Chapter Three ~ Brand New Beginning
This time when I awoke, I kept my eyes closed tight. I didn't want to open them to see the same old green leaves waving down at me, I didn't want to be back in some normal forest, I wanted to be at Hogwarts, but that was impossible. Or, was it? Slowly, I moved my fingers. I felt crisp, smooth material beneath the tips, and I could smell disinfectant and fresh linen. Was I in a hospital! What was happening? There was only one way to find out.
I gingerly opened my eyes just a fraction, and gasped in delight. A crack quickly grew to wide stretched eyes, open as wide they could, as I took in my surroundings. I was lying in a cot-like, white bed. Cautiously, I took my time sitting up, and looked around the rest of the spacious ward. Madam Pomfrey was bustling about the other beds, tutting and complaining about vomit stains and other grotesque things. The rest of Hogwart's Hospital Wing was deserted, but I liked the quiet, it gave me time to take in my circmstances, to come to terms with this strange dream.
Madam Pomfrey turned, noticing I had woken.
"Oh! You're up! Much sooner than I expected, but nevertheless! Do you feel alright?" she clucked around me like a Mother Hen.
"I'm okay, I think. How did I get here?"
"Good good! Take this now, dear. That's a good girl, drink it all up now! It will help you get your strength back! Professor Hagrid carried you here, he found you in the Forbidden Forest! What on earth were you doing in there! It is called the 'forbidden' forest for a reason! I say, students these days…" she was rambling on, as I gulped down the vile potion, I wondered if Snape had made it. I quickly noticed she was waiting for a reply.
"Oh, yes, well, I don't actually remember how I got there. You see, I'm new at Hogwarts. But I know all about it!" I chirruped.
"So you must be Shannon Smith then! Oh yes, we have been waiting for you to arrive! But the Forbidden Forest, at night! What was Albus thinking! Honestly, sometimes I think he may be losing his rag!"
"Wait, what? You were waiting for me to arrive? Why! And what does Professor Dumbledore have to do with this?"
She completely ignored my question, instead handing me a thick parchment envelope, and placing some parcels at the end of my bed. Curiously, I opened my letter and smoothed out the crumpled papers sheltering inside.
When I fully registered what I was looking at, I almost fainted again. A Hogwarts acceptance letter shone up at my, it was beautiful, perfect, more than I had ever dreamed of.
I squealed in delight, and then I eyed the parcels up. Thoughts racing through my head of what their smooth, brown coverings concealed. I couldn't take the tension any longer, it was almost tangible, as if I could taste it lingering there. I lunged for the first lumpy present and tore the paper off in seconds. Soon, more paper was shredded. After much ripping, and gasping, I had opened every single parcel, and the contents were now spread over my bed.
Spell books, Potion Books, a brand new set of robes with a Gryffindor tie, a pewter cauldron, a potions kit, Gryffindor Quidditch robes, quills, spare parchment, ink, a FIREBOLT, and finally, the best of all, a wand. 10 ¾ inches, Hazel, Phoenix Tail Feather. Perfect. I waved it, and flicked my wrist while shouting "Wingardium Leviosa!", then yelped in surprise when a glass of water rose from my bedside table into the air. I held my breath, watching it hover for a minute, hoping it would stay floating, but the incantation had been broken by my yelp of surprise, and the glass soon fell and smashed. Madam Pomfrey sighed a little, but cleaned up the mess with one, simple wand flick, and started humming as she walked off.
I pulled out my timetable and looked over it, smiling as a scanned the names of familiar subjects. I was so excited to get started on everything! Quickly, I changed into my robes, and red/yellow tie to represent Gryffindor. I was ready for action.