The Secrets of Ellewood (Harry Potter)

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

When I woke up, the dorm was empty and a note was on my bedside table.

'We're all by the fire, so don't freak out if we're not in the room.'

"Sorry about last night, Liv" Melia greeted me in a small voice when I walked down the stairs.

"No, it's fine. I just want to forget about it."

"'Kay. Also, you overslept. Everyone's at breakfast and we finished early so we could be here when you woke up." She held up a plate full of eggs and toast and handed it to me. I took it graciously and sat down in an armchair.

"Oh my gosh!" Eliza jumped up and the book on her lap flew into the air, the 'immobulus' Sammy shot at it the only thing keeping it from going into the fireplace.

"Is there a good reason you almost set a book on fire? I mean, it's one thing to not enjoy a book, but to set it on fire?" Sammy got up to retrieve the book and handed it back to Eliza.

"Oh, sorry. I just realized that summer vacation is only a week away!"

"Oh, really? This year went by so fast. Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. I think this year would have been awfully boring without you all" Luna smiled.

"Awww, Luna, that was so sweet!" I gushed.

"And cheesy, but yeah I guess I did, too." Sammy rolled her eyes and laughed.
"Let's play a game of Exploding Snap!"

I quickly agreed with Sammy and the two of us successfully persuaded the rest.

_

The rest of the week passed in a blur and soon enough, it was time to board the Hogwarts express home. Everyone was rather excited for the summer, the castle buzzing with excitement. In the dorm, the other girls were hurriedly packing their things while I took my time, preferring to savour every last moment I got at Hogwarts before the long three months that were to come. Anxious to see my family -especially my sister- but bummed to be leaving my friends, not to mention the dreading feeling I got whenever I thought about the fact that I would have to face Draco sooner or later, as we lived so close to each other. Shaking my head in an attempt to clear my thoughts, I closed my trunk and took a seat on top, peering around the room.

"Oh, stop sulking. You do the same thing before you leave Hogwarts every time! You always say how you wish you could stay at Hogwarts forever, but we all know you well enough to say with complete confidence that you would get sick of this place rather fast. Especially without us here to keep you entertained." Sammy said, knowingly, her eyes glinting with amusement.

"Oi! I am not sulking!"I exclaimed, jumping to my feet. She chuckled to herself, hauling her trunk to the door for the house-elves to bring down to the train. I did the same, rolling my eyes and then joined the rest of our group to pester Liza who was taking quite a while to pack.

"What's taking so long, Eliza Callahan?" Sammy poked the girl's shoulder, a teasing smile on her face and the amused glint back in her eyes. I had realized fairly quickly that amusement was an emotion Sammy felt quite often, as she found enjoyment in making others uncomfortable or watching them in so-called humorous situations.

"Huh? Oh, sorry, I'm almost done, I swear." Liza's eyes widened a fraction, noticing she was holding the group up and sped up her process, tossing article after article of clothing into her trunk and slamming it shut.

Sammy blinked, taken aback by Liza's abnormal actions and I squinted at our friend.
"Liza, is something wrong?"

"No, no, nothing's wrong, I just don't want to leave Hogwarts, is all" Liza sighed, sitting down on the bed and letting her shoulders slump forward. "Leaving Hogwarts means going back to my own home, my own family. For three whole months. Not only will they be disappointed I wasn't sorted into Slytherin, but they most likely won't let me send any mail either, which means I have no way to contact any of you guys." the small girl frowned and Melia rested a reassuring hand on her shoulder.