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I'm awoken by the sound of voices nearby. I know that they're whispering, but after a life of living with Father and constantly being on my toes, my ears are fine tuned to pick up the even slightest sounds. I blink, and sit up slightly in my bed, in order to let the people talking know that I'm awake. I've never been big on eavesdropping. The voices stop just as my vision comes into focus. It's Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall, not that that should come as a surprise. They both walk over to me, and Madame Pomfrey is instantly loading me down with potions. "Good morning sleepy head. We were starting to think you'd never wake up," Madame Pomfrey said, chuckling slightly. "Here, you'll need to take these potions right away. This one is to help heal your bruised ribs, this one is nutrients, this one's protein, this one's for any pain…" this list just went on and on, until my bedside table was filled to the brim with potions of varying size, color, and odor. Many gruesome minutes later, the vials had been emptied, my head was a little clearer, and I felt much more comfortable.

"Well now that that's been taken care of, there's some things that need to be discussed," Professor McGonagall began. "There's a healer coming from St. Mungo's today to see if there's anything that can be done for you. We also need to have a nice long chat about the magical world, just so you're all caught up," she finished. I was consumed with a strange mixture of apprehension and excitement at the prospect of someone from whatever this St. Mungo's was coming here to look at me. I was scared - the amount of people I had ever known had already tripled in the last few days, and while I wanted to meet plenty of new people, it was all just happening so fast. But I was also really excited, because it sounded like there was a chance that my legs or voice could be helped. But, I wouldn't get my hopes up. I learned years ago that being optimistic would only let me down more in the end. "Since we have a few hours before the healer gets here, how about we have that talk about magic you asked for?" Professor McGonagall says suddenly, disturbing me from my thoughts. I smile, nodding my head.

Learning about the magical world was amazing. I had always craved for information, and I couldn't care less about which world that information was on. McGonagall had covered everything, from Quidditch to the money system. She had told me about the other professors here, and how most of them were still away on holiday, except the headmaster, who was away for international affairs with the ministry. I felt so included, like I was apart of some big secret, which I guess I was. I was sitting in the hospital bed when Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall came in with a new lady. I knew that this had to be the healer. She was short, with broad shoulders and wispy brown hair pulled into a loose knot at the back of her head. She was dressed in scrubs, and was carrying a white bag.

"Hello Miss Meryl. My name is Healer Kalin. I'm just going to be running some tests to see if there's anything we can do to help you," she said as she came to stand next to my bed. Her voice was rough, but not cruel like Father's. It was demanding but kind. "Don't worry, there's absolutely nothing to be afraid of. You'll only feel a little tingle. Now, I'm just going to flip you onto your stomach, alright?" Healer Kalin said as she pulled the covers off of my legs. I nodded my head shakily. The healer helped turn me over so that I was laying on my stomach. She gently tugged the end of my pajama top up until it was at my shoulders. I feel very self conscious, knowing that all my scars are exposed. "Now I just want you to breathe normally for me," she said. I focused on keeping my breaths at a steady rate as the healer's hands traced my back in odd patterns as she muttered strange words. I had never had someone touch me so gently. My back felt very tingly, but it would have been quite peaceful had I not been so tense.

A few minutes later, Healer Kalin says, "Alright, now I'm going to examine your throat. So if you could just turn back over." I do, and then she has me tilt my head up a lot. Again she's muttering strange words and my neck feels all tingly. A couple minutes pass again before she stops. "Don't worry, we're almost done here. I just have a few questions to ask you," she says while handing me an ink bottle, a piece of yellowed paper, which I now know to be parchment, and a quill. "How old are you?" I write that I don't know. "Were you born mute?" I nod my head yes. "Were you born a paraplegic?" I shake my head no. "How were you paralyzed?" I write I think I was three or four, and I was pushed down the stairs too hard, and I landed on the wrong part of my head I think. I couldn't walk again after that. Healer Kalin nods her head slightly. "How much did you usually get to eat every day?" I write About a meal a day and a cup of water if I was lucky. "Did your father beat you often?" I start to write out my answer, but pause, taking a steadying breath. It's okay. He's can't get to you here. I tell myself. I write I was hit every day without end. But I only got real beatings three times a week, sometimes more. "And how long has that been going on?" For as long I can remember. Healer Kalin says, "I think that's about it. Give me a few minutes to review the results. I'll be right back."

Healer Kalin walks away, reading something from a parchment. She comes back a few minutes later. Madame Pomfrey and Professor McGonagall, who have been waiting silently during the whole process, turn to look at her expectantly. She clears her throat, and suddenly she looks much older. I don't like that look. "Unfortunately, nothing can be done about your voice or your legs," she pauses, and I can feel my heart drop in my chest. This is why I never get my hopes up. "You see, your vocal cords developed an anomaly, a sort of mutation, while you were developing in the womb. Basically, they are unable to vibrate properly when air passes through, which causes you to be mute. There's nothing that can be done since it happened before your birth. As for your legs, the nerves that allow them to move have been damaged beyond repair. The muscles in your head and the nerves in your spinal cord were seriously injured when you took that fall. You see, usually in the magical world, healers monitor the development of a child in the womb, so that if any anomalies arise, they can be fixed prior to birth. Or when someone undergoes a serious injury, like you did, they can be taken in and given proper medical attention, and be healed before the injury becomes permanent. Unfortunately since your injury was left untreated, it became permanent with no cure. But I will say that you are very strong. It's a miracle you survived such a fall with no medical attention, not to mention all the abuse you suffered." she stops, and the silence in the room is deafening. I try my best to keep my face emotionless, to not let them see that it got to me. They have to know I'm strong.

"But…" Healer Kalin starts to say, startling everyone in the room. "Professor McGonagall tells me that you have a wheelchair," she says, nodding to Professor McGonagall, who hurries off into a separate room. "...which allows you to move. I can place some enchantments on the chair, so that you'll be able to move up and down stairs without having to leave the chair." I smile slightly and nod my head, hoping that she understands I mean thank you. "I'm sorry there isn't more I could do for you." she says sadly, and I shrug. Professor McGonagall then comes in, pushing my wheelchair in front of her. I smile widely. I hadn't realized how much I had missed that thing until I saw it just now. Healer Kalin walks over to it and begins casting multiple spells on it. When she finishes, she walks back over to me and says, "Now, whenever you need to go up or down a set of stairs, just tap your wheelchair three times with your wand and point it in the direction you need to go. This will allow your wheelchair to hover above the steps. When you get to the top or bottom of the stairs, just tap it three more times and you'll return to the ground." I smile my thanks at her. She, Madame Pomfrey, and Professor McGonagall exchange goodbyes, and as Healer Kalin turns to leave, she says, "Good luck Miss Meryl. You know, you should really choose a first name for yourself."