FLOODED

As Arethusa said, the water was drained out, the injuries healed, and everything was restored to normal (including the new brooms.)

Dani wandered over to Professor Vindictus with the letter from her mother in her pocket. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as she knocked on his door. She wasn't even sure he was back down here yet, but it was the only place she could think to look. She knocked three times and then leaned against the wall and sobbed a little.

The door creaked open and the strong odor of broom polish escaped. "Come in!" Vindictus called out and heard the sniffling. "Is that you, Anna?"

As she strolled the corridors en route to Professor Vindictus' office, Anna honestly couldn't decide whether she was in a happy mood...or in a sad mood. She began her walk in a rather sad mood, thinking that in about four more days, she no longer be a student here at Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

A few minutes into her walk, though, she thought of the reasons why it was good to be a graduate. No more schoolwork, no more homework, no more studying...freedom was on the horizon. A good job and...well, a husband...*blink*..., awaited her out there in the big, bad adult world. She rounded the corner and saw Professor Vindictus' office door in the near distance. Smiling, she headed towards it.

"Is that you, Anna?"...*blink*

How did he know she was headed his way? Eyes wide with surprise, Anna poked her head into the doorway, the smile of...something or another...immediately reaching her nose. "Ermmm, yes sir....," she replied. Seriously, though...how had he known where she was?

"Look at these beauts!" Vindictus exclaimed as Anna entered the room. He was tenderly polishing the handle of a new broom and the others lay in an open crate located at the center of his office. No wonder he'd been hiding from everyone since the fishy people left - his new toys had finally arrived.

"Those are very nice brooms, sir," she commented, studying the broom that he was currently polishing the handle of. Her eyes traveled from that particular broom to a crate full of additional brooms situated in the center of the office. Anna thought about reaching and touching one, but the professor probably wouldn't like that too much. She'd just stick to admiring from afar.

"I came to give my goodbyes to you and to tell you how much I've enjoyed playing Quidditch the past seven years. It really taught me a lot about teamwork, as well as about the game in general," she said. "I won't keep you long, though, because I was actually on my way to the feast. I'll see you there, sir!" She took one last look at the brooms, then waved at the professor before turning from the office and heading towards the feast.