𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍, 𝘚𝘪𝘳𝘪𝘶𝘴 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬

[26] 𝐌𝐈𝐑𝐑𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊𝐒

THE KIDS HAD FINALLY arrived at the school. Some suspicion came to Estella when she hadn't seen Lily, Marlene, nor Alice the entire ride, nor had the girl came looking for her to steal her from the boys like they normally do annually. But what was even more suspicious is that the boys had merely spoken two words to her.

      As the group took a seat at the Gryffindor table at the Great Hall, Dumbledore continued his speech, with the same Potions professor, Professor Horace Slughorn.

      Lily and Alice took a seat opposite to Estella. They greeted her as if they had met her for the first time in years which it felt like centuries for the girls.

      Marlene sat next to Estella, but kept exchanging very unsubtle glances with Alice and Lily, not being able to contain her giggles. Estella assumed that the girls probably had an inside joke without her.

      "..And now that I've spoken for the year," Dumbledore continued. "I'd like to let Professor McGonagall announce a few words."

      The lady made her way to where the ghost of Dumbledore's presence laid, replacing his spot as she prepared herself to speak.

       "I would first like to say how proud I am of how far all of you have come," McGonagall smiled. "It has been a crazy couple of years, and I have to admit, even the sixth and seventh year students I've given detention to most will hold a special place in my heart. And those are always the students that hurt the most to let go."

      McGonagall tilted her head down, hiding her face away from the students before clearing her throat before continuing. "I know a lot of you get wilder as you get older, but dormitory times are still as expected and vary per year as you get older. I expect every student to be in dormitory before ten. I'll be checking all the common rooms then." McGonagall smiled before stepping off and clearing herself away.

And it was true. Their experience at Hogwarts was definitely an unforgettable one to say the least, and that was an understatement. It had been where the Marauders and their truest friends had spent the best years of their life.

Estella couldn't help herself when she felt herself shedding a small tear down her cheek unintentionally. But she knew once she graduated next year, her life wouldn't be the same.

After the speech, Estella found herself walking to McGonagall as the students fled the halls.

"Hey.. Professor?" Estella fidgeted with her rings.

The woman smiled softly at the young brunette. "Yes, dear?"

"I just wanted to say.. thank you." Estella grinned, trying to control her tears threats. "Thank you for the unimaginable experience you've given me at Hogwarts. And I'm really glad I got to be here the same time as you."

It was clear McGonagall was trying to not to let the tears spill from her eyes either. She had a special bond with the kids, despite the detentions. She had grown close to the kids and ended up as some sort of figure to all of them. "You are truly a gifted student, Foster. And I know you've meant well. I see your potential and I hope nothing but well for your future. And I hope one day you find yourself finding your experience at Hogwarts at use."

Now, Estella had let a couple of tears slip from her eyes as she chuckled nervously. "Thank you, and I will."

"Like becoming an unregistered Animagus?" McGonagall chuckled through her tears. "Tell Mr. Black that he's not good at asking hypothetical questions. But I'll keep this between us for now."

And the next thing Estella knew, she had found herself engulfed in a hug by the woman she had truly found as a mother figure towards the end.

𖠰𖠰𖠰

      Estella was sitting in her dormitory, writing in her journal. She shared with Marlene, Alice, and Lily, who had currently not arrived. Nobody wished her happy birthday besides, well, technically Remus and Ethan Montgomery. I guess they really forgot after all. Not that Estella cared much anyways, but nobody had spoken much to her all day. She would have at least enjoyed a bit of company.

      Then, she heard the same buzzing from her nightstand again. It was the mirror.

      When she opened the drawer, she saw Sirius' face in the mirror.

      "Sirius?" Estella spoke softly.

      "Essie, hey.. Uh, James— he wants me to go out with that Summers hufflepuff, Karma Summers." Sirius tripped over his words.

      "Oh.." was all Estella could say. She couldn't bring herself to say anything else when he was talking about another girl on her birthday.

      "Can you.. maybe.. talk to Karma?" Sirius asked. "Just.. do anything. Make sure she's busy tonight."

      Estella wanted to have better things to do on the night of her sixteenth birthday, but sadly, she didn't.

      "Uh, er.. yeah. Sure." Estella agreed to his plan.

       "Thank you, thank you, thank you—" was all Sirius repeated, not thinking twice about Estella's feelings. "Oh! And uh.. wear a dress."

      And those were the last words he spoke to Estella before his mischievous face left the mirror.

      What did she just get herself into?

next chapter coming later..