Lucy Rose

Chapter 22

The weeks pasted quickly and before they knew it, Lucy had finished her halfway N.E.W.T exams and it was summer.

"Everyone packed?" Charlie poked his head into the room Lucy and Harry were sharing.

"Yeah," Lucy nodded, settling her trunk down on Harry's cot, "are you sure it's fine Matchi stays here?"

"Of course," Charlie nodded, "I'm sorry I can't make it to your birthday, Lu, I just can't afford to miss any more days of work."

"Don't worry about it," Lucy said, kissing his cheek.

"Thanks again for letting me stay here," Harry said, forcing his trunk closed, "I appreciate it."

"Anytime, Mate," Charlie smiled, "I enjoy the company."

"We should head out," Lucy said, shrinking her trunk so it fit in her pocket, "bye, Charlie, I'll see you in a couple weeks."

"Bye," Charlie hugged her one last time before the Potter siblings took off towards the barrier.

"I'll apparate us to the pub and then I'll Floo home from there," Harry said, offering his arm.

"I might come with you actually," Lucy said, "just for an hour or two, I want to check in on Remus and Sirius."

"Ok," Harry nodded. "Hold on."

She grabbed hold of his forearm and Romania disappeared.

Hogsmeade came with a sense of nostalgia, everything was the same as it had been when Lucy was growing up, but everything felt differing. War still hung in the air like a fog, even a month later.

"Lucy!" Draco was behind the bar when they walked inside.

He dried his hands on a towel and walked over to hug her, "how're you?"

"Good," Lucy smiled, "and you? Abe finally put you to work?"

"Things have been great," Draco said, nodding a hello to Harry, "albeit, slow, we haven't had too many customers since we opened again, but it's been nice. Abe is back in the apartment."

"Thanks," Lucy said, "I'm going to go pop in to say hi to Sirius and Remus, but I'll be back for dinner."

"Okay," Draco nodded, "I'm making Shepards pie, it'll be ready around seven. Sawyer had work today, the last I spoke to him, he said he'd be home at six thirty today. I was just at Sirius and Remus's yesterday, watch what you say, they're very irritable."

"Noted," Lucy said, "thanks, Draco, I'll see you in a bit."

"Oh!" He said, stopping them once again, "Potter, I've been meant to give you a message from Ginny, she says that if you don't come see her immediately, she'll hex your arse. She's had it bad with the press, I mean, worse than the rest of us, I'd bring flowers if I were you."

"Yeah," Harry scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "Err—I will, thanks."

"That is all," Draco nodded, satisfied, "you may go now."

Lucy rolled her eyes with a fond smile, pushing through to the apartment.

Aberforth was sitting at the kitchen table, papers spread out in front of him and a quill in his hand.

"Home," Lucy said.

He looked up and smiled, placing the quill back into its ink pot.

"Hey, Doll," he stood to greet her, "how was your exams?"

"They went alright," Lucy said.

"Harry," Abe smiled pulling the boy into a hug, "ready to face the world again?"