I'm gonna lose it.
All the strength drained from her body and she flopped back down. She could clearly see the dust piled up around her shifting with her movement before settling again.
Winter sunlight poured through the broken window.
...It's too bright.
Hailey Garner squinted at the winter sun before closing her eyes.
I'm young again.
It was a strange sensation, full of certainty.
Like the sensation of knowing "I'm alive right now."
Merlin, what the hell do you expect me to do?
I'm too worn out and exhausted to start something new. Just staying here lying down like this wouldn't be so bad. I could get buried in the snow and finally get some real peaceful rest this time...
It was too damn cold to just think that way.
Hailey Garner forced her increasingly stiff body up and waved her hand at the broken window.
"Reparo."
...Nothing happened.
'Couldn't you at least give me a wand before sending me back?'
After several attempts, she managed to roughly repair the window, and only after flicking her fingers several more times could she create a small flame.
She was exhausted from just two spells.
I guess I need to get a wand first.
Oh, and I need to get out of this house.
If she stayed here, she'd end up living the same life as before.
Getting beaten, starving, nearly freezing to death before being saved with just a thread of life left, then becoming a Death Eater at a young age—the elite course for Death Eater grunts.
That's not happening.
Hailey Garner shook her head with determination.
First, I'll escape from this house, and then I'll escape from this country. Voldemort was caught before he could extend his reach outside England. So at least until things settle down, I should stay in another country.
Somewhere not too far, hmm... like France or Ireland.
So right now, the most important things were a place to stay and a little money.
Maybe she could steal some money when the house was empty. She could take that and go as far as she could, then survive by doing odd jobs.
The only thing that bothered her was that her body at this point was too small and young...
Tap.
Tap tap.
At the sound of something knocking on the window, she looked up and met the eyes of a brown-feathered eagle owl tilting its head. Tied to its ankle was a yellowish envelope. The first thing she noticed was the name written next to the address: "Miss Hailey Garner."
There's no way anyone would send me a letter. Especially not to me at this point in time.
Hailey Garner slowly reached out to touch the letter. She couldn't sense any special energy, like "that person's" energy.
Only her name written in elegant emerald ink glowed on the envelope. She was drawn in by the unfamiliarly graceful handwriting and opened the envelope.
[HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY]
The moment she opened the letter, her mind started spinning at the name that caught her eye. Something like possibility flowed in with the breath she didn't realize she'd been holding through her open mouth.
Right, this place existed.
Here,
She might be able to pull it all off.
First, she could escape from this house and have food and shelter.
Plus, she might be guaranteed some safety until she could flee to another country.
Hogwarts' final year was seventh year, so she could graduate before the war started.
What perfect timing!
[We are pleased to inform you that you have been accepted at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. ...]
Hailey Garner read through the words quickly while fumbling around for something to write a reply with. But there was nothing in the attic room, which could be considered empty, that could be used for writing. She had no choice but to pick up a piece of wood caught on her fingertip (probably part of the window frame) and prick her ring finger to write a short reply.
[Yes.]
Anyway, she just needed to confirm her intention to enroll.
As she hurried to tie the letter back to the owl's ankle, her hands were shaking so much she had trouble. It felt like her father could come up to interfere at any moment.
In her previous life (Hailey had decided to call those painfully vivid memories that), Hailey Garner had never even seen the acceptance letter. Probably (she was almost perfectly certain) her father had rejected it. But this time she received the letter while she was alone! Could she really be this lucky?
Even after she sent the owl off, her hands were still shaking.
Maybe,
Maybe.
Maybe this time,
She might be able to survive.
She might be able to live differently.
Like a person.