After the War.

Sometimes it Has to End.

Sleep was so heavily laying on me that I almost missed the raging woman at the end of my bed. Her hair was a mess and something had clearly happened to annoy her. Her voice was crisp and she held a tightness that I hadn't experienced for the six weeks I had been there for.

"We need to leave minus five minutes ago. Come on." I was up and sprang into action. Clothes pulled on and the car jumped into. She was a nice woman but I couldn't look at her properly. Knowing what she had really thought of me at first.

"The baby is gorgeous and I have no clue why they have reservations about you meeting her at all as you have been nothing but kindness since I met you and if I mention you and the things you do they tell me that it all sounds like you. I am sorry that they have done this." The last words I heard before she jokingly motioned me out of the car and out to the station. Where I walked all of my things to the wall and then climbed aboard.

"Hey, how was your summer?" Emily had pulled me into the compartment where the other two also sat and I hugged them all. Though the question was quickly avoided as Isaac and Apollo spoke about the holiday they shared for a few of the weeks. Spain and Portugal were enjoyed. Turkey was visited as they travelled spontaneously.

When we finally arrived back the four of us were separated. Isaac left with me and so I leant in as he watched the other two.
"You can still go for it. If you really like her we may only be 12 but we are young enough for it not to make it awkward." He shook his head and wrapped an arm around me.

"No, I told you I don't like her. I'm just upset is all. They have these lives filled with happiness and yet I have to sit here with my parents who pushed marriage when I was a baby. I would be married now if it was up to them." The pair of us looked out of the window as the castle grew closer to us. I was silent for a second but then I responded openly.

"I know that telling them how you feel won't help so I won't tell you to do that. Just, make sure you are as happy as you can be." His arm pulled from around me as the castle was practically under our feet and so we could climb out. That was when he responded.

"No, I'm going to marry the ugliest and I don't mean looks but ugliest personality and she will only like me for my money." I furrow my brows before thinking up what I thought needed to be said.

"That doesn't have to happen..." I was cut short by his outburst that held so much venom I questioned who he really was.

"Yes it is Iona. You don't know anything you are just some girl who will never have this, you don't have a family that will stick for long enough to do this to you." I stopped trying to keep close to him whilst he tried to pull away and instead I let my body be like a ragdoll as I was pushed and pulled through the groups of people until the hall was met. From there I noticed that the Gryffindor table was farthest on the right and the Slytherins were on the far left. And there I sat with my back to the rest of the hall.

"Hey Tim, how was your summer?" I questioned rather loudly as the hall was filled with conversations and Tim was across the table from me. Tim was a boy eager to please and it was no secret that he was always willing to be there for me. He was also the best a girl could get. I liked that he was so open about it all and accepting of the Gryffindor portion of my friends.

"All right but it would have been better if you were there too." He was smiling at me and I gave him the toothiest grin I could and then winked whilst licking my teeth. The flirt was obvious and he knew that I was always up for a little joke. Something we both got along with. "Careful flower," He commented and I giggled with a high pitched sound. His face lit up when I had made the noise and a second later he walked around the table and placed an arm around me. I let him do it as he pulled me closer and whispered into my ear, "what has you so upset?" As I went to whisper back the room silenced and then footsteps were audibly heard as first years walked in. Fear over their faces and eyes also moved to the ceiling. Unfortunately, the student at the front was so caught up in it that he stepped onto the cloak of the professor. Making him fall and some of the students. Laughs filled and more than one red face was seen appearing through the bodies of older students as they reached the front of the hall.

"Can we talk a little later?" I whispered back and he nodded. My hands finding his and playing with the hem of his sleeve. Nerves as to how he would react hit but Tim was reasonable with me. He was kind and he never did anything if I specifically asked him not to do it.

The students all got sorted and none of them were like me. I was starting to think that a trend was set but it wasn't so I turned to face the table. Hearing the words of McGonagall but not listening to them at all as I waited for it to all be over. Not that it would be over quickly as food still had to appear.

"Hungry?" I was so caught up thinking that the food had escaped my notice and that was where I finally turned it down. Deciding to get an early night and so I stood slowly. Trying not to draw any attention to me. Not that it was easy to do. With so many people in the room someone was going to notice.

"I want to sleep. Catch you tomorrow at breakfast I will be joining you." He nodded and I gave him one of the tightest hugs I could before walking from the room. Glad of it being a Saturday, I could have a day to myself and look over my timetable at breakfast.

The walk to my room was quiet and I had to think up a new password, for the life of me I had nothing until my previous conversation with Isaac crossed my bitter mind and I remembered my adoptive mother and a story she used to tell me. My father was against her telling it as it was utter rubbish but every night I would toss and turn until the story was told to me.

I tapped the stones and uttered what would be the password for the year; "Dougal McGregor." An odd name but the name of a man that stuck in my heart and so that would be my password. My heart was feeling homesick already and I had hardly been at the school for long but it didn't matter.

I climbed into the room, stroking the cat and then packing my clothes away in my draws. Uniform was off and the usual top and shorts were pulled onto me so that I could sleep. That didn't last long though as a knock came to my door and I had to jump up. None of my clothes would help me cover up and so I just opened it. Walking into the hall and letting the brick close behind me.

"Look, Iona I just wanted to tell you that I am sorry. I wasn't thinking and it just came out." I looked at the disheveled boy before me and a stubborn nerve was struck in me. All the worst parts of me flaring at once towards him.

"If you weren't thinking then you were speaking what you really thought. That hurts more than if you were angry and just going for me. Look, just leave me the hell alone. I'm in no mood to deal with you at all." I bit back and he went to speak but a harsh and strict tone sounded out instead.

"Mr Andrews, I believe that it is bed time and Miss Flint is trying to get you to leave. It wouldn't do well for Gryffindor to lose points before it has had time to gain any." The threat was there and with that the woman came into view. A short man at her side as they walked. Clearly deliberating on something.

"Yes, professor." He left and McGonagall stared him down before I was given a similar look and so I turned and uttered my password only to hear steps that faltered and then she mumbled, almost scared and for the first time ever I had seen her weak.
"How do you know that name?" I just walked into my room as tears were already threatening my eyes at my run in with Isaac.