Chapter 116: Spending Time With Sister Mary
The first thing Sister Mary did upon waking up was ask if Eda was doing well—just as she had countless times before, as if nothing had changed.
That simple question felt like a sharp blade stabbing straight into Eda's heart, filling her with an unbearable sadness.
"I'm doing very well. I've even made two very close friends at school. You always worried that I wouldn't get along with others, but now you can rest assured," Eda said.
She stood up, poured a glass of water, and gently lifted Sister Mary's head, carefully feeding her small sips.
"No one at school bullies me, and the professors all treat me well. Professor McGonagall was the one who brought me back this time—you've met her before. She was the one who visited when I first got my letter," Eda continued. "Mr. Weasley is also very kind to me. He and his wife treat me like their own daughter… Madam, I'm doing well. Really, I am."
Sister Mary tried to raise her hand to touch Eda's cheek, but even that small movement was difficult for her. Eda leaned down and held her hand, helping her place it against her face.
"That's good… that's very good. I watched you grow up. When you first arrived, you were like a little kitten—I was always afraid I wouldn't be able to raise you. But now you've grown into a fine young lady," Sister Mary said softly, gently caressing Eda's face. Though her complexion had improved slightly, speaking was still exhausting for her, and she had to pause after every few words.
"Hehe.. You raised me well, which is why I turned out so smart and beautiful," Eda said with a smile.
Both Eda and Ada were deeply grateful for Sister Mary's care. Without her, Eda might not have survived that cold winter night in 1977.
Back in London, though the orphanage's conditions were poor, no child ever went hungry. Sister Mary always did everything she could to care for each child, ensuring they had enough to eat and warm clothes to wear.
"You know, I've always had good grades. I even got first place in my year on last year's final exams!" Eda said excitedly. "Oh, and I have a dog now! He's really well-behaved. Next time, I'll bring him to see you…"
Eda chattered on, telling Sister Mary about her life at school. When she shared amusing stories, Sister Mary would smile and laugh along with her.
Of course, Eda carefully filtered what she said—anything related to magic was either omitted or altered, and she didn't mention anything sad or dangerous at all.
Sister Mary held Eda's hand the whole time, never interrupting her. She enjoyed listening to these little stories about everyday life, so she let Eda talk as much as she wanted. Eda had never been this talkative before, and to Sister Mary, that was a positive change.
Among all the children she had cared for, Eda had always seemed like the most obedient and sensible one, but in reality, she was also the one who worried her the most. Now, seeing how much she had grown, how could Sister Mary not feel happy?
Through these small, ordinary stories, Sister Mary could tell that Eda truly loved her life at school. She had found a place where she belonged and a direction for her future. That was what made Sister Mary the happiest.
Eda wasn't talking endlessly because she had suddenly become more talkative—she just wanted to reassure Sister Mary that she was doing well, to ease her worries. That was why she kept sharing only the good news, leaving out anything that might cause concern.
One spoke earnestly, and the other listened just as intently. Before they knew it, night had fallen.
A knock on the door interrupted Eda's words.
Mrs. Valente pushed the door open and walked in, with Miss Katherine Nelson following behind her, carrying a tray of food. The tray held soft, easily chewable, and digestible dishes.
Mrs. Valente walked to the bedside and smiled. "You talk about little Eda all the time. Now that she's back, you already look much better!"
"I was listening to Eda talk about school. It was quite interesting," Sister Mary said slowly. "I raised her myself. When Nancy and I brought her back, she was just over two months old. In the blink of an eye, she's grown so much… Nancy is gone now, and I… I have grown old too."
"This child is wonderful in every way, but she really needs to fix that stubborn temper of hers. It's awful and unyielding, haha.." Sister Mary continued. In her memory, Eda had been a very sweet-tempered child. It was only after she was abandoned a second time that her personality changed. Sister Mary had always felt a sense of guilt about it—if she hadn't recommended Eda back then, she wouldn't have had to suffer that heartbreak.
"Really? I haven't noticed a bad temper. In fact, I think Eda suits my taste quite well," Mrs. Valente said, glancing at Eda, who stood quietly at the side. "By the way, Eda, you've been sitting here for so long—you must be hungry, right?"
Eda hadn't felt particularly hungry before, but now that Mrs. Valente mentioned it, she realized she was. The last time she had eaten was breakfast back in Scotland.
"Katherine, take Eda to her room so she can get familiar with it. Then, bring her downstairs for dinner. I'll stay here and take care of things," Mrs. Valente instructed.
"Go on, take a look at your room with Katherine," Sister Mary said. "You must be tired after such a long journey. Get some rest."
Eda slung her backpack over her shoulders and followed Katherine out of the room to the 2nd floor. Mrs. Valente had arranged a room for her right by the staircase. It might be a bit noisy, but at least she had it all to herself.
The bedding had just been changed and still carried the scent of laundry detergent. The room's furnishings were simple: a single bed, a desk, a chair, and a wardrobe—that was all.
Leaving her backpack in the room, Eda went with Katherine to the dining hall on the ground floor.
The man serving the food was a chubby middle-aged Black man, who also worked as both the storeroom keeper in the basement and the orphanage's security guard.
The other children were all eating in the dining hall. That afternoon's discussions in the yard had spread quickly, so whether they knew Eda or not, they all stared at her. The children who recognized her had a hint of fear in their eyes, while those who didn't were simply curious.
Ignoring their gazes, Eda took her tray and went straight to a corner, eating silently on her own. The orphanage's food couldn't compare to Hogwarts, of course, but it was enough to fill her stomach.
She ate quickly, finishing her meal in no time. Since she had no intention of getting a second helping, she washed her tray clean and left the dining hall, heading back to Sister Mary's room.
Sister Mary had been forcing herself to stay awake to listen to Eda talk, but she was too weak to keep it up. After eating only a little food, she drifted off to sleep again.
Eda had originally planned to stay and take care of her, but under Mrs. Valente's persuasion, she returned to her assigned room to rest, putting aside her original plan.
As soon as she entered the room, she spotted an owl perched on her desk.
It had brought her two letters—along with its own supply of food. The letters were from Professor McGonagall and the twins.
After Eda left the classroom, the twins had been worried that she had gotten into trouble again. When they couldn't find her after class, they only learned what had happened once Professor McGonagall returned to the school.
So, Fred and George wrote her this letter to comfort her, assuring her that even though she wasn't at school, they would stick to the study plan she had made for them, so she didn't need to worry.
The other letter, from Professor McGonagall, was brief. She simply told Eda not to worry about school and the notes, to take good care of herself, and to write to her anytime if she needed anything.
Eda had left school in such a hurry that she hadn't brought anything besides clothes and toiletries. Luckily, she found some paper and a pen in the desk, allowing her to write replies to both Professor McGonagall and the twins.
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