Annabeth Chapter 3

Chapter 3, Year 1

Professor McGonagall bade her regards to the healer so her and Annabeth went back to the Hogwarts castle. For the first couple of days Annabeth would do whatever Madam Pomphrey would ask of her. McGonagall, after the third day when she was allowed by Madam Pomphrey, would visit Annabeth every day and do her paper work by the hospital bedside since the school year was vastly approaching.

Professor McGonagall also informed Annabeth that all of the professors are aware that Annabeth was here and the Herbology professor would like to meet her. Annabeth smiled brightly at that and agreed saying that whatever he would like she would be delighted to do before she took that class in her first year at Hogwarts. They agreed that he could come soon to talk to her, with Madam Pomphreys' permission of course.

Annabeth was very excited for the first year at Hogwarts, since she could never go to school before. Her mother was only allowed to teach her how to read and write, so she was very excited for all the vast new opportunities.

Madam Pomphrey has been helping with her wounds and is remarked at how well she had been healing. Almost all her bones have been mended with the exception of her left leg which still refuses to sit properly, most of the bruises had turned that greenish yellow they always do before they properly heal, and all the cuts have been sealed. The only thing that was moving way too slow for comfort was Annabeths' weight.

Madam Pomphrey has begun watching Annabeth eat after she noticed the lowness of her weight. Annabeth weighed only 59 pounds; 18 whole pounds below what is considered healthy for an 11 year old! Madam Pomphrey had watched her eat every meal for 3 days and concluded that she had been eating until she couldn't hold anymore. That amount was still very small, most days she could barely finish half of one sandwich. This was odd because Madam Pomphrey had been supplying Annabeth nourishment potions; they obviously weren't working.

When the school healer realized this she confessed her concern to Professor McGonagall. Professor McGonagall went to talk to Annabeth right before the meeting with the Herbology professor.

"Annabeth," the professor tried to say nicely but sternly, "Have you been eating all the food that Madam Pomphrey has been giving you?" the professor asked standing above her bedside blocking out the light from the window behind her.

"Yes," Annabeth responded tiredly. She cut off Madam Pomphrey, who was standing right behind McGonagall, from saying something. "But I think I know why I'm not gaining the weight I should be."

Madam Pomphrey was waiting behind Professor McGonagall watching Annabeth, "Why," Professor McGonagall asked knowing that the question will tell her another thing about Annabeths' past that she doesn't decide to indulge in too often. Annabeth was actually very open about talking about her past, which the Professor wasn't sure to be happy or concerned about.

"Well," Annabeth started, "I never ate a lot, just a couple of scraps a week and my body never really got to really get more than enough food to function and eventually I would barely be able to eat the scraps. I guess my body is trying to recognize what eating decent amounts of food is like." she finished looking out a window across the way from her bedside. Professor McGonagall looked taken aback and Madam Pomphrey looked on the verge of crying.

"Oh sweetie," Professor McGonagall said hoarsely, "well um i'll look into that," she finished before walking out of the Hospital Wing.

Annabeth looked over to Madam Pomphrey and saw her try to dab her eyes with the backs of her hands. Noticing this Annabeth asked "Can you get me that cake thing you were telling me about yesterday? I'd like to try some." Madam Pomphrey, realizing what Annabeth was doing, smiled sadly then fled the Hospital Wing bumping into Professor Longbottom while walking out.

Professor Longbottom started walking in not giving his greeting with the healer much thought. He saw Annabeth sitting on her hospital bed staring out at the same window across the way. While he was walking over to her she casualty looked over. She obviously wasn't expecting it to be him because when she saw her new Professor she smiled brightly and got out of bed to greet him.

"Wait," he said as she started walking making her halt, "Madam Pomphrey said you're not allowed to walk yet." The Professor said trying to usher her back on the hospital bed.

"Ugh!" Annabeth sighed, "She told you too!" her shoulders slumped and she dejectedly limped over to her bed. The Professor chuckled and sat down at her bedside.

After a short silence, in which Professor Longbottom had been watching Annabeth; seeing if she would have a panic attack like all the others he knew in similar situations just like hers, Annabeth said something breaking the silence. "So, would you like to talk or…" she trailed off.

"Yes," The Professor said distantly, "Yes, Yes," he cleared his throat. "Are you excited for the school year?" The Professor asked.

"Yes," Annabeth said looking into the Professors eyes, "But is that what you really wanted to talk to me about?" Annabeth asked like she was talking to an equal. A friend.

"What are yo—" the Professor got cut off.

"I know about your parents." Annabeth said bluntly. "I know you just wanted to know if I was okay. Maybe ask me some questions. I also am certain that Madam Pomphrey or McGonagall told you not to talk about it." He nodded. "I'm asking you to talk about it. Please." Annabeth pleaded.

The Professor complied, "I just don't understand." He said as if that solved everything.

"What?" Annabeth asked patiently probably too excited to talk about her past.

"Well you see my parents they were tortured. For three days. But you have been tortured longer then that haven't you." He didn't wait for her to answer. "Why did you, an eleven year old girl, not go insane but my parents, adults, go mental."

Annabeth looked serious, "Don't say that word." She reprimanded, she then held a small sad smile upon her face. "The people you know who went insane they were probably tortured for days at a time and probably happy in their life. Now your parents, I meet them. Nice people. Anyway, the healers put me in that ward when I went back for a check-up last week. They wanted to test if I was sane." She said looking dully out a window as the Professor watched her. "Of course I am sane because unlike the other people in the ward I grew up with the pain. I have lived it. It's what's my childhood is basically.

"The point is that no matter how great and strong your parents—anybody is, the torture was only a one-time thing for them; Luckily. The cruciatus curse is part of me. Part of who I am. Embroidered in my skin." She stopped. The Professor gulped. She then sighed. "Your parents were very nice. Trying to smile at me, it was great, but I know it might hurt you every time you see me walking in the hallway. Living life happily after what happened. I'm sorry for your parents. I'm sorry for you even." She sighed looking back at her Professor.

A pause once again, "How can you just talk about it so freely?" He asked

She chuckled her eyes lighting up dimly, "You would expect not right? But no, I would rather talk about it more except I know it bothers people."

"Was that what just happened?"

"Yeah," she said but didn't elaborate. Just then Madam Pomphrey came in cutting off any other reply. She walked in carrying a piece of yellow cake and white icing with an ornate icing pink flower in the middle of the piece.

"Hello Professor Longbottom," Madam Pomphrey said bustling over to the bedside, she handed Annabeth the cake with a normal small smile then she shot a stern look at Professor Longbottom. Who started standing up out of his chair.

"I guess that's my queue to leave." Professor Longbottom said. He left leaving the elderly healer and her patient to eat their cake and talk about easy subjects. At least nothing too complicated. Nothing someone would cry over.