𝐞𝐱𝐢𝐥𝐞 | h. granger

lx | the start of the second war

CHAPTER SIXTY
the start of the second war

── •✧• ──

𝐃𝐀𝐊𝐎𝐓𝐀 𝐖𝐎𝐊𝐄 𝐔𝐏 𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐇𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐋 𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀 𝐂𝐎𝐔𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐃𝐀𝐘𝐒 𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑. The term had come to an end, and the three schools were saying their goodbyes.

After Madam Pomfrey had checked her vitals and cleared her to leave, she went out to the courtyard to find her friends. When Hermione spotted her, she ran up, throwing her arms around her shoulders in a bone-crushing hug.

"You're alive!" Hermione gasped, tears of relief filling her eyes. "Everyone's been so worried." She pulled away, her hands on Dakota's shoulders and their faces just inches apart. "I've been worried about you."

"How much did I miss?" Dakota asked, her voice slightly horace. She rubbed her aching head as she followed her friends through the crowded courtyard.

"Like, a lot," Aliyah said. "You know Professor Moody? Turns out he was actually a Death Eater in disguise named Barty Crouch Junior."

Dakota scoffed and shook her head. "Why is it always the Defense Against the Dark Arts teachers? I'm starting to think that position is cursed."

"I've got a terrible feeling it's only gonna get worse from here with the Dark Lord back and Fudge refusing to believe it," Lyra whispered, sighing. She looked up at Dakota. "Kody, I'm so sorry about what my sister did. You didn't deserve that. I-If I had just listened when she said—"

"Lyra Black, don't you dare try to blame yourself for this," Dakota said, turning to the shorter girl. "Whatever that psycho of a sister of yours does is not your fault. Okay? I don't blame you for what happened, and you shouldn't either. You're your own person."

Krum came up to them. He handed Hermione a slip of parchment with promises to write. Fleur and her little sister, Gabrielle, came to say goodbye to Dakota and Aliyah, the younger Delacour sister hugging the blonde and thanking her again for helping her in the lake.

The Hogwarts students gathered on the bridge, waving goodbye to their new international friends and clapping for them. The Gryffindor trio, Dakota, Aliyah, and Lyra managed to slip away to one of the inside walls of the courtyard for a moment of peace.

"Do you think we'll ever just have a quiet year at Hogwarts?" Ron asked, chuckling softly.

"No," the other five replied, laughing a little.

"Oh, well." Ron shrugged. "What's life without a few dragons?"

"It was actually kinda fun. . .you know, until the end," Dakota said, sighing.

Hermione blinked back tears. "Everything's going to change now, isn't it?"

Harry put a hand on her shoulder and nodded. "Yes."

"We are in deep, deep trouble," Aliyah mumbled, a frown on her face. She'd read as much as she could about the first wizarding war, and she wasn't ready to face the horrors she knew it was bound to bring. It was going to be especially bad for her, Dakota, and Hermione since they were Muggle-borns. She thought it a miracle that Dakota didn't die that night in the courtyard.

"Promise you'll write this summer," Hermione said as they started walking. "All of you."

"I won't." Ron scoffed, chucking. "You know I won't."

"Kota will, won't you?" Hermione asked, smiling at her best friend as she looped their arms.

"Of course I will, Mione," Dakota promised. "Every week."

── •✧• ──

The train ride home was quiet, the gravity of what Lord Voldemort's return truly meant: the start of the second war had begun.

Lyra's knee bounced anxiously the closer they got to Kings Cross Station. She didn't know how she was going to survive the summer with the Dark Lord living with them – Narcissa had sent her and Draco letters with a heads up the day after the third task. She could try to avoid him as much as possible, but she was terrified that he was going to try and hurt her no matter what she did.

And she knew that Bellatrix would let him. Not even Narcissa would be able to stop it.

"We're gonna get you out of there," Aliyah promised as the train pulled into the station. "No matter what we have to do, we will find a way to get you out."

"It's a nice thought, Ali." Lyra smiled weakly. "I'm practically a blood traitor now, remember? It doesn't look good for me."

They grabbed their luggage and left the train. Lyra and Aliyah hugged each other tightly, tears falling down the blonde's cheeks. Hermione and Dakota shared an embrace, both girls holding on for over a minute until Harry eventually pulled them apart.

"Stay safe, Hermione," Dakota whispered.

"You, too, Kota," Hermione replied, watching as Harry and Dakota walked through the barrier towards the Muggle world.

"What happened to you?" Dudley asked sneeringly, eyeing the cuts on Harry's face. "Another failed attempt at dying?"

"No," Dakota protectively grabbed Harry's arm, glaring at her twin brother. "We're surviving. Now do us all a favour and shut up, or I'll curse you into oblivion." A smirk twitched on her lips. "I learned a really good one this year. I promise, you've never felt pain like the kind that spell can cause."

"Mummmmmm!" Dudley whimpered in fear and hid behind his mother, who sent Dakota a pointed look. Her father glared at her in warning, his beady eyes narrowing.

Dakota merely threw her head back, laughing maniacally as she and Harry walked to the car.