Jessica spluttered a bit and sat up, completely puzzled. What in Merlin's name had just happened?

Madam Pomfrey handed her a glass of water, and it was only then that Jessica realized how thirsty she was. She took it gratefully from the matron and downed it within seconds. Once she had finished, she observed her surroundings: she was in the hospital wing, and she was surrounded by a number of other students in the process of waking up. She recognized them as victims of the petrifications... and then it hit her. She was a victim, too. She remembered the reflection of striking, yellow eyes on the stained glass window while she was on her way back to the Gryffindor Tower.

Jessica looked down at her clothes. She was still wearing the Gryffindor Quidditch Team uniform and gear, which felt quite uncomfortable as if she had been wearing it for too long. However, it didn't feel gross nor did it smell funny, so it was either she was only petrified for a day or Madam Pomfrey had been casting the necessary spells on her and the other patients to keep them clean throughout their stay.

"Madam Pomfrey," Jessica called out before cringing at how croaky her voice sounded.

"Yes, dear?" she replied while helping Penelope Clearwater in the bed next to her to a dose of a potion as well.

"How long have I been out?"

"It's May 31st today, so about two months now."

"Two — two months?" Jessica said incredulously.

"I know, it's a bit of a shock," Madam Pomfrey said sympathetically. "Miss Clearwater here and Miss Granger over there have been petrified for as long as you have. You were attacked all on the same day."

Bloody hell, Jessica thought after she processed everything the woman told her. She was involved in a triple attack, missed her Quidditch match, and was behind on hundreds of lessons... how was she going to take the O.W.L.s now? What else happened while she was unconscious? Her brain was going haywire with all those questions and many more.

"Class is ongoing at the moment, but you need not attend today," Madam Pomfrey announced loudly, addressing all her patients — Jessica, Hermione, Penelope, Justin Finch-Fletchley, Colin Creevey, and even Sir Nicholas and Mrs. Norris. "The staff have already been informed this morning that you would all be recovered by this afternoon, so I wouldn't be surprised if your friends come in and see you soon. I will allow them, but only a few at a time. You'll all need a check up in an hour before I officially discharge you."

There was a chorus of responses, all of them saying that they understood and agreed with Madam Pomfrey's words. Some students began talking to one another, presumably about how they got petrified and what they possibly missed. However, Jessica stayed silent when her eyes landed on a vase full of pink chrysanthemums on her bedside table. She frowned curiously and shifted closer to it. She certainly did not conjure these because she had been practically asleep for months, and she knew Madam Pomfrey hadn't done it either because no other side tables had flowers.

Perhaps they're from Alista and Bethany? she wondered. They weren't really the type to give flowers as gifts, though.

As if on cue, the very two girls she had been thinking about burst through the front doors of the hospital wing. Before Madam Pomfrey could reprimand them, Alista and Bethany raced to Jessica's bed.

"Jess!" they exclaimed. She barely had time to sit up properly when her best friends engulfed her in a group hug.

"Faye, Greene, restrain yourselves!" Madam Pomfrey scolded. When they didn't hear her — or perhaps, ignored her — the woman sighed and gave up.

"We missed you, you twat!" Bethany was saying.

"It was so hard without you. Beth wouldn't stop picking fights with me," Alista pretended to sob.

"You started those!"

"I missed you guys, too," Jessica cut them off with a laugh before they could actually start arguing. "It's weird, though. It feels like I've been asleep for only an hour but also weeks at the same time."

"You were gone for two whole months!" said Alista. "That felt more like two years to me."

"Tell me about it. I missed so many lessons!"

"Stop thinking about your grades for once," Bethany scolded the black-haired girl. "You were petrified by a basilisk, for Merlin's sake!"

"It was a basilisk?"

"Yeah. Crazy, right? It could've killed you all," Alista lowered her voice anxiously.

"It's a good thing it's dead now," Bethany added. "Potter killed it."

"He did what?" Jessica asked yet another question. She clearly missed out on a lot of things while she was out.

"Well, that's the rumor that's been going around for days. He was in the hospital wing for a while, too, but I suppose he was allowed to leave earlier. Haven't seen him around yet, though," Bethany explained.

"We probably will tonight," Alista said. "There's gonna be a celebratory feast — you know, since all the victims are awake now and the monster's dead."

"Speaking of victims," said Jessica. "Did you visit me while I was petrified?"

"Of course. What kind of friends do you think we are?"

"We did almost everyday, but Madam Pomfrey told us it was pointless."

"Okay, I was just curious," Jessica chuckled at their offended faces. "So, were you the ones who gave me this?"

Bethany and Alista glanced at the flowers. They shared a knowing look, and it only piqued Jessica's curiosity even more.

"Well?" she prodded.

"No, actually," said Bethany.

"But Wood did visit you a lot," Alista said in a sing-song voice.

"Oliver visited me?" Jessica said, the blood rising to her cheeks. Once again, her friends shared a look.

"Maybe even more than we did," Bethany said thoughtfully.

"Wait, so — so he's the one who gave me the flowers?" The smirks on their faces were enough for Jessica to know it was true. "Oh, uh, wow."

"It's sweet, isn't it?" Alista said teasingly. "We wanted to mention it to Wood, but we thought he might stop replacing the flowers every few days if we teased him about it."

Jessica didn't know what to say. All she knew was that her heart was racing at the thought that not only had Oliver visited and gave her flowers consistently, but he had also remembered what kind she liked.

★ ★ ★

"You're good to go. Don't hesitate to come back here if you're feeling any side-effects from the potion."

Jessica thanked Madam Pomfrey and waited until the matron had retreated to her office before standing up. She had just finished her final check-up — she was the last to be discharged because she was also the last person to have gotten petrified. Hermione Granger and Penelope Clearwater left minutes before she did, and she couldn't wait to follow after them and head to her dormitory to take a nice, refreshing shower.

The sound of running footsteps caught Jessica's attention. She turned around to find Oliver Wood entering the hospital wing, his eyes searching the room frantically until they landed on her.

"I had double Potions but I came here as soon as I could. I passed by Greene on the way here and she told me she already visited you earlier and..." Oliver stopped short when he remembered that his last proper conversation with Jessica didn't exactly end well. "Never mind. Er, hi."

"Hey."

"How — how are you?"

"All right. It just feels like I slept a little too long on the wrong side of the bed."

Oliver simply nodded before sighing.

"Look, Jessica, I'm — I'm sorry about that day before the match," he mumbled. "I didn't mean to say all those things, I swear I didn't. I know I'm prejudiced to Slytherins sometimes, and I say things without thinking, and maybe if we didn't fight, I could've walked back to the Gryffindor Tower with you and —"

"Oh, shut up, Oliver."

"What was that?"

"I said to shut up because I already forgive you," Jessica admitted. "And, I'm sorry as well. I know you were only looking out for me and I took it too personally."

"No, it was my fault. I was way out of line and I shouldn't have —"

"It's alright," she reassured him before he could ramble again. "I honestly forgot we even fought at all. Thank you for the flowers, by the way."

Oliver felt like a niffler getting caught stealing jewelry.

"How did you know they were from me?"

"Well, for one, you just confirmed my suspicions right now," Jessica grinned, making Oliver mentally curse himself. "And second, Bethany and Alista may have told me about it, too."

"I should've known," Oliver muttered to himself. It was too good to be true that they didn't notice he was the one conjuring those flowers all the time.

"If it's any consolation, I love the flowers," Jessica said, averting her eyes. Oliver couldn't help the proud smile that found its way to his face.

"I'm glad you're back, lass."

★ ★ ★

The Great Hall felt livelier than it had ever been since the start of the school year. There were no more missing students, the ghosts were all floating about and welcoming Sir Nicholas back, and the atmosphere in general felt lighter than it had been in the past few months.

Jessica sat in the Gryffindor table surrounded by friends of all years — there was Oliver sitting beside her with Carson Grey and Percy Weasley to his left, Bethany on Jessica's other side, and Fred and George Weasley with Lee Jordan sitting across them.

"You should've seen Oliver when the match got cancelled," Fred snickered.

"What did he say?" said Jessica.

"'You can't cancel Quidditch,'" George said in what was an attempt at a Scottish accent.

"And he was speaking to McGonagall when he said that!"

"You really are obsessed with Quidditch, you know that?" Jessica told Oliver who rolled his eyes as the Weasley twins made fun of him.

"It was an important game, okay? Besides, it didn't even push through," he huffed.

"Oh, right. I heard about all trainings and matches getting cancelled, too. How did you ever survive?" Jessica teased him.

"He spent his free time visiting you, that's how," Bethany said. Fred and George wolf whistled loudly. Oliver reached over to hit both the twins on their arms, telling them to stop acting like prepubescent boys. Jessica waited for Oliver to deny Bethany's accusation — but he didn't, and that made her blush.

"Have you heard about Lockhart, though?" Lee asked.

"No, what happened?" Jessica said eagerly.

"Poor bloke lost all his memories. Apparently, he was with Harry and Ron down at the Chamber."

"No way."

"It's true. Alista's devastated," said Bethany.

"Serves Lockhart right, though," Jessica muttered.

"He wasn't the best, but he's still — well, was our teacher," Percy pointed out.

"But he was awful at doing his job," said Jessica as the other Gryffindors around her murmured in agreement. Percy had to agree too, because he didn't particularly like the way Lockhart taught their class at the N.E.W.T. level, either.

Just then, Hermione Granger entered the Great Hall. She went unnoticed for a few moments, save for some of the students and ghosts welcoming her back. Then, she locked eyes with Harry and Ron and burst into a run towards them. This caught the attention of almost everyone at the hall, wanting to watch the interaction between the three.

Hermione flung her arms around Harry and hugged him tightly. She let go of him to do the same to Ron, but they both stopped suddenly. Jessica and Bethany giggled under their breaths at the awkwardness as they ended up shaking hands instead.

"Uhhh... welcome back, Hermione," Ron cleared his throat.

"It's good to be back," she beamed. "Congratulations, I can't believe you solved it!"

"Well, we had loads of help from you," said Harry. "We couldn't have done it without you."

"Thanks."

They took their seats at the Gryffindor table among the other second year students. Then, Professor McGonagall clinked her spoon on her goblet a few times.

"Could I have your attention, please?" she said loudly. The room quieted down and faced the front of the hall where Dumbledore stood up to speak.

"Before we begin the feast, let us have a round of applause for Professor Sprout and Madame Pomfrey, whose mandrake juice has been so successfully administered to all who had been petrified."

The hall burst into respectful applause and cheers.

"Also, in light of the recent events, as a school treat, all exams have been canceled!"

"Oh, no!" Jessica said while everyone else around her roared and whooped in celebration.

"Oh, lighten up, lass," Oliver nudged her.

"But my O.W.L.s... I haven't taken them yet!"

The large, double doors of the Great Hall creaked open. All heads turned to see who had arrived. Hagrid came strolling in, looking a bit awkward but somehow glad to be there at the same time. From what Bethany and Alista told Jessica, Hagrid had apparently been suspended from the school because he was accused of controlling the monster that petrified the students.

"Sorry I'm late. The owl that delivered my release papers got all lost and confused — some ruddy bird called Errol."

Hagrid came to a stop where Harry, Ron, and Hermione were seated.

"And I'd just like to say that if it hadn't been for you, Harry, and Ron, and Hermione, o' course.... I would, uh... I'd still be you-know-where, so I-I'd just like to say... thanks."

Everyone stared as Harry stood up to address Hagrid, though it did little to give him height because of how tall the man was.

"There's no Hogwarts without you, Hagrid," Harry smiled. He then hugged the big man as tight as he could, and Jessica swore she could see Hagrid tearing up a little.

Someone began clapping — it was Dumbledore, who had even risen to his feet to show his respect. Slowly, and then all at once, all the students and staff joined him and gave a standing ovation for the Keeper of Keys and Grounds of Hogwarts.

A/N: Aaand we're onto Prisoner of Azkaban next! POA is gonna be ✨ spicy ✨ HAHA not really but everything y'all have been waiting for will finally happen if you know what I mean ;) You guys have no idea how excited I am for the rest of this book!!!