Contentment

Madeline woke up on an uncomfortable bed, cold sheets placed around her.  Blinking into existence, she tried to get her bearings.  

"Madeline."  She looked to her left, noticing an older woman, adorned in dark green colors, sitting on a chair facing her bed.  A look of worry pressed firmly onto her futures.   

"What-"  Madeline tried to ask what was going on, but her voice broke, her throat feeling sore.   

"It's alright.  You're still in recovery."  The older women said, and a picture of her parents wedding came up in her mind.  She had that picture with her in her bag, on the train.  The one that she had studied a few weeks ago, memorizing a smiling Minerva McGonagall standing by her mother's side.

The train.   

Madeline gasped, trying to sit up.  

Dementors had boarded the train.

The boy from the platform swam into her head, his own wide, frightened eyes.  The two girls in her train cabin.  Gods, what if they too-

"Everyone is alright Madeline."  McGonagall told her, reading the worried expression on her face.  "Everyone is alright."  She told her again and stood up, coming over to the small table by the bed side.  

Madeline took the glass of water from her hands, drinking every last bit and trying to ignore the way her throat was protesting at the liquid.  Her whole body felt like it was on fire.  

A moment passed and Madeline cleared her throat, trying out her voice.  

"What-"  She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath in before opening them again, looking at her great aunt.  "What were they doing on a bloody train full of kids?"  Madeline asked, not missing the way the other women's lips curled into a small smile.  

"They were looking for Sirius Black."  McGonagall told her, frowning slightly then.  "The Headmaster has already contacted the Ministry of Magic, informing them that they were out of line when they put everyone on that train in danger."  Madeline nodded her head.

"I passed out?"  Something bordering between proudness and sadness crossed McGonagall's futures, making Madeline's stomach twist with uneasiness at the sight.  

"You did. But not before you saved yourself and Mister Wood."   

Wood. Madeline would have to remember that name.    

"Mister Weasley told me that you conjured a corporeal Patronus Madeline."  The girl nodded her head, watching McGonagall smile again.  "That is very impressive, considering that they were sucking your soul out."  Madeline's brows shot up at that.  They taught students in sixth year how to cast a Patronus.  Soul being sucked out or not, the spell had been ingrained in her mind since the beginning of last year.   

"And casting a warming charm on the two first year girls."  The older women went on, smile growing only bigger.  "That was very kind and thoughtful of you."  Madeline's eyes widened.  McGonagall was looking pleased, but for what?  Anyone would have done it.  You stick up for those who aren't able to defend themselves.   

It was one of the first lessons she had learned at Ilvermony.   

Madeline tried to sit up again, only feeling the faint pains still linger in her body and laid back down onto the bed.  "I suppose.  Say, Professor-"

"Please, you can call me Minerva."  McGonagall told her, and then added.  "But in class Professor will do fine."  Madeline nodded.  

Trying out the name in her head first, she took in another deep breath, feeling the way it slightly hurt to breath.  The Dementors shouldn't have had this much effect on her, soul sucking or not.  "Minerva."  Madeline said, throat still hurting.  "Why am I in here?" 

A look of pure sadness crossed Minerva's face, before she forced it away and smiled at Madeline. "When you fainted on the train, after taking care of the two Dementors, no one could wake you." Madeline's eyes went round. They couldn't have.  

"Remus Lupin, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, said that when he found you, it looked like the Dementor that had a hold of you was seconds away from receiving the kiss."   

Madeline blinked, feeling her eyes burn from unshed tears. She wasn't week, she knew that, but was she really that damaged inside that one, one bloody Dementor attacked her, taking only seconds to suck whatever happiness she had in her? How did she even summon the Patronus if she was this far gone?   

Blinking furiously, she closed her eyes, taking in a calming breath, while trying to ignore the stinging in her eyes. She couldn't break right now. She wouldn't. For her mother and father. For her nana. 

For the people back home that believed in her.

She was still here.  

Breathing, alive.  

And now her great aunt was here. Minerva.  Madeline liked that name and the women who was her last blood relative.  

She seemed composed but compassionate all at the same time.  

"How long have I been in here?"  Madeline asked, opening her eyes.  

"Two days." Madeline swallowed, counting the days.  

"It's Friday?" She asked, taking in a calming breath. She missed two school days. Bloody British Ministry of Magic and their Dementors.   

"It is. I have all of your belongings in my own quarters right now, since we haven't placed you in a house yet, but Madam Pomfrey said that if you're up to it, then with a few pepper up potions, we can get you sorted tomorrow morning, privately of course, and let you spend your weekend in a more comfortable bed."   

"That would be lovely, thank you." Madeline told her, remembering the blond girl from the train telling her friend that a hat did the sorting here.  

In Ilvermony, they were sorted by a spell cast on each student, showing a symbol that represented their house over their head.  

She supposed both ways of sorting sounded mad to anyone who hasn't been to either of the schools.  

"I should be going."  McGonagall told her, standing up. "Oh, I almost forgot.  Mister Wood was wondering if he could come thank you in person for sending the Dementor off of him. Do you feel up to it at the moment? Or would you like to wait until tomorrow."   

Madeline swallowed her nerves, thickly. She didn’t understand why hearing his name made her nervous all of a sudden, and ignored it. He didn't need to thank her. It was custom in her school that everyone looked out for everyone. And people thanked each other by simply being kind to one another. Most of the time.

"Sure." Madeline told her, shifting uncomfortably when her stomach growled, causing her face to heat. She supposed it had the right to make such a sound when she hadn't eaten in days.

Minerva smiled at her. "Of course. I'll tell Mister Wood to bring you supper as well then.  Madam Pomfrey has warned me that you might be hungry, and I should have brought you food myself. I apologize." Madeline shook her head.  

"It's alright. I didn't even feel the hunger set in until you mentioned food."  She didn't like lying, even if it was such a small little lie meant to make her aunt feel less guilty.

"Alright then. Any preference?" Madeline shook her head. She wasn't a picky eater, as long as the food looked and smelled okay, she'd survive.

"See you tomorrow then Madeline." Minerva told her, giving her a nod before Madeline turned her head, and watched her disappear through a set of thick double doors.   

Taking another calming breath, Madeline let her head sink into the pillow, wondering why they couldn't provide more comfortable beds in the hospital wing.   

It was such a small thing, but one that would surely provide some soothing comfort to anyone unfortunate enough to end up here.  

Madeline let her mind wonder over the events of the last couple of days. Of the whole summer, actually.   

She was finally in Hogwarts, where she figured she'd keep her head down for the year and endure whatever came her way. Then she'd go back home and try to find her place in the life of adulthood.   

Ever since Madeline's seventh birthday, she had wanted to become an Auror like her parents, making them chuckle with fondness during every dinner when she would ask them questions about their jobs, squealing in excitement when her father or mother would give her all the details of their missions. 

It wasn't until her twelfth birthday, a few weeks after her parents' death, that she had made a silent vow to honor them by making sure that she followed in their footsteps.   

She was just sad that her nana wouldn't be here to witness her make those dreams, that vow, come to life.   

When her parents passed, or rather, when they were murdered while out on a mission, her nana, who Madeline had always been close with, had become like a second parent to her.  As well as a friend. 

Wiping at a stray tear on her cheek, she heard someone clear their throat, and her eyes flew open.  

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."  Wood told her, standing close to her bed, a tray pilled with food balancing on his palms.  "I thought you might be sleeping, so I was just going to leave the tray, but then you-"  He trailed off, and Madeline swore in her head.  

Perfect. He watched her tears flow down her face and just helped himself to the show.   

"It's okay." She told him, not wanting to snap at the poor boy. 

Wood gave her a small smile, walking around the bed and she watched him balance the tray on one hand, while the other was used to move her empty glass cup to the side.  

"Thank you." Madeline said when he placed the tray onto the empty space now. The food smelled delicious.   

"No." She raised her brow at him, trying to lift up a bit off the bed. "Thank you for saving me back on the train." He told her, and Madeline managed to pull herself up slightly, trying to rest against the headboard.  

Wood looked at her with curious eyes before turning his head towards an empty bed behind him, walking over to it and grabbing the pillow off of it. "Here." Madeline froze when he came up to her then, holding the pillow in his hand.  "May I?"

"Uh, yeah, sure." She moved her back slightly as Wood fixed her pillow, sliding the other in behind her to give her more support. "Thanks." She told him again, relaxing with more ease into two pillows now. She inhaled and regretted it instantly. He smelled good.  Really good.

"The least I can do." Wood told her, looking at the chair that Minerva had been occupying earlier.   

"You can sit, if you'd like." Madeline told him, looking at him with curious eyes. He was definitely at least a head taller than her; she had figured that out on the platform, but now she could see that he looked nice. Nicer then on the train. And it didn't help that he smelled like fall, and woods and comfort.

She blinked, taking in a fresh breath when he left her side to take the empty seat. 

No, she scolded herself. He didn't look good.  Or nice. Whatever. He didn't smell good. She had a boyfriend back home. Even if they hadn't been as close since last Christmas, she still owed it to him to not think that other boys smelled fucking good. Or think that they looked nice.

"Thanks." Wood told her, giving her a bright smile while he adjusted in the chair. "So, Madeline, right?" She nodded her head.  "That's a pretty name."  

Madeline gulped, giving him a weird smile.  Pretty words from a nice-looking boy.  

She was fucking fucked.  

"Thank you. And yours is?  Min-" She cut herself off, thinking that it would probably be better if she didn't refer to the other women by her first name when talking to other students. "Professor McGonagall told me your last name, but-" She trailed off again, wishing that she hadn't opened her mouth in the first place when a playful smile crossed Woods face.   

"Oliver." He said, leaning slightly so that he was extending his hand towards her, and Madeline didn't think twice before shaking it.  His hand felt nice.  

Double Fuck.  

"Oliver Wood." He repeated and Madeline took in a deep breath, returning his smile before looking down at their hands. Too long, too awkward.   

She pulled her hand away then, promising herself that she wasn't going to ever touch his hand again.   

"So, Madeline, you're Professor McGonagall's niece?"   

"Grandniece, yeah. Does everyone know?"  She had planned to stay on the low this year and hoped that even if everyone already knew, it wouldn't affect her plans.     

Oliver chuckled, and the sound of it made her stomach hurt, in a bloody good way and she averted her eyes away from him, feeling heat spread up her neck. 

Not happening.   

"Yes, but that's pretty cool. No one knew that she had any relatives." Oliver told her, still smiling at her. His accent wasn't as thick as some of her mothers friends from Scotland had, when they'd visited for holidays. But it was definitely still there, still strong and nice.

Before Madeline could say anything in return, a strong female voice carried through the room behind her.   

"Miss Coleman, here is a pepper-" Madeline turned her head towards the women, silently thanking her in her head. "Mister Wood, what are you doing here?" She asked him, noticing his presence.   

Oliver cleared his throat, fidgeting in his seat.  "Professor McGonagall told me I could bring Madeline some food."  

Madam Pomfrey cocked an eyebrow at him.  "And, did you give her the food?"  

Madeline looked back at Oliver whose cheeky smile was replaced with something unreadable now when he looked at the healer. "I have Madam, yes."  

"Then I do believe it is nearing curfew time, and it's way past visiting hours Mister Wood."  Oliver looked at Madeline before standing up, giving her an apologetic smile.   

"Good night." Madeline smiled in return.  

"Good night." She watched Oliver mumble a good night to Madam Pomfrey, before turning his head back towards Madeline.  

"Oh, good luck tomorrow." Madeline didn't respond, save for a nod of her head before she was left to watch him disappear through the white double doors. 

"How are you feeling Miss Coleman?" Madam Pomfrey asked, coming up to her.   

"Alright." She told the nurse, not really knowing what else to say.  She did feel fine, save for a ghost feeling of something draining her life force only days ago.  

"That's good to hear dear. Here are some pepper up potions for tomorrow, and for tonight a draught of sleep. It should help you get better rest rather then being knocked out by a Dementor." The older women told her, putting small viles onto her nightstand. "I'll check up on you tomorrow before they come to sort you into a house, but for now, is there anything you might need?"   

Madeline shook her head, wanting for nothing more then to close her eyes and let darkness consume her once more. She smiled, realizing that if she voiced that, the healer might think Madeline mad, but in reality, every time sleep consumed her, she imagined that they came to her in the darkest hour of the night, checking in on their daughter, granddaughter. 

"Alright then, I'll leave you to get some rest." 

"Thank you." Madeline told the women and smiled in return when Madam Pomfrey nodded her head and bit her good night.  

It took Madeline all of seven seconds to reach of the sleepless draught, and pour it into her mouth, letting her body slide down so that her head was on the pillows.