The Threads That Bind Us

Chapter 37

Fidelity had finally finished her Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, feeling a wave of relief wash over her as she believed she had passed every exam.

Taking a moment for herself, she wandered the grounds, reminiscing about the places that held her memories. Her heart ached at the thought of leaving it all behind.

It was true that she still had her whole life ahead of her, filled with exciting things to look forward to. Yet, there was so much she would have to leave behind. While starting a new chapter was thrilling, she wasn't ready to close the one she was currently on.

She loved everything about Hogwarts: the students, the professors, the breathtaking scenery, and the vibrant atmosphere. After spending the last seven years here, how could she possibly be expected to leave? Hogwarts felt like home, just as much as the little brick house where her parents had raised her.

Fidelity stopped at the lake beneath her favorite beech tree. She stood for a moment, gazing out across the shimmering water, before surrendering to her emotions. She sank to the ground, letting her tears flow freely.

She felt sadness at the thought of leaving Noah the following school year, but there was also a pang of envy in her heart. He would continue his studies while she moved on to what was supposed to be bigger and better things. Eventually, he would move on too.

It felt strange to think that she wouldn't see her friends every day anymore. For ten months out of the year, for the last seven years, she had shared a room with Penny. While she knew she wouldn't be alone-she still had her friends and family, and she would always have Noah-it felt profoundly lonely.

Fidelity had never liked change; it had always unsettled her, even in small ways. But this? This was monumental. She had to admit that she was excited for the future, yet nervous, too, and devastated by the thought of all she was losing.

This was the year she had discovered the Room of Requirement, Dilly, and the creatures-a place of solace she wished she had found long ago. And then there was Noah, the wizard of her dreams, a romance she had envisioned her whole life. And just like that, it was all over in a heartbeat.

In the midst of her thoughts, she hadn't realized how hard she had begun to cry. Her body shook with sobs, making it difficult to breathe. She had curled up into a ball, falling onto her side.

"Fidi!"

The voice barely registered as Fidelity remained still, unresponsive.

Ava rushed to her side and pulled her into a gentle embrace, cradling her until Fidelity began to calm down.

"What happened? We've been looking for you since exams ended."

Fidelity leaned against the tree, doing her best to suppress any further sobs. "I'm not ready to leave," she choked out.

"Oh, honey, it's going to be okay. We still have a couple of weeks left in the school year." Ava hesitated, trying to read her friend's reaction. She took one of Fidelity's hands in hers and placed the other on her shoulder. "Fidelity, you have such a beautiful life ahead of you."

*****

Fidelity and her friends spent their final weeks at Hogwarts much like they always had-wandering the grounds, laughing under the sun, and soaking in the warm weather that hinted at the summer beyond.

They played games on the lawn, enjoyed sprawling picnics by the lake where the giant squid would sometimes ripple the water, and lingered for hours in the courtyard and the Great Hall, savoring the buzz of the school around them. But Fidelity felt the weight of each moment in a way she hadn't before. Every smile, every laugh with her friends seemed sharper, tinged with the bittersweet knowledge that their time together, in this place, was running out.

More than ever, she found herself retreating to the Room of Requirement. It had become her sanctuary, where she sought solace among the magical creatures and with Dilly, the ever-loyal house-elf. Sometimes she went alone, letting the quiet wash over her as she wrestled with the ache of leaving Hogwarts. Other times, her friends joined her, grounding her when her thoughts grew too heavy. Yet, no matter how much joy surrounded her, there was an undeniable fear in the pit of her stomach-the fear of being left with nothing but her thoughts once she stepped beyond these castle walls.

The Hufflepuff common room, too, became a frequent escape. Fidelity realized, with a pang of regret, that she hadn't spent as much time there this year, her final year. Now, it felt like a place out of time, a cocoon of warmth and comfort she wished she could hold onto. She remembered her very first night in this room-the way she had stared up at the vaulted ceilings, wide-eyed and hopeful, imagining the adventures, friendships, and growth that would fill the next seven years.

And now, those years were gone.

Each corner of the common room held a memory-a late-night study session, whispered conversations in front of the fire, laughter that echoed off the stone walls. It had been her refuge, and even as she spent her final days nestled in its familiar embrace, she couldn't shake the bittersweet realization that she was saying goodbye. Hogwarts had been her home, but soon it would be only a memory, no longer a part of her daily life.

The thought left her both excited and heartbroken. While the future shimmered with endless possibilities, there was a deep sorrow in knowing that this chapter, the one she'd treasured for so long, was drawing to a close. She wanted to savor every second that remained, to etch the faces of her friends, the warmth of the common room, and the magic of Hogwarts itself into her heart forever.