Heart of Stone: HPHM Year 6

The Next Mystery

Exams went as well as could be expected when your best friend gets murdered halfway through the school year, and you spend the second half chasing down her killer. 

The end of term feast was as excellent as always. Gryffindor won the house cup by an incredibly narrow margin over Slytherin, and Dumbledore gave an excellent tribute to Rowan at the end of the night. 

The next day was a blur. Sarah hardly remembered packing up her school things, riding in the non-horseless carriages down to the train, or the noisy train ride. She'd barely noticed when Tonks accidentally set off more wet-start fireworks, and Barnaby had to pull her from the carriage before her hair caught fire. 

Everyone was chatting about the summer holiday and their plans for next year, but Sarah wasn't really a part of it. She'd begun to feel like an outsider among her friends. She had this big secret, this monumental task before her, that none of them were privy to. It was like they were all moving on with their lives, and she was stuck. Like Rowan. 

Still, she gave them all hugs on the platform and promised to write over the summer. Barnaby's gran greeted him with the same upturned nose as always, but that did little to dampen his spirits. In less than a week, he would be out of her custody, and hopefully, out of her life forever. He gave Sarah and Charlie a wink and a wave as she ushered him through the barrier of Platform nine and three-quarters. 

"I'll write to you soon asking you over," said Charlie, before Sarah's parents found her. 

"Have a good year?" her father asked, as she was pulled into a hug by each of them in turn. 

"Well..." 

He nodded. "I understand." 

"We read in the prophet about the cursed vaults," said her mum. "They're all gone, then?"

Sarah nodded. She didn't bother to read the articles about the vaults, as she knew Rita Skeeter hadn't told an ounce of truth, so she wasn't sure if her parents knew how much she'd been involved in this last one. Dumbledore certainly hadn't informed them.

"And there was no sign of...of your brother?" said her mother. 

Sarah swallowed. This was the question she'd been dreading. 

"I don't have proof," she said firmly, "but I can tell you with confidence that I know Jacob to be alive. And innocent." 

Her mum nodded, but tears had already begun to from in the corners of her eyes. Her body shook in her mauve robes. 

"Come on, let's get home," said her father, not eager to cause a scene on the platform. 

***************

Sarah spent most of the following days in her bedroom, doing her homework, writing to friends, and contemplating what Merula could be up to. Part of her was worried--what if she really was in danger? Then, she remembered the look on Merula's face as she'd sworn her allegiance to R, and she had bite her lips to keep from shouting curses. 

She got plenty of letters from Penny, but heard little from her other friends, as they were all busy with their summer holiday. She didn't get Charlie's letter until halfway through the summer, along with her exam results and school supply list for next year. 

Her parents were a bit disappointed with her exam results--no outstandings this year--but they couldn't say much about it as Sarah's Hogwarts letter had also come with a unexpected surprise. Penny had been right; Sarah was appointed Head Girl. 

"Well done!" said her mum. "Oh, I must write to Aunt Celia." 

"We'll have to celebrate," said her father. "I'll make your favorite for dinner this evening!"