Title: Let Me Bear It All

Author: Mary D.

Chapter Rating: PG

Chapter Completion Date:07.30.03

Disclaimer:All locations and characters from the book Harry Potter belong to J.K. Rowling and various publishers such as Scholastic Books and Warner Bros. Inc. This project is non-profitable and there is no infringment intended.

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Her face was tingling and her eyes were irritated. The sun was shining through the window across her. "Stupid sun," she mumbled. She wanted to knock the sun out the sky for waking her up. She wanted to sleep. She wanted to sleep forever. It was the only place that seemed safe.

Now that she was awake the feeling of insecurity and fear overwhelmed her, yet again. She curled up into a ball, hugged her pillow real tight, and cried. "Why?", she thought, "Why can't I remember anything? I can't even remember my name. Did anyone care about me? What was I good at? What am I bad at? WHO AM I?"

Just then, Madam Pomfrey came in. "Ah!" Madam Pomfrey said in a too-happy- for-the-morning voice, "I'm glad you're awake. So sorry I wasn't here last night. I went on a long distance trip to restock on some special herbs, and you won't believe the people you meet..Well, anyway, I'm back. Wait here for me to get your breakfast. In the mean time, why don't you freshen up? Oh, forgive me I'm being rude. My name is.."

"Madam Pomfrey," the girl said.

Madam Pomfrey looked a little shock, but she composed herself and said, "Why, yes. Yes, it is. How did you know that? I was told by Dumbledore that you couldn't remember anything from your past."

"I," she paused, "I don't know. It just came out of my mouth. All I know is that I don't belong here."

"Well, all that matters is that you're getting better. We should mark that as an improvement. I've been here for too long. Let me get your breakfast." Madam Promfrey quickly walked out of the room to hide the look of suspicion on her face.

"...but you're not part of my past. I don't even know you...," the girl said in a whisper. She bent her head. As she did this, her hair fell down to the sides of her face. She studied the curls at the end of her hair. They seemed so round. So untouched. They glimmered from the sun's light and seemed to look magical. "Why does my hair still look nice?" she asked herself, "Shouldn't it be tangled?"

She thought about it, but realized how stinky her breath was. She brushed her teeth and washed her face. While drying her face with a face towel, she saw what she was wearing. It was a off white dress that had no sleeves. It was cut just a little below her knees. The dress had so many waves and it flowed like the ocean. "This is such a pretty dress," she commented, "I wonder if people wear things like this all the time in the place where I came from. It must be a really pretty place." She smiled at the thought of the entire place as a modern kingdom filled with kings, queens, ballrooms, parties, knights, princes, and princesses.

"Here you go!" Madam Pomfrey laid the breakfast tray down where Professor McGonagall had put the sandwich last night.

"Thank you," said the girl with a smile of gratitude. She watched Madam Pomfrey fix the girl's bed.

"Well, what are you watching me for? Go on, and eat your breakfast." She gave the girl an exhasperated look and shook her head.

"Oh! Sorry!" She ran towards the table and sat herself down. On the tray laid some biscuits, sausage links, two pancakes, and a glass of orange juice. "Madam Pomfrey--?"

"Yes, what is it?" She had just fluff the pillow.

"I don't think I can finish this."

"You just let the house elves worry about that."

"Oh--um--okay."

Madam Pomfrey sighed. "They're elves that do house work and other chores."

"Oh, I see. Thank you."

"You're welcome. Just hurry up and finish your meal. It's awfully cold by now." The girl began to eat, while Madam Pomfrey went into her office. "Call me when you're done."

When she was done, she called Madam Pomfrey as told. She was led, yet again, towards Dumbledore's office. They took a different route because the entire castle seemed to have changed overnight. The girl passed by paintings she didn't remember seeing last night. They finally arrived at Dumbledore's office. This time, Dumbledore was in his office signing or writing some documents.

"Thank you, Poppy," said Dumbledore.

"My pleasure, headmaster," Madam Pomfry replied and left them alone.

"Have a seat," Dumbledore pointed towards one of the chairs in front of his desk. She obeyed without hesitation. "Now, I have taken the liberty in looking for someone to look after you. I realize I could have sent you towards an orphanage, but I believe there's something about you that needs special care. The Ministry has informed me that they can not help you at the time being. They're preoccupied by other matters, but as soon as they can clear their schedules, they will try to find a way to get you home. You'll forgive me if we take too long. Times like these are hard especially since Voldemort has regained all of his old allies. You have come at the worst possible time. It is because of this that I believe you are special. A beacon of hope, somewhat.

"Now, the person who has agreed to look after you is Patricia Mehflua. She is a very decent witch who used to work for the Ministry. She retired two years ago, actually. No need to worry about the expenses. She has agreed to pay for everything you will need. I have already told her about your circumstances, and you will find her welcoming you with open arms.

"During the remainder of the summer holiday, she will be teaching everything you will need to know to catch up." The girl's eyes widen. "Yes, you will be attending school here. However, I will not put you into a year you can not keep up with. Therefore, the various professors here will be giving you a standard test for each of their subjects a week before the new term starts. You must study hard before then. I understand that underage wizards can not use magic out of school, and that is why I'm asking for special permission from the Minister himself. To my understanding, all I have to do is write up a document and he'll sign. Actually, he'll sign anything nowadays just as long as he doesn't have to do too much work." Dumbledore smiled before continuing. " I'm almost finish with it. I was working on it just before you came in. I believe you can do it. The reason why I believed in your story was because I saw great potential in you, and if you lived in "this world" I would've sought you out to be a student here, anyway." He paused to let his last statement sink in. "Well, I think I covered everything I wanted to cover--except for your name. Would you like to give yourself a new name? or would you like someone else to name you?"

"Could you name me, sir?"

Dumbledore smiled. "I'm flattered you want me to do it, but I really hope you'd reconsider. I'm not very good at giving names. To be honest, the first name that popped into my head was Baruca." His smile widen.

The girl laughed and said, "You've made your point. I guess I'll let that lady--"

"Patricia Mehflua," Dumbledore interrupted.

"Oh, right. I'll let Mrs. Mehflua pick my name."

"Actually, it's Miss Mehflua. She never married. She's 71 years old, but, as I have mentioned before, she only retired from the Ministry two years ago. She was very dedicated to her work. Now, it seems, she has realized how lonely life can be without someone around."

"What did she do in the Ministry?"

"We'll leave that story for her to tell, shall we?"

"Oh--um--okay."

"Now that we've settled everything, would you like me to call someone up to lead you to the Hospital Wing? You might want to see if you've left anything behind. Ms. Mehflua will be picking you up this afternoon around 2 or 3."

"Oh, no need to bother anyone. I can try to find my way there."

"If that's what you prefer." They both stood up, and she left. Dumbledore went to the window where a barn owl was waiting. He tied the letter around it's leg and it flew off.

*************

The girl was now in the main hallway. She looked around her to see if anything changed, but it didn't so she decided to try and retrace her steps. It was easier to take the route Madam Pomfrey took because the sun was shining and made everything clear.

Although she had just went through those hallways not too long ago, she couldn't find her way back. Not completely, anyway. Sometimes she would see a familiar statue or painting, but most of the time everything seemed new. One of the portraits finally spoke to her. She was surprised at first, but eventually got used to it.

"What, pray tell, is the matter fair maiden?" the portrait of a royal male figure asked.

"Oh I've seem to have forgotten the way back to the hospital wing. Can you help me?"

"I'd love to aid a maiden in distress, but I only have one leg." He raised the wooden leg up as high as he could to show her. "Perhaps, one of the other paintings can assist you."

"Thank you, sir." She went to another portrait. This one was of a woman in a toga, who was standing and reading a book.

"Excuse me, ma'am."

"Yes, what is it? Can't you see I'm reading?"

"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't mean to bother you. I'll leave you alone then." So the girl went to look for another portrait that would help her. She was walking when she heard someone.

"Psst."

She turned her head.

"Yeh. Yeh you with the dress."

There in the corner was a portrait of a pirate. A very typical looking pirate. He had the one-eye patch and the parrot on the shoulder. However, he had both arms, hands, legs, and feet.

"Yes?"

"I herd yeh lookin' fer ye hospidal wing," said the pirate.

"Yes, sir. Can you help me?"

"O'course. I can! I'm Captain McClooney. King o' the seven seas! Me men call me Merciless Zeke." The girl looked a little frightened. "Don' be worryin' about me. I never hurt a lady, specially if she's a perdy one. Jes' foller me."

He disappeared from his frame, and the girl thought he just felt her there as a joke. Then, she heard him from another portrait. "Psst. Over her'!" The lady in the portrait he was occupying was getting irritated. She looked very sophisticated and high-class with her beautiful long dress and perfect hair. She was sitting on a stool with her back straight. She kept giving the pirate an agitated look. "Ah, ther' be a good lass. Jess foller the sound of me voice. Har! Har! This be the most fun I've had since me younger years..."

The sound was dying off so the girl ran after the voice. The pirate kept signing and telling these short stories. Then, they finally made it to the hospital wing. Judging by the amount exhaustion she had, the girl assumed she had been wandering around the castle for more than an hour.

"This be the place ye ought ought ter be, Yay or Nay?"

"Aye, aye, Captain."

"Arrgh. O'course this be the place! Am I not Merciless Zeke, King of the Seven Seas? Har, har!"

The girl laughed. "Aye, aye, Captain, and thank you."

She walked in, and found Madam Pomfrey reading a magazine report. The cover read, "People get stuck while crossing their eyes! Quick easy ways to fix it yourself!" Madam Pomfrey put the report down and said, "Oh, hello, dear. So are you excited about you new home?"

"Hogwarts, my new home? Oh, wait she's talking about that flu lady", the girl thought. "Yes, I'm very excited. I also am excited about coming to this school this term."

"Yes, I was told about that."

"Madam Pomfrey?"

"Yes?"

"What year do I look like I belong in?" The girl asked this because she didn't know how old she was so maybe someone else can guess for her.

"You look like you can be in the seventh year."

"..and what year will Harry be in this term?"

"His seventh, but why are you asking me this?"

"Oh, I'm just curious, is all."

"Well you still have a couple of minutes before 2 o'clock. Would you like something to eat?"

All of a sudden a rumble came out of her stomach. Apparently, Madam Pomfrey heard it, too. She chuckled. "Yes, please," the girl said while putting her hand on her stomach.

"Wait a sec, while I go and get it."

After Madam Pomfrey left, the girl looked around the room. Dumbledore said to get anything she might have left behind. She looked around the room and only saw beds and curtains. Sure there was the toothbrush and toothpaste that Professor McGonagall gave her, but that was it. "So basically, the only thing I really own is this outfit", she thought, "Nothing here belongs to me." She sat down on the edge of "her" bed, and waited for Madam Pomfrey to come back.

When Madam Pomfrey came in she wasn't holding a tray. Actually, she wasn't holding anything at all, but she looked like she was in a hurry.

"Hurry, dearest, you need to get to Dumbledore's office. Ms. Mehflua is here to pick you up already," said Madam Pomfrey.

"She's here? Now?"

"Yes, come along now. We don't have all day!"

So they practically ran upstairs. Throughout the entire jog the girl thought to herself, "What if she doesn't like me? Will she reject me? Where will I stay after that? Will she hate my boots?" She didn't have time to reassure herself because they were in Dumbledore's office once again, and sitting in one of the chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk was a lady wearing a bun held up by two chopsticks.

"..and here they are," Dumbledore began, "Ladies, this is Patricia Mehflua."

The lady stood up. This is it, the girl thought, "this is when I'll finally get to see my new "mother", but--will she accept me?---"

....To Be Continued....

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Author's Note: hah-ha! Another cliffhanger! Well, my updates are regular so there's so need to fret. Moving on, the pirate in the portait was inspired (somewhat) by the Pirates of the Carribean. I haven't seen the movie, but a lot of girls like it. So.. I just put it in.

Then, the part where "the girl" looks around room and sees nothing's hers was taken from a movie. I don't remember it's name, but it had Patrick Swayze and Goldie Haun. She gets amnesia and he picks her up and makes her believe he's her wife and mother of three boys. When her real husband picks her up, she tells her to get her things, but when she goes into the house, she realizes nothing's hers. I hope you know what movie I'm talking about. It's really nice.

I didn't proofread this chapter AT ALL. I'm still look for a beta. IM me on aim. my aim is "purchaseddestiny". I just like the idea that I'm done writing a chapter, and thank you to those who have given me reviews. It really means a lot to me. I squealed when I read my first few reviews. (lol)