Kora adjusted the strap of her bag on her shoulder and looked up at the castle. It was a lot bigger than she had remembered it to be. She stuffed her hand into her pocket and pulled out the letter that was sent to her. She took her bottom lip in between her teeth and read it over for what seemed to be the billionth time. Stuffing it back in her pocket, she strode up to the large wooden doors of the castle, pushing it slowly forward so she could enter.
"When you arrive, your presence will be requested in Professor Dumbledore's office at 6:30 sharp. Please do not be late." Was what the letter had said, part of it anyway. She looked down at her watch. 6:18. She'd better hurry up if she wanted to make it in time, surely it would take her some time to find her way again. She fixed the shoulder strap again and dragged her trunk behind her, heading for one of the vaguely familiar staircases.
6:27, almost there. She was now in the same corridor as the gargoyle she had remembered to be the entryway to the Headmaster's office. She walked up to it and opened her mouth, about to say something, when she realized she didn't know the password.
She turned her head around, glancing down the corridor she had just came from, then to the left and right, hoping to find someone willing to help her.
"Shit ..." she muttered, turning back to the gargoyle that was blocking her path. She sighed, and lifted up a hand, forming it into a fist and rapped loudly on the stone creature, recoiling immediately.
"Ow!" she exclaimed, examining her now throbbing hand, musing at how brilliant of an idea that was. 6:29. Great, she was going to be late. She let out a sigh of frustration and turned around, deciding she should probably go look for some help.
"Miss Lovel, welcome back." Came an elderly voice from behind Kora, making her spin around in surprise, and because of the weight from her shoulder bag, fall over. Dumbledore chuckled lightly to himself, watching her stand up and brush herself off.
"You are right on time. Please join us." He said, smiling, stepping out of the way of the door so she could get past and inside the office. Kora nodded and started up the spiral staircase, but suddenly stopped.
"Wait. Us? I thought you said this would be a private meeting?"
"It is. Professor McGonagall will be attending. No students."
"Professor McGonag—ohhh .." she said, nodding to show that she understood. It had only been less than a year and she had already forgotten her beloved Head of House. The woman who had been the closest thing to a mother she had had since her real mother died. She felt nothing short of ashamed. So ashamed, that when she stepped into the Headmaster's office, she couldn't even look the Professor directly in the eye.
"So, Miss Lovel, Professor McGonagall and I have been informed from St. Mungo's that you are ready to attend school." Started the old man, taking a seat behind his desk, which was strewn with papers. "Please Miss Lovel, take a seat."
"Yes sir."
"So, it has come to our understanding that you have fully recovered from any problems you may have had. Am I right in saying this?"
'No! That flippin' hospital made everything worse! I would've been fine! You didn't have to send me anywhere!' she angrily thought.
"Yes sir. You're right."
"Very well. I would be pleased to admit you back into Hogwarts, if you think you're ready."
'Of course I'm ready!' she screamed angrily to herself 'you think I ENJOYED staying at the hospital! Anywhere is better than there!'
"Yes sir, I'm ready."
"Very well, you will return to the Gryffindor Tower tonight. Professor McGonagall will escort you and make an announcement to the whole house that you have returned." Kora nodded in understanding and stood up from her seat, pulling her bag back onto her shoulders and bending down to pick up her trunk.
"Miss Lovel, you are aware we have house elves for that type of thing, correct?" McGonagall told her, finally speaking up.
"No .. no I'd rather take it. Thanks."
"Very well, let's go. We want to catch everybody before they head down to dinner." With that said, Kora and Professor McGonagall left Dumbledore's office and made their way up to the Gryffindor Common Room.
Kora and the Professor were walking along the hallway of the Portrait of the Fat Lady, almost all the other pictures gaping at her as she walked past. She could hear muffled whispers of "Is that really her?" "She's back" and "Look at that girl" Kora merely ignored the forsaken drawings and continued following her teacher.
"Piddle Sticks"
"Huh?"
"It's the password, Kora." And surely enough, when Kora looked away from the elderly woman, the portrait hole had swung forward to admit the two. Professor McGonagall walked inside and Kora hesitantly followed. As soon as the students caught sight of the teacher, they all grew quiet, as it was a rarity that she ever really entered the Common Room.
"Prefects, I would like for you to go upstairs and collect everybody who may be in their dormitories. I have an announcement to make to all Gryffindors." Immediately, Kora could see Ron, Hermione, and a couple other students pop up and rush upstairs. A couple minutes later, they returned with several students following them.
"Now that we are all here, I have something, or someone, rather, that I would like to share with you." McGonagall said, a knowing smile appearing on her face as confused whispers could be heard throughout the room.
"Those of you who were here last year, mainly the older students, may remember a girl by the name of Kora Lovel." Even more whispers could be heard at the sound of her name. "And, as some of you know, she left in the beginning of last year to take care of some .. problems. Well, I would like for you all to welcome Miss Lovel back, as she has returned for her 7th and final year here at Hogwarts."
Kora stepped out from the darkened tunnel that led to the portrait hole so everyone in the room could see her properly. Professor McGonagall applauded politely, but no one else did. Not one student. They just sat there, like lumps in Kora's opinion, staring at her.
"Well .. er .. Hermione, if you would be so kind as to show Miss Lovel to her dorm, as you will be sharing it with her." The girl Kora remembered as Hermione stood up, nodding her head and walked toward the girl's dormitory staircase, without even a glance at Kora.
"Thanks." Kora muttered to the Professor before pushing through the crowd of Gryffindor's with her luggage, following Hermione up the stairs, much like everyone's gaze followed her.
"So, Kora," Hermione started, opening the 7th year's door, "This is your room. You can start unpacking now, if you want. Dinner starts in 15 minutes, at 7:30." And then she walked out the door, leaving Kora alone. She closed her eyes and sighed, walking over to the only bed that didn't have a trunk at the foot and started to unpack.
Thanks to Lissa for helping me with the password. Also my lovely beta. Hehe, thanks!
