How does one react when everything one seems to know suddenly gets ripped away and replaced?
My life seemed to be falling in shambles and I couldn't quite get a grip on reality. I could feel my frustration, anger and other emotions begin building up.
Since I had returned from school back to living my insignificant life in the orphanage, the girls were now acting extremely weird.
Only handful of girls actually dared speak to me. Aside from Rosemary, only two other girls had spoken to me before I left to go back to Hogwarts.
Now it seemed I was back to being a pariah within the orphanage.
Sister Prudence was waiting for me by the front door to help me with the bag of groceries I had brought. She took half of it before leading me into the kitchen.
She set everything down on the breakfast nook before turning towards me. Her shoulders tensed, as she looked into the bag and began pulling everything out.
No one uttered a word for a some time. When she finally did, her entire face changing into a saddened expression.
"Annie, deary, Mother Superior recieved a phone call just after you left to the Farmer's Market." She began.
I nodded, tense as I felt the weird stirring in my abdomen that I had felt earlier. A brief image informing me what was to come.
"It appears, a young man, Tom or Thomas, I believe was the boy's name." She muttered to herself, confused.
I tensed as I heard the familiar name, breathing deeply and nodding in acknowledgement before I looked at her, patiently waiting for her to finish.
"It seems the woman in charge of Wool's Orphanage, says he's had an accident. He locked himself inside the room and won't let anyone inside. A professor from your school called here and asked for your assistance in the situation." She explained, as she grabbed the wooden chopping block, and a sharpened butcher's knife, quickly chopping into the freshly washed veggies I had brought.
I nodded, setting down the rest of the bags onto the counter near the pantry and washing my hands before I left the room.
I knew the drill. Sister Julienne and Mother Superior never allowed any of us to go out wearing a dress. I changed into my mint green and white striped, pencil skirt, and a black wrap around sweater. Pulling my curled tresses into a bun at the nap of my neck.
I quickly slipped my black ballet slippers onto my tired feet and pulled my thick coat on. Both Sister Prudence and Sister Julienne were waiting for me by the door as I made my way down the stairs. When I reached the landing, they quickly handed me a large wicker basket.
"What's this?" I asked them.
"Just a few things you may need. Professor Dumbledore, the man from your boarding school, he mentioned what you could bring if need be." She muttered.
I nodded, feeling my fingers twitch , a weird energy beginning to pulse through my veins as I lifted the basket. I ignored it as I walked out of the door.
Feeling it increase as soon as I was out the door.
I made it to Wool's Orphanage in a nick of time. Professor Dumbledore awaiting by the door, he posture tense as I approached.
"Professor Dumbledore, sir." I muttered in greeting.
He gave me a kind smile, immediately wrapping an arm around my shoulders.
Slowly leading me into the old, highly neglected, though clean building. The woman in charge of the Orphanage, Mrs. Cole, I was later told was her name, quickly stepped aside as we went in to the dingy building.
The silence stretched on as Dumbledore lead me through the building, up a few stories, on a door to the left. He looked down at me before knocking at the last door on the fourth floor.
I planted my feet firmly on the ground, turning to look up at our dear, DADA teacher. "What's really going on, sir?" I asked, comprehending the situation at hand.
"I'm unsure of it myself, I received an urgent owl from the ministry of magic earlier this afternoon." he whispered.
He reached to touch the door, shocking both of us when the knob turned into a deformed imprint under his hand.
My eyes widened as the stirring I felt earlier returned.
This time, my senses seemed to be in overdrive. I could hear past the door a soft, pained groan, turned whimper as Tom sat in the far corner of the bed, his arms wrapped around midriff.
"Pro-professor, sir, something is wrong with Tom." I whispered, my hand trembling around the wicker basket's handle.
I blinked, pushing past him, feeling the energy surge through me as I pushed the door roughly.
I gasped in surprise as met the sight before me. Tom was in a worse-for-wear state.
His normally neatly combed raven-hued locks were in complete disarray, his lips were badly chapped, bruises and small gashes littered on his forehead, hands and fingers, forearms and cheek bones.
I dropped the basket on the first thing I saw, and rushed to his side.
Unable to reach him, though, since the professor pulled me back after slamming the door closed. He waved his hand slightly, putting up an unknown spell around the room.
"Don't touch him just yet, my dear child. He's been cursed. Give me a few seconds to see what is truly wrong with him." The professor said, putting a comforting hand on my shoulder.
I nodded in response, my eyes beginning to sting, and my lower lip beginning to tremble.
"Will he- Is he going to be alright, professor?" I asked, as I felt the tears begin to run down my face.
The professor nodded slowly, as he searched a badly shaped Tom. Slowly taking his wrist into his hand, closing his eyes in concentration.
I could feel myself grow with agitation as the minutes slowly past. The professor slowly began healing him.
"It seems your friend, Tom, was trying to protect you when this happened." The professor finally said.
I could feel the blood drain from my face as the words he spoke bounced off within my head.
I watched as Dumbledore healed him, chanting incantations, his brow creasing in concentration as he did so.
My tears ran, falling one after the other as Tom let out a pained groan.
"He'll be alright now, Annie. I just need to wrap his wrist, and ribs. Since I don't have a healing potion here with me." Dumbledore muttered.
I nodded, slowly approaching the basket, pulling out a long tourniquet I had thrown in before rushing out the door. I quickly threw it to the foot of the bed.
We watched as Tom passed out into a peaceful rest right after the professor finished. It was quiet. Almost too quiet.
Suddenly, I squared my shoulders in determination, gathering all the strength in me, I finally spoke.
"Who told Sister Prudence?" I whispered.
"I did. She's a family friend. We've known one another since we were in diapers." The professor said, smiling fondly at me.
I gapped, shocked. "B-but how? That-that would mean...-" I blundered, shocked.
"Surely, you didn't think I'd leave you two unprotected, did you?" He whispered, softly.
"No. Well, I figured something like this was happening...but Professor, who attacked T-Tom?" I asked, worried.
"Ah, that I cannot be sure." He replied truthfully.
"H-he was a cloaked figure. He showed up just after you left." Tom answered, his voice thick with sleep alerting us that he had woken up again.
I quickly stood up, rushing to Tom's side. Worried as I saw this visible injuries. Tears began pour once more as I did so.
"Tom, can you explain what exactly happened earlier?" The professor asked.
Tom slowly groaned, pulling himself up into a sitting position on his bed. I winced as I took in the actual extent of his injuries. The blanket that was on him, pooling at his waist as he did so.
"Anna and I were speaking in an alley, just a few blocks from here. She had just left when I heard a pop. When I turned there was a man standing near the shadows. I was about to walk away, when he pointed his wand at me." He said, looking worried.
"I know, the use of underaged magic is forbidden outside of school but I was attacked. If I hadn't defended myself, I don't know that I would've survived." He pleaded.
I turned to look at the Professor, worried. Tom, moved to reach into the drawer, placed in the desk beside the bed.
"Tom. Anna. Gather your things, we need to leave here immediately. Hurry." The professor uttered urgently, quickly getting to his feet.