The Girl From Hufflepuff

Chapter 27

    They grew concerned after she didn't come downstairs after thirty minutes "Should we go up there?" A shared look between the two had them darting for the stairs.
    Around half way up, they started to noticed the tiny shards of lollipop scattered among the stairs. "Oh no..."
    What they found at the top of the stairs broke their hearts. Florence sat against the doorway, head in her hands, curled up in a ball. Lily ran over to her "Are you okay?"
    All she could manage out was "Today wasn't a good day." A single tear ran down her face and that was the first time Lily acknowledged the muffled cry's coming from the other side. "James..." She lightly tapped on the door and the crying seemed to quiet down a little.
    Before she could wait for a response, Casey had came over to check things out for herself. She had been talking to Florence and then helped her up. She beat on the door and it went silent "You should be ashamed of yourself!"
    "Casey, stop. Please stop." Florence could barely stand on her own. She looked tired and worn down.
    "No, I'm sick of this crap. You're not the only one who lost him, you know? I lost him too. So, did Lily. Heck, even your girlfriend did too! And all she wanted to do was cheer you up before school started back. The least you could do was be nice because that's all she's ever done to you." She threw Florence's arm around her shoulder. "Let's go."
    At the top of the stairs, she realized there were only two. Turning back, she saw Lily leaning against the door, her hand slightly rubbing it. "James, please open up." She whispered.
    "Lily let's go."
    Lily's hand fell from the door and another tear fell from her eye. "You know I can't do that. He's my brother and listen to him. I would never forgive myself if I just left him like this."
    "Casey let it go. And take me back to a couch downstairs." Florence eyes drooped and she slumped over slightly. Casey gave one last glance at Lily before descending back down the long staircase with double the weight she came up with.
    Florence slept for two hours on the gryfindor couch. In the meantime, neither of the potters came downstairs and Casey could care less. Her only concern was how tired her friend seemed even though they hadn't really done anything energy consuming.
She handed Florence a cup of hot chocolate as the girl sat up. With nothing but anger still sleeping through her, Casey spoke "Please tell me your done with him."
"Casey, I can't do that. I care for him a lot and he's in pain. You should understand what he's going through. He just needs some time." Florence took a sip of the warm chocolaty substance.
"I do understand! That's why he should know he's not the only one, I'm in pain too!" She yelled.
"Casey..."
"No, Florence, I'm sorry. I just need some time." Before Florence could get the strength to stand, Casey was out the gryffindor common room and out of sight.
Florence wasn't sure just how long she sat there before a red faced James came down the stairs with the help of Lily.
He stood there shaking before lily hit him in the back. "I'm sorry" he mumbled. And Lily helped him over to the couch where Florence sat.
Lily left after James took a seat. "I really am sorry. It's just he was my best friend and it just hits me that I'll never see him again or hear him again. I can't ask him for his homework or joke with him." He wiped a tear from his face and Florence scooted closer to him and grabs his hands.
"I get it, you miss him. Listen James, I'm not trying to stop you from grieving, I just don't want you to be alone." Florence hand rested on his cheek and she wiped a tear from his face. "All I want is to be here for you. Will you let me?"
He stared into her green eyes, realizing she was to stubborn to leave him any time soon. "Yeah, id like that."
Her face broke into a grin causing him to smile, "Okay, good."
She leaned in a kissed him which he returned happily. "Love you Flora."
    "Love you too James."
As she looked into his dad puppy dog eyes, Florence realized just how broken he really was. And she realized that even though all she wanted to do was help, there was only one person who could help James Potter right now, but he didn't go to this school anymore.