The Secrets of The Sighted (Golden Trio Era) {3}

Blaring Bell

The next day was the Hogsmeade trip and Mikayla woke up late, a was greeted by a thick layer of perfect white snow. She layered up, wearing several of Mrs Weasley's hand-knitted sweaters, scarves and gloves. It was strange being back in Gryffindor tower, it almost felt as though she's aged so much that she doesn't feel like a student anymore. Mikayla took her time walking to the Great Hall to meet up with her friends. Last night before bed they spoke about everything. Mikayla became clean about her doubts of Dumbledore's actions and her anger towards him which caused her to leave. She didn't mention that Avery was still alive, but she did tell them about her adventures in Cardiff and Diagon Alley.

Then Mikayla spoke to Parvati, apologising for not being there to comfort her and admitted that it was selfish, even though Mikayla didn't believe it was. Parvati was quite understanding, and the two girls reminisced about their favourite memories of Avery. Parvati told Mikayla about the letter Avery had written her, course it was Mikayla who had written the letter on Avery's behalf. In the letter, 'Avery' explained the blood vow, how guilty she had felt about attacking students, that she didn't want to become a death eater and that she loved Parvati with all her heart. They came to a mutual agreement that they would fight for what Avery believed in and that they'd look out for one another.

Whispers still followed Mikayla everywhere she went, she kept her head down pulling her beanie down more, as she entered the Great Hall. As soon as she sat down Ginny approached them, "hey, Harry, I'm supposed to give you this." It was a scroll of parchment with Harry's name written on it in Dumbledore's familiar thin, slanting writing. Mikayla felt some bitterness rise at the thought of the man, she hadn't completely forgiven him for what he put her through. "Thanks, Ginny... it's Dumbledore's next lesson!" Harry told Ron and Hermione, pulling open the parchment and quickly reading its contents. "Monday evening!" Harry looked suddenly light and happy, which helped Mikayla relax a bit.

"Want to join us in Hogsmeade, Ginny?" Harry asked, "I'm going with Dean, might see you there," Ginny replied, squeezing Mikayla's shoulder to provide comfort before waving at them as she left. Filch was standing at the oak front doors as usual, checking off the names of people who had permission to go into Hogsmeade. The process took even longer than normal as Filch was triple-checking everybody with his Secrecy Sensor. "What does it matter if we're smuggling Dark stuff OUT?" demanded Ron, eyeing the long thin Secrecy Sensor with apprehension. "Surely you ought to be checking what we bring back IN?" His cheek earned him a few extra jabs with the Sensor, and he was still wincing as they stepped out into the wind and sleet.

The walk into Hogsmeade was not enjoyable. Hermione and Mikayla were huddled together as they walked with linked arms. Harry wrapped his scarf over his lower face; the exposed part soon felt both raw and numb. Ron wrapped his scarf up high enough that it would keep his ear flaps down. The road to the village was full of students bent double against the bitter wind. More than once Mikayla wondered whether they might not have had a better time in the warm common room. When they finally reached Hogsmeade and saw that Zonko's Joke Shop had been boarded up, Mikayla frowned at the sight, hoping Fred was okay. 

Ron pointed with a thickly gloved hand towards the Three Broomsticks, which was mercifully open, and they staggered in his wake into the crowded bar. A sigh of relief left Mikayla's lips as she straightened up, stretching her cramp back before following the others to the table. Mikayla took the seat across from Ron, next to Hermione as they all shed some layers and rubbed their hands together to get feeling back. "Hello, what can I getcha?" Madam Rosmerta asked as soon as they were settled, "four Butterbeers and some ginger in mine, please." Hermione ordered, Madam Rosmerta smiled at us before walking away. "Oh, bloody hell." Ron said moving uncomfortably as he mumbled, "slick git," Mikayla turned to see Ginny and Dean in a booth talking.

"Honestly Ronald, see they're only holding hands." Hermione reprimanded but Mikayla smirked when she turned back to her own table, "and snogging." Ron shifts uncomfortably again, and Mikayla has to stop herself from laughing. "I'd like to leave." Ron states going to stand up, "what? You can't be serious." Hermione scolded him, "that happens to my sister." Ron's voice rose in pitch, "so? You didn't have the same reaction when Fred and I kiss in front of you." Ron seemed to get a little flustered when Hermione said, "so? What if she looked at me and saw you snogging me? Would you expect her to get up and leave?" Madam Rosmerta slide their Butterbeers in front of them, Mikayla and Hermione immediately started to drink it. "Harry, my boy." Mikayla jumped at the sudden new voice of Slughorn. 

Slughorn invited them all to another dinner, apart from Ron, "splendid! Look for my owl. Good to see you, Wallenby." Ron grunted as they watched Slughorn walk away, "what are you playing at?" Ron asked Harry, "Dumbledore's asked me to get to know him." Mikayla raised a questioning eyebrow at Harry, "get to know him?" Harry shrugged, "dunno. It must be important. If it wasn't, Dumbledore wouldn't ask." Mikayla scoffed at this statement, rolling her eyes and Harry sent her a pointed look, "I thought you were back on Dumbledore's side now that you're back." Harry spoke shortly, "sorry, I'm trying to be. I'm still working through my thoughts." Harry stared at her as if he was unsure whether to believe her or not. The group moved on from Harry's goal of getting close to Slughorn, and laughed for a bit, enjoying just being teenagers for a while. 

The girls fell into whispers, Mikayla told Hermione about her and Fred taking the next step in their relationship, they fell into a fit of giggles, "what?" Ron asked with a raised eyebrow, "just catching up on some girl talk, Ronald." Hermione smirked as the girls went to take a drink, "we can talk girls," Mikayla snorted causing Butterbeer to shoot out of her nose, making them all laugh. "Merlin, I missed you lot." Mikayla wiped the tears that shone in her eyes. "It's good to have you back." Harry smiled at her, Mikayla sent him a grateful nod. "Shall we get back then?" Ron asked and they all agreed, putting back on their layers. It had not been a fun trip and the weather was getting worse the longer they stayed. Once again they drew their cloaks tightly around them, rearranged their scarves, pulled on their gloves; then followed Katie Bell and Leanne out of the pub and back up the High Street. Mikayla noticed that Harry and Ron were in deep thought, Harry didn't look happy about whatever he was thinking about, whilst Ron looked confused. Mikayla decided to leave the boys to their thoughts, joining a merry Hermione in front of them.

Mikayla became aware that the voices of Katie Bell and Leanne, which were being carried back to her on the wind, had become shriller and louder. Mikayla squinted at their indistinct figures. The two girls were having an argument about something Katie was holding in her hand. "It's nothing to do with you, Leanne!" Katie shouted at her friend. They rounded a corner in the lane, sleet coming thick and fast, and Mikayla was adjusting her hat when she saw Leanne went to grab hold of the package Katie was holding. Katie tugged it back and the package fell to the ground. Suddenly, Katie rose into the air gracefully, her arms outstretched, as though she were about to fly. Yet there was something wrong, her hair was whipped around her by the fierce wind, but her eyes were closed and her face was quite empty of expression. Everyone had all halted in their tracks, watching her. 

Then, six feet above the ground, Katie let out a terrible scream. Her eyes flew open but whatever she could see, or whatever she was feeling, was clearly causing her terrible anguish. She screamed and screamed, Leanne started to scream too, and seized Katie's ankles, trying to tug her back to the ground. Mikayla, Harry, Ron and Hermione rushed forwards to help, but even as they grabbed Katie's legs, she fell on top of them. Harry and Ron managed to catch her but she was writhing so much they could hardly hold her. Instead they lowered her to the ground where she thrashed and screamed, apparently unable to recognise any of them. "Step back, give her space." Mikayla ordered after she smelled the fear coming from Katie. Harry and Mikayla looked around, the landscape seemed deserted. "Stay there!" Harry shouted at the others over the howling wind, "I'm going for help!" Mikayla nodded, showing that they weren't going anywhere, and Harry took off towards the school.