From friends to this -Year six (re-uploaded) Book 1/4

Chapter 43

"You sure you'll be ok, Tara?" Ellen asked, taking a hold of Tara's shoulders.

Tara stood outside the Hufflepuff common room, looking at the barrels like they were laced with dark magic.

Ellen had escorted Tara back up to the castle, which was abandoned, with all teachers with their students, ministry officials or in the staff room panicking together. While the corridors remained empty, Tara knew that the common rooms were full of students in shock, maybe talking loudly over each other or maybe just being.

Tara took a deep breath and turned to Ellen, "I'll be fine," she replied, wringing her hands together.

"That you will be," Ellen said, taking her hands off Tara's shoulders and taking Tara's fidgeting hands in hers, "It'll all be alright," she added finally.

Tara nodded as Ellen let go of her hands, "I'll get going," she sighed, "Good night, Tara."

She gave her one last look, before stepping back a couple paces and turning away. Tara watched as she turned the corner. Now she was alone.

She looked to the entrance reluctantly, trying to psych herself up to do this, ready to comfort any first year or friend she needed to.

She extended a shaky hand, placing it gingerly on the barrel, "It's no big deal, Tonks," she reassured herself, "Remember they're just as upset as you."

She tapped the barrels. Hel-ga, Huff-le-puff, the rhythm hollowly drummed, before there was a click and a sliver of light was thrown down the kitchen corridor as the door creeped open slightly.

From inside Tara could hear Professor Sprouts voice, "You don't have to leave this room if you don't want to," she announced, "Food arrangements will be made.."

She swallowed hard, as she put a foot forward. One foot after the other, pushing the door inwards until she stood in the cloak room.

She could see the common room from here, even as she hovered in the door frame, hidden beneath the shadows. She saw Sprout, standing strong just outside the cloak room, she saw Mitchell and James in the corner, arms thrown over each others shoulders.

That was enough to destroy all her defences. She felt the tears prickle her eyes, her throat close up and her chest pang with heart ache.

She could see a couple eyes look at the entrance curiously.

Who could be coming in at this hour?

Tara squeezed her eyes shut, trying to compose herself. When she opened them again a few tears ran down her cheeks, as she walked inside and closed the door behind her.

The sound of the door closing seemed the send a wave of silence over her house mates, as Professor sprout paused and every head turned to her.

"It's Tara," she heard someone hiss.

"She looks like she's been through it," another voice observed, in a hushed voice.

It certainly felt like it.

Tara took some steps forward, eyes down, the urge to cry growing. The moment she stepped on the carpeted entrance of the common room, a warmth hit her, that sense of home in a way. And she froze, she couldn't move; if she continued on she might just loose it.

So, she stood alone, head down, and despite not meeting anyone's eyes she knew everyone was looking at her like a wounded puppy.

Suddenly a shadow appeared in front of her, someone's shoes stood facing hers, she didn't know who's. But that didn't matter, because not even a clock tick later did the person wrap their arms around her.