Beauty and the Beast

chapter five

June 19, 1945

About a month ago, Sammy and Raine had begged Professor Dippet to let Hagrid return to Hogwarts. But he refused, much to their dismay. "But thank you for trying. You are very persuasive, Miss Dalton. You'd make a great lawyer," he had told her. It was upsetting, but they did not expect a yes. They were just trying their luck.

Now, it was the end of the year. The two girls were packing their bags as Sam began to wonder who the heir really was. Her mind wandered in every direction. "Could it be... Tom?" She thought to herself. "No... that's impossible. No matter how mysterious he might be, there is no way that HE is the one who'd opened the chamber of secrets. He'd never kill or harm anybody"

Once finished, she put all her bags outside the common room, where they were told to put them. Samantha had her hair curled into a braid crown. "Your parents will love it," Raine told her best friend. Sam smiled. "That's why I did it this way." The girls soon walked to the great hall, where the last dinner of the school year was taking place. They sat down across from each other, as usual. They were soon joined by Tom and many others as well. Before long, the headmaster was making his speech. "It's been quite a long, adventurous year. Many triumphs and losses have occurred. Whether that be in Quidditch matches or in life. But I and the other professors have seen spectacular acts of bravery and wisdom throughout the year. Each of you has changed, whether you think so or not. Before we announce the winners, I would like to give 15 points to Slytherin, since two of their students showed me their ambition, determination, and intelligence last month, and I had simply forgotten to reward them." In last place was Gryffindor, then Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw. Of course, by process of elimination, Slytherin had won the house cup!

So, the Slytherin table cheered and tossed their caps into the air. The feast began, the magic of it all still seeming unreal to everyone, even the seventh years. So they ate up, as usual. Every single person in that room had a smile on their face at least once during the event. Conversations and laughter filled the room, bouncing off of every wall. Tom placed his arm around Sam once the both of them were finished. The talking and chuckling continued until Armando gave his final speech. The rising 2nd through 7th years took the carriage ride through the woods, while the graduates took the boat path that night as they all returned to the train.

Everyone picked up their luggage at the train stop and carried it with them. Everyone went into the bathrooms to change into their PJs for the night. Tom and Samantha got in the Slytherin prefect compartment and used magic to change their seats into the beds, since it was an overnight train ride. Samantha put her stuff in the designated corner and moved the supplied blankets and stuff onto her bed. She then put a table in the middle of the room and put a card deck in the middle. "Before we go to sleep, want to play a round or two of war?" Sam asked. To that, Tom nodded and smiled. The first game went crazy quick, since Tom had all four aces. But the second game prolonged until Samantha finally won. The blonde then put the things away and got the sliding curtain ready. "Goodnight," Samantha spoke quietly.

"Goodnight," Tom replied. The girl closed the curtain, separating the two from one another.

Tom found himself in a dream.

Him and Samantha were a few years older, and walking through a path in the forest, when they spotted a bluebird. The young couple ran after it when they changed directions, and both the girl and the bluebird had disappeared. The sunlight was now moonlight and there was a raven perched on a branch. Leaned against another nearby tree was Samantha, holding the bluebird against her chest as a serpent kept her bound to the tree when it stopped and bit Samantha in the neck, causing both her and the bluebird to fall dead. An owl perched next to the raven and asked Tom, with Dumbledore's voice, once again, "Is there anything you wish to tell me?"

Tom soon awoke and began to walk the special prefects' boys' restroom to change into his clothes for the day. He opened the curtain and tiptoed past a sleeping Samantha to get out of the compartment. He soon came back and then lied in bed, reading a book while his girlfriend slept. He didn't care to close the curtain, since it was only for while they slept. An hour or so later, it was bright outside, and Sam woke up. She was a bit surprised to find Tom was awake. "Good morning, Tom," she said quietly. The brunette smiled. "Good morning, Samantha," he replied. The teo hugged each other before the blonde went to change into her clothes for the day. She wore a white shirt with a light green sweater over top and a grey skirt, with a white headband as a finishing touch. That was in style, back in the 40's. She came back, smiling, proud of her look.

Before long, the train came to a stop. "I'm going to miss you, Tom," Samantha told the brown-eyed prefect. He nodded in agreement, hugging her. The boy then leaned forward a bit, before stopping to ask, "May I?" Sam giggled and nodded before the pair exchanged a kiss. Raine managed to sneak in again as she closed the door behind her. "Aww! Look who it is!" She teased. "Sammy and Tommy standin' on the train. K-I-S-S-I-N...ang..." The teenagers pulled away, laughing, as the girl continued. Once she stopped, Raine then simply told them, "Just wanted to say goodbye. I promise I'll write to you guys. I'll see you in September!" She then walked off the train. The couple kissed once more before they got their things and got off the train.

Once off, the pair hugged each other. Sam saw Roger and Amelia. "Do you have time?" The girl asked.

He thought then answered, "Yes." The blonde brought him over to her parents. "Mother, father, this is my... boyfriend, Tom," she introduced.

"Nice to meet you, young sir," Mrs. Dalton told the teenager. Mr. Dalton merely shook his hand and didn't say anything. "Why didn't you send us an owl about him?" He asked his daughter. "I was busy with my duties as a student and prefect," she replied. The four of them conversed for about ten minutes before Tom looked at the clock and told the family, "I must go. My ride is here."

"Goodbye, Tom. You seem like a brilliant, kind, young man," Roger told the sixteen year old.

"Thank you, Mr. Dalton," he told the man, then left as Samantha waved.