Silence is Deafening

Chapter 36

"Are you all packed?" Astoria asked quietly. It was early in the morning and the school was emptying out for Christmas time. The lake outside of our window was a hazy green color. Cold leaked from the windows into our room, settling around us like an ice blanket.

"Mhm. You?" I asked, and she nodded softly. There was an air of stillness, an uncertainty that swirled around the room. With the status of the wizarding world as it was now, Christmas was no longer something to be excited about. Everyone was uneasy; no one knew if this would be the last normal Christmas or not.

"We have to leave for Hogsmeade in 5 minutes. Come on, Bonnie's already down there." Astoria said, and we descended the stairs together.

The common room was empty, completely void of any students. It was obvious that no one was interested in staying at Hogwarts for the holidays.

As we neared the carriages, Ginny stood near Luna looking dreadful. I slipped away from Astoria's side, gravitating toward Ginny.

"What is it? What's wrong?" I asked as soon as I was within earshot. Luna looked up at me with a mystical smile and said "Hello, Lizzie!" brightly.

"Just—Christmas. It won't be the same...without Ron. I'm just—-Lizzie, I'm fucking terrified. I'm trying not to be, I'm trying to be tough, but I'm scared." Ginny admitted, and for once I saw a chink in her stoic armor.

Ginny had given up so much. She had lost the boy she loved and her older brother in one swoop. Her parents were part of the Order, which seemed to be falling apart by the day. Her older brothers had all joined as well, leaving her to have to grow up quickly. She was put in a horrific position, and she was just 16. We both were. This was a war—an all out, terrifying war—and we were kids.

"Gin, no news is good news. I'm sure they're fine. You have to suck it up. If the Carrows see you looking scared, they'll assume you have something to hide. You don't need them to..." I trailed off, my finger reaching up to brush her blackened eye.

Her lips pulled up into a wry smile. Despite her anxiety, she knew when to put up walls. Once again, she was a soldier.

"You're right. Let's just—-we'll just go. We have a train to catch." Ginny said, and I swear I saw a glittering tear in the corner of her eye. It was gone as quickly as it came, and we all boarded the Hogsmeade carriages, leaving the Castle in the fog behind.

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"It always seems like the ride back to London is longer than the ride to Hogwarts. I feel like we've been on this bloody fucking train forever." Bonnie snapped, her cheek pressed against the frosty window.

"It's only been 2 hours, Bon." Astoria said, gently. Bonnie snorted and rolled her eyes. "Not helping, Tori." She grumbled.

"It doesn't even feel like Christmas. I feel like we're going home just to—-exist." I said, absently.

"No! Don't say that! We still have the Malfoy New Years party! It's going to be marvelous and we will get absolutely fucked off of champagne and we'll have fun!" Bonnie said, her voice almost angry. Astoria and I exchanged a look of fear and both of us began to laugh.

Our laughter was short-lived. Just as the sound had left my lips, the train was grinding to an abrupt halt. Déjà vu overcame me as I remembered the same thing happening on the way to Hogwarts in September. Death Eaters had boarded the train in search of Harry, Draco helping them.

My mouth snapped closed and we all looked out the window, as if we would see something out there.

"I'm going to see what's going on." I announced, withdrawing my wand from its holder in my jacket. Bonnie's hand latched onto my forearm in a vice grip.