What If? Year 1

Chapter 30

Ara and I sit in a compartment towards the front of the train.  We wait for a while, just talking.  Luna and Ginny soon finds us and sit across from us in the compartment.
"Hello!" Luna says, "how was your break?"  Ara goes into a long explanation of all the things that we did over break. 
"How was yours, Luna?" I ask.  Luna smiles.
"Father and I went searching for Nargles around the house," she says, "Father thinks we caught one!" Ara smiles and nods.
"Well, that's cool!" she says, "I've never seen a Nargle before."
"Most people haven't," Luna replies, "they are very irritating animals sometimes." I giggle. We talk for a while before a knock on the compartment door startles us.  Rachel and Heather peak their heads inside.
"Can we sit with you all?" they ask.
"Of course!" Ara says, moving closer to me, "You're always welcome with us!"  Rachel smiles and sits down next to her. Soon after they sit down the train starts to move. 
"Are you excited to get back to Hogwarts?" Ginny asks, "I am.. Mum pestered me all break."  I smile. 
"I missed learning, honestly," Rachel says, "You all grew up with this, but this is all still new to me."  
"Yeah," Heather says, "I feel the same."  We talk for most of the train ride before someone else knocks on the compartment door.  Ron stood there awkwardly, rocking back and forth on his heels.
"Have you seen Harry?" he asks me, "I lost him when we got on the train..."
"He's a couple compartments down, with Hermione," Heather responds, "I saw them on my way here.." Ron nods, his ears a little red on the tips.  

The train slows to a stop and we stand to get out.  We stand next to Harry, Ron, and Hermione as we all slowly walk off the train.  
"Hello, Goldie," Hermione says, smiling, "How was your break?" 
"Alright," I tell her, "how about yours?" 
"Good," she replies, "I'm happy to get back though.. I heard there was another attack over the break." 
"Oh no, do you know who was attacked?" 
"Nearly-Headless-Nick and Justin," Hermione says, "I don't quite get Nearly-Headless-Nick being petrified.. but maybe its because he can't die or something?" 
"I wish we could figure it out," I grumble, "Even if I couldn't stop it in any way.. I'd like to know what causes the petrification."  
"Why don't we go to the library next week, see if we can find out?" 
"Sure," I tell her, "Sounds great.."  Ara, Ginny, Luna, Heather, Rachel, and I get into a carriage. Ara pats my leg and leans over to me. 
"Are you going to try to find Regulus?" she whispers, "When we get to the common room?" I nod, smiling. 
"I'm a little worried about him, now that I think about it," I whisper back, "Last time I heard him, I almost passed out.." She nods.  The carriage stops and Luna opens the door. 
"We'll see you at breakfast tomorrow?" Rachel asks, "I presume we'll have to sit by house at the welcome back feast." I nod, and wave to her and Luna.  Midnight starts to meow in her case and I laugh. 
"Will you behave if I let you out?" I ask her.  The meowing continues and I unlatch the door.  After being set on the ground, Midnight bolts off towards the Grand Staircases.  I chase after her, but she stops right at the bottom of the stairs and just stairs at the floor. 
"What are you doing, Midnight?" I ask, picking her up and setting her on my shoulders.  She meows and paws at my hair. 
"Weirdo," I grumble, petting her.  She pushes her head into my neck, purring.  I start to walk up the stairs, but Midnight jumps from my shoulder and sits down at the base of the stairs. 
"Quit it," I scold her, "You're going to get trampled!" I pick her up and put her back in her case.  She meows loudly.  The rest of the group catches up with me.  We go to the common room and Percy is waiting. 
"Wattlebird," he says, "that's the password."  The portrait swings open and we step in.  Hermione and Lavender run up to us. 
"Your guys dorm room is a mess," Lavender says, "Did you guys leave the door open?"
"No," Heather answers, "what do you mean it's a mess?"  Hermione leads us up to our room.  The door was wide open, and the inside was trashed.  Uniforms, bedding, parchment, and quills were thrown all across the room.
"Merlin's bloody boxers," Ara shouts, "who the hell would do this?" 
"There weren't any Gryffindors here over the break," Hermione says, "We were the first ones in here.  Maybe someone from one of the other house got in her?  But why would they just trash your rooms?" 
"I don't know, Mione," I say, "I guess we should start cleaning up.. not how I thought I'd be spending the first hours back at Hogwarts, but whatever."   I start to pick up ties that were scatter all around my bed.  I lay all of the ties on my desk and put two in four piles.  
"Just take two, I guess," I tell them, "There aren't any names on them.. and they are all the same."  Heather sets my skirts on my bed, and Ara sets hers on her bed.  
"I just want to know who did this," Ginny grumbles, "I mean, honestly!" I nod, putting my skirts and shirts in my drawers.  We quickly pick up our room, and I lay down in my bed.  
"I'm so tired," I whimper, "do you think I could rest?" 
"Yeah," Ara says, "We'll go down to the common room, so we don't disrupt you."
"I.. I didn't.. okay," I stutter, as they leave.  I sigh and go under my covers.  While I stare at the top of my bed, I notice a piece of paper tucked into the fabric.  My eyelids start to feel heavy and I close them.  

Fabian shakes me and I sit straight up.  
"Thank Merlin you are here!" he shouts. 
"Gideon and I can't find Regulus, and the last time we saw him, he was going to find you."