Heart of Stone: HPHM Year 6

A Discovery

It turned out being a "normal student" meant catching up on a mountain of homework. They were still a month from exams, but Sarah had come to learn that the best way to honor Rowan's memory was to be a good student, so she used all her spare time to throw herself into her schoolwork.

After a couple of weeks, they'd all nearly recovered from their harrowing experience in the vaults, and were allowing themselves to feel better. It was a strange feeling. Sarah saw little of Merula, but Ben no longer sounded soulless every time he talked, and though Barnaby sometimes still slipped into his hopeless grimace, he could be easily distracted into smiling again.

Dumbledore had been right--everywhere they went, they were regaled as heroes, especially Sarah. Students that used to bully or ignore her were now patting her on the back and offering congratulations. People she'd never spoken to before stopped her in the corridors to tell her how much she'd done for them. Instead of the "Cursed Kid" she was now known as "The Hero of Hogwarts." The title was embarrassing and undeserved, but she supposed it was better than the old one.

The rest of her friends were happier than Sarah had seen them all year. Penny and Alanza were in the middle of planning the biggest celebration Hogwarts had ever seen, and even Talbott was excited to attend. For once, the scariest thing on their minds was the upcoming potions final.

And yet...

There were a few things Sarah couldn't shake from her mind. R was still out there. She still had no idea what their plans for that curse had been and if they'd be able to access it someday. And perhaps worst of all, there was still a mole in Hogwarts. In their relief at the ending of the final curse, the others seemed to have forgotten about it, but Sarah couldn't. She still couldn't imagine any of her friends to be traitors. Perhaps it wasn't one of them after all. It was all too much for her to think about, and frankly, with all the work she had to catch up on, she didn't have the time to think about it much anyway. Perhaps it was finally time to leave the rest to someone else. The vaults were gone. Her job was done.

The party was to be held on the last Hogsmeade weekend of the year. Sarah walked from the castle with Barnaby. They were running late, as Sarah had wanted to finish up her final transfiguration essay first.

"Finally," said Barnaby, breathing in the fresh air as they stepped out of the castle. He'd been cooped up in the castle too long, usually studying with her.

"You didn't have to wait for me, you know," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I couldn't go without you," he said. "Then all I'd be doing is wishing you were there with me."

"Goof," she said, giving him a shove. "I'm going to miss you."

His smile fell. "Why? Are you going somewhere?"

"We all are. Term's over soon."

Barnaby groaned. "Don't remind me."

"It won't be long," she told him. "Just a few days with your Gran, and then you'll be seventeen! Where are you going to stay?"

He shrugged. "Probably with my Uncle Cecil. But, Charlie keeps telling me that he and his dad are coming to get me the minute I come of age and take me to their house for the summer!"

"Nice!" Sarah's smile grew at the thought that Barnaby would finally have a nice summer holiday. Perhaps Charlie would even send her an invitation too.

By the time they arrived, the Three Broomsticks was so packed that Madam Rosmerta had conjured tables for guests to sit outside. Sarah and Barnaby squeezed their way inside, and Barnaby offered to get the drinks, as Sarah was preoccupied by the dozens of people who'd run up to greet her.