𝙿𝚞𝚖𝚙𝚔𝚒𝚗 𝙿𝚊𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚎𝚜 - 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝑤𝑒𝑎𝑠𝑙𝑒𝑦 | ✔︎

Chapter 49

The day was finally here.

As Adrian, Natasha, Lee and the rest of the seventh years ate their final breakfast in the Great Hall decked out in their uniforms, the tables were all mixed, which meant Adrian could sit with Lee and Natasha.

Sirius and Aurelia planned on meeting Adrian and Natasha at the platform, and after hearing about Adrian's situation, the Order had given the Black family permission to house Adrian. He was in a great mood after receiving the news, and had stayed over in Lee's dorm, along with Natasha the night before.

"Miss Black, may I have a word before your departure?" Severus' voice drawled just as Natasha took her first bite into her final pumpkin pasty of Hogwarts. Adrian and Lee looked up in surprise, and looked even more shocked as Natasha stood up, quickly kissing both of their cheeks.

"Save a boat for me, alright?" she asked, and Adrian nodded, continuing his conversation with Lee. She followed Severus to his office and hugged him as soon as he shut the door.

He hugged her back tightly, before letting go, walking around to his desk to pull out a small gift. "For your birthday in summer. I fear I won't be able to see you this summer, and as much as I wish to see Aurelia, I know it will put her into even more danger," he said, handing the small parcel to Natasha.

It was delicately wrapped with black paper and had a small nametag on the top. "You didn't have to Uncle Sev," Natasha insisted.

"I wanted to Natasha. Tell me, how is she?" asked Severus and Natasha smiled as she knew who he was referring to.

"She was released from St Mungo's a few days ago, and she's now recovering at home with dad," Natasha said with joy, her features glowing with happiness. As much as Severus resented Sirius, he couldn't help but smile too at the look on Natasha's face.

"That's good to hear. Now, it might be wise to head off to the bay now, Minerva has a thing for the seventh years departing on time," he advised, and Natasha quickly hugged him again.

"Thank you for everything Uncle Sev, I truly mean it," Natasha said sincerely, before walking out of his office for the last time.

~.~

Adrian held his hand out for Natasha, helping her onto the once large boats, which could now only hold two people. Because they were the Head Boy and Head Girl, it was tradition for Adrian and Natasha to lead their peers on the last ride back to Hogsmeade station.

She happily accepted, hitching up the bottom of her robes to step in. "Here we go," Adrian said as Natasha took her seat. The boat started to drift away from the shore, and Natasha waved to her old professors who were standing on the shore.

Minnie, Pomona and Sybil were all dabbing their eyes with hankerchiefs, supplied by Madam Pince who regularly used them to cry over lost or torn books. Hagrid was shredding a few tears, but he seemed to be one of the only male staff showing any emotion.

"Well Professor Sinistra looks happy to see me go," Natasha said chuckling, and Adrian looked back to the mentioned witch, her stone-cold features not changing. He laughed and turned back around, glancing at the lake their boat was on.

"I'm certainly going to miss that castle," Natasha said, taking one last look at it. She could spot the Gryffindor tower from where she and Adrian were, and could see her fellow Gryffindor's looking up at it with small smiles, remembering of fond memories they shared there.

Adrian on the other hand was looking towards the Slytherin dungeons, where the windows could just be seen. He was one of the only people glad to leave Hogwarts and his house's pure-blooded ways and was especially glad to leave those of the likes of Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.

Their mindsets were so toxic, and those Slytherins who weren't corrupted soon were under the umbrella of Draco and his friends. Adrian had just hoped that his leadership in his house had helped enough first years realise that blood purity meant nothing nowadays.

The boat docked onto the shore opposite the castle, and Adrian stepped out first, extending his hand to Natasha. She took it and climbed out of the boat, with the both of them meeting Lee by the station.

"Ready?" Lee asked and Natasha grinned, reaching into her robe to pull out a small button. It was a small red button and with one last look at the castle, Natasha pushed it, causing an explosion of glitter to erupt inside the halls of Hogwarts.

She laughed and the boys joined in, quickly helping her onto the train as to not get caught by any teachers lurking on the platform. She looked out of the window, and cupped her hands around her mouth, taking a deep breath.

"HOGWARTS, HOGWARTS, HOGGY WARTY HOGWARTS, TEACH US SOMETHING PLEASE!" she sang loudly, earning cheers from her fellow seventh years. They all joined in, and as the scarlet steam train rolled out of Hogsmeade station, Natasha flipped off Filch, who just scowled at her and Lee.

"LOVE YOU TOO FILCHY!" Lee cried, flipping him off the same way Natasha had done. They all laughed and Filch groaned as one last glitter canon went off in his coat, placed there by Natasha during her last detention when the caretaker had fallen asleep.

It was certainly a way to end with a bang.

~.~

Finally, as the train came to a halt, Natasha grabbed Lee and Adrian's hands, her grip so tight that the boys were desperately to get themselves out of it. "NATASHA!" her father yelled; his grin so wide that many thought he truly was insane.

He, Aurelia, Remus, Tonks and Molly were all waiting by the back of the platform, with Sirius earning terrified glances still. He just smiled and waved at them, sometimes chasing them with napkins that held his signature.

Natasha pulled the two boys along with her, just as Fred apparated onto the platform, his suit bright and fun. He opened his arms as he saw Natasha heading his way, but at the last second, she dodged him, running into her parent's arms.

They caught her and both kissed her head, earning gasps of awe from families around them who could see the love between them. "Can we be like that one-day Remus?" Tonks asked quietly, and Remus lifted her chin delicately, pressing a sweet kiss to her lips.

"One day Dora, one day," he replied, pulling her close.

Fred grumbled and both Lee and Adrian laughed at his face. "BABY COME HERE I MISS YOU!" he shrieked, and Molly hit him, just as Ron and Ginny ran up to the group, followed by Harry and Hermione.

Aurelia and Sirius let Natasha go to Fred, with Aurelia smiling quaintly at how Fred lifted her girl around. "Sirius," Harry breathed, pulling him into a tight hug. He had been so terrified the last time he had seen him that Sirius had died but seeing him here and now calmed his irrational thoughts.

"Oh, my Godric, you're James' clone," Aurelia said, and she snorted at that, earning Harry's attention.

"Aurelia?" he asked, and she nodded.

"Lily always insisted I'd be Aunt Lia, but you're too old for that," she said, just as Harry nearly tumbled her over with a hug. She smiled and stroked his hair, before grabbing his shoulders, taking a close look at him.

"Yep, I won that bet Siri, I told you he would have her eyes and everything else would-be James. Let me guess, seeker?" she questioned, and Harry nodded, earning a smug look from Aurelia to Sirius.

"I told you he wouldn't a chaser love, that's another two galleons," she said, putting her hand out. He scratched his neck nervously and apparated back to Grimmauld Place, earning an exasperated sigh from his wife.

"Come, Harry, I know you're supposed to be staying with the Dursley's this summer, but Albus gave us permission to have you over this summer, so I've officially set up a bedroom for you at our house, in the room next to Natasha's," Aurelia explained, extending her hand to him.

He took it, and the rest of the group apparated back to Grimmauld Place, apart from Adrian and Lee, who were instead apparating to Fred and George's shop.