The World Unknown
My Name Is ______ _______, Year Three.
Chapter Twenty-Six

It took me some time to process my thoughts before I felt ready to leave the girl's dorm and face Vlad. I hadn't the slightest clue what I wanted to say because my top priority was now figuring out why Hayden would do such a thing.

As I stepped outside, I didn't even get the chance to take in the room before I felt Vlad's arms wrap around me as he held me tightly. He felt so warm that I wanted that moment to last longer.

"______," he said softly with a look of sadness, "a lot of the professors are here already – I've tried explaining everything, but they really want to talk to you, they're right outside..." He came to a slow pause then focused his eyes onto mine, "Are you ready, or would you like to wait in here for a while? I can stall them, just give me the word."

"No, I think I'm as ready as I'll ever be for this... I don't remember everything, but I think enough has come back to me, so, I'll be fine." I replied.

He stared at me with a concerned expression before he pressed his lips together and nodded, "Everyone is in the dining hall, so I'll be waiting for you when you're done, Alright?"

"Alright... Thanks."

He smiled faintly then walked ahead and out the doors.

Not a second later, the door opened again and in walked three tall people, all much older than any student I've seen and all much angrier.

The first to speak was also the first who's expression changed immediately upon seeing me. He walked behind the others and had a sickly appearance to him, "Miss _______? So, it's you who stands at the centre of this predicament?"

I squinted slightly at him before responding with an uncertain, "You're... Professor Wellix, aren't you?"

A smile stretched across his face which I was sure would crack into pieces as he spoke again, "I knew you weren't capable of the events that unfolded that night –"

"Now, Wellix, don't be so forgiving. Gold wasn't lying when he said she made the memory shifting potion." Said another professor with long purple robes. "It's that very reason we still can't rule out the fact that she could be his accomplice."

"Accomplice to what?" I spat, "He used me to make a potion then got rid of me, what do you think happened?"

The woman glared over, "Don't raise your tone. If you haven't forgotten already, it was you who mysteriously disappeared the night before graduation last year."

"I disappeared the last day... He must have placed me in that place... What was it? Chamberlay? He left me in Chamberlay with those fake memories, he did that –"

"A likely story." She replied blandly, but just as I was about to speak, there was a faint knock at the door, then it opened, revealing Gage.

His blue eyes scanned the room before he stopped on the professor who had thus far, remained quiet.

"Headmaster? Um, Allistor's awake now." He stuttered.

Did he say headmaster? I took another look at the man, he was also older looking than the woman, but also far younger looking than Wellix.

"Mr. Noxx, great timing, why don't you join us for a minute?"

Gage's eyes darted around the room for a second before he sighed and entered reluctantly.

He made sure to keep a four-foot distance between us as he straightened himself up and looked foreword at the three adults.

"Mr. Noxx, how's the potion working?" Asked the Headmaster.

He tilted his head side-to-side for a second before he nodded slowly, "I'm still uncertain what happened before graduation night, but I remember creating a portal of all things."

"A portal?" The woman asked.

"Yes ma'am."

"Mrs. Hyenni – you, who are most knowledgeable on charms – do you suppose this pre-made portal could be the reason that Miss ________, despite wearing the Anti-gifted and despite Mr. Gold's barrier around the school campus, was still able to enter the grounds?" Professor Wellix suggested with his eyebrows raised.

"It's likely, but what did you cast the portal onto? Vladimir told us he found her in the forest and I'd go investigate, but it's a big forest and he can't remember the exact location since you were apparently being... chased by an Illendotter?"

I nodded a few times as I pressed my lips together as it all played in my head like a movie, "It was one of the scarier nights of my life I think."

"You literally commented on the most mundane thing," Gage groaned, "but I think the portal was a rope or something like that."

"A rope?" Professor Hyenni wondered.

"W-Wait, no it wasn't a rope. My memories of that day are still intact and I'm pretty sure it was the green ribbon Melissa lost. I went to pick it up but when I did, I suddenly appeared in the forest!"

"A green ribbon?" Gage's eyes widened for a second before he covered his mouth as if trying to conceal a smile, "That's weird."

"Mr. Noxx must have suspected Mr. Gold of attempting something suspicious and so, followed after him and created the portal as a means to escape." Professor Wellix concluded.

"Sounds about right. I'm super smart." Gage agreed, half focused on the conversation.

"Mr. Noxx?" The Headmaster called, startling him as he quickly turned to face him, "Yes sir?"

"How long have you suspected Hayden Gold of misdeeds?"

Gage looked to the side then crossed his arms as he remained silent in thought.

"H-He said something last night to us," I spoke up, "Apparently it was Gage and I that kept getting in his way... I wasn't sure at first, but it's been piecing itself together slowly."

"Does that mean you can fill us in?" The Headmaster asked, raising a brow.

I nodded slowly and recalled the events of my second year in which Hayden had convinced me to make a potion for him, "He's working for that Eltanin guy... Sorry, I don't know much about him, I was never very invested in politics, Sir."

"You need not be, you were only twelve then," the Headmaster replied slowly. "If Hayden was following direct orders however, we must keep him here. I'll be responsible of the child from this point on."

"But Sir –"

"It's final, Miss Hyenni."

The lady straightened up and nodded, "Right then. What about the girl, then?" She asked, motioning to me.

"That much is obvious isn't it?" He smiled weakly, "If she can't remember what house she was in, allow her to pick a new one. Let's get this school cleaned up and prepared. School will be in session soon!"

Without saying another word, he walked out of the room, leaving the four of us inside.

"Gage?" Professor Hyenni called.

"Ma'am?"

"I'll be putting up new defenses around the school with Professor Wellix, do you mind assisting the girl in getting accustomed to the school?"

"M-Me?" Gage asked, offended as if it was the worst chore he'd ever been put to.

She gave a nod as she took one last look at me before heading out.

Professor Wellix was left, he gave another cheerful smile in my direction, "I hope the memory modifications didn't impact your potion making?"

"No Sir, I don't think so." I replied almost instinctively.

He laughed lightly, "Then I'll be seeing you when school begins!"

"Ah, wait!" I called out, taking a step after him, "If you remember me from your club, you must know what house I used to be in, right?"

He nodded right away, "I do, but houses tend to be a big part of your school experience... I think it'd be more suiting of you to decide on your own house... Regardless of what you used to be, regardless of your past, make the following years you'll have here, yours."

He turned and walked out without saying another word.

"You don't remember your old house?" Gage scoffed.

I shook my head, "I feel like I've remembered everything except... that."

After a minute of silence, Gage began walking towards the door, his apathetic tone returning, "It's stupid to get emotional over that."

"Well what else am I supposed to feel? Unlike you, I have the ability to express myself you robot." I hissed.

He rolled his eyes and I continued, "I thought they were supposed to ask me more things about what happened and how I got here and who I am."

He laughed as he slowly began making his way towards the doors, "The questioning isn't done but they can see you look tired so I think they're gonna let you take it slow today. Plus they already know who you are so they don't care about asking that stuff... It was only most of the students Hayden got to drink the potion. But if you're so desperate for questioning, you should talk to Vladimir, I'm sure he's all ears."

I frowned as I watched him, "Where are you going? You're supposed to –"

"There's no deadline on when you pick your house. If you wanna wear yellow, go nuts. Red? Awesome! Blue? Neato. Black? Don't... So for right now, I'm going to go eat, after that, we can figure everything out and get you a real wand."

"At least wait up?" I hissed as I looked down at my slippers.

He gave another scoff as he walked through the door, "Nope."

The door gave a rough slam that I hadn't quite noticed before and the silence of the room around me began to flood my ears with a sense of dread.

Just like that, I was alone again.

Except I really wasn't.

Most of my memories had returned and the memories of my short time being here again had filled me with as much happiness as it did fear from the events that had unfolded.

My name is _________ _________, Year Three, _________ House, and my friends are waiting for me in the dining hall.

(Rin, because Idk what you look like, Reader-chan. <3)

THE END.