Swallow your pride

Meeting in a pub

Yarra's Pov

The summer holidays are over. The day after tomorrow, the Hogwarts Express leaves for wizarding school. Yarra Yaxley sits in her room of the family mansion, reading the mail brought to her by an owl that morning. First, she open an envelope from school with a list of things she will need to get. Her eyes run over it quickly. She picks up the second envelope with a green wax seal with the letter G. She runs her thumb over the seal and a smile appears on her lips.  After the events at the end of fifth year, Yarra was depressed. The only one who kept her above the darkness that surrounded her was the author of this letter. They became closer during the holidays. They wrote to each other and met. She cried many tears on his shoulder. She opened the envelope and mused aloud, " He sure wonder how I feel about going back to school." The envelope contained a single page, and on it, was written a note.

"Dear Yarra,
I hope you're well. You've been in my thoughts, and I have miss your company. I have no doubts as to how you feel about returning to school. I know you feel worried and scared, after all that happened. I will be here, for you, if you ever need me. I promise.
Yours Ominis"

Yara's heart jumped in her chest. She picked up a clean piece of parchment and a quill and began to write a response for her best friend. Her light in the darkness.
"My dear Ominis,
I miss you too, despite the fact that we saw each other a week ago. You know me very well, you guessed my anxious mood. Tomorrow I'm going to buy school supplies in Diagon Alley. Would you like to join? I invite you for butterbeer.
Your Yarra".

She sealed the letter and handed it to the owl.
Then she lay down in bed and thought about everything that was bothering her. The end of the previous school year was just a mess. And one specific boy left the same mess in her head. Sebastian Sallow. The last sentence he said to her was: "I'm glad to have met you, no matter what happens." And then nothing. He pretended not to know her, and that hurt. Ominis wanted to have him locked up in Azkaban for his actions. He still hasn't forgiven him. He felt betrayed, taken advantage of, just like she did. But she could not imagine that such a young, beautiful boy should rot in such a hell, so she convinced Ominis not turn Sebastian in. They also haven't heard about Anna all summer. Apparently she didn't want anything to do with her brother or them anymore.
Her eyelids became heavy. She kept having nightmares at night, therefore she used to be tired during the day. She fell into a peaceful sleep. Later, she was awakened by the tapping of a beak on the window. She sleepily got up and opened the window. She gave the owl a treat and took the letter from her. Eagerly, she opened Ominis' reply.
"I would love to accompany you, on a trip to Diagon Alley. I am more than happy to enjoy a butterbeer as well. I will see you tomorrow.
Ominis"

Yarra put the letter in a drawer among the others and walked out of her room with a smile. She headed for her mother. "Mom, tomorrow I'm going to buy school supplies in Diagon Alley with a classmate." she informed her. She didn't ask for permission, but at least she had the decency to let her know. They did not get along very well.
"With which classmate? Name?" She asked her sharply. Yarra sighed softly. " Ominis Gaunt. Do you have a problem with that mother?"
Mrs. Yaxley raised her eyebrows and straightened up in her chair, "Gaunt? Very well. Stick to it." Yarra was already turning to leave but her mother continued.
"You are old enough to marry, and since your father's death, our family is not doing very well. Your brother is still a small boy and cannot run the family business. Our financial situation is getting worse, so I need to marry you off to a wealthy family." Yarra jumped sharply into her speech: "You want to sell me?" Mrs. Yaxley put down her cup of tea and spoke sharply, "Yarra, you're not a little girl anymore! That's how it goes in our circles! Your poor father and I had an arranged marriage too, and..."
"But me and Ominis are just friends!" she jumped into her mother's speech again.
Mrs. Yaxley stared at her in silence for a moment and finally spoke: "Ah. Anyway, I'll find you another SUITABLE partner."
She took the cup again and sipped from it.
Yarra couldn't say a word, just glared at her mother. Finally she turned and left.