Square: Potion Card – Mandrake Draught
Prompt: Write about any one character (petrified) immediately after they woke up
Word Count: 470
Awake
Penelope slowly opened her eyes and cast them around her surroundings.
It took her only second to realise that she was in the Hospital Wing, but how did she get there? And for how long?
The last thing she could remember was rushing from the library after losing track of time so that she could make it to the Quidditch match on time. She had been very eager to watch the match, and win her money back off her boyfriend.
And then there was nothing.
Penelope closed her eyes as she tried to recall what had happened next.
She had met someone, and they had told her to be careful. But who had it been, and what had she been told?
A rustle of bed sheets broke her concentration, and she looked over to the bed next to her where she saw Hermione Granger stirring from her slumber.
Of course, she thought feeling as though a light bulb had just turned on in her mind; she had bumped into Hermione who had told her to use her mirror to look around corners. She had told her that the creature in the Chamber of Secrets could only be fatal if she looked it directly in the eye, and to tell everyone she met.
"Penny, you're awake," she heard a voice say. "Thank goodness. I've been so worried about you."
Penelope turned her head to face the direction the voice had come from, and saw her relieved boyfriend quickly approaching her.
"Percy," she smiled, pushing herself up in the bed. "What happened?"
"Umm, well my love, you were – petrified."
"I figured out that much Perce," she said with a laugh. "I mean what's happened at the school, and with the monster that did this? Did they catch the person doing this?"
The witch didn't miss how Percy flinched and looked away from her, and down to the ground with a look of shame on his face.
"Percy, what is it?"
"Penny, I'm so sorry. It – It was Ginny, but she didn't know what she was doing. There was this thing to do with a diary, and it had some kind of control over her and she nearly died and I'm so sorry. She would never harm a fly. You have to believe me! It wasn't her fault," he rushed out.
The witch closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
So, all these events had been caused because an innocent first year was manipulated.
"Penny."
"It's okay Perce. I believe you," she answered softly.
Before the couple could talk any further, Madam Pomfrey came bustling over to the bed.
"Out! Visiting time's over. This girl needs some rest and relaxation if she's going to make the end of term feast," she said ushering him out, leaving the Ravenclaw alone with her thoughts.