Loyalties | Barty Crouch Jr

The End of Fifth Year

June 30, 1978 - Friday

Leonora was relieved to say that her fifth year had finally come to an end. Her final week of being a fifth year went by smoothly, as no classes had assigned any work and a majority of them had the students doing something fun. Tomorrow, they'd find themselves on the Hogwarts Express, heading back to London.

Earlier in the week, the house cup had been awarded, going to none other than Gryffindor, which was always strange considering how many points she assumed James and his mates would lose. The only good thing about them winning was listening to the other Slytherin's boo across the Great Hall the entire time. Leonora almost always found herself joining in, usually staring right at her brother as she did so.

Speaking of James, the final day of term before summer also meant that the seventh years would be graduating. The ceremony would take place on the quidditch pitch, so that they'd have enough room for families to come and watch as well. Afterwards, all seventh years would ride back to Hogsmeade Station on the enchanted boats that originally brought them to Hogwarts in the first place. They got to leave a day early, most apparating away with their families once they reached the station, some opting to take the train one last time.

Leonora had originally made up her mind to not attend the ceremony, but ever since she had revealed that to Illyria, the girl had been pushing for her to attend the entire week. Eventually, after the constant nagging had gotten to the girl, she gave in, insisting that it was only because some of her other friends, such as Barty and Regulus, would be attending to watch some of their friends, such as Snape and Mulciber, graduate. And Regulus, though Leonora doubted he would admit it, wanted to watch Sirius graduate as well.

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Leonora had arrived to the quidditch pitch fairly early before the ceremony started, joined by Barty, Regulus, and Illyria, as she wanted to get a seat as far back as possible to lessen her chances of running into her parents or having James notice her. Regulus had also made it clear that he didn't want his brother to know that he was there either.

The seventh years were already all there and seated, chatting among each other, while their families and other students from the castle still trickled in. All seventh years were dressed in their pointed hats and a simple, black robe, as to not separate students by their houses.

"Are you excited?" Illyria asked the girl as their group made their way towards the very last row of chairs.

"Not particularly. It's boiling outside and I'd rather not run into my parents." Leonora kept searching around the field, trying to spot them, with no luck. She would have to watch the entrance like a hawk.

"There are so many people here Nora, I doubt your parents would see you. I wouldn't worry about it." She lightly set her hand on Leonora's shoulder as they sat down in the furthest chairs from the entrance, in the last row. Barty sat on Leonora's other side; Regulus next to him.

"I hope so," Leonora told the girl, before turning to lean over Barty. "Regulus," she grabbed the boy's attention, "I can assume your parents won't be here today?"

The boy shook his head. "Merlin no. He doesn't even know that I'm here, and I'd like it to stay that way."

"So, he thinks there's no one here for him then? I do suppose that's rather sad."