𝘋𝘈𝘕𝘊𝘐𝘕𝘎 𝘞𝘐𝘛𝘏 𝘖𝘜𝘙 𝘏𝘈𝘕𝘋𝘚 𝘛𝘐𝘌𝘋/𝘵𝘰𝘮 𝘳𝘪𝘥𝘥𝘭𝘦 (English version)

Chapter 44

The sky above Hogwarts was clearer than usual; the sun gave the school a livelier hue, at least on the surface.
A few days had passed since Dumbledore's death, and fortunately, the students were preparing to return to their respective homes for the summer holidays.
Many had already left due to the recent events—many parents were afraid and would avoid sending their children back to that place.

Hogwarts was no longer a safe place.

Those who still remained within the school walls spent their days in a constant state of anxiety and sadness; no one had yet fully understood or accepted what had happened.
However, everyone noticed the disappearance of six students from the Slytherin house, and everyone also noted the complete absence of Sarah Black at both dinner and lunch.
Missing, to many.
To those who had the privilege of calling her a friend, present, but not entirely.
She spent her time in bed; it seemed like a story they had seen before.
The same one they had experienced with Sirius just a year earlier.
But this time, there was something harder to swallow: betrayal.
A betrayal multiplied by six—for each of them who had left the school alongside the Death Eaters.
One of them, however, was her first love, her first rival, her first great friend.

Sarah had dreamed of a future at times, the usual dreams you have when you're lying in bed, unable to sleep, and letting yourself drift into countless thoughts.
She fantasized, hoping to live with him the life she had always wished for... and now she found herself trapped in an endless loop of thoughts and unanswered questions.

The last days at the school passed quickly, and Sarah, Ron, Hermione, and Harry spent their time on that very tower, seeking peace and solitude.
"Do you think he would have done it... Draco?" Hermione suddenly asked, leaning against the iron railing while looking at Harry.
"No, he was lowering his wand. It was Snape, it was always Snape, and I did nothing."
Sarah joined them.
"At least he didn't stain his hands."
Harry took an object from his pocket and handed it to Black, who immediately took it.
"It's a fake. Open it."
The girl did as she was told: inside, folded over itself, was a note.
She opened it and read the contents aloud.
"To the Dark Lord, I know I will be dead before you read this, but I want you to know that I have discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as possible. I face death in the hope that, when you meet your match, you will once again be mortal... R.A.B."
She looked at her friends, confused.
"R.A.B.?"
"I don't know, but whoever they are, they have the real Horcrux, so it was all for nothing... all of it."
Sarah put the locket in the pocket of her sweatshirt and turned to look at the horizon while Hermione tried to change the subject.
"Ron accepts it, you know? You and Ginny. If I were you, I'd keep the kissing to a minimum when he's around."
They laughed softly, but Harry quickly spoke up.
"I'm not coming back, Hermione. I have to finish what Dumbledore started. I don't know where it'll take me, but I'll let you three know where I am as soon as I can."

Sarah laughed softly at his words.
"I've always admired your courage, Harry, but sometimes you can be really dense."
He looked at her, puzzled, but Hermione immediately cut in.
"You seriously think you can find all those Horcruxes on your own, don't you? You need us, Harry."
Silence fell among them, but it was a pleasant silence.
At that moment, they tried to free their minds from everything that had happened.
"I never realized how beautiful this place is," Harry said.
From the clear sky, a phoenix suddenly appeared: Fawkes was flying swiftly toward the crystal-clear lake.
Ron stood up from the steps where he was sitting and moved closer to his friends.
All four of them followed the phoenix with their gaze, small smiles on their faces.
They stayed there for a long time, knowing full well that this moment would not last much longer.

~~~~~~~~~
"My little girl, how happy I am to see you again!"
Sarah had just stepped off the train when her mother Miriam wrapped her tightly in her arms.
This time, her parents had rushed to the station, frightened by everything that had happened at Hogwarts.
Gabriel, her father, gently stroked his daughter's back. He could no longer be angry or disappointed about what had happened the year before.