Petal

2

Me and Victor look at each other after some time has passed.

"Well I think it's time for you to go." He says to me as I look down again.
"Hey" he says breaking me from my trance staring at the snow on my boots. I look up at him
"I will see you soon. Ok?"
"Ok" I say "See you soon" I smile at him
He starts to take some steps backwards still making eye contact.
"Give them hell for me. And don't look back"
I scoff at him "Of course not."
He turns and walks off turning a corner into the castle.

I stare off for a bit longer until I am startled by voices again. An unfamiliar voice this time, it's not the familiar voices I am used to but someone with a completely different accent. Soon I see Karkaroff turn the corner with a man with a long beard and even longer robes. He must be the headmaster, he looks different than any headmaster I've ever seen, given that's only been Karkaroff.

"Ahh miss Blair I presume." He says as he stops infront of me, Karkaroff at his side. He never makes eye contact with me while the other man takes my hand and shakes it.
"My name is Albus Dumbledore, the headmaster at Hogwarts, a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance. I have heard many great things about you. I am pleased you will be attending Hogwarts, you will surely flourish there."

I stare at him a while, not sure what to say to him. Karkaroff still has yet to look at me or even say anything and I don't know why. After an awkward couple of seconds, Dumbledore clears his throat.

"Whenever you are ready my dear I will be waiting out front for you."
He looks between me and Karkaroff and then walks off towards the front of the school.
He stops as he's about to turn the corner
"Not to rush anything but it is quite cold here." Dumbledore finishes as he turns the corner.

I look back at the man I've been with for years. The man who taught me almost everything I knew. Waiting. He could be a statue for all I know, he hasn't moved since he has gotten to this spot. I stare at him, waiting for something, anything, but he does nothing. I want to scream at him, hit him, hug him but before I can do any of those things he finally looks up at me.

"As you probably already know we will be at Hogwarts within the week, the first day of your new school."
I go to say something to him  I don't know if I was going to ask him or yell at him but before I can he cuts me off.
"Safe travels"
Then he walks off.

I stand there for a minute not sure what to do. I can't say I'm surprised, I mean he did raise me, I know this is what he is like. Was I expecting a hug and a kiss? A goody bag for the road? An I love you and will miss you? No, that man could never love. I turn and take the path Dumbledore took a few minutes ago to find him waiting for me infront of the castle.

"Ahh there you are I was just about to freeze." He says in the same voice he had earlier, he still sounds happy, not even mad that I took too long.
"You could have waited inside." I say
"Oh I don't mind the cold, but another minute and I could have become an icicle. Are you ready my dear, said all of your goodbyes?"
He asked as he puts his hand out for me to grab,
I pause staring at his hand for a while. After a couple seconds I grab his hand and instantly I feel as though I am flying. I don't feel the cold anymore, just wind everywhere. I feel like I am about to fall and just when I'm about to freak out, my feet finally land back on the ground. I almost fall over but Dumbledore catches me before I can.

"Terribly sorry for that, I should have told you we were going to apperate. I assumed you had done it before, but from the look on your face, I feel I assumed wrong."
I feel like I am about to throw up and pass out at the same time.
"I will give you some time to gather your head before we go on to the castle." He says as he takes a step back from me, letting me breathe.

I take in a big breath, the air is thicker here and it's not cold.
"The castle? Where are we?" I ask as I finally look at my surroundings. I instantly forget about the terrible feeling I had earlier when I see the view around me.

"Why Hogwarts of course." He says

We are standing on a bridge There are mountains surrounding us and a huge body of water. I go to the edge of the bridge suddenly finding my footing from earlier. There is a huge lake infront of us, the sun is setting and creating a wonderful mixture of yellows, oranges and blues in the sky. The lake reflecting back the colors, birds are chirping and flying down into the mixture of colors like they too are getting lost by the beautiful colors of the setting sun.

The sun. The sun is huge.

There is no snow, no harsh cold wind.

I turn towards Dumbledore and am amazed with another view, this one taking by breath away.
There is a huge castle infront of the mountains, bigger than Drumstrang and more welcoming. I stare in awe for a while and then look back at Dumbledore again. He stands to the side watching me with a look on his face that I can't quite make out.

"Are you ready?" He asks
"No rush this time, it's not nearly as cold here." He says as he turns towards the castle to look at what I've been staring at.
"It is beautiful isn't it?" He asks as he turns back towards me.

"Yes, it is." I say after a moment "it's very beautiful."

"Yes, well let's go in shall we, and we will find your room."

I don't even realize it at first. This is my new home, this is where I am going to be for as long as I want. No more snow, or Karkaroff, or men telling me what to do. Except for my professors here I guess.

I suddenly become aware of what I am wearing, my many layers I have on to shield me from the snow and keep me warm. My coats and my hat now seem to be weighing me down and I suddenly get very hot. I take off my hat and look at it for a moment.

Karkaroff gave me this hat when I was young. He told me, "This will keep you safe and warm little one, make sure to keep it with you always."
I stare at it again and then look back up at the castle infront of me, my new home.
My home.
I don't know why I did it but I tossed the hat into the river infront of me. I don't need it anymore, and I don't want the reminder anymore. It won't keep me safe.
Not anymore.