Yours, Draco | D.M.

Where

Chapter Eight
Where
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The meeting with Harry, Ron, and Hermione ended as quickly as it began leaving the students who joined with sparing time to still do as they pleased in Hogsmeade. I decided I would spend the rest of my time alongside my best friend having a knowing feeling that she might want to talk about some of the words that were passed between that boy and Harry.

"Hey Ella. Are you excited? I'm glad we are finally standing up for ourselves, you know." I asked her in a calm and collective voice knowing that I need to pick my words wisely. We were a few feet from the Hog's Head when I caught up to her linking my arm with hers.

"Yeah, I'm excited and glad we are doing something." She responded to me in a quiet voice. A voice that sounded completely unlike herself as we headed in no particular direction.

"Estella, you can talk to me, you know. I know that some of the things that might have been said might have bothered you. So please talk to me so I can be here for you." I responded to her in a concerned motherly manner. I was hoping that my words would bring her to speak up to me.

"Roe, I'm just so tired of everyone bringing Cedric's name into everything. He's gone, he's dead, can we move on already so that I can too. What makes it even worse is right before he ran off into the maze and got himself killed we had an argument and now I'll never be able to take back the things I said." Her voice broke as she turned to me and began crying.

I knew that it was going to take her awhile to completely heal and come to terms with her brother no longer being here for her. I hugged her tight as I let her cry it out as I rubbed her back and stroked my fingers through her golden honey hair. When she began to calm down and pull away to wipe her tears, I motioned for her to look at me.

"You have no idea how proud I am of you. Ella, you went through one of the most heartbreaking things known to human existence and are still so strong. You are so strong for being there for your parents as they grieved for Cedric all the while of taking care of yourself and your grieving as well. You are brave and kind as you are strong. I know Cedric is looking down at you right now smiling with the strength of a thousand wands because of how proud you are making him." I said softly. I know my words were making her feel better because I saw a small smile make its way through the dark and bring back the everlasting lightness she produced.

"Thank you Roe. You have no idea how much what you said means to me." She said still wiping tears from her eyes while ever so slowly bringing her smile back.

"Now, I suppose we better go join Harry, Ron, and Hermione and the rest of the lot. They've been trying to wave us over for a while now." She smiled as she let out a little laugh.

As we approached the group, I could immediately see that the Golden Trio was in planning mode, leaving me to know that no question needed to be asked.

"Right. First, we need to find a place to practice where Umbridge won't find out." Harry started out saying to all of us as we began to head back towards Hogwarts.

"The Shrieking Shack?" Ginny suggested. That old abandoned house wasn't a bad idea, but I had a feeling it would just collapse after the first spell hit its walls.

"That's too small." Harry replied to her. There was also that factor too I suppose.

"Forbidden Forest?" Hermione suggested. In prospective, it wasn't a bad idea until someone got attacked by a creature for firing a defense spell at it.

"Not bloody likely." Ron said with a bit of a tremble in his voice. I felt myself smile at his reaction remembering the story Harry and Ron told me after encountering the famous Aragog.