After the War.

Christmas.

It was no secret that I had been struggling. Mainly due to my actions that were unexplainable. I went hot then cold, angry then stubborn. One thing though, I was not was quiet ever. Staff heard from me and my friends all knew where I was. Nobody seemed to notice my change though so I pretended that I was perfectly fine.

"Right, girls, what are we up to today?" Their eyes all held mischief and I smiled at them. Trying to stop any comments though as I waited to hear what they would be doing for the day. That didn't take long as they let their eyes move up to the head table, a smirk was heavy on their faces and then a book was pulled out.

"All you have to do is distract the professors or some snitches from the area until it is done. It will only be like three minutes and then we can go." All I could do was smile and so I picked up an apple and agreed to their plan. I had no lessons until lunch when I had double transfiguration so I felt like the day was going to be all right.

"Well, I can meet you all in the hall in three hours? Then I can head to transfiguration straight away afterwards. Keep my mind busy for a second." They seemed to agree with the plan but my mind became busy as owls all swept down and letters landed. The view was one thing I could never get used to. Students smiling as they heard from family about the holidays coming up and just as I began to imagine the perfect holiday with my family a letter dropped onto my empty plate and I could see the scruffy writing of Matt as he had clearly taken over talking to me.

Dear Iona Amara Flint.

I read over the cover and noticed that I was a Flint and not Austen anymore. He was clearly not in the best of moods or he was having second thoughts. But his words would wait until I got into my room and so I stood abruptly. A few eyes moving to me as the three others all looked at me. Smiles still stitched on their faces as they spoke to one another.

My legs shifted and soon I left the Gryffindor table and began walking in the direction of my room to try and breathe before opening the letter and just as my luck would have it the walk was so short that my mind still hadn't calmed but that didn't matter as I touched the bricks and whispered before finally my entrance was granted and I sat on the sofa, a lit fire warming me as I slipped the paper open to read.

Hello Iona,

I must say that I was hoping to hear from you after my last letter, I am hoping that you received it and as I haven't had it returned I guess you have and I want to apologise if it has upset you but we both know how tough Adela finds her pregnancy. I just ask that you respond this time as I hope to hear from you. Adela speaks often of you and wants to see you but the doctor is still sure that your departure after the holidays will do her no good.

Iona, I love you and you should know that but for this summer my sister has told me that she is able to care for you during the holiday. She has mentioned helping with school supplies but she doesn't realise about your magic and after your reminder before you left we have decided to not tell her. Perhaps a friend could come with you, just like last time.

On a happier note the baby had a scan and we now know that Adela is having a baby girl and when she is born I have no doubt that you can hold her for as long as you like. Just like Theodore and she will be just as pretty as Adela and you are.

We really are missing you and hope to hear soon. We are sure that so much has to of happened and yet all we know is that you have friends and all of the houses fit you perfectly. I bet that is so fun and I hope you are learning as much as your brain can handle, that being a lot of course.

Your brother in law, Matthew. XXX

The letter was placed into the fire and I got to watch as it burnt and added fuel to the flames. My eyes stang but I blinked the pain away and walked out of the room. Pretending that my mind wasn't running at over a million miles an hour and that my heart wasn't actually, physically hurting. Palpitations taking it over and my heart shattering in a split second as the halls were walked.

I found myself in all sorts of places but as a chime hit the school I checked the time and realised that I was due to meet the others soon so I headed in the vague direction of where we were due to meet. It was such a bad description that I ended up getting confused but as I went to give up and ask someone if they had seen the three I heard their voices. Speaking of them waiting for me and so I rounded the corner and gave them a large smile.

"Right, Emily and I will be here, Isaac and Iona if you could protect the hall from either side. Iona on this side because more people come from there and we all know you are better at distracting them than he is so don't disappoint us now, Beautiful." I rolled my eyes at the comment and stood in the place that was picked out for me. Nothing being sounded as we all moved in silence and so when steps did sound it was all the more nerve wracking but my quiet pacing had me distracted and so when a person was seen it seemed more believable when I just gave a slight sort of smile and I turned around again.

"Should I even ask what has you so perplexed?" It had to be her. It always was and I felt heat climb up my neck into my face.

"Sorry, Professor. Not the best morning for me. How has your day been?" She closed both eyes a fraction looking at me sceptically and then she raised an eyebrow.

"I received a letter about you today but I haven't read it yet. Could it be about the same thing?" I was suddenly claimed by anger at my old family and the walls seemed colder than before.

"Probably. I shan't be returning home for this holiday as my family are, well, I can't return and I have a feeling I shan't be leaving until the summer with all other students. I assume that is what the letter is about as originally I was due to return back home." The eyebrow that she had already lifted was sent further and as this happened I saw my three friends all pass me. So much for no witch left behind and all that.

"I wasn't aware of you ever returning home. I was told specifically by a Mrs Austen that you are to stay all year until the end of the year." She looked like there was more to say but the disbelief in what I had said hung the heaviest.

"I, I wasn't told about that. Sorry to waste your time Professor. I must be off, I have transfiguration now." My head dropped and the hall was walked when a sneeze was heard and clearly the plan had worked, on her at least. I knew it was cruel to do it to the whole school but I was hitting a heartless streak for a short while.

The heartbreaking truth of my sister not wanting me hit and I walked feeling sunken and battered. The halls filled with students, many were sneezing as I passed and their skin grew to glow a little. My skin was as it usually was but I knew I would have to fall subject to the spell eventually as the hall was a busy one that led to most places.

My self-pity stopped as the classroom was spotted and I walked in. Taking a seat at the back as blue and green filled the rest of the room. My eyes sticking to the front and my usual seat was empty as I had always sat there. Joking and laughing with the Slytherin portion of the room whilst the blue part would join in on occasion. Not for that lesson though it seemed.