AUTHOR'S NOTES: The character Caitlin meets in this chapter
is very loosely based on a friend of mine. Actually, it's so loosely based
that I think it'd be better to say "inspired by" rather than "based on". This
friend is a true Slytherin, but believe me, she's not evil. She's a great
friend--the best friend I've ever had.
This character who was inspired by her was also inspired by a character created by this friend. A very talkative Original Character who is so lively and charismatic, that I couldn't resist putting a similar character in my own story. Plus, having a talkative character is great for exposition.
Responses for reviews on Chapter Three at the bottom, as always. Enjoy!
CHAPTER FOUR
Are You Done Talking?
Snapping out of her latest vision, Caitlin lurched forward off her chair, Gilderoy catching her just before she hit the floor. He gently helped her sit back and watched her with concern as she rubbed her temples.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly.
Caitlin nodded slowly. "Yes, I'll be okay. I just... this was the longest vision I've had so far. I guess I went into information overload."
It did indeed seem to be that she had been overloaded with information. Her mind was still sorting through all the brief glimpses she saw of Hogwarts. As it all settled in, she felt as though she'd learned everything she needed to know about Hogwarts and life as a resident. She had seen the Sorting, the grand feast, various staff meetings, a boy with a lightning shaped scar, and most prominently, a dark figure swooping about the halls who looked curiously familiar. She wasn't quite sure that it was truly who she thought it might be; it could just be wishful thinking.
Not wanting to mention this last bit to Gilderoy, she stood up and smiled. "Well, you've certainly given me quite a bit to think about. It's been a pleasure meeting you, but for now, I need to go back to my own ward and rest up a bit. I hope I see you again."
Gilderoy stood and gave a slight bow. "The pleasure has been all mine, and... enjoy that autograph, now, won't you?" he added with a wink.
She winked back and headed to the door.
xoxox
As she walked toward her ward, Caitlin pondered on all she had learned from Gilderoy. She realized that much of what she had seen of Hogwarts had been so fleeting, she still did not possess a full understanding of what it would be like to live there, should she decide to steer her life in that direction.
Lying back down on her bed, she realized she definitely should have asked more questions of Gilderoy, especially concerning the teachers and staff at Hogwarts. If Dumbledore was planning to have her teach at that school, she felt she needed to know about the people she would be working beside. She had gleaned a few bits and pieces of information from her vision, such as there was a female teacher named McGonagall, a Professor Flitwick, and a potions master that all students loathed except most of the students of his own "house."
Caitlin reminded herself to ask Gilderoy about "houses" and what-not next time she saw him. Just as she felt sleep falling over her, she thought again of this potions master that the students badmouthed and Dumbledore spoke highly of, and told herself this would likely be a teacher she would need to keep an eye on.
"He's not really that bad."
Caitlin shot up in bed, looking around for the source of the new voice. She discovered a short girl--probably about sixteen years old--standing at the round table. The girl's long brown hair fluttered about her shoulders as she ambled over to Caitlin's bed.
As she extended her hand in greeting, the girl said cheerfully, "Hi! I'm Kirsten Bundy. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Caitlin, still trying to calm herself from the rude awakening, looked at the hand awaiting her touch. She then looked down at her own hand, and her eyes shot straight up to meet Kirsten's. If I shake her hand, I'll probably have another vision. I'm too tired to deal with that.
Before Caitlin could make up her mind as to whether or not she wanted to take the risk, Kirsten dropped her hand. "So, you're a Touch-Seer, eh?"
"Excuse me?"
"When you touch someone or something, you see visions of the past or future, right?"
Caitlin furrowed a brow. "And what makes you think that?"
"I'm a telepath. I usually have to concentrate to turn on my connection to someone's thoughts, but somehow your thoughts are coming through loud and clear of their own accord."
"Do you think it could be my fully active Magithallus?"
Kirsten's eyes popped out in surprise. "'Fully active'? As in, one-hundred percent? Oh, wow! I don't think anyone in all Magical history had that. I'm sure Professor Binns would have mentioned it. 'Course, then again, he drones on so dully that I often find myself tuning out of class and into the class' thoughts."
"You just go into anyone's thoughts without permission?"
Kirsten blushed. "I know, I shouldn't do that. But it's definitely more interesting than history class. Besides, I only ever tap into impersonal thoughts, not personal."
"Is there a difference?"
"Sure!" Kirsten bobbed up and down on the balls of her feet, as though excited to explain the details of her power. "When a person has impersonal thoughts, they project on a different wave than personal. It's a magic thing. Speaking of that, how is that you've managed to live what looks about seventeen years in the magic world without anyone ever discovering your abnormal Magithallus?"
"I'm twenty-three, and I didn't. Until two days ago, I lived my life completely ignorant of the magical world."
"You mean... you have a completely operational Magithallus and you're a muggle?!"
"Muggle?"
"Non-magical person..." Kirsten paused, took a deep breath, and continued rapidly, "Of course, I guess technically you'd be more like a squib with powers--well, no, that wouldn't work either. I dunno. I guess since you're unique, there'll eventually be a term made up just for your particular situation."
Caitlin was nearly shocked into silence by the girl's talkativeness and could only softly ask, "So, why are you at St. Mungo's?"
"Oh, I'm visiting my cousin Gilderoy--he's the son of my dad's sister. Have you met him yet? He's a bit self-centered, but he's cool all the same."
Caitlin smiled. "Yes, I've met him. So, you must be the cousin the Healer mentioned. She said he's improved a bit since you started visiting."
Kirsten folded her hands in front of herself and blushed. "Yeah, I've heard. Gildy and I were always the best of friends when I was little. He'd always read me books and draw pictures with me. Of course, the books were always written by him or about him, and the pictures we'd draw would always be of him, but it was still fun."
Caitlin crossed her legs, leaned her elbows on her knees, and rested her chin on her fists. "He gave me an autograph... And he let me know all about the school I might be attending to train my powers."
"Oooo... Are you going to Salem? Well, at least, I'm guessing that's where you're going, since you're definitely American. I went to Salem 'til my parents divorced and my dad moved us to London. I started at Hogwarts last year."
Caitlin couldn't believe how much information she had already leaked to Kirsten without really realizing it. She attributed it to the fact that the girl had the same kind of trustworthy aura about her as Gilderoy had. Considering the girl would likely know everything about Caitlin before the day was over because of her telepathic powers, Caitlin decided that she might as well forge ahead and save Kirsten the trouble of reading her mind.
"As a matter of fact, seeing as how I've been living in London for several years now, I'll be teaching at Hogwarts."
Kirsten tilted her head, a confused look on her face. "You're going to be teaching at Hogwarts? But you're a--excuse me--kind of a muggle!"
"Dumbledore figured that I would feel strange starting my first year as a 23-year-old student, so he'll be giving me lessons privately while I teach Muggle Studies."
"Ah, that makes sense. That's a really good idea, actually. Dumbledore always comes up with the greatest ideas. A muggle teaching Muggle Studies. Brilliant!"
Caitlin yawned. She was becoming very tired again, but thinking about the fact that she could question Kirsten about Hogwarts and the teachers, she willed herself to stay awake long enough to comment, "You read my thoughts about the potions master earlier and said he wasn't so bad. What's he like, and... what's his name?"
She had a feeling that this potions master was the same man in the swooping black cape she had seen in her vision, and in turn felt he was very possibly the man she had once met what felt like decades ago.
Kirsten, still standing, finally became aware that she had been standing all this time, so she ambled around the bed and sat on the wooden chair beside Caitlin's bed. "Well, people always seem to think that he's just plain out mean for no reason, but I've, uh, done some research, and I've found that he's actually using his grumpiness as a shield for... something; I'm not sure what. He's an Occlumens; even deep impersonal thoughts of his are carefully hidden. However, he doesn't know I'm a telepath, and he never thinks to shield his impersonal thoughts during class. So, I can't quite pick up on his true motivations, but I know that he's better than everyone thinks. Oh, hey, you know what! You should make sure to shake his hand when you meet him. Maybe you'll discover something juicy. Since you're an imprint seer, not a thought reader, you can see anything that has happened or will happen to anybody!"
Finally, Kirsten stopped to take a breath. Caitlin had never known anyone who could talk so much, but she wasn't going to complain: she was learning what she'd wanted to know, and then some. She felt Kirsten's ethics were a bit questionable, however the girl's obvious penchant for gossip could come in handy.
Instead of offering a concrete answer to Kirsten's suggestion, Caitlin avoided it completely by commenting, "You never told me his name."
"Oh, yeah, his name is Professor Snape. Well, not Professor, but as I'm a student, you can surely--" A look from Caitlin was all she needed to finish quickly, "It's Severus. Severus Snape."
Caitlin felt like giving a yell of victory. So it was the man she had met in the grocery store the night of her accident. If she chose to attend Hogwarts, she would see him again. She couldn't explain why she was so intrigued by him, but she chalked this information up as one for Hogwarts.
Kirsten looked at her pocket watch. "Well, I'd better be going. I'm going down to Diagon Alley tomorrow to buy my school supplies, so I've got to get some sleep. It's going to be an exciting day. Maybe I'll even run into Harry Potter! I know the Weasleys and Hermione Granger will be there tomorrow, 'cause Neville told me. I've actually never met Harry face-to-face yet. I'm in Slytherin and he's in Gryffindor, so we don't have any classes together. But I hear he might be taking Muggle Studies at the insistence of Dumbledore; I'm not sure if he will, considering he lived as a complete Muggle 'til he came to Hogwarts. I know Hermione and Ron will be taking it. I overthought--is that a word? Oh, well, it is now--Ron's longwinded complaints on the train home last term; his dad works in the Muggle Artifacts department at the Ministry, and apparently his dad wants him to take Muggle Studies so he can better understand his Muggleborn friends. I'm doing the same... so, hey, I'll be in your class!"
Caitlin, having not moved nor made a sound during the past few minutes, finally got a few words in. "You said you're in Slytherin? Could you explain the house situation to me? I didn't get much information about houses from the visions Gilderoy led me into."
Kirsten obliged, and after a full explanation of houses, points, prefects, and the like, Caitlin felt that should she indeed attend Hogwarts, she was in for one interesting school year.
-----------------------------------
Review Responses--Chapter Three: Ward 49
d: I'm glad the story sounds good to you. Hope you enjoyed this newest chapter!
aljake: Yes, I'm happy you reviewed. Sorry to disappoint you about Lockhart. I just like Lockhart so much, I wanted to make him a likeable character. Besides, it's totally plausible for him to change because of what happened to him. Thanks for the compliments!
This character who was inspired by her was also inspired by a character created by this friend. A very talkative Original Character who is so lively and charismatic, that I couldn't resist putting a similar character in my own story. Plus, having a talkative character is great for exposition.
Responses for reviews on Chapter Three at the bottom, as always. Enjoy!
CHAPTER FOUR
Are You Done Talking?
Snapping out of her latest vision, Caitlin lurched forward off her chair, Gilderoy catching her just before she hit the floor. He gently helped her sit back and watched her with concern as she rubbed her temples.
"Are you all right?" he asked softly.
Caitlin nodded slowly. "Yes, I'll be okay. I just... this was the longest vision I've had so far. I guess I went into information overload."
It did indeed seem to be that she had been overloaded with information. Her mind was still sorting through all the brief glimpses she saw of Hogwarts. As it all settled in, she felt as though she'd learned everything she needed to know about Hogwarts and life as a resident. She had seen the Sorting, the grand feast, various staff meetings, a boy with a lightning shaped scar, and most prominently, a dark figure swooping about the halls who looked curiously familiar. She wasn't quite sure that it was truly who she thought it might be; it could just be wishful thinking.
Not wanting to mention this last bit to Gilderoy, she stood up and smiled. "Well, you've certainly given me quite a bit to think about. It's been a pleasure meeting you, but for now, I need to go back to my own ward and rest up a bit. I hope I see you again."
Gilderoy stood and gave a slight bow. "The pleasure has been all mine, and... enjoy that autograph, now, won't you?" he added with a wink.
She winked back and headed to the door.
As she walked toward her ward, Caitlin pondered on all she had learned from Gilderoy. She realized that much of what she had seen of Hogwarts had been so fleeting, she still did not possess a full understanding of what it would be like to live there, should she decide to steer her life in that direction.
Lying back down on her bed, she realized she definitely should have asked more questions of Gilderoy, especially concerning the teachers and staff at Hogwarts. If Dumbledore was planning to have her teach at that school, she felt she needed to know about the people she would be working beside. She had gleaned a few bits and pieces of information from her vision, such as there was a female teacher named McGonagall, a Professor Flitwick, and a potions master that all students loathed except most of the students of his own "house."
Caitlin reminded herself to ask Gilderoy about "houses" and what-not next time she saw him. Just as she felt sleep falling over her, she thought again of this potions master that the students badmouthed and Dumbledore spoke highly of, and told herself this would likely be a teacher she would need to keep an eye on.
"He's not really that bad."
Caitlin shot up in bed, looking around for the source of the new voice. She discovered a short girl--probably about sixteen years old--standing at the round table. The girl's long brown hair fluttered about her shoulders as she ambled over to Caitlin's bed.
As she extended her hand in greeting, the girl said cheerfully, "Hi! I'm Kirsten Bundy. Pleased to make your acquaintance."
Caitlin, still trying to calm herself from the rude awakening, looked at the hand awaiting her touch. She then looked down at her own hand, and her eyes shot straight up to meet Kirsten's. If I shake her hand, I'll probably have another vision. I'm too tired to deal with that.
Before Caitlin could make up her mind as to whether or not she wanted to take the risk, Kirsten dropped her hand. "So, you're a Touch-Seer, eh?"
"Excuse me?"
"When you touch someone or something, you see visions of the past or future, right?"
Caitlin furrowed a brow. "And what makes you think that?"
"I'm a telepath. I usually have to concentrate to turn on my connection to someone's thoughts, but somehow your thoughts are coming through loud and clear of their own accord."
"Do you think it could be my fully active Magithallus?"
Kirsten's eyes popped out in surprise. "'Fully active'? As in, one-hundred percent? Oh, wow! I don't think anyone in all Magical history had that. I'm sure Professor Binns would have mentioned it. 'Course, then again, he drones on so dully that I often find myself tuning out of class and into the class' thoughts."
"You just go into anyone's thoughts without permission?"
Kirsten blushed. "I know, I shouldn't do that. But it's definitely more interesting than history class. Besides, I only ever tap into impersonal thoughts, not personal."
"Is there a difference?"
"Sure!" Kirsten bobbed up and down on the balls of her feet, as though excited to explain the details of her power. "When a person has impersonal thoughts, they project on a different wave than personal. It's a magic thing. Speaking of that, how is that you've managed to live what looks about seventeen years in the magic world without anyone ever discovering your abnormal Magithallus?"
"I'm twenty-three, and I didn't. Until two days ago, I lived my life completely ignorant of the magical world."
"You mean... you have a completely operational Magithallus and you're a muggle?!"
"Muggle?"
"Non-magical person..." Kirsten paused, took a deep breath, and continued rapidly, "Of course, I guess technically you'd be more like a squib with powers--well, no, that wouldn't work either. I dunno. I guess since you're unique, there'll eventually be a term made up just for your particular situation."
Caitlin was nearly shocked into silence by the girl's talkativeness and could only softly ask, "So, why are you at St. Mungo's?"
"Oh, I'm visiting my cousin Gilderoy--he's the son of my dad's sister. Have you met him yet? He's a bit self-centered, but he's cool all the same."
Caitlin smiled. "Yes, I've met him. So, you must be the cousin the Healer mentioned. She said he's improved a bit since you started visiting."
Kirsten folded her hands in front of herself and blushed. "Yeah, I've heard. Gildy and I were always the best of friends when I was little. He'd always read me books and draw pictures with me. Of course, the books were always written by him or about him, and the pictures we'd draw would always be of him, but it was still fun."
Caitlin crossed her legs, leaned her elbows on her knees, and rested her chin on her fists. "He gave me an autograph... And he let me know all about the school I might be attending to train my powers."
"Oooo... Are you going to Salem? Well, at least, I'm guessing that's where you're going, since you're definitely American. I went to Salem 'til my parents divorced and my dad moved us to London. I started at Hogwarts last year."
Caitlin couldn't believe how much information she had already leaked to Kirsten without really realizing it. She attributed it to the fact that the girl had the same kind of trustworthy aura about her as Gilderoy had. Considering the girl would likely know everything about Caitlin before the day was over because of her telepathic powers, Caitlin decided that she might as well forge ahead and save Kirsten the trouble of reading her mind.
"As a matter of fact, seeing as how I've been living in London for several years now, I'll be teaching at Hogwarts."
Kirsten tilted her head, a confused look on her face. "You're going to be teaching at Hogwarts? But you're a--excuse me--kind of a muggle!"
"Dumbledore figured that I would feel strange starting my first year as a 23-year-old student, so he'll be giving me lessons privately while I teach Muggle Studies."
"Ah, that makes sense. That's a really good idea, actually. Dumbledore always comes up with the greatest ideas. A muggle teaching Muggle Studies. Brilliant!"
Caitlin yawned. She was becoming very tired again, but thinking about the fact that she could question Kirsten about Hogwarts and the teachers, she willed herself to stay awake long enough to comment, "You read my thoughts about the potions master earlier and said he wasn't so bad. What's he like, and... what's his name?"
She had a feeling that this potions master was the same man in the swooping black cape she had seen in her vision, and in turn felt he was very possibly the man she had once met what felt like decades ago.
Kirsten, still standing, finally became aware that she had been standing all this time, so she ambled around the bed and sat on the wooden chair beside Caitlin's bed. "Well, people always seem to think that he's just plain out mean for no reason, but I've, uh, done some research, and I've found that he's actually using his grumpiness as a shield for... something; I'm not sure what. He's an Occlumens; even deep impersonal thoughts of his are carefully hidden. However, he doesn't know I'm a telepath, and he never thinks to shield his impersonal thoughts during class. So, I can't quite pick up on his true motivations, but I know that he's better than everyone thinks. Oh, hey, you know what! You should make sure to shake his hand when you meet him. Maybe you'll discover something juicy. Since you're an imprint seer, not a thought reader, you can see anything that has happened or will happen to anybody!"
Finally, Kirsten stopped to take a breath. Caitlin had never known anyone who could talk so much, but she wasn't going to complain: she was learning what she'd wanted to know, and then some. She felt Kirsten's ethics were a bit questionable, however the girl's obvious penchant for gossip could come in handy.
Instead of offering a concrete answer to Kirsten's suggestion, Caitlin avoided it completely by commenting, "You never told me his name."
"Oh, yeah, his name is Professor Snape. Well, not Professor, but as I'm a student, you can surely--" A look from Caitlin was all she needed to finish quickly, "It's Severus. Severus Snape."
Caitlin felt like giving a yell of victory. So it was the man she had met in the grocery store the night of her accident. If she chose to attend Hogwarts, she would see him again. She couldn't explain why she was so intrigued by him, but she chalked this information up as one for Hogwarts.
Kirsten looked at her pocket watch. "Well, I'd better be going. I'm going down to Diagon Alley tomorrow to buy my school supplies, so I've got to get some sleep. It's going to be an exciting day. Maybe I'll even run into Harry Potter! I know the Weasleys and Hermione Granger will be there tomorrow, 'cause Neville told me. I've actually never met Harry face-to-face yet. I'm in Slytherin and he's in Gryffindor, so we don't have any classes together. But I hear he might be taking Muggle Studies at the insistence of Dumbledore; I'm not sure if he will, considering he lived as a complete Muggle 'til he came to Hogwarts. I know Hermione and Ron will be taking it. I overthought--is that a word? Oh, well, it is now--Ron's longwinded complaints on the train home last term; his dad works in the Muggle Artifacts department at the Ministry, and apparently his dad wants him to take Muggle Studies so he can better understand his Muggleborn friends. I'm doing the same... so, hey, I'll be in your class!"
Caitlin, having not moved nor made a sound during the past few minutes, finally got a few words in. "You said you're in Slytherin? Could you explain the house situation to me? I didn't get much information about houses from the visions Gilderoy led me into."
Kirsten obliged, and after a full explanation of houses, points, prefects, and the like, Caitlin felt that should she indeed attend Hogwarts, she was in for one interesting school year.
-----------------------------------
Review Responses--Chapter Three: Ward 49
d: I'm glad the story sounds good to you. Hope you enjoyed this newest chapter!
aljake: Yes, I'm happy you reviewed. Sorry to disappoint you about Lockhart. I just like Lockhart so much, I wanted to make him a likeable character. Besides, it's totally plausible for him to change because of what happened to him. Thanks for the compliments!