Beyond Hope

Entry #31

September 5, 1976

We've been standing patiently on the platform as Effy and Monty have made their way over to each and everyone of us to say their goodbyes.

"Don't make any trouble." She told James.
"Just enough." Added Monty.

"Make sure to eat when you study." She told Remus.
"Even when you're not studying." Added Monty.

"Don't let them bully you into following along with their idiotic pranks." She told Peter.
"Only if they're fun." Added Monty with a chuckle.

"Keep them in line please Elly dear." She told me.
"Have some fun yourself." Added Monty.

"Make sure to not go to bed at ungodly hours." She told Sirius.
"Only-" Monty began to add before Effy elbowed him.

"Merlin! Stop giving them awful ideas." She seethed him.

"I got it dear." He chuckled and told her, mouthing to us 'my ideas are great' when she turned around.

Effy clicked her tongue after turning around to see him mouthing the words, quickly mocking a zipping motion on his lips.

"Behave children!" She called out to us as we boarded the train.

"Of course mum! Love you!" James shouted back adorably.

There we were, making our way to our second to last year at Hogwarts. The dread and excitement filled us all at once. Sirius and James pulled Peter along with them trying to get our compartment before anyone else could take it even though a majority of the other students would go to their usual compartment just like us.

"I'll tell them to slow down." Remus reassured me, leaving once I nodded a thank you to him.

I took my own time making my way towards the compartment.

I heard sobs coming from my right after a few seconds, I slowed my steps down as I got closer to the noise. It's not smart to go near unknown noise, but by the sounds of it, it was a kid crying. What was I supposed to do? Leave them there?

Once I got closer, I saw what the sound came from.

A little boy with blonde hair crying into his uniform by himself.

I softly knocked on the compartment before walking in.

He didn't look up. I'm not even sure if he noticed me, so I called out to him a bit, announcing my presence slowly.

"Are you alright?" I softly asked.
He shook his head, still crying, more of a whimper really.

I smiled a bit, though I tried not to. Not at the fact that he was crying, but more so at the fact that he was attempting to wipe away his tears with his already wet sleeves.

"Here you go." I handed him my handkerchief.

"I can't take that ma'am." He softly declined.
Ma'am?
"Do I look that old to you?" I kneeled down in front of where he was seated to ask.

He shook his head again.

"My Mum always told me to -, call anyone who's older than me with respect." He wiped at his nose again. "You don't look to old miss."

I chuckled then and he smiled for once.

"Take it. I have plenty more." I comforted him, sitting down across from him when he finally took the handkerchief.

I waved my wand at his sleeves once he successfully wiped his nose clean.

"Woah!" He exclaimed, still recovering from his crying. "Is that magic?" He looked with wonder at his now dried clothes.