3 The Encounter

Clear. The corridors were all clear. That was her signal. She could finally leave. But first, she needed her special glasses, which she had forgotten to bring with her while visiting the ladies' restrooms. Luna climbed all the way to the fifth floor, where the Ravenclaw Tower could be found. The door that demanded answers to its riddles was right in front of her eyes.

"Which came first, the Phoenix or the flames?" came the question.

"A circle has no beginning," Luna whispered confidently and as a result, the knobless door in front of her opened a few inches.

Lovegood entered the room without further ado and began looking for her glasses. Hopefully, she'll find them in there in no time. She was wearing them and walking around the corridors again in a matter of seconds. Luna had no specific destination in mind; she was simply wandering around, hoping to find even one clue proving that something was going on.

She heard voices coming from the infirmary just as she was about to take a turn. Luna carefully tiptoed to the room's door and tried to eavesdrop. Eavesdropping was not something the young Lovegood did on a regular basis, but in situations like this, it was unavoidable.

"Oh, what have you done, Poppy..." she heard a woman cry.

After that, there was silence. The girl held her breath, terrified at the prospect of Poppy and the other woman hearing her. If they did, she'd be in big trouble.

"Look, my lady, I honestly don't -" Madame Pomfrey began but was soon cut by the Supreme's shaky voice.

"They despise me. They despise me, madame, and want me out of their way. They want me dead, so the Supreme's powers are transferred to the next... I had no right to be saved..." Fiona's tearful eyes fell on the door.

Madame Pomfrey followed her gaze and then asked: " What is it, honey?"

"Do... do you feel that?"

"Feel what, Mrs. Goode?"

"A person's presence... Is there someone behind that closed door?" The delicate witch did not hesitate to use her magical abilities to open the door. She didn't do much because she was exhausted from the suicide attempt, but she did manage to open it in a way that she could see.

"Perhaps the person was just passing through?" Madame Pomfrey advised not completely trusting Fiona.

"I'm not sure, I just felt like it, but it could be because I'm tired..." Fiona huffed as she let Poppy fix the pillows and the sheets.

"So, I suppose it's time for you to rest. Have some chocolate and snacks here before going to bed. If you need anything, I'll be in the room right next to this one." She said nothing else and, having nothing else to say, handed Fiona a tray full of snacks and exited with a light bow.

Fiona glanced down at the tray; there was quite a big variety of snacks in the platter. She looked at the perfectly triangular sandwich slices, the chunks of spicy chicken drumsticks, the small pile of steamed rice, the glass of orange juice and the bar of chocolate and smiled. She rarely enjoyed dinners like that back at the Coven, especially the last days.

"Everything is at your liking, isn't it?" Said Luna with the sweet voice of hers.

Fiona's glance darted from the platter to the blonde girl. She seemed confused and surprised, not only by the fact a girl was actually visiting her but by the fact she seemed like she was from another world. And the taste she had in fashion was helping with that really well.

"I'm Luna Lovegood! Welcome to Hogwarts!" Luna extended her pale hand towards Fiona for her to shake.

"Fiona... Fiona Goode..." the woman hesitantly took the hand and shared a handshake with the girl.

"Did those hurt?" Fiona seemed shocked after that question and automatically glanced the fresh cuts on her extended wrist.

"Don't worry, I'll help..." Luna gracefully reached for her wand she had shoved into her robes' pocket. She gently twisted Fiona's arm so that her cuts were more obvious and then pointed her wand's end to her arm. "Episcey!" She passionately stated and a soft pastel pink light escaped her wand.

The wounds were healed within a couple of minutes and Fiona's hand was not hurting anymore.

"That part will stay secret Fiona... I won't tell anyone... See you tomorrow, I suppose..." Luna exclaimed and did not dare to stay any longer. Anyone could come checking on Fiona and she did not want to make any foolish moves.

Besides, she had to rest; tomorrow was a big day and she had to be ready for it.

Fiona, on the other hand, kept blinking and blinking. Her wrist was healed by a young witch that actually used a wand and a spell instead of her mind. Oh, the things she had to learn about this kind of witches. The true question was, though, was she ready to accept them and become a member of their family?