After the War.

New Year.

Fourth-year and it was going to be painful. Still, some overdue detentions with the same woman and all of my friends had a divide. Emily wasn't the smoothest and it hurt us all. Hufflepuff became more of a home to me as the faces all loved me and they smiled like hyaenas at me. Something people didn't tend to do in the magical world.

"Hey, Lola. How was your summer?" As I asked all I could see was the smile rapidly growing on her face as she looked at me. Clearly, something had been happening as she began to buzz and then speak to me about it.

"Mum and dad took me to see my family out in Asia. We went to China, Japan, Taiwan and so many of the cities in those three countries are amazing but also dirty. Still, I loved it and we ate some of the craziest things ever. Most didn't taste nice though." She had stopped as Flitwick entered with a huddle of first years behind him.

For what felt like an eternity the hall was filled with words from the hat and then a welcome to the old and new students. Something was right about being in the school but it also felt so wrong. Fourth-year meant that I was going to spend a whole four years away from my old life. It wasn't by any means good or acceptable as my life was a mess. But, my life was all I had.

Eventually, food appeared and I didn't even realise that the woman had finished speaking but she had and so with that I up and left the room. I had eaten far too much on the train and was sure that I would be sick if anything else was eaten. As I looked over the hall I could see that those on the train with me had done the same and so I approached them all and invited them to visit my room. Something they had to really think about before agreeing.

"Isaac, you never told me about your holiday." His face lifted and a smile was held as his arm wrapped around my waist. My head landing onto his arm as we got to my door. Voices picking up as Tim and also Elliot spoke. Emily was quiet for the walk as she had barely anything to say. It had been a rough year and holiday for the boys and it was time that they all got to talk.

"Didn't we just pass your room?" I shook my head and pulled them along. Trying to be quick so that we could talk for longer before the curfew was brought into effect.

"I got a new one at the end of last year because mine wasn't particularly nice or near anything." We had gathered by a painting and the portrait moved aside with that. My hand moving to their hand for a brief second.

As we entered my bags were in my room and the fire was lit. The sofa was close to the door and so we all sat in the living space. Emily sat on the small armchair first and we followed onto the sofa. There wasn't room for me and so I ended up sat on the floor as they spoke about the holiday that we had just returned from.

"Where were you for your holiday this year?" Isaac was a kind boy who always wanted to do well but he often forgot that when he was upset others still can too. Not that it overly mattered as he was learning to do better.

"With Matthew's sister. Melissa was lovely and even tried to go with me and Hermione when we went to get school supplies. I suppose I should tell her soon as she talks like I am going to live with her after I'm done with school. She has to know eventually so I will do it at Christmas, possibly." They agreed with me about her knowing but something rang in the back of my mind about what she was going to say to me. That she may do what Adelaide and Matthew did after discovering about my magic. Kind to my face and then drop me as soon as they could.

That night I slept like a baby and accidentally missed breakfast.
"Barbeque sauce on my freakin' titties I have no clue what lessons I have," I mumbled as I walked from my room. My robes being pulled on and my wand being jammed into my sleeve. Try as I might the day was going to be shocking. It was only going to get worse.