(LK)The Bad News

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace dug her hands into the pocket of her hoody and pushed her way around the eves of the forest and onto the shore of the lake. She had just come from the owlery with a letter. She walked along the beach looking for the three rocks, then the willow. She wanted to read her letter and at the same time didn't because she knew almost exactly what it would say.

She found her three rocks and her willow and her favorite sitting place. She sat and took out the letter. Typed, certainly by Father's secretary, and curiously, a seal? She stuck her thumb under the seal and plucked it off. She slowly pulled out the white paper and unfolded it.

Dear Miss Marks, it said,
As you may already know you father has been in this hospital for two months now- my word has it been that long, she thought -under intense care and supervision. He recovered from the poisoning relatively quickly. However, clotting of an artery from the brain called for immediate invasive surgery. The damage to Mr Marks's heart sustained during his surgery forced us to perform a triple by-pass.- oh my, she lifted a quivering hand to her mouth. She knew she hated him but she did not want to loose him, he was after all her only family -At this point we have the best surgeons operating to try right the wrong Mr Marks has inflicted upon his body. It may be hard to hear this but he did bring this upon himself.
Your father's surgeries shall left him weak and finding a permanent home here at the hospital. We shall keep him here for three more weeks. I shall personally keep you informed of their progress and your fathers conditions.
Yours sincerely,
Maddison Biggerstall
Executive Surgeon

Another heart attack? she thought. She shut her eyes tightly and raped her arms around herself imagining her mother holding her as she did in her dreams. She squeezed her eyes tightly and let the tears flow.

She knew she hated him, but he is the only family I has...

[Mandrake Black]

Mandrake walked around the edge of the lake scipping rocks across its glassy surface. It was to beautiful day to waste inside the castle. He looked ahead his path. There sat a girl tears flooding from her eyes. He wandered over crouched beside her and said "My dear girl, what is wrong?" he asked softly.

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace jerked up in shock and surprise. She saw it was only a teacher. She sniffed and dried her cheeks. She opened her mouth to say something but only imitated a guppy. She sniffed again and shoved the letter into his hands. Her eyes which were once lake coloured welled with a stormy cloud colour and tears.

[Mandrake Black]

Mandrake read the letter and let out a small gasp. He new exactly what it was like to have an ill father. He gave her a sad smile, and put an arm around her. "There there" he said softly. He hated seeing sadness. "Things will get better Im sure." he coaxed gently. "Would you like to know what I do when I get sad?" he asked

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace's head lulled onto his shoulder and she sobbed a quiet, "yes!"

[Mandrake Black]

"Ok wait here." Mandrake got up and walked into the forbidden forest. He returned a minute with a unicorn following him. He put a shrinking spell on the magnificent beast until it became the size of a great dane. "They are very smart and great to play with, But mostly a good friend when you need one." Mandrake sat back down. The unicorn rubbed his face on Grace's shoulder playfully. "I usually get a dragon, but I figured youd enjoy a unicorn more."

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace gasped and smiled as she saw the unicorn. "Oh my word!" she exclaimed. She giggled as it nudged her with it's snout. "Professor? Is this aloud?" she asked, "shrinking the beautiful thing, I mean." She slowly lifted a hand and placed it onto the shiny main and stroked it gently.

[Mandrake Black]

"No clue. You needed cheering up. Im sure the headmistress wont mind. I dont think we've met properly. Im Professor Mandrake or astronomy and flying lessons." he held out his hand to the girl.

[Prof Grace Marks]

The playful unicorn knocked Grace flat onto her bottom. She rubbed her back and smiled, "Grace Marks!" she took the hand and shock it, "delighted to meet you! Always had it in mind to go to an astronomy lesson, but-" sigh "-it gets away from me sometimes!" She push herself up and dusted the dirt off. She straightened and smiled at the professor. "Now, as much as I appreciate it, shouldn't we let her go back to her home?"

[Mandrake Black]

"As you wish." he said and gave a small bow. He unshrank the unicorn and whistled a soft tune in her ear. She galloped away her white fur shimmering in the sunshine.

"Astronomy is a very interesting subject but I understand about not coming. Do you do any flying at all?" he asked

[Prof Grace Marks]

"Oh yes," Grace said sitting on a near by rock, "I love flying! I'm Hufflepuffs keeper, well I was, last I checked. But in my dreams my mother always gives my- my nimbus2001 so I can fly away from my fa-" she changed the subject "-Do you come here often, professor?" A light breeze blew, her purple hair whipped across her face and she tucked it behind her ears.

[Mandrake Black]

"This happens to be my favorite spot on the lake. Im very into Quidditch. Ive designed a few broom models. In fact Mr. Ronald Weasley has my latest design. Look for it when you play griffindor. It will be the one that wins the match. Just a little joke" seeing Grace's upset face "I really dont favor house teams, but if I did I'd have to say Slytherin. Keeper eh? Any good?" he asked

[Prof Grace Marks]

"Don't know yet," Grace said staring at her feet, "not played yet. But at practice it's only when I'm destracted by Bogs jokes!" She giggled at the memory. "Well, you'll have to come to our first match, it's against Slytherin so it should be interesting, don't you think?" she looked at the professor and smiled.

[Mandrake Black]

" I will be there because I have to referee. I will route for you silently in my head. I daresay it will be a tough match. That Fernand Mondego is a great chaser. Think you'll be able to keep up with him?" asked Mandrake chuckling

[Prof Grace Marks]

Grace took a deep breath and held it. Then she let it ot in a sigh, "we'll have to see, won't we! It's just the paying attention bit that I'm not that confident with! But I'm sure that I won't ly into a bludger!"