Like A Sister *COMPLETED*

Chapter Thirty-Five - Final Farewell Day and Train Ride EDITED

A/N: I hate to ruin this with an author’s note, but my keyboard is really stuffed up now. So sorry for mistakes. 

35. Chapter Thirty-Five – Final Farewell Day and the Train Ride

 I woke up and pulled on my Juniors uniform for the last time ever. In Seventh Year everything changes – classes, uniform, everything. So I would never again be wearing the plain, simple grey robes with a red and gold tie for Gryffindor. Next year we would have midnight-blue robes and the dark green cloak, both of which could be mistaken for black at any given time. Next year we would only be doing four classes. Next year we would be doing NEWT exams. Next year...

Walking down the stairs to the common ground, surrounded by the girls, felt kind of strange. I was fifteen; I would graduate next year. We would move dorms and everything next year; we would never again be this way, never exactly as we were. But I didn’t really care. We would grow together, become bigger and better, fully fledged witches and wizards, closer friend, form tighter bonds and just be generally awesome.

I had a few out-of-body experiences, where I felt as if I was just watching myself go through the motions.

 The morning was a final breakfast, and then packing up and emptying the rooms. We had to first shift our bags to the common rooms, then magically remove our beds. We had half an hour before lunch and the Headmaster’s farewell speech.

Hermione was Head Girl next year; and a guy from Ravenclaw was Head Boy.

When the beds had been removed and we were simply sitting in the middle of the dorm, it felt empty and sad; so much so that we had to move into a corner.

“Georgie, truth or dare?” I asked.

“Uh, dare.”

“Go turn Rupert’s hair pink, and take a photo on your phone.”

She jumped up, grabbed her wand and phone out of her pocket and ran off. We followed her of course and watched as she tiptoed to the door of the boys’ dorm and snuck in. Soon we heard screams and giggles as she dashed out of there, flashing her phone around.

“Tiana, truth or dare?”

“Truth!”

“Have you ever dyed your hair a hideous colour?”

“Yes. Purple and blue. Tania!”

We played that game until we were called for assembly; lining up for the last time that year, in four lines (two of boys and two of girls) I grabbed Hermione’s left hand in my right and James’ right in my left and squeezed them gently as we filed into the hall. Taking my seat in between them, the food was already there, and the chefs had outdone themselves; we tucked into chicken, roast beef, lamb and pies. For dessert there were crumbles, cakes, trifles and custards – but why am I focusing on the food? Oh yes – to avoid the real matters.

When we had finished eating, the Headmaster stood and went to the magical microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen; staff and students; friends and foes,” he said warmly. “So we come to the end of another eventful year. Congratulations – you made it! Especial felicitations to those of you who are leaders or Prefects next year, and to everyone who has reached a goal, overcome an obstacle or learned an important lesson. This year was full of excitement, including one student throwing himself form the top tower, as cliché as it sounds – we are glad to say he has healed and is better now, and has managed to get himself a lovely girlfriend as well as landing a Quidditch Captaincy role for next year. I am of course, talking about James Turner.

This year has been full of accomplishments; many a night I was given a glowing, joyous report from a teacher about how a student had mastered a particularly difficult charm, or brewed an extremely complex potion. I am proud of everyone’s end results.

This is now a time of ending, of closure. It is a time to look back and reflect on the past year. To think about relationships you have developed, and destroyed. Think of the things you have learned. Some of you will not be returning here next year; we must farewell them and wish them all the best for their future.

This is also a time of completion. You have survived a year at school!

And yes, it is a time of joy, of hope and of celebration. Other than the fact that we get two months break from each other, we also have freedom, we have a feeling of a job well done, of satisfaction; a feeling of hope for next year, of joy for holidays, and of, well, partying!”

A few other teachers made short speeches; each of the Head of Houses did. Finally the Headmaster returned to the microphone.

“Please take some time over the break to reflect on these words of wisdom by the Professors. And now, I declare the school year of Pink-Blue-Green officially OVER!” he bellowed. The bell went for the final time and with a roar the entire student body charged the doors, a stampede of excited children. Not letting go of my friends, I joined the crush; in a whirlwind we found ourselves on the train with our bags. For once I needed a big compartment; all the girls, the guys and I squished in. There were enough seats and some spare, but the lazy people all dumped their bags on the seats and left it to Sergio and Paul. Which meant that for about half an hour there weren’t enough seats; so Dan and Rupert shared a seat, and started kissing, which turned into a full-on make out session (you’re welcome Suz); I sat on James’ lap but half on Georgie with the both of us giggling helplessly; and the triplets and twins tried to share three seats.

The trip flew by.

At some point I glanced at Paul; we shared a sad half-smile, each knowing that the other was thinking about our very short, brief relationship.

Once I had moved to my own seat, I looked over at James and slowly shrugged.

None of us really knew what had happened that year; what had changed; or what would change next year.

At one point Sebastian came to our carriage and stopped outside, looking at me. I saw James tense up, but I put a hand on his shoulder as I walked past him and slipped out to the corridor.

“Hey.”

“Hey.” We looked at each other for a bit before he spoke again.

“I’m really sorry about everything that has happened this year.”

“So am I.”

“I never meant to hurt you.”

“I know that now.”

“And I was wondering if – if we had any chance of being friends next year,” he admitted quietly. I looked up at him, remembering everything.

“I would like that,” I finally whispered. He smiled a small half smile, which I returned.

“Can I have your mobile number?” he asked, offering a pen. I took it in my right hand and his hand in my left, palm up. I wrote my number carefully on his skin, and then returned the pen. He picked up my hand and wrote his number on my wrist.

“I’ll text you,” he promised.

“I’ll look forward to that.”

“And Lizzie? Happy holidays,” he said, walking away.

“You too, Seb. Happy holidays.”

When I went back inside, James looked up. “What did he want?”

“To be friends.”

“What did you say to him?”

“I said yes, of course. I’m over all that. I’m ready for next year.”

As the train stopped a couple of hours later and we collected our luggage, I realised something. I finally felt at peace. With myself, with everyone else, with everything.

I didn’t know what next year would bring – I didn’t know if James and I would be together, if I would be with another guy, or a girl, or no one at all. I didn’t know if I would have any friends, I didn’t even know if I would be alive next year. But to be honest? I didn’t care.

I grabbed James’ right hand in my left and Hermione’s left in my right, and together we ran off the train, out to where the parents were waiting.

“HOLIDAYS!”

I felt ready to take on the world.

The. End. !!!!!