Between the Cracks // 𝓕𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓦𝓮𝓪𝓼𝓵𝓮𝔂

57. Exciting Days Ahead

Chapter 57: Exciting Days Ahead

Nova and Leigh's dorm was oozing with hangover and headache the next morning, and it was only after noon that any of them decided to get up. The Saturday was, thankfully, quiet, and many students were starting to pack to go home for the holidays. The Hogwarts Express was set to carry them back to Kings Cross on Monday. Leigh, of course, had no reason to pack too much, seeing as she would be spending her holidays here in the highlands. Not all of it at Hogwarts though, a realisation which brought with it its own kind of nervousness.

"So what are you going to do?" Nova's voice spoke from her bed, where she was starting to pack her things.

Confused, Leigh peeked up at her friend from her place sitting crosslegged on her bed. "What?"

"About the guy in the pub."

A moment passed. "Nothing, I suppose."

Nova immediately let the shirt in her hands fall into her bag. "What? Why? I thought you liked him?"

"Uh," Leigh mumbled, scratched her head.

"You said you couldn't stop thinking about him. Last night when we got back. You were hammered and you said it – you couldn't stop thinking about him," Nova spoke with a raised eyebrow.

Still as confused as ever, Leigh scoured through her memories of the night prior, not finding any evidence to support the idea that she had even remotely thought about that guy at all. She remembered having a lukewarm conversation with the man before bumping into Fred by the bar and– Suddenly realisation dawned at her, and she felt her neck warm up in embarrassment. "Oh."

"Now you remember! You two really hit it off." Nova again started packing her bag, leaving Leigh to be embarrassed out of her friend's watchful eye. "But you didn't get any address to send any owl to, did you?" she asked disappointedly.

"Uh, no. No."

"Such a shame. That would've been good for you, I think."

"Well, I don't know if I liked him all that much. Now that I'm sober, I mean."

Nova shrugged. "Maybe no strings attached would be best." Leigh rolled her eyes. Didn't answer. Nova turned to look back at her after registering the silence. "I don't get why you hate the idea so much. Like, I get it, the last months have been depressing as hell. But you know Evan would've wanted you to cheer up a bit. Have some fun."

Leigh leaned back against the wall behind her, groaning. "I have the most massive headache right now, can you just maybe not test me by saying you know what he would've wanted?"

Nova's shoulders fell. She pursed her lips in thought. "I didn't mean it in a rude way. I'm just saying: No reason to stick to your own lonesome, solitudinal ways if you turn out to like the guy."

Leigh merely huffed under her breath, doing her best to allow Nova's words to just slip off her. "Solitudinal isn't a word," she instead replied, and Nova turned back to her with a grin.

"Just take the motivational words, Leigh!"

-

With mocks officially over, Leigh was finally able to do what she had promised herself to do: absolutely nothing. There was no use stressing over coursework before she even knew how she did at the mocks, and if she had to stare into another course-book the next coming days she feared she may as well just shrivel into a raisin. Instead she did her best to push any and all mentions of academic performance and the term after the holidays out of her head, which worked surprisingly well considering every other student was just as relieved as her to get a well-earned break.

Sunday came along, and they all gathered for a final supper before students were set to leave onboard the Hogwarts Express Monday morning. McGonagall said a few words, rejuvenating school pride once more, and the atmosphere was joyful and light.

Leigh's usual company sat at their usual spot, cutlery clanking against their plates and glasses refilling themselves in front of them. Ron sat beside Hermione, chatting happily, and Harry sat by their side, writing onto a parchment which he was to send off to Ginny. Nova was over by the Ravenclaw table with Terry, and Leigh was left sitting smiling faintly while gazing out across the great hall.

It was a bit bittersweet. Relieved that she had a break ahead of her, but also disheartened that the castle would now empty itself off her friends for a few weeks. Of course, she didn't have to worry too much about this, as she too was set to leave the castle for a few days to spend time with the twins.

Speaking of the devil(s), an owl soon came swooping through the air, together with countless others, dropping a parchment right in front of Leigh. Curious, she picked it up and opened it, only to be met with Fred's familiar, scrawly handwriting.

Evening Conway,

Coming over to pick you up and help with bags Tuesday afternoon. Exciting days ahead ;)

See you soon !!

Fred x

The smile grew on her face, and she tried her best to suffocate it as she re-read the note. Too many times to mention. Excitement and warmth coursed through her veins at the thought of staying in the flat for a few days, and she carefully folded the parchment before slipping it into her pocket.

-

Despite spending part of her holidays only a short distance from the castle, Leigh was just as preoccupied with packing as everyone else, although perhaps packing in a smaller bag.

She never cared much for dressing well, even less so the last year, although the thought of dressing up for Christmas day did nudge her mind. Assuming they would briefly visit the burrow for dinner and celebration, would she want to dress up, at least moderately well, for the occasion? She threw a long, green skirt into her bag for good measure before sitting herself down on her bed.

She looked across the room to her trunk, envisioning what was in it and trying to decide if she needed to bring anything else. Biting her lip, she approached it, letting her hand rummage through it before fishing up a small jewellery bag. Inside it laid various pieces, most of them cheap necklaces or earrings she had bought through the years. A matching bracelet she had gotten together with Nova in year 3. A pair of earrings she had bought in central London before boarding the Hogwarts Express in year 5. She didn't remember why, but she assumed it was an attempt at dressing up a bit; returning to a new term with a new look. How silly those teenage efforts seemed now.

At the bottom of the jewellery bag lay what she was seeking. A cold, shining ring was fished out of the bag and placed onto her palm. Gaze fixated, she took a controlled breath before turning it over in her hand. Evan's.

While filled with excitement and optimism about the coming days, she couldn't help but feel a hint of uncertainty. She hadn't been away from the castle for more than a night since the battle, and although she told herself not to think about it, the fact did instil a kind of worry surrounding the next coming days. Still, the castle was close if she ever felt she needed to go back, and in the meantime the ring would have to suffice. She neatly packed it into her bag before letting out a breath.

She moved out of the dorm, tiredly scratching her neck as she walked down towards the common room. Spending a bit more time with her friends before their return to London.