Episode Ten

            It happened over Christmas Holidays. Gwen had decided long ago to stay at Hogwarts over the holiday. She wasn't sure she could face her mother, especially not after serving two detentions of cleaning the potions classroom with Snape and oiling the manacles in Filch's dungeon of an office. Mrs. LeFey was not going to be pleased.

            But because Gwen had decided to stay, Mrs. Beorc LeFey decided to visit.

            She stood waiting near the head table in the Great Hall for her daughter to come to lunch. Professor McGonagall was sitting at the head table, staring avidly at her. She wasn't entirely sure what Beorc was doing at Hogwarts and although she knew this woman had permission from Dumbledore, she didn't think it a good idea for her to be here.

Finally Gwen arrived and stopped dead in her tracks as her mother came into view.

"Guenivere. You're getting tall." Beorc said.

            "Yes mother. It's amazing." Gwen replied with a bite.

            "Don't get snippy with me young lady. You have a lot to explain."

            "No, I don't mother. You have a lot to explain."

            "Excuse me?"

            "How about what are you doing here?  And while we're at it, what's happening to me?"

            "What are you talking about?"

            "You can't pretend you didn't get my owl mother. I told you everything about the dreams and how I keep switching worlds. What's happening?"

            Her mother looked at her uncomfortably. She wasn't sure how to tell her daughter the truth. It had been so long since they'd really seen each other and Gwen awake and operating within the Hogwart's world was absolutely terrifying to her. She had to think of something to say to her.

            "Just tell me." Gwen said irritably.

            "There's nothing to tell." She said, knowing the pause she'd taken to think of an answer was far too long and that her bright daughter had seen right through it.

            "Mother."

            She took a hard look, searching Gwen's determined face. Finally she replied, "I'll explain it to you. But it's not pretty."

            "I just want the truth mom, I want things to be normal."

            "Things will never by normal for you Gwen. But I'm glad you finally decided to come home."