Chapter 27

"I remember now," came the voice from the doorway. Kate spun around, her blue eyes wide.

"I remember," Minerva continued, "When you were at school. I remember your interesting views on subjects such as bloodlines. I remember your approach to your work. I remember you." Her eyes were cold pieces of granite, immoveable.

"I've changed," Kate replied, waving her hand at the woman as though she were overdramatising the situation. She sat wearily in her seat, looking at the paperwork before her.

"I'm sure," Minerva pronounced, then walked from the door.

Kate sighed. Just what I need. I'm in the bad books with Hermione, and now that dratted woman goes and remembers me as I used to be. I guess I'll just have to deal with it, she muttered to herself. Damn it all.

~*~

"The other teachers arrive back today," Varimont announced at breakfast the following morning. Minerva was sullenly sitting at the middle of the table, the traditional place for the Headmistress. Jeremy was rubbing his eyes, Draco chattering to Snape, who sincerely looked as if he wished to fade into the woodwork. Hermione sat between Adrienne and Lianna. "It should be interesting to fill them in on all the happenings, shouldn't it, Adrienne?" She gave the girl a sly look under her lashes. Adrienne started again, realising- not for the first time- that there was much more to Varimont than she was ever given credit for. Much like Dumbledore.

"Very," she replied hesitantly, filling her face with French toast, hoping it would keep the questions at bay.

"Are you going to tell them?"

"I don't know."

"Will Lianna tell them?" Varimont asked, loud enough for Lianna to hear, then turned to see what her response would be.

"Yes, I will. What have I to hide?" Lianna said brightly, chirping into her marmalade toast. Varimont just smiled, and turned her eyes back to Adrienne, shining.

"What has she to hide?" Varimont's playing with me, Adrienne thought to herself. But at least she's not malicious.

"Soul-magic. Both their abilities."

"What have you to hide?" Adrienne didn't know quite what to say to that.

"My own discomfort, I suppose."

"Yes," Varimont nodded, then returned to her breakfast. Inscrutable, Adrienne snorted.

~*~

"Hang on a moment, dear. You've been very badly hurt." The voice slithered into her mind, taking moments to reach comprehension in her pain-filled mind. Then she realised that she was trying to sit up, and stopped. The pain withdrew slightly, though it still felt like it was eating through every muscle in her body.

"Uuh…" She realised that she couldn't talk, despite the words that longed to flow from her mouth. Her face burned.

"I don't know what did this to you, dear. It might have been a really nasty acid, but anything from fire to high pressured water could have had similar results," the woman continued, a voice in the silent cacophony in her head.

Non-Magical, she thought to herself amidst the torturous pain that bore into her every nerve. I'm in Hospital.

Then there was nothing but darkness again, and a helpless floating that carried her on the breath of other-worldly wind that always blew around her.

~*~

A/N: A short chapter, I know. But things are happening!!

Love and kisses,

*kitten