Back In Time

A Letter and A Party

It was a few days after O.W.L.s. Monday. To be specific. Breakfast time. Post owls were about to show up. Any second now. I kept looking up. Every few seconds. Waiting. Wondering when the owls would get here. I was expecting a "letter."

I looked up. One more time. To see the first of many owls. Flying into to Great Hall. I looked among the owls. And immediately spotted the black. Great Horned owl. That I gave the letter to. This morning. I watched it. As it flew my way. Only one letter in its beak. It came. Ever closer. Flying down the Gryffindor Table. To me. It dropped the letter. And flew out of the Hall. Not even stopping.

I picked up the letter with shaky hands. And opened it. Reading the words. I had written. Not two hours ago.

Dear Aspen,

How were O.W.L.s? We hope you did alright. Harry took them yesterday too. He did a good job. Do you know when you'll be getting your results? You don't have to write us back for the answer. You can tell us when you get back.

Now. For the news. Your father and I have decided that for the rest of your schooling, you will be home schooled. We know that you love being at Hogwarts, but, for the better, we want you home. With how the Wizarding World is at the moment, we want our family safe and sound and around. Being at Hogwarts puts too much stress on us. It makes your father and I stressed out everyday. We worry all the time about you. As does your brother. It would make us feel better, if you stayed home. I hope you can understand that.

See you when you get home. You will be going by Floo Powder again.

We all miss you and can't wait to have you home.

Love,

Mum and Dad

I sighed. It hurt. It hurt reading the words I wrote down. I kinda wanted to stay. I had a good Year for once. I didn't have to worry. All the time. Like I normally did.

"Is that a letter from your parents?" I heard James ask. Across from me. I looked up at him. I was looking at my parent. But. He didn't know that. I nodded. Handing him the letter. Which he took. And started reading. Peter also read it. He was next to James.

James frowned as he read it. After he was done. He passed it to Sirius and Remus. So they could read it. Even though they knew what it was going to say. Once done. They handed the letter back to me. All four boys gave me a sad smile.

"Will you all stop looking at me like that? You boys are going to make me cry. I don't like to cry." I told them. Trying my best to scowl and glare at them. It didn't work.

"Oh, Aspen." James whispered. He then jumped over the Table. And sat next to me. And gave me a hug. I tensed for a second or two. And then hugged him back. Burying my head. Into his neck. I felt more arms go around me and James. I tried not to cry. But. I may have let a couple tears fall out.

"Why is there a group hug going on? You boys never hug each other." I heard a voice say. We all pulled away. And looked up. There. Behind us. Was the girls. Looking at us weird. It was Marlene who spoke. No one said anything. I just handed them the letter. They took it. And read it. Frowning as they got to the end. Once done. They all looked at me. And rushed at me to give me their group hug. I returned. With a laugh.

"You eight are making me cry." I told them. After the girls had pulled away.

"Well you should. You're leaving us." Marlene said.

"Yeah. I don't want to go. But I have to. Also. Leave it to them. To play the brother card." I paused. "I'm going to miss you all."

"And we're going to miss you too." Lily smiled. I smiled back.