Gwen had been studying for her chemistry test all night. The sun was peeping through the sanitary looking white venetian blinds a blinding, burning red intensity, but Gwen was out cold. In her dazed and dreamy state the light faded quite a bit and she felt a soft touch on her arm.

She started slowly out of her stupor to find herself back in the Gryffindor Common Room. No time had passed here, it was still the morning where she fell asleep in the cushy chair by the fire. Hermione was placing a hand to her forehead.

"Are you feeling all right? You've been looking a bit off lately. You should go to the infirmary."

"I'm fine." Gwen replied, though her throat was dry. She felt a little embarrassed at being found so totally vulnerable by possibly one of the smartest students Hogwarts had ever admitted.

"You're certain?"

"Yes."

"Well, we'd better get dressed."

Gwen smiled as Hermione headed back to the fifth years' room down the stairs. She roused herself slowly to dress for the day, finding her robes folded neatly in her trunk at the foot of her bed. Lucille bounded onto her bed, cocking her head to the side as if really seeing her mistress for the first time in years.

"What are you so curious about?" Gwen whispered so as not to wake her roommates.

The cat simply looked on as Gwen pulled off her pajamas and wriggled into her robes. She brushed her hair into a soft chignon and tumbled back downstairs for the Great Hall and breakfast. The entire hall was empty except for Professor McGonagall sitting at the main table speaking eagerly with Professor Dumbledore.

Of course, Gwen thought. She's always around when I don't want her to be. All the same, Gwen felt a sort of connection to McGonagall that she didn't feel with any of the other teachers here. She knew Ron, Harry and Hermione were all great friends with Hagrid, and while she liked him she could never just go down to his hut for tea like they did. No one could get close to Snape except his oily Slytherins. And Dumbledore was just so� Dumbledore. Minerva McGonagall was the only teacher who bothered to hound Gwen when she was receiving bad marks. It was almost as if she had something personal to gain from Gwen's success.

The girl smiled as she ate a handful of bacon mixed in with her eggs. Harry took the seat across from her and she became suddenly nervous.

"Morning Gwen."

"Hi Harry."

"What are you doing up so early?"

"I could ask the same of you."

"Quidditch practice."

"Ah. I couldn't sleep."

"Are you feeling all right? You're looking a bit pale."

"Hermione said the same thing. I'm fine. I've just been having these odd dreams." She stopped, while she was telling the truth she wasn't certain she could explain that this world, Hogwarts was the dream.

To be continued in Episode Four