Moon Dust | Mattheo Riddle

Chapter 19: Summer

Nova glanced out of the window of the express train. The sun was shining on Hogwarts, basking the castle in a warm glow. She kept her eyes on it as the train pulled out of the station, feeling a strange stir in her stomach. She was ecstatic to go home, to see her father, her mother, but at the same time, she knew she'd miss the castle. Hogwarts had really become a safe haven for Nova in the past year, bullying and rumours aside.

Harry was opposite her, also staring out of the window with a look of dread on his face, Nova knew why; he had to go back to the Dursleys. She hated that, wanted to take him home with her and keep him away from those awful people for the rest of their lives, but she couldn't, not while the Dursleys were his legal guardians.

Remus had tried to speak to Dumbledore about having Harry for the entire summer, but the headmaster had dismissed him, brushing it off as a muggle issue that was out of their hands. Luckily, they'd managed to get him to visit for the last two weeks of summer, which was better than nothing.

"You're gonna love the cottage in the summer Harry, we can walk down to the lake to go swimming and go into the city, there's a beach not too far away as well, if we use muggle transport," she said, kicking the top of her foot into him. He broke out of his thoughts and turned to face her, smiling delicately.

"Sounds lovely... do you think... well, that maybe Sirius would be there by then?" He asked.

Nova swallowed and glanced down at her lap, where she was toying with the edge of her jumper sleeves. "I... I don't know, my father hasn't mentioned Sirius in any of his letters, even when I ask. He just says that he's safe and still in hiding."

Harry nodded, "well that's good at least."

"Yeah," Nova replied, watching as the boy's gaze returned to the window dazily, deep in his own thoughts. The brunette frowned to herself and shimmed forward on her seat toward him. "Harry, if there's ever... if you ever need anything during the summer... whatever that may be, don't hesitate in sending an owl, or better yet, give us a call."

Harry looked pleasantly surprised at that, turning toward her with a sense of bemusement. "You guys have a landline?"

Nova's face lit up brightly, and she nodded. "Yep, it's how we keep in touch with aunt Mary, she's in the muggle world you see, owls aren't very common there, as you would know."

Harry laughed a little in agreement and leaned back in his seat. Beside him Ron was snoring, but he stirred awake with a grumble when Harry poked him in the cheek, cutting off the overambitious wheezing. They'd woken up early for the train, wanting to grab breakfast and say goodbye to all the teachers properly, except Snape, of course.

Hermione was sitting next to the Hufflepuff, reading a book, quietly, though she looked up when Nova had started to write on the girl's forearm. The curly haired witch narrowed her eyes and Nova laughed. "It's our home number, so we can keep in touch."

Hermione smiled at her and closed her book over. "We could meet up over the summer at some point? Get a head start on supplies for next year or something?"

"We've not even left the country yet," Harry chuckled, Hermione shrugged with a small simper on her lips. "Never hurts to be prepared."

"Forget that, the quidditch world cup is on just before we go back in September, my dad's taking us. Why don't you lot join? There's plenty of room in the tent," Ron yawned, stretching his arms out.

Harry glanced at Nova and the Hufflepuff nodded enthusiastically, causing the boy to turn back to his red head friend with a grin and pat him on the back. "Yeah, sure mate, we'll join you, as long as it's okay with Professor L-... with Remus and your parents."