How It Started

Chapter 40 - Harry Potter.

Everyone seemed to have landed and were fine, minus George's missing ear of course. All seemed well, until Bill stood forward, My own clothes now very much tight against his taller frame. Fleur trailed along-side him.

" Mad-Eyes dead. " He said, looking at me. I know he didn't mean anything bad by looking at me but I felt a shiver run along my spine, I took a deep breath and nodded.

" Thanks for telling me. " I said back, trying my best to keep my voice level, he smiled sympathetically with a small nod. I heard foot-steps behind me and felt a slight squeeze of my shoulder, I knew it was Vess immediately as she did this a lot, mainly in attempt to convey sympathy.

" Thanks. " I answered, turning around. I couldn't help but chuckle lightly as she took of my glasses, she dramatically shuddered as she did this and I laughed again. She chuckled herself.

It had taken a lot to contain my laughter earlier when everyone had been.. well myself.

" Mundungus.. " Mr Weasley said, I looked over at him as he observed the crowd.

" He was flying with mad-eye, was he not? " He asked Lupin, Professor Lupin.. I mean Remus gave him a nod.

" Apparated. " Bill said, my eyes flitted over to him and my head moved down in disbelief. He had simply left?

" Unbelievable. " Mr Weasley said, his voice taut with anger. I didn't blame him.

" Okay, while what he did was absolutely awful and if I ever see him, I will make sure, myself, to hurt him. " She began, casting a look around at our shared shocked expressions, except for Remus, who nodded with pride.
" Respectfully. " She added, laughing.
" I believe you all have a school to attend. " She finished, addressing the group of hogwarts children. I nodded, remembering why mad-eye had done what he had.

" Touché. " I responded, she smiled at me with humour before getting back onto her broomstick.

All the remaining adults got back onto theirs as well, minus Hagrid. We got many waves and words of encouragement before they departed, by flying off. I turned around to face the large Hogwarts building, I hated to think how different this year would be, now our headmaster was no longer Dumbledore.

" Fred.. " I heard Selina's voice and turned around to see him still standing there, he looked at the courtyard.

" Oh no! How ever will I go back? I must stay here. " He mused in the most sarcastic voice anyone could ever muster, distracting myself from my prior thoughts. I laughed and he grinned in my direction.

" Yeah right. " Vesper said, rolling her eyes as they laced hands. Fred held up his free-hand in mock defence.

" All we're doing is holding hands. " He mumbled, jokingly. Hermione chuckled softly herself but Ron shot his brother a glare.

A moment of silence was shared, as we stared at the large building.

" Shall we go inside, now? " Hermione asked, evidently urging us to continue forward. Ron laughed at I assumed Hermione's straight-forwardness.

We all walked forward, obviously quite a bit earlier than the other students. Just looking down the deserted halls gave me some form of shiver. We walked along to the halls, our footsteps louder now, thanks to the lack of students.

We reached the large portrait guarding the Gryffindor common room, I looked around realising we hadn't a clue the new password. Everyone gave me different examples of shrugs or shakes of heads and I sighed looking forward at the singing lady.

" Can we come in? " I asked plainly, she looked at me up and down for a long moment.

" Password? " She questioned finally, going back to looking at a few of the other portraits.

" I don't know, sorry. We're a tad early. " I explained, she nodded.

" Clearly. " She stated, she sighed and shrugged.

" Come on in. " She guided with a small smile, I offered one back as the door slid open and we crept inside.

It was quite and desolate and again, lacked students but it still felt like home to me. I sat down, not bothering to put my small back-pack full of belongings upstairs. For some reason I had a minor feeling we wouldn't be staying here long.

We all gathered round in a small circle around the fire, warming up. I laughed at the familiarity of the seating arrangement.

" Don't suppose you have some vertaserum? " I asked Vess, she looked around the circle, making the connection and grinned too. Everyone began connecting the dots, minus Hermione and I felt quite bad for leaving her out.

" You're glad you weren't there. " Fred said, patting her shoulder. She raised one eyebrow with a small smile at his attempt of comfort.

We descended into silence one more and I sat back onto the sofa behind my head, I placed my back-pack upon it, pulling my knees up to my chest and resting my head upon them. I watched as Selina and Vess warmed their hands up over the fire and Fred and Ron descended into some mad debate about something, Hermione simply sat back and watched as well as myself.

" Hate to ruin the mood. " She said, taking a seat beside me. I shook my head, dismissing her worries and implying she go further.

" I don't think our stay here will last long. " She concluded, I looked as the fire flames spluttered, reminding me of the conversations I had with Sirius through them, What i'd do to ask him what to do right now. Remembering Hermione was expecting an answer, I turned my face to hers.

" No, I agree. I was thinking that before. " I answered, she nodded, leaning back onto the couch.

" I'll miss Hogwarts I think. " She spoke up again, I looked over.

" Me too. " I admitted, I looked at the common room that surrounded me and was brought back to the many memories I had made here. I lay my head in my hands for a short moment before looking back up.

" It'll be like saying goodbye to home, you know? " I said, she nodded, fully understanding what I was saying.

I let the silence fall around us again. Smiling at the comfort of it.