My Beloved Hogwarts

12) Alone

A/N: This chapter is actually quite long (compared to my other ones, anyway), as I really wanted to get more detail and information about the characters, and the general swing of lessons and stuff, now that the school year is (sadly) nearly ending. Hope you enjoy!

Summer was pouring in over the grounds around the castle, casting rippling images over the sky and lake while allowing the flowers stationed in the greenhouse to fully blossom. The sunlight casted a golden sheen over the river, and its heated glare caused the grounds to seem more magical. In fact, the scene outside was so magnificent, that it'd managed to draw my attention away from all the petrifications and the mystery of the chamber of secrets. Unfortunately, it didn't resolve the issue of the flying frantic plant lying in front of me. Nor Luna's.

"My father says that these are actually quite a good remedy for rashes." Luna peered excitedly over her goggles at the spiked plant, thrashing furiously in her grasp. "Their spikes," she prodded one with her gloved finger, "help maintain the level of water and it can also—"

"Right, class!" Professor Sprout's shout veered my gaze from the furiosites beside me, and from a likely inevitable lecture from Luna. "If you would just carefully place the plants into their assigned boxes, and pour in the water, then you are free to leave!" With that, she pulled of her smothered cap from her head, and patted her hands dry. Soon, the chattered buzz of gossip filled the greenhouse again, with Professor Sprout occasionally popping out behind someone's back and helping them with their plant; in other words - doing all the work for them.

I glanced back at Ginny, who had ventured off on her own towards the far corner of the room, keeping her head fixed determinedly on the floor. I had tried asking her if she wanted to work with me, but a quick shake stopped me from continuing on. I turned back sadly to my now potted plant, and took hold of the watering can next to it. "So have you prepared for exams?"

Luna's serene expression filled her face once again, giving the impression of a dreamy look. Whenever I tried to talk to her, it always seemed like she wasn't really listening; as if she was in her own far-away world. I knew it wasn't exactly her fault, but nonetheless, it did get quite annoying. And it was also times like these when I wished I was back in our group of three with Donna and Ginny. Luna breathed in deeply. "It's been going great. I've been revising for everything these past few weeks. I think I've got everything sorted. But I don't understand why everyone else seems so caught up in the chamber of secrets. I wonder why that may be, when the 'humdinger' from my father's Quibbler is much more interesting to talk about..." Her eyes darted outside again towards Hagrid's hut, and out into the grassy fields ahead once more.

I sighed. Looking down at my plant, I hastily poured the water and stared blankly at the movement of the water as it sank into the dark brown (nearly black) soil, and watched as it dissolved, making the soil seem even more darker. Happy with my work, I pulled off my gloves, stretching my hands out with relief and started heading towards the Great Hall, giving Luna a quick wave of goodbye.

Shaking my head free from any surfacing thoughts about Ginny, I kept my eyes transfixed at the sight of the looming castle before me. At the aroma of spiced herbs, roast chicken, and other mixed pungent smells, my body relaxed slightly. Taking a seat near to Fred (who seemed to be hiding something under the table), I glanced longingly at the filled plates of various meals. Maybe the food would help me feel better.

***

"Why the long face?" Fred asked, plopping onto the armchair cushioned behind the table.

I stared moodily at the wooden curves of the table in front of me, trying to ignore the towering stacks of papers on top of it. We only had a few weeks until exams, and I still hadn't revised anything. Not to mention Snape's essay due next lesson - which I also hadn't started on.