Hidden Wings - Part I

Aftershock

Mioha was laying in a bed in the spare room next to the Hospital Wing, propped up against some pillows while staring out through the windows at the bare forest.
She could see that the stands at the black lake had been taken down, not a single person was down there now.

Turning her head, she looked down into the yellow mug she was holding in her lap, filled with hot chocolate.
Madam Pomfrey had wrapped her in countless blankets and cast several warming charms on her, trying to get warmth back into her cold body.
And it had worked, her shivering had ceased and her fingers weren't clammy anymore.
Her wings felt warm again as well, hanging off the bed on either side of her.

She stared bleakly into the dark brown liquid.
Being trapped underwater by the rope, had made her feel scared and helpless.
Just like when she had almost drowned the night her family died. She surely would have, hadn't it been for the muggle who had saved her. He had somehow not noticed the Dark Mark in the sky and had dropped her off at an orphanage two days later.

Mioha lifted the mug to her lips and took a big mouthful, enjoying the dark taste in her mouth. She swallowed and let her gaze travel to the doors of the room, which were shut.
Madam Pomfrey had forbidden her to leave her bed, and since Mioha didn't have a death wish, she had obeyed for the past twenty-four hours.

But she was getting quite restless.
She didn't want to think anymore about yesterday in the lake. The murky and eery light, the thick forests of green and black algae, the creepy noises in the cold water from the Grindylows and the Merpeople were burned into her memory, no matter how much she tried to forget.

After having to swallow several Strengthening draughts and Anti-fever potions, she now only felt worn out. She was even too tired to fall asleep, and her mind kept returning to the moment she thought she was going to suffacate.

Mioha took another sip of her drink.
This is worth nearly drowning, she thought with a little of a dark humor.

The doors opened with a creak, and Mioha blearily watched how Madam Pomfrey entered followed by Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape and Professor McGonagall.

What a crowd, Mioha thought tiredly and snorted weakly. Her brain really seemed to have gotten a little damage if her jokes were that stupid.

"How are you feeling?", Madam Pomfrey asked concerned and rushed over, taking the yellow mug from Mioha's hands.

"I'm fine", Mioha croaked, her throat still feeling a little raw.
"Just a little tired."

Madam Pomfrey nodded slowly, her lips pressed together tightly.
"That is to be expected", said the matron, having a guilty look on her face. "You almost held your breath for three minutes. That is remarkable for an untrained teenager."

Mioha nodded tiredly.
Why was Madam Pomfrey looking so upset?

"The effect of the potion had worn off too soon", Professor Dumbledore said, his face serious. "We did not anticipate that you would have to free yourself so you would not drown."

The mug shook in Madam Pomfrey's hands as she set it down onto the nightstand.
"It was my fault", she said shakily.
"I knew Ms. Mioha did not react to Sleeping Draughts the way people normally do. I should have said something."

She choked and bit her lip, her face paling at the thought of almost being responsible for the death of a student. Professor McGonagall gently laid a hand onto Madam Pomfrey's shoulder.
"It is not your fault, Poppy", she said soothingly.
"No one could have expected that."

"I disagree", Professor Snape spoke with a grim voice, "I should have expected that. I, as the Potions Master, should have suspected that the effects of the potion would change because of your Silverwing side, Ms. Mioha."