Changing from within

Chapter Twelve

"How?" I ask, "I don't remember feeling at all tired through the day, and I thought magical exhaustion was just like muscle fatigue?"

"It appears," Dumbledore answers for me, "that your body is not yet ready to use your magic to that extent. Did you cast any spells earlier today?"

"Nothing!" I exclaim, getting thoroughly annoyed with my lack of memories. "The last  remember was the jinx I did on my bed last night."

"What jinx was that?" Dumbledore questions, sparkling eyes frowning, trying to work something out, I quickly avert my gaze.

"The Intruder Jinx on my bed." I mumble, keeping my head down, not knowing if they know the rules for Slytherin dorm's or not.

"Was it successful?" Dumbledore asks me, his tone slightly higher than before, in anger or surprise, I am uncertain.

"I think so, at least I got the see through haze that vanished after a couple of seconds." I inform him.

"But your a first year!" Madame Pomfrey objects.

"Did you feel anything afterwards?" Dumbledore asks me, ignoring his medical staff.

"Well I felt a little tired, but that's to be expected, isn't it?" I answer truthfully.

"Madame Pomfrey, could you please do a magic level scan on Miss Nelson?" Dumbledore asks, turning to look at the witch.

"All right..." She says slowly before lifting her wand and pointing it at me. A light blue aura appears around my body, mingled in with greens and purples.

"But- but that's impossible!" Pomfrey gasps as soon as the aura fades.

"What?" I ask, they know I was a muggle, dear Merlin did it have to get out so easily?

"You have the magical core of an eighteen year old." Dumbledore explains for me as Madame Pomfrey is currently gaping open mouthed.

"Albus, how is that possible?" Pomfrey gasps out, wide eyes fixed on me.

"More to the point-" I cut in, "if I have a magical core that size, how come I passed out?"

"Your body is not yet able to cope with that amount of power." Madame Pomfrey says.

"So I'm not able to do magic until I'm actually eighteen?" I ask, disappointment beginning to flow in me. How come the others don't have this problem? Why just me?

"No no, you can do magic, but you have to train your body first." Dumbledore tells me, my eyes widen, images of the dreaded bleep test at school running threw me, my legs begin to ache in memory.

"How?" I ask suspiciously

"You need to strengthen your body in order to allow it to harness all the power you hold." Madame Pomfrey answers me.

"So I need to run a lap every morning?" I ask hesitantly.

"No," Pomfrey answers, I look up to see her smiling in mirth, "You will need to slowly build up the power of the spells you are using."

"How?"

"I will compose a list of spells you can use at various levels of power, after dinner each night, you will come here and perform them under supervision.

"Woopee!" I say in false excitement. I despise running. I turn to Dumbledore questioningly, looking him in the eyes, thinking of my friends.

"If you could please excuse us, I would like to talk to Miss Nelson alone," Dumbledore states, keeping his sparkling blue eyes on me.