Jill stared tiredly at the high table, her eyes sliding in and out of focus. The candles were too bright, Dumbledore's voice too loud. She wanted to sleep, more than anything, but first she had to wait until the headmaster finished his speech.
"Are you okay?" Anna whispered to her, concerned. Jill forced herself to nod. Anna Green, a quiet but pretty girl, had befriended Jill last year, and was always checking to make sure Jill was okay. Such a question was to be expected.
"Just tired." She managed a weak smile, before turning back to the headmaster. He spread his arms wide, a cheerful smile fixed on his face. Jill watched him mouth the word "bedtime" and stood up with the rest of the students, releasing a cacophony of noise. The room blurred and spun, but Jill squinted and forced it to right itself again. The students jostled their way to the doors, elbowing whatever came into their path. Jill followed the crowd, barely able to keep her eyes open so she wouldn't be crushed by the stampede. She made her way through the entrance hall and was halfway across it when she became aware someone was shaking her shoulder.
"Jill. Jill, it's professor McGonagall." Anna gave her one last shake before pointing to the waiting Professor. Jill frowned in annoyance – could no-one understand her need for sleep? But McGonagall tapped her foot and tightened her lips in a way that made Jill sigh and trot in the opposite direction of the Gryffindor Tower. She wondered what she'd done wrong; certainly nothing she could remember.
"Come with me." Jill was pleased to note that McGonagall's voice was as crisp as ever. She followed her feet as she was led up several stairs and a corridor, and finally into a small and cosy room with a fire that took up half of one wall. The professor sat herself down behind a desk, looking sternly up at Jill. Jill frowned and shifted awkwardly, waiting for accusations to be laid and punishments to be sentenced. McGonagall coughed slightly.
"It is my duty as deputy headmistress to inform you of the preparations that have been made for your condition." The world tipped and tumbled as if in a storm, making Jill feel nauseous. Oh. She hadn't done anything wrong, then. I should've expected this, she thought grimly. McGonagall carried on. "You will report to the hospital wing two hours before moonrise. Madam Pomfrey will escort you to a house built for your transformations, and will collect you in the morning. Is that clear?" Jill nodded, her head feeling as if it was stuffed with cotton wool. A flicker of emotion – was it pity? – flashed across McGonagall's face, but just as quickly, it was gone.
"If you ever need to speak with a teacher, the House Heads have been informed of your condition, along with the Groundskeeper and Madam Pomfrey. It would… be best if you did not inform anyone else of your condition." It was strange, listening to such friendly words being spoken in such a brisk voice. Jill nodded again. It was taking all her energy just to concentrate on Professor McGonagall's words. "By the way, Ms Thompson, there is another… Lycanthrope… in the school, so do not be alarmed by their appearance next full moon." Some of the cotton wool disappeared from Jill's head as she registered this and frowned slightly.
"You are dismissed." McGonagall reached across the desk for a pile of paper, and Jill walked out the door. She stumbled up and down steps, somehow got through the portrait hole and entered the Gryffindor common room. Already half asleep, Jill went up to her dormitory.
"What was that about?" Anna asked curiously, sitting on the bed opposite Jill's. Jill looked at her own four-poster, which was blurring and shifting.
"Ask me tomorrow." She replied, and collapsed onto the bed.