Gypsy

Chapter Five

Fifth Year

Age: 16

"I wish you didn't have to leave," I murmured staring at the platforms wooden floor.

A hand lightly cupped my jaw and raised it, Jeremy smiled down at me. My darling, kind Jeremy. We were about to board the train to take us home at the end of my fifth year, and my boyfriend's last year at Hogwarts. Jenny had snuck ahead to scope us good seats on the train, giving us some privacy to say goodbye now, rather than later.

"It won't be so bad, you still have Jenny." Said Jeremy trying to lighten the mood, but I could see the tears in his eyes as well as he could see them in mine.

Sniffling I cuddled up close to his chest, he was soft and warm and always smelt like home to me.

"How am I going to cope without you to cast simple spells for me, keep me from falling over... hold me when everything becomes too much." The arms around me tightened at my last words, we both knew that Riddle and his gang would torture me mercilessly.

"Listen up; I wanted to give you this." Jeremy eased me from his arms, and passed me a pamphlet.

"'Beauxbatons Academy of Magic'?"

Smiling, he opened it for me. "See here, they do exchanges with students for their sixth year. Mother is insisting that Jenny go and learn how to be a 'real lady'." Pausing for a moment, a sign I knew meant he was nervous. "She got accepted into the program."

"I—I'm going to be totally alone for a year?" fresh tears ran down my face, I was losing my two best friends.

Laughing Jeremy wiped my tears away and kissed both my cheeks, "No you silly girl. You are going with her."

"W—what, how?"

"We have it all sorted out, Dumbledore agreed and all. All you have to do is turn up at the international Floo at the right time with your trunk packed."

I gaped for a moment, then laughed and grabbed Jeremy around the neck. He was quite tall compared to my five foot nothing, and swung me around like it was nothing. Then something occurred, "what about paying for it?"

Jeremy knew that I was poor, but maybe he didn't understand the severity of the situation.

"Dumbledore took care of that."

"But—" I began.

"No buts," he shushed me with a quick kiss, "Dumbledore has seen what you go through, and believes you deserve a chance to start again... even if it's only for a year."

"What about you?" We were already barely going to get to see each other next year if I was in England, if I went to France then we would never see each other.

"I'm going with you, Mother arranged for me to take up a simple clerical job at the French Ministry of Magic; she wants me to keep an eye on Jenny."

This time I nearly screamed in joy, grabbing onto Jeremy as tightly as I could.

"I love you." We had whispered the words to each other in our few heated moments, but never in public and where people could hear. But without fail Jeremy said the words right back, kissing the top of my head as it was the only part he could reach.

"The Mudblood and the Traitor, how... classic" the sleeky voice broke through our moment.

Jeremy turned with a snarl, "Riddle."

And typically, there to ruin our moments as always was the ever perfectly coiled Heir of Slytherin himself, this time only Malfoy was with him.

"My, my, so angry today Bones." Eyes so dark blue they could be black met mine, "could it be because your little pet will be all alone next year with only your sister to protect her."

I knew Jeremy would tell him about France, but I refused to give Riddle the satisfaction of knowing where his favourite torture victim would be going. "Come on Jeremy, let's go." I almost never spoke when Riddle and Malfoy were around, so Jeremy took notice. Looking down into my eyes and reading the message he gave me a small smile and nodded.

"Yes, lets."

Then much to the chagrin of Riddle and his one man posse, we ignored the blond aristocrat's taunts, and hopped onto the train to join Jenny. Confident in the knowledge that next year would be the best year of our lives.