I could feel as I snapped back into the present.
I was now laying on the leather chesterfield in the common room. Too many familiar and worried faces above me as my eyes blinked open. I could hear as they all sighed in relief simultaneously.
"Here, drink this, Miss. Riel." Professor Slughorn instructed, handing a glass phial to me, that contained a clear liquid.
It seemed to be an energy replenishing potion.
I began to feel better within a few seconds of drinking it, even though I could still feel as my nose began to bleed.
Bella was quick to appear at my side, before quickly handing me a handkerchief to wipe the blood from my face.
I looked around to realize that most of the students had gone back to their rooms for the remainder of the lockdown.
The only students left in the common room were those who were loyal friends to Tom and I.
Tom was stood near the back of the chesterfield, looking down at me.
I could see that a few emotions were playing in his eyes, the most prominent emotion being relief.
"How are you feeling, Annie?" The girls asked as I sat up, resting my head on the back of the chesterfield.
"Tired, overwhelmed... confused," I said, closing my eyes.
"Confused, why? What did you see?" Bella asked, frowning.
'I think I am related to Grindlewald.' I thought, unwilling to let myself recite the words in my still clustered mind.
I heard as Tom let out a sharp breath from behind me. My eyes snapping to his wide ones.
'Not a single word to anyone about this, or consider yourself a dead man.' I thought, looking straight into his wide eyes.
Over the next fifteen hours, we sat motionlessly in the common room.
I was so lost in thought that I completely missed when the girls had left the room.
My mind reeled, trying to decipher the mystery that was my family.
I had too many questions that still needed to be answered.
Were there going to be more appearing soon?
I was told that the Riel side of my family had been wiped out by one of the members after they received the news that my father had perished. So, how was this possible?
I heard a shushing noise, snapping me out of my revere. As I unknowingly began to stare at the dancing emerald flames, in the stone hearth.
Blinking multiple times before I looked around the room to realize that there wasn't anyone left in the room. It was completely empty. Not even the small mouse that usually scurried the empty hallways at night.
I wasn't even in the mood to celebrate anything anymore.
Today had come like a whirlwind from the south, bringing information I didn't want or expect.
The worst part of it all was that I didn't get my bag of sweets from Honeydukes, or my new books on mythological creatures.
I slowly got up from my seat in the now empty common room, and slowly made my way back towards my room.
Slipping off my cloak, unzipped, and stepped out of my shoes before climbing into my bed.
I then pulled a book from my bedside table.
I got lost within the pages of the books, reading, and reading until eventually, my eyes became heavy and I fell into a dreamless sleep.
I wished that there was someone to explain to me what was happening. Why were there so many things happening to me? Why did my parents have to be killed when I was just a toddler? Most of all, why did some stupid prophecies have to rule over my life?
Sleeping helped immensely, when I woke up I knew that it was sometime in the afternoon, we would probably still be under lockdown, seeing as nobody knew if Grindlewald would be coming back.
As I sat on the bed pulling my hair out of the braid I had pulled it into earlier while reading.
It was almost sun down once more, and I hadn't had a single bite to eat this morning.
Realizing I still had some sweets leftover from when my grandmother had sent me four days prior, I pulled the knapsack out and began munching into the first thing I pulled out hungrily.
It happened to be a pumpkin pasty, I almost ate all of it within two bites.
Realizing I was ravenous with hunger, I quickly pulled out my wand and a book I came across in the library.
It seemed to be a cookbook. Curiosity got the better of me, I had never cooked a thing in my life, cooking seemed to be an easy task for muggles, maybe it was easier for wizards?
As I slowly scanned the pages in the book, I came across two recipes that looked rather simple to do.
The first was called Shepard's pie, and the other was a chicken pot pie. I've heard of different types of pies but they seemed rather interesting to make.
I decided to try to make Shepard's pie.
Quickly conjuring up the ingredients that I would need before slowly beginning.
I realized too late that I could use the firepit in the corner of the room. I flicked my hand preparing everything rather quickly, as I began to assemble the layers to the pie placing them in the glass container that my grandmother had sent me filled with delicious goodies.
After a few minutes of my wrist flicking and my wand moving the pie seemed to be done, I had made sure to cook it until the top seemed golden brown and flaky.
However, right as I was about to take the first bite, my door slammed opened and in walked Bellatrix with her sisters trailing behind her.
"What smells so delicious?" She asked as she set down her armful of packages on her bed.
"I came across this book in the library, I got curious to see what was in it. It turns out it's a recipe book." I said, grabbing my fork and digging into the flaky crust.
"Recipe book? Recipes for what? Like a potions book?" She asked.
"No, you prat, she means a recipe cookbook. You know, to cook food? To eat?" Andi said, as she set down her packages and made her way over to me.
"A muggle one or a normal one?" Bellatrix asked.
I rolled my eyes at her as I chewed through the first bite, quickly moaning at the savory taste.
It was delicious, probably more so since I was starving.
"Well?" She asked, putting her hands on her hips.
"It's a combination of both. It says here that the author was Helga Hufflepuff, herself. Meaning I am keeping this book for myself." I said after I swallowed my first bite, continuing to eat after I spoke.
"Mm... Well, while you eat I'll tell you what my parents sent you. Along with all of their friends." She said, picking up the packages and bringing them to where I sat in between Andi and Cissy before proceeding to tear them all open.
I nodded, grabbing the goblet and drinking half of the pumpkin juice I put in it.
"Happy Birthday Sophie, I know this day hasn't been the way you wanted but, we hope that at least this moment will lighten this eventful day," Cissy said, patting my back as I ate.
I nodded in response, continuing to eat the food before me.
I watched as several parcels laid opened after I finished eating, flicking my hand, and making all the dishes before me disappeared.
I thought of something quickly. Closing my eyes, I focused as three more Shepard's pies appeared before me, along with three goblets and forks.
"Eat," I said, watching as their eyes widened.
"Try it. It truly is delicious. I know you haven't eaten since breakfast. It's probably late and you're probably hungry." I said, smiling at them as they took the fork and took the first bite.
"How'd you do this? It's delicious." Cissy said, after swallowing the first bite.
"It was much harder the first time than it was the second time. I think practice helps." I said shrugging.
I looked at everything that had been sent, smiling as I put everything away, waving my wand to do so.
After chatting for a while, we all decided to get some rest. Narcissa and Andromeda saying goodnight before heading down the hall to their room.
"Happy Birthday, Soph," Bella whispered, as we laid in our respective beds, staring up.
"Thank you. For everything. I know this past week has been rather hard for me but thank you for being supportive of me and my erratic decisions." I said, yawning.
"What are friends for?" She asked, almost unconsciously.
I let out a small giggle, before letting my eyes finally close and sinking into a deep slumber.