Tori was confused.

Well, if that didn't sum up her entire life, she didn't know what did.

Waking up in a hospital wing bed wasn't even the most confusing part. She wasn't sure how she even arrived there, let alone why she was there. She glanced around the room, seeing other students get up as well. They looked around confused, some even clutching their heads.

Tori tried to get out of bed but was instructed by a very proud Madam Pomfrey to sit tight while Dumbledore was going to tell them what had happened. Tori tried to rack her brain for memory, she remembered leaving the library... and the mirror, and the basilisk!

Hermione must have thought the same because her eyes quickly widened as she glanced in between Tori and Penelope. She looked like she was about to say one when Professor Dumbledore arrived. He smiled warmly at each student. Tori took note that is fashion choices of long purple cloaks had not changed during the long period.

"We are very glad to welcome all of you back. Before I explain what happened, I have a few things to address. Some of you have been out longer than others, but it is now June twenty-seventh."

June twenty-seventh? Tori had been out for almost four months! Not only that, but she was also fifteen...

"I know that may come to you as alarming, but we promise to help each of you get back on track. Each one of you has been returned from petrification by both Madam Pomfrey and Professor Sprout's mandrake antidote. How you were put in this petrification was caused by a basilisk, which had now been taken care of and is no longer a threat."

There was a relieved sigh through the wing.

"You will be joining your classmates shortly for the feast. Madam Pomfrey had a few more instructions for you all. I will see you all there." With that, the Headmaster smiled, walking out of the large brown doors.

Madam Pomfrey had them do some exercises to wake their muscles up. Some of the kids, like Colin Creevey, who's been petrified since November struggled more than the others. Tori's arms ached by the time they were done. She was not eager to see what she looked like playing quidditch.

The doors opened once again as Ginny Weasley and both her parents walked through them. Tori wasn't sure why Molly and Arthur have arrived, but Ginny wouldn't look at her. Ginny wouldn't look at anyone.

Molly was talking to Madam Pomfrey while Tori noticed Hermione looking around frantic. "What?" Tori asked her, walking over. "The sheet of paper, about the basilisk? It's not here. I was holding it in my hand... Harry and Ron must have found it!"

"That's probably how they took care of the beast..." Tori whispered. Hermione nodded eagerly. Tori felt a hand on her shoulder and turned to see Molly.

"Molly!" Tori grinned, being pulled into a hug by the woman. "Oh, Arthur and I were so worried once Percy wrote to us about what happened! I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Me too. What's going on with Ginny? Is she okay?" Molly shook her head, "It's... not very important right now, she's fine. She'll see you all at the feast."

Tori nodded. She was not entirely convinced, but she also knew better than to argue with Molly. Madam Pomfrey made them perform a few more tasks before giving them the okay.

Professor McGonagall met them at the entrance to the Great Hall, greeting all of them. Tori wasn't sure she had ever seen the professor so happy before. She opened the doors, letting the students rush through one by one.

Tori stopped, hesitating. "Is there something wrong, Miss Silvers?" Professor McGonagall asked her.

"No. Well, my friends and I had a... bit of a disagreement before I was petrified." Tori replied. She looked up at Professor McGonagall, who smiled softly. "Well, Miss Silvers, if they're really your friends, I'm sure they'll be more than happy to see you now."

Tori nodded, walking towards the doorway and coming into view. She glanced around, taking the sight of the Great Hall in. Godric, she missed this. She quickly spotted two red-headed boys getting out of their seats and broke into a grin. Tori ran full speed towards them, nearly making them fall over as she hugged them.

She laughed into their shoulders, glad to be able to feel someone's embrace. "You're okay!" Fred said, taking a relieved sigh.

"I am," Tori confirmed. She was unable to wipe the smile off her face. They broke apart, George spurs Tori's head gently. "Glad you're back."

"Me too." She glanced over to Fred, whose face darkened, "Listen, Tori, about what I said—"

"You didn't mean it." Tori interrupted, giving him a look. "I know you didn't. Besides, I'm sure you were miserable without me." She smirked, causing Fred to roll his eyes.

"Hey, are you two going to let the rest of us say hello to our friend, or are we going to have to stand here and watch?" Lee poked his head in, causing the four of them to laugh.

Tori happily greeted the rest of her friends. The night faded into the morning in the common room. People paraded around, cheering on Ron and Harry for earning two hundred points each. Most were also celebrating that exams had been canceled, which Hermione had been complaining about. ("We've missed four months! I'm not taking an exam that I didn't study for!" Tori told her.)

The end of the term rolled around much faster than Tori would have thought. She was standing next to Ginny, helping her into the compartment.

Ginny had apologized multiple times to Tori. "I'm so sorry, Tori." She would say, tears usually filling her eyes. "It's not your fault, Ginny. I don't blame you."

Now, they were seated in a compartment with Harry, Ron, and Hermione.  Fred, George, and Tori were all using the disarming charm on each other like a game. It didn't take long for the twins to end up wrestling with each other on the compartment floor.

"Say, Ginny," Harry said. "What did you see Percy doing, that he didn't want you to tell anyone?" Ginny giggled. "Oh, that, Well— Percy's got a girlfriend."

Fred dropped his stack of books on George's head. "What?"

"It's that Ravenclaw Prefect, Penelope Clearwater." Tori and Hermione eyed each other. Penelope? "That's who's he's been writing to all last summer. He's been meeting her all over the school in secret. I walked in on them kissing one day in an empty classroom. He was so upset when she was— you know— attacked... you won't tease him, will you?"

"I wouldn't dream of it," Fred replied, looking like Christmas had come early. "Definitely not," George sniggered. Tori put her hand on her head. She knew this was going to be a brutal summer for the Prefect.

The Hogwarts express slowly stopped, letting the students spill out. "So, this summer? You're staying over, right?" Fred asked her. Tori nodded, "I always do, I might as well dye my hair red and call myself a Weasley."

Fred chuckled. "Maybe." He flashed her a grin, helping her unload her trunk. But something was different. It wasn't just a normal grin. It  was one for, some odd reason, that made Tori's heart flutter.

year four is done!!!

next up year five!