./p
p style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande', 'Lucida Sans Unicode', 'GNU Unifont', Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;"Christ. Or should I say Merlin?/p