Solving Riddle (Harry Potter Fan Fic)

24. The Begining

Looking back at the castle had an eerie feel to it, it was like leaving Evans Manor after Robert had died. There was a sense to resent and sentiment that I couldn't explain with words. I had no clue where Riddle was, but I honestly couldn't care less. All that mattered now was Leo and the rest of my life. In the pocket of my skirt was a small pin, I held it in my hand as we walked to the train with our trunks. "Hold on," I said to Leo, Cassy, and Mary.

Taking the pin out of my pocket, I looked at it one last time. A gold frame with a blue background inscribed the words "head girl". With no regrets, I threw it as hard as I could into the depths of the forbidden forest, never to be seen by me again.

It was a great relief, seeing the pin disappear. It was like the weight of the world was suddenly removed from my shoulders and I could breathe right again.

"What was that for?" Cassy asked, biting her lip.

"For old times," I replied, cursing the thought of the pin in my head. All it had been was a heavy curse on my year and I didn't need to keep the memory of it living with me.

In the train, we all sat in one compartment together, watching the trees fly past, making a green wall. And when the forest became less dense, we watched the green hills pass with a majesty. It was a bitter sweet moment, remembering the castle walls and everything that happened within them. The year had gone with many tragedies, happiness's, broken friendships, and horrors. But I did not want to relive any of it. They were dark times indeed, but I saw the light at the end of the tunnel and I was ready for it.

"I'm going to start saying good bye to everyone in advance, just so that I don't miss out," Cassy broke the silence and got up, looking around as if to ask if anyone was going with her.

"I should go too," Mary got up, tired looking. She grabbed a ribbon from her blazer pocket and tied up her long red hair. I frowned, waving to them as they left the compartment.

"Do you think RAE is real?" Leonard suddenly asked, leaning forward towards me.

I looked at my arms, thinking in solemnity. The scars from Riddle were still evident on my forearm, and they will always be. "I don't know. It should just be a myth. A coincidence. How could it be real?"

"I don't know, but I don't want it to be real. If we still have the rest of our lives, it'll be short lived," Leo hung his head slightly.

"There's just one thing I need to know it's not real. But it won't happen," I switched benches to sit next to Leo.

"How did Robert die?" Leo asked, suddenly.

"I... I don't know," my throat tightened suddenly.

"They told you, didn't they?" Leo looked at me hopelessly.

"Well, they did. But they lied. I know they did," leaning on Leonard's shoulder and rubbing his back relaxed me some, but not enough. Tears slipped down my cheeks.

"What did they tell you?" Leo wiped my tears away and kissed my cheek lightly.

"He used the killing curse. But that's impossible. It's all impossible, I just can't believe-" I cut off, my brain made an enormous amount of deductions all at once and I couldn't finish my thought.

"I'm sorry I brought it up," Leo finished and began to stroke my hair. It felt nice, the millions of thoughts rushing through my brain, and all I had to think about was that, nothing else for now.

It began to get darker outside and towns and cities were more frequent. I could tell we were nearing London. Cassy and Mary still hadn't arrived back at the compartment and I was beginning to get slightly worried that I wouldn't have time to say last goodbyes to them.