Well, sort of...

I was only in the air for a matter of milliseconds. I felt a hand grab my arm and drag me up. The terror of my dream still burnt like a coal in my mind. What if this was my pursuer? I tried to squirm away, not thinking of the consequences. I felt another hand join the first, and try to drag me up. My free arm flailed and I felt tears flow freely down my face.

All at once, I heard a pop and felt a shooting pain rush up and down my arm. Apparently my captor heard it as well, because he dropped me in surprise. I reached for my wand, just to remember I had left it in my dorm. I heard a voice yell "Aresto Momentum!" for a moment, I thought I was saved, but when I didn't feel myself slowing down, I know I was in trouble.

Fear began coursing through my veins. I knew first hand how much it hurt to fall seven floors, and I was sure I wasn't going to survive the fall this time. But then, again, I heard the person on the stairs' voice, very faintly above me. I saw swirling white air streak towards me. A cloud settled beneath me. I saw the ground rushing towards me, and I had just enough time to hope the spell would slow me in time before I smashed into the ground. Luckily, I didn't land on my head this time. Well, not at first. I landed on my hands, but apparently the spell hadn't slowed me enough yet.

I shrieked with pain as my arms gave out beneath me. My head hit the floor and stars exploded in front of me. Then everything went black.

*

I opened my eyes to see two fuzzy clouds of orange above me. They bumped into each other with a loud crack.

"Ah! George, you git!"

"Takes one to know one!"

I chuckled lightly. I sat up, feeling a bit heavy from the casts covering my body.

"What happened?" I asked. Everything was fuzzier than I remembered. Even the twins' noses didn't look sharp!

Madame Pomfrey bustled into the room, shooing out Fred and George as she went. She magicked the door closed behind them, just to make sure they didn't cause any trouble.

"I should reserve you a bed; you're in here so often!" She scolded, wagging her finger at me. She proceeded to tell me what had happened. Apparently, after I'd fallen (which I couldn't remember doing) I had broken both arms and smashed my nose against the ground. With my arms out of commision, I had cracked my head against the ground, probably causing the memory loss. Madame Pomfrey told me that if I hadn't been caught by Fred's Aresto Momentum, I would have surely died. I smiled a bit, not fully knowing why.

"Is everything else working properly, dear?" She asked. I shook my head.

"Everything's... fuzzy." Madame Pomfrey scrutinized me carefully, then perked up.

"Oh, that must be from the head injury. All you'll need is a pair of glasses. You're good in Charms, get some practice." I began to protest, but thought better of it. I waved my wand, and a pair of glasses appeared. I shoved them on my face, stood up, and promptly collapsed. My now-clear vision swam before me from my position on the floor. I somehow couldn't find the strength to stand up.

Madame Pomfrey looked between me and the Floo Powder for a few seconds, then decided on me. She levitated me to the bed, then Floo'd Dumbledore as I faded in and out of consciousness. I watched a long silver beard come into view and I felt someone pick me up.

Emerald flames engulfed me, and I suddenly felt my head clear, just a little. It must be something in the air. MediWizards crowded around me, no one knowing what was going on. Finally, the ever-looming black pushed out the bright white of St. Mungo's.

*

"Magic... disappearing..."

"How, Albus?"

" ... being drained... unknown source..."

My eyes snapped open at that last whisper, disobeying all my wishes to keep eavesdropping. Dumbledore and McGonagall's conversation stopped abruptly, leaving me to wonder. I knew they were talking about me, and I thought I might have an idea of who was draining my magic away, no matter if it was on accident. I was going to get my magic back.

*

I climbed out of my starched white, magically cold bed. Carefully, making sure not to disturb any of the other patients in the spotless ward, I tiptoed out the door, closing it carefully behind me.

I wandered about for a little while until I found some Healer's uniforms. It would be nice to be able to conspicuously sneak about the hospital. Unfortunately, a short lady was sitting at the desk in front of the jackets.

I crouched down and crawled before the desk. I creeped around it, right under where the lady's legs were dangling. I grabbed a coat—it loudly clanked—and I ran off, not wanting to be kicked. Once I reached a broom closet, I shoved on the jacket and my glasses and scraped up my hair into a severe-looking bun.

I noticed the nametag on the coat said "Healer Mary." I guess that was my name. I strolled out of the closet as if walking empty-handed out of a broom closet was a commonplace activity.

When I reached the fireplace, the lady at the desk—Monica, her nametag read—recognized my flaming hair. She pointed at me and with a little shout, she ran towards me, growing progressively closer. I grabbed the entire Floo Powder container and dumped it into the sputtering flames, making the fire swell a brilliant emerald-green.

I jumped in, intending to go to Hogwarts, but what came out was "Malfoy Manor!" Nah, I'm just kidding. That's my excuse for when I get caught. It was my whole intent to go to the Malfoy house.

Houses blurred around me and I could swear I saw Uncle's drab house at Spinner's End fly past. I felt a pang of homesickness stab through me, but I shoved it off.

*

I saw the Malfoys' expansive living room come into view, growing larger and larger. I came to an abrupt halt, having been yanked back by the scruff of my jacket. I felt myself being pulled up through the chimney and emerged covered in soot.

It coated my normally glossy hair. I shook the mass of orange out, spraying the room with grime. I heard a groan of disgust from behind me and turned to look. There stood a soot-covered, unrecognizable man. He grudgingly held out a grime-coated hand.

"Cornelius Fudge, Minister of Magic."

I mimicked his tone. "Scarlet Snape, Hogwarts Student." The Minister chuckled before his face became grave once more.

"As a professor's child who has spent much time at St. Mungo's, you should know better than most that it is illegal for minors to leave the hospital without a parent of guardian."

"Sorry sir, but I was unaware. I just wanted to visit my dear friends the Malfoys." My tone dripped with sarcasm. The Minister said, somewhat incredulously, "But you know that's against the rules."

"When have I ever been one to follow the rules?"

Fudge sighed, a smile playing at the corners of his lips. He quickly turned it to a frown. "Young lady, you know we have no choice but to send you home." My smile dropped. He had to be kidding.

A/N: Sorry for a super short chapter. I've been having some troubles, and I think I might put this on hold till I'm done (in a long time...), but let me know what you think. I can either update with them being few and far between, or just put this on hold for a while and update the rest *gasp* all at once! Dedicated to VividKiss for accepting that she is ancient and for reading this like I know she will. ;) So yeah, that's about it. Can I have a little encouragement though? I've been feeling a bit down for a while (a lot down). Any advice or funny/happy stories? Thanks. Bye!

-Jess (PLEASE comment. ANYTHING! please?) Okay, actually bye.