Sorry about the filler-type nature of this chapter, but it was very important for setting up the next one... something I know a few of you have been waiting for! ;) Thank you all for reading and thank you to Moon Lantern and DragonSlayer2187 for the reviews! :D Just finished with some college visits this week... It's still a whole year and a half away, yet I'm still needing to visit them now. :P Not my favorite way to spend Spring Break... Though I did get some more writing done! :D Yay!

Chapter 13: Telling My Tale

It was at ten the next morning, when I had finished my breakfast and had started thinking about nothing in particular (as bored as I was), that Professor Dumbledore summoned me to his office. A house elf, a girl by the looks of her, popped suddenly into the space between my bed and the curtains, causing me to jump suddenly and nearly fall off the bed.

"Hello Miss Leah ma'am." The house elf said politely. "Professor Dumbledore has been sending Elssa to tell Miss Leah of a meeting in his office."

"Uh… ok," I responded, not sure of what to do. I wasn't even sure of where the headmaster's office was, or if I was even allowed to leave the Hospital Wing. "Listen, I need to ask Madam Pomfery-"

"Ask me what, dear?" Came the matron's voice from behind me. "Oh, hello Elssa. Is Leah supposed to meet with the Headmaster now?"

"Yes Miss Poppy," Elssa said, smiling in a crooked fashion that actually looked kind of cute. "Professor Dumbledore has been asking Elssa to bring Miss Leah to his office as soon as is possible."

Madam Pomfery sighed, eyeing me up and down with a calculating gaze. I hoped she would let me go. All I had done in the past twenty-four hours besides eat and sleep was take a few steps from my bed to the curtain and back again. I was feeling restless.

"Very well," she finally consented, after an awkward minute or two of her looking me over and thinking deep thoughts (or at least I thought so). She waved her wand once and sighed again, releasing a hiss of air. "I told him to wait until this evening at the earliest… but no matter, you're well enough as it is I suppose."

Two small vials flew through the air and the matron caught them without looking. I stared for a few seconds, wondering how on earth she had caught them without looking, before realizing she was holding out one of the bottles for me to take. I recognized its deep blue color from the last time I had taken it and quickly swallowed it down, the hint of vanilla and orange lingering in my mouth.

"Nutrient Potion, right?" I asked, setting the empty glass container down on the side table.

"Correct," she answered, with a hint of pride. She held out the other potion, picking up the one I had discarded. It was pale blue and I hadn't seen it before.

"What's this one?"

"A simple Stomach-soothing draught. Elssa will be taking you to Professor Dumbledore's office using a form of magical transportation called Apparition and, having never experienced it before, one usually finds the experience disconcerting and nauseating."

I winced internally, remembering my second meeting with Bellatrix, when she brought me to the manor.

"I've experienced Apparition before," I said quietly, avoiding her eyes. "When Bellatrix took me from the orphanage." I didn't mention the other times.

She didn't say anything, but I felt her hand on my shoulder, a welcome gesture of comfort with my inner turmoil. Her thumb rubbed back and forth over my shirt, creating small creases in the fabric.

"Still, it would probably be best if you took the potion anyway. One time about a month ago wouldn't have been enough to acclimate you to the feeling."

And I was glad she did not dwell on my comment. I was even thankful for the slightly bitter taste of the periwinkle potion, for it successfully took my mind off of my memories.

I got to my feet, wincing as I did, because my muscles were still sore and ached horribly. I looked down at my clothes, realizing that I was wearing the same clothes as before, but they were much cleaner and looked almost new.

"Were you the one who fixed my clothes?" I asked, examining the now bright fabric, free of rips and dirty smudges.

"Of course dear. It was no trouble though, just a few simple spells, really."

"Thanks though," I said sincerely. "It was actually my favorite shirt. I'm glad you could fix it."

"Again, no trouble at all," She sent me a soft smile. "Now grab Elssa's hand – yes, just like that. And I expect you to be back here immediately afterwards, young lady!" she added in a fake-stern voice accompanied by another smile. I returned it and then felt the same squeezing feeling on all sides as the Hospital Wing disappeared and was replaced with a distinctly magical room.

My mouth fell open as I gazed around the room, taking in the circular office. Despite all the magic I had seen used around me, this was by far the most amazing thing I had ever seen. From the countless thick tomes with bizarre names – some even in other languages – to the spindly-legged instruments that shone silver and emitted puffs of smoke of varying colors.

I almost screamed when I realized that the pictures of different witches and wizards on the walls were breathing. Though they were all asleep, their chests rose and fell slowly and, when I listened closely, a few even snored.

Hearing a chuckle from behind me, I was met with the Headmaster himself – his flowing white beard and hair making him distinctly visible – sitting behind a great oak desk, next to a beautiful red, gold and orange bird. It trilled suddenly, flying off of its perch and landing on my shoulder.

Surprised by its light weight, I turned my attention back to the Headmaster and saw that he was motioning me to a small wooden chair that, when I sat down, was surprisingly comfortable.

"I see Fawkes has taken a liking to you," He said, still smiling, as he motioned to the bird on my shoulder.

"He's very beautiful sir," I said, giggling as the bird hopped down to the arm of my chair and began nuzzling his head beneath my hand so I could scratch his feathers. He hummed, sounding like a purring cat.

"Fawkes is a phoenix," Professor Dumledore continued, watching our interaction. "Their songs impact emotions, they have the capacity to carry immensely heavy loads, their tears have healing powers and, occasionally, they bond to a witch or wizard for the duration of their lives."

"Wow," I murmured, still running my fingers through Fawkes' feathers.

We sat in silence for a few moments before Professor Dumbledore spoke again.

"I was wondering if you would now oblige to recount your experiences for the past month or so," he began, his expression grandfatherly. "Just as much as you feel comfortable sharing, of course."

Ice flooded through my body and I stiffened, clenching my fingers on the arm of the chair and on Fawkes' back. I shut my eyes and my body trembled slightly. So soon? Naturally, it had been two days since my escape… Ah, no! Don't think about that! You've been doing so well! I had thought he would have called me to speak about my brother, or my situation now that I was residing in the castle

I had known I would need to tell the story of my capture eventually, but… but… Ugh! I had thought it would be later – days? – weeks? – a month? Not now, surely.

Burying my face in my hands, I could feel the hot burning of tears starting to leak from my eyes and slipping between my fingers. I didn't want to do this.

Fawkes trilled again, rubbing his head along my arm. I felt a small bubble of warmth inside me, slowly dispelling at least some of my negative feelings. He cooed and I sent him a watery smile that probably looked more like a grimace. I breathed deeply, still shaking a little, and started my tale.

I began with the first day I had met Bellatrix at the orphanage, of the day after when she had taken me to the manor. I spoke of my feelings of horror at Voldemort – who he was, what he stood for, how he planned to get it. Gradually it became – not quite easy – but easier to say what had happened. It actually felt surprisingly cathartic to finally tell someone, to be able to put my fears and experiences out on display, for another to see.

But as I came to the day of my escape, my throat closed up and I couldn't speak. My mind was overwhelmed with memories and tears started to cascade down my face again.

"Evi! Evi! Snap out of it!"

I struggled to pull myself back together, to gain some semblance of control and keep talking, but I was lost.

Cruel laughter echoing around a forest clearing.

I was sucked into my thoughts, my memories; I was pulled into a very real nightmare.

So tell me what you thought!

-Any guesses on who Evi is?

Thanks again for reading! (Please review! Again, constructive criticism is entirely welcome! ;)