New term - Same problems
When she opened her eyes she was standing on platform 9 3/4. Like every year it was crowded with parents saying their goodbyes, kids blushing as they received the awkward kiss on the cheek and toads getting lost between their feet. Alicia tried to push through the amount of people surrounding her and started to walk towards the back of the train. Much to her dismay there were just as many students on the train as there were parents standing outside. When she finally found a carriage that wasn’t filled with people she slipped her thin frame inside. The pale looking man didn’t move so she quietly put her trunk away and settled down across from him. Taking a deep breath, Alicia closed her eyes. Only 9 more hours and then she’d be home. Back in her bed with the crimson coloured curtains and the common room with the comfortable couches. Back at the only place that she ever felt safe at. In hopes that time would pass faster the girl fell asleep.
It was the sudden temperature change that woke her up. Everything around her was pitch black and she could feel the heat leaving her body. Alicia suddenly felt like she was suffocating. What was happening to her? Why can’t she have one normal train ride for once? Why was this always happening when she wasn’t able to reach Tonks? The door of the carriage was pushed open and a bony hand came towards her throat. The Gryffindor could barely make out the black silhouette that was floating in front of her; the only thing she knew was that she would pass out soon. The last thing she noticed before the tingling in her face and the lack of Oxygen became too much for her was the man across from her getting up.
She woke up with a sudden jolt. “What the fu- What in Merlin’s name just happened?” The brown haired girl looked around. “Don’t try to move, you hit your head pretty hard when you passed out.”, the pale looking guy said. “Here. Eat, you’ll feel better.” It was only then that Alicia noticed the bandage that was wrapped around her head. Staring in disbelieve she took the chocolate bar that was being held in front of her. “Who are you? And what is even going on?”, she whispered as she put a hand onto her collarbone. Hoping the pressure would soothe her she started pressing her palm down. “I’m Professor Remus Lupin. You were attacked by a Dementor that was supposed to search the train for Peter Pettigrew. I don’t know why it decided to ignore its commands but I’m sure Dumbledore will take care of it.” He smiled at the confused kid sitting in front of him. “Eat. I’ll go check on something. Will you be fine without me for a minute?”, the brown haired man asked. The teenager nodded, feeling a headache building up inside her head. Hoping it was just her low blood sugar she took a bite from the chocolate bar. If I end up in the hospital wing I’m fucked! Madam Pomfrey will get concerned again and I don’t have an excuse for this she thought. Why can’t all of this just stop?
It was only when the feist was coming to an end that she noticed the people around her looking weird. Everything seemed blurry and out of focus. The pain was radiating from her temples into her jaw and her neck. After finding out that the man on the train was her new Defense against the dark arts teacher she started zoning out, everything else that Dumbledore had to say didn’t seem all too important. Hermione gave her a concerned look but before her dorm mate could open her mouth, Alicia hushed her. “I’ll go to the hospital wing now, I just hit my head when the train jolted. It’s nothing serious, I promise.” Trying to ignore the glance from Professor Black she turned her back towards the teachers table. Giving her a small smile Hermione turned away to face the younger students. Taking a deep breath Alicia started to make her way out of the great hall and up to the hospital wing.
The brown haired kid dreaded every second of this. While madam Pomfrey was a lot more understanding than aunt petunia she still was feeling so anxious she thought she was about to pass out. After waiting another second she opened the door and walked inside. “Oh Miss Reid, I didn’t think I’d see you so soon! Coming in for your check in already?” Poppy called when she saw the girl. Fidgeting nervously with her hands the teenager shook her head. “No ma’am, not really. I hit my head when the train stopped and my headache won’t seem to get any better.” she murmured. “Oh dear, sit down over there and I’ll be with you in a moment.” The medi-witch replied with a warm smile. Doing as she was told Alicia sat down on the bed closest to her and automatically wrapped one arm around herself while using her other hand to put pressure onto her collar bone. Maybe it wouldn’t be too bad. Or maybe no one would even notice the fresh scars and bruises on her body. Before she could continue that train of thought Madam Pomfrey arrived with a tray of medical supplies. “I’ll just quickly switch the bandage on your forehead before I will check on your headache, alright? This might hurt a bit.” Vanishing the work professor Lupin had done with a flick of her wand the mediwitch started to asses her wound. “It’s not too deep but I will give you something to prevent bruising and another scar.” The woman explained while trying to open the jar she had brought with her. To her surprise however it was empty. Whispering things to herself that didn’t sound too friendly she started to make her way into her office. When the witch returned empty handed, Alicia already knew things weren’t looking too bright for her. “Dear, I’m sorry but for some reason I’ve forgotten to stock up on bruise paste. I sent a message to Professor Snape, he’ll be with us in a moment to help out.” Before the child could protest against it, the dungeon bat himself entered the hospital wing. “Ah, Miss Reid. I thought I was blessed with another two days until I had to see you again but it seems as if I was mistaken.” The black haired man sneered. Shifting uncomfortably on her bed the brown haired girl glanced at him. Turning to his right Severus pressed a box filled with potions and paste into Poppy’s arms. “I’ll take care of her head, you can go and organise your supplies. I’ll call for you if I need assistance.” With that the potions master pulled the curtains around them shut.
Why exactly did I start caring for this Gryffindor? Out of all houses, why did it have to be a kid so troubled? Severus Snape asked himself. Starting at the wound on her head he started to take a closer look at the child sitting in front of him. She was pale, possibly from the blood loss and pain; her collarbones were sticking out more than he remembered and her wrists were mere sticks. The uniform she was wearing seemed to be too big, despite it being the same one she’s had since Alicia first came to Hogwarts. Severus are you loosing all your skills of being a spy? Why haven’t you come up with an explanation to all of this yet? the potions master thought. With a sigh he conjured a wet cloth and started cleaning up the Gryffindors forehead. “So?” he asked. The girl frowned at his question. “Sir?” Snape rolled his eyes. “Idiot child, what happened this time? Did another cauldron fall onto your head or why does your it look like it did in first year?” he answered with a sarcastic tone. Remembering the accident from her first year, Alicia smiled. “No sir…uhm I got up to stretch a bit when the train suddenly stopped. I stumbled and hit my head against the door handle.” The last part almost came out as a whisper. What appeared to Severus as embarrassment was the kids attempt at making her story seem logical. “I see.” He murmured while applying bruise paiste onto the now healing wound. He knew that the girl sitting in front of him didn’t tell him every detail of what had happened but he kept that comment to himself. For now at least.
“Here, drink this. After that you can return to your common room for the night” he said while handing her a vial filled with purple fluid. “Oh, it’s not that serious, really. I just need to sleep a bit and then I’ll be fine” Alicia replied, hoping to get out of this nightmare. She had never been a fan of medication, especially since it usually meant that she’d have to eat something in order for it to work properly. “Well, if you say so. However, if I find out you missed tomorrow’s class because you’re still in pain, and believe me I will. find. out. you will be scrubbing cauldrons for the rest of the week.” the professor sneered. He felt bad for telling her off like that but he knew it was the only way to get her to eventually accept the help she was being offered. Even if she didn’t understand his methods yet. “Yes sir.” she replied. Taking the potion from her professor Alicia started to make her way to the Gryffindor common room. Why couldn’t she have one normal day?
When the third year arrived at the portrait of the fat lady she realised that she didn’t know the password. “Oh Miss Reid, I didn’t think you were returning tonight already. The girls dorm missed you!” the woman spoke to her. Rolling her eyes at her statement the girl spat: “ just let me in, please. I need to sleep.” The portrait in front of her was about to protest when a dark, curly haired god walked up, dragged its tongue against it and the quickly disappeared once the woman started screaming. Still disturbed by what just happened the fat lady let the Gryffindor enter. If he finds Mrs Norris that dog will be the death of her the brown haired child thought with a grin.
After making her way up into her dorm room she was immediately greeted by hermione. “Oh Alicia, I’m so glad you’re back! How is your head doing? Did Madame pompfrey give you something for the pain?” The hug she was pulled into almost crushed her thin frame. Sighing she pulled herself out of her friends arms and replied: “hermione. Please. I’m not dying. Yes, my head is doing better. Yes, I got something for the pain. However- I need to sleep in order for it to work properly so I beg you by Merlin’s dead ass to let me finally go to sleep.” Ending her sentence with a smile she started to pull her pyjamas out of her trunk. “I’m sorry- yes of course, I’ll wake you up in time for breakfast okay?” Giving a small nod Alicia pulled the curtains around her bed shut. Hermione was great but Merlin only knew how much she hated the girls dorm.