slither - dm

Phoenix Tears.

Laurel

I had completely forgotten about the thrill I get when apparating seeing as the last time I did it was in late August.

"Laurel?" A familiar voice questioned. I opened my eyes to see a tiny little cottage along the shoreline of a beach.

Before Bill and Fleur's wedding, Arthur Weasley informed Harry, Ron, Hermione, and myself about this tiny place that the Weasleys used to visit years ago. It's my understanding that Bill and Fleur are now the main occupants of the home. It is also a sort of safe house for members of the Order.

"Ron?" I questioned. "What are you doing here? Are Harry and Hermione—"

"Don't mention those two." He spat.

I cocked my head to the side slightly, curiously. I furrowed my brows before shaking off his remark and walking into the house.

Upon stepping inside the dimly lit home, I was greeted by Fleur. She pulled me into a tight-squeezed hug before calling Bill downstairs.

"Laurel? What're you doing here?" Bill asked as he descended the wooden staircase. Truth was, I had no idea why I was here. I needed to escape Draco, Grant, and the rest of the depression that lingered around the castle.

Hogwarts wasn't the same as it was months ago. It was no longer possessed this warm, welcoming charm when you stepped onto the grounds, or into the castle. Instead, it was filled with darkness and fear.

Every student that walked the halls couldn't walk to dinner, or a class without worrying that the Carrows, Draco, or one of the other Slytherin prefects punishing them for little to no reason. For breathing. For being friends with Harry. Hell, one day Theo hexed a fifth-year boy because he looked at Daphne.

Daphne was just the excuse though. Theo did it because he possessed power for the first time in his life, and he was instructed to abuse it as he saw fit by not only Voldemort but our father who he was so desperate to please.

I desperately wanted to shake some compassion into him, but I knew it would get me nowhere. Theo's not the same person he was before. He's always been an arrogant ass, but now, he's way worse. If a butterfly floated in front of him, he would cast the killing curse simply because he could.

I can't help but wonder what our mother would think if she saw him acting this way. If she were here, I can almost guarantee that neither of us would be in this position. She would guide us to do the right thing, not the easiest thing. Theo is nothing but a coward.

"I couldn't spend another waking moment in that school." I turned to Ron. "Did you guys find the real locket?"

Ron slowly, and guilty nodded.

"Did you find a way to destroy it?"

"They did, yes. But I don't know if they did. I left."

"Why?"

"I was useless." I raised a brow curiously at the ginger and tilted my head slightly. Leave it to Ron to do something stupid, and make it about himself. "That thing, the locket, it changed me when I wore it, Lo. It brought out a side of me that I wish never existed. It changed my aura. I lashed out at them for something they couldn't control. I'm such a fool."

"You think?"

"I want to go back, but I need time."

"I know how you feel."

I was furious with Draco for what he did, for the way he exploded on me. Yes, what happened looked bad, but he jumped to the conclusion that I was messing around with Grant before I had a chance to prove to him that I wasn't.