Destined to be

THREE - BACK TO THE ROOTS

"I am gonna miss you. You have to write to me! All of you. Promis!" Poppy squealed hopefully.

We were sitting in a coupe of the Hogwarts express heading to London. All of my friends were there. Poppy, Naty, Amit, Imelda, Garreth, Ominis and even Sebastian. He wasn't used to the ride. He never took the train before. And it seemed like he was enjoying himself. We were playing cards, eating sweets, chatting and laughing. It felt good seeing him with a smile on his face again. It has been more than three weeks since the catacomb. Sebastian has been gloomy and depressed since. And it was understandable of course. But it pained me seeing him like this. But he has been not only smiling right now but even laughing.

"Of course Poppy. You can't even mean it," I laughed. I leaned back to the seat still smiling like crazy. This year was insane, hard, full of obstacles and heartbreaking. But we somehow made it though. Together. I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them. Each one of them helped me so much during the year. And now I couldn't help myself but feel happy. Happy and hopeful, that the next school year will be nothing like this one.

"Why are you smiling like a lunatic?" Garreth asked with a huge grin.

"I can't be happy? Is it a crime?" I scrunch my nose amused.

"Oh no, no! It suits you," he flicked his eyebrow.

"I don't think I know anyone who would look bad with a smile on his face, Garreth. It is a really bad pick up line," Poppy joined the discussion.

"I wasn't flirting, Poppy!" He defended himself.

"Are you excited to meet your uncle, Lynn?" Poppy asked, ignoring Garreth.

"I guess. I am not sure what to think about all of this. Why did he wait the whole year to contact me?"

"He probably just didn't know about you," Naty answered my question.

"Maybe. But how did he find out about me then? Professor Weasley said that he knows Black. That doesn't give him any bonus points either. Plus Carrows are a pure-blood family. And I am a half-blood, as far as I know," I furrowed my brows in concern.

"So why are you coming to their house right now?" Poppy looked at me confused.

"I don't have much choice. And I really wanna know more about my parents. You know, before they died we never talked about magic. I only know that my mother was also a witch because Professor Weasley told me so." I shrugged my shoulders. "But let's switch and talk about something else. What are you planning to do in the summer?" I asked, smiling again.

The mood shifted back to happy and positive. They were talking about their plans while I watched the landscape behind the windows change slowly. The more industrial area gradually replaced Scottish nature as we were closer and closer to the King's Cross station.

We said our goodbyes on the train knowing that the station will be full of people and chaos. When I left the train everybody sprinted to their families. I watched them leave one by one waving at me for the last time. And finally I was standing there almost alone and didn't know what to do. Did he forget about me? We didn't arrive late, did we? Not exactly the best first impression in my opinion.

"Miss Withfield?" A timid voice tore me out from my thoughts.

"Ah, yes," I turned my head to the person. It was a young girl. She was standing there a little bit crouched down as she was scared of me.

"Mr. Carrow sent me here to pick you up. He apologies. He is extremely busy today. I am Leala and I will be your personal maid, Miss," she bowed slightly.

"Oh...Ok...Um," I was kind of shocked and didn't know how to react. I will have a maid? Why is she scared of me? More and more questions kept popping in my head.