The Forgotten Prophecy [Book 2]

XXXI. It's Time

...
'Now it's time to let the curtains unfold
And tell all the stories I didn't want told
I let it out so I unburden my soul I won't stop'
...

       The news of Professor Lupin being a werewolf traveled fast throughout the school. Students started coming up with theories on how Professor Lupin helped Sirius Black escape. "Maybe he's a vampire!" Dean suggests. "Vampire? Have you lost your mind?" Seamus asks shaking his head. "How else do you explain how he escaped?" Dean asks him. Seamus shrugs. "Maybe he--" Seamus stops himself as he stares behind me. I turn around and see Alexander standing behind me. "Ellie, could I have a word?" Alexander asks me. I nod, taking my belongings as I follow him out of the Great Hall. We walk down the corridor. Leo waits at the end of the hallway for us. "Ellie! Are you alright?" Leo asks, running up to me. I nod. 

Alexander crosses his arms. "Why is it we always find out everything after it happens?" Alexander asks me. I rub my neck nervously. "Blimey Ellie, we just found out what happened. No one else actually knows the truth. They're just spreading theories of what they think happened," Leo says to me. "Professor Snape was kind enough to inform us on the details," Alexander tells me. I nod. He also told them that I decided to tell everyone the truth. They stare at me waiting for me to say something. I stumble to find words. I'm freaking out. Telling everyone the truth isn't as easy as I thought. "We saw Nathan," Leo tells me, taking the attention off me. "Hmm, I saw him after the incident.. He seemed okay," I say. Leo nods. "Professor Snape and Madam Pomfrey did a good job on tending his wounds." 

Fiddlesticks. "You told him?" I ask Leo, just realizing that Alexander knows about Nathan. "It slipped out!" Leo cries. I turn back to Alexander. "Oh come on Ellie, it's me. Since when did you start keeping secrets from me?" There's a hint of hurt in his voice. He feels like we've become distant. "Alexander, I'm sorry.. It just wasn't my secret to tell," I tell him. He nods understandingly. "Professor Snape told us you're ready to tell them the truth," Alexander says. I nod slowly. "I'm doing it today," I say, shocking myself and the two of them. "T-today?" Leo asks, making sure he heard me correctly. Today? Yeah.. Why wait longer. "The longer I wait, the harder it becomes. I want to get this over with," I say, looking from Alexander to Leo. 

The boys nod. "If you're ready, then okay.. Have you decided when today?" Alexander asks. I shake my head. "Ellie, I want you to know, I'm proud of you. We both are," Leo says, trying to soothe me. I laugh softly, placing my hand on Leo's cheek. "I'm glad to have you," I say to him. I give Alexander a light slap on his stomach. "You too, Alexander." Alexander laughs. His eyes go soft as he watches me. "I'm fine," I tell him, reading his mind. "Don't worry. I'm okay," I repeat. "I have to let them all know about meeting tonight.. I'll see you guys later." I wave bye to them and head towards the stairs. 

I enter my dorm room, finding Finn sitting on the desk. "Finn," I greet him as I approach my desk. I sit down, staring out the window. "So I've decided to tell the truth to my friends," I tell him. Finn chitters nervously. "Yeah, I don't know how it'll go, but I'm hoping for the best," I tell him. He chitters again. "They're going to find out the truth.. it's better they hear it from me." Finn climbs into my palm, chittering. "I know Nott hasn't exposed me yet, but I know he will.. I don't know what he's waiting for, but knowing those men they'll tell the world the truth about me." I wonder if Draco already knows the truth. I sigh. I grab a piece of parchment, splitting it into 10 squares. Grabbing a quill, I begin to write the same message on each parchment. 

"Meet me at the Astronomy Tower at 5 this evening.

 It's urgent. There's something you need to know about me.