She woke up in a soft bed between clean white sheets and immediately sat up, or, rather, swivelled her long neck upward and rotated her lenses and main camera. The room was small and cosy, an idyllic hospital room with gleaming four poster wooden beds and stone walls like a castle. There were flowers by her bed, which was made from two mattresses pushed together on the floor.
"Hello?" Spirit yelled. "Is anyone here?"
"Yes - I'm Madame Pomfrey," said a motherly woman reassuringly. "Don't worry about a thing. We had to save you from... from He Who Must Not Be Named, you know, and it took quite a lot out of everyone here. But you'll be fine, and so will they. Are you... hungry, Spirit dearie?" She went to the windows and threw them wide open so that the sunlight came pouring in.
"Yes, thanks," Spirit replied, getting out of bed and rolling over to bask in the sunlight and recharge her batteries. Her lenses felt all gritty, and she extended an arm to brush them gently clean.
"Here, read this letter... it will explain everything," Madame Pomfrey beamed.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. McCarthy, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Since you will be beginning school in the middle of the term, we will provide all necessary books and equipment.
Your parents have been informed of the recent occurences. Their letter is enclosed.
In the event of any corporeal change of person that should occur, rest assured that the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry shall do its utmost to return any property of the United States Government to its accustomed location and duties.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
The second letter was in her mother's handwriting.
Dear Spirit,
Don't worry about a thing. Whatever you do, listen to Dumbledore. I'm so sorry that we never told you about your biological parents. Well, sort of biological. We love you so much, more than anything! We are taking good care of your body, honey. Don't try to call us, it might make You-Know-Who suspicious. We'll see you as soon as this all gets sorted out.
Love and kisses,
Mom and Dad
Spirit looked up from the letters. "My what? My biologiÑ" she stopped suddenly, embarrassed. "Witchcraft? Magic? Is that how I got here? Madame Pomfrey, I love robots, and it was great to be on Mars, but can you help me get back into my own body?"
The matronly woman patted Spirit's smooth, strong arm. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will be talking with you about that later. Why don't you rest a bit more, for now. You'll have dinner in the Great Hall tonight with the other students."
After Madame Pomfrey had left, Spirit frowned stubbornly. She didn't want or need to rest, now that she'd been in the refreshing sunlight. Her thoughts flew quick as lightning as she considered the possibilities. She tried the doorknob - unlocked! But she realized with a sigh that it was best not to get in trouble on her very first day in this new, strange school, and rolled slowly back to bed to read the mysterious letters again, wondering what they could mean.
"Hello?" Spirit yelled. "Is anyone here?"
"Yes - I'm Madame Pomfrey," said a motherly woman reassuringly. "Don't worry about a thing. We had to save you from... from He Who Must Not Be Named, you know, and it took quite a lot out of everyone here. But you'll be fine, and so will they. Are you... hungry, Spirit dearie?" She went to the windows and threw them wide open so that the sunlight came pouring in.
"Yes, thanks," Spirit replied, getting out of bed and rolling over to bask in the sunlight and recharge her batteries. Her lenses felt all gritty, and she extended an arm to brush them gently clean.
"Here, read this letter... it will explain everything," Madame Pomfrey beamed.
HOGWARTS SCHOOL of WITCHCRAFT and WIZARDRY
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Headmaster: Albus Dumbledore (Order of Merlin, First Class, Grand Sorc., Chf. Warlock, Supreme Mugwump, International Confed. of Wizards)
Dear Ms. McCarthy, We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
Since you will be beginning school in the middle of the term, we will provide all necessary books and equipment.
Your parents have been informed of the recent occurences. Their letter is enclosed.
In the event of any corporeal change of person that should occur, rest assured that the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry shall do its utmost to return any property of the United States Government to its accustomed location and duties.
Yours sincerely,
Minerva McGonagall Deputy Headmistress
The second letter was in her mother's handwriting.
Dear Spirit,
Don't worry about a thing. Whatever you do, listen to Dumbledore. I'm so sorry that we never told you about your biological parents. Well, sort of biological. We love you so much, more than anything! We are taking good care of your body, honey. Don't try to call us, it might make You-Know-Who suspicious. We'll see you as soon as this all gets sorted out.
Love and kisses,
Mom and Dad
Spirit looked up from the letters. "My what? My biologiÑ" she stopped suddenly, embarrassed. "Witchcraft? Magic? Is that how I got here? Madame Pomfrey, I love robots, and it was great to be on Mars, but can you help me get back into my own body?"
The matronly woman patted Spirit's smooth, strong arm. "I'm sure Professor Dumbledore will be talking with you about that later. Why don't you rest a bit more, for now. You'll have dinner in the Great Hall tonight with the other students."
After Madame Pomfrey had left, Spirit frowned stubbornly. She didn't want or need to rest, now that she'd been in the refreshing sunlight. Her thoughts flew quick as lightning as she considered the possibilities. She tried the doorknob - unlocked! But she realized with a sigh that it was best not to get in trouble on her very first day in this new, strange school, and rolled slowly back to bed to read the mysterious letters again, wondering what they could mean.