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

Chapter 58

The sun was still low on the horizon when Sarah woke up.
The crisp autumn air crept through the thick walls of Gryffindor Tower, slipping under the blankets and wrapping her in a biting chill.

For a moment, she stayed perfectly still, eyes fixed on the ceiling, the covers pulled up to her chin.
She knew she should get up, blend in with the others, face another day of lingering stares and unspoken questions. But just the thought of it made her throat tighten.

Slowly, she turned her head to the left: Ginny was still fast asleep, her breathing slow and steady. It was a small relief—she wasn't ready to talk yet.

She lingered in bed for a few more minutes, letting exhaustion weigh her down like an anchor.
Then, with a resigned sigh, she pushed the blankets away. The cold hit her immediately, nipping at her skin as soon as her feet touched the floor, sending a shiver up her spine. Without wasting another second, she padded quickly to the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

She paused in front of the mirror.
The reflection that met her gaze was unfamiliar, a pale, drawn face marked by sleepless nights.
Dark circles hollowed her skin, and her usually bright eyes had lost their spark.

She turned on the shower, letting the room fill with warm steam. For a few fleeting moments, she allowed herself to breathe. The sound of the water dulled the noise in her mind, soothing the weight pressing on her chest.

When she stepped out, she felt lighter. Not healed—never that—but at least the tightness in her chest had loosened a little.
Back in the dormitory, she found Ginny standing by her bed, folding the clothes Sarah had apparently left strewn around the night before. She couldn't even remember doing it, another sign of how drained she must have been.

The redhead glanced at her, hesitant, as if searching for the right words.
"You okay?" she asked gently.
Sarah nodded, saying nothing.
She knew Ginny wouldn't be fooled by such a vague answer, but she wasn't ready to open up. Ginny sighed, a quiet note of resignation in her breath, and headed into the bathroom, letting the conversation slip away unfinished.

Sarah dressed quickly, slipping into her uniform with mechanical ease.
She let her damp hair fall loose, running a hand through it to smooth the tangles, then looked at herself in the mirror again.

Her appearance was neater now, but the reflection still didn't feel like her.

~~~~~
As soon as she and Ginny stepped through the grand doors of the Great Hall, they realized it was already bustling. Despite the early hour, the room buzzed with chatter, and many students were already gathered for breakfast.

Sarah immediately felt the stares.
Some were fleeting, others lingered longer, but none held hostility. Just curiosity, and in some cases, concern.
Members of the Dumbledore's army , scattered across the different house tables, watched her discreetly, as if waiting for a sign, a word, anything that might reassure them.

Luna, now a regular presence at the Gryffindor table, offered her a soft, almost imperceptible smile. Neville gave her a small nod, subtle, but meaningful. A reminder that she wasn't alone.
But Sarah didn't want to talk. She didn't want to listen.
And most of all, she didn't want to look at the Slytherin table.

Yet the tension was no less palpable over there.
Pansy Parkinson, usually the boldest among them, the one who filled any room with biting sarcasm and sharp confidence, seemed different. Dimmed. Her expression showed no trace of enthusiasm, not even now that her friends had returned.

Blaise, who knew her too well to miss the change, brushed her arm gently.
"You alright?" he asked quietly.
She gave a tiny nod, barely noticeable.
Still, she didn't pull away from his touch,it brought her the faintest sense of comfort.
Then, almost involuntarily, her gaze drifted to Sarah Black, sitting at the Gryffindor table, alone and lost in thought.