After the War.

Christmas.

The students all left and I made sure to promise that I would practice for the game that would be next for us and my presents were left with them as they got ready to leave. It wasn't ever a comfortable setting to be in. A school with only the staff and one questionably minded student.

On my walk back to the castle I walked around the edges of the lake and remembered all of the distant memories from the place. It wouldn't be long until I would say my goodbyes to the school. Not that it was a life-threatening event but definitely changing.

Once the doors were met I walked in properly and saw staff headed in different directions and slowly my mind ticked with memories until I remembered that I had my wand and was able to attempt my spell for the millionth time.

"Expecto Patronum." I waved my wand and there I saw a spark that slowly grew into shape. A pleasant little pine marten. Small and excitable as it ran all the way through the hall and then around me as my feet became lightly tinted in blue and then it was off, running again.

"Well done." The distraction brought me from all of my positive thoughts and I watched as the blue was slowly fading away and then my eyes met a pair of beady ones not far off from me. She had been in the hall for a brief second as she walked away and I saw nothing more of her.

"Miss Flint. You forgot your tablets." I bit my lip and took them from the woman who had appeared out of nowhere. Before finally taking the drink and gulping it down. Breakfast did not end all that long ago. "She used to wear the brightest of colours. Pink, and the sort. A happy face and her hair used to be down most of the time. Things change and so do people but I have a feeling that you not liking her is more down to you knowing how deeply she cares for you, even if she was the first one to do so in a long time." My jaw dropped and I watched as the witch took the cup out of my hand to dispose of most likely. Madam Pomfrey had not only called me out for lying to myself but she had mentioned something that I had never thought of. McGonagall was the first person, perhaps ever, to delve deep into my life and try to know me. Matthew knew about me and cared but he listened to Adelaide and I never opened up to him. Not properly.

"How do you know?" She blinked slowly and then she beckoned me to follow her. We walked the path to her infirmary and then her office. A room she didn't let me enter normally but clearly what she had to say was important.

"I shouldn't have heard it but I did hear Professor Vector tell her that you and another student spoke and you got upset about something. You let a secret slip whilst you spoke about how you believed she hated you. Professor Vector was purely being curious of course." I bit my lip and felt a little bad but then that washed from me.

"I never spoke badly of her. I stated the facts of her actions speaking the truth about her not liking me, it wasn't mean or malicious about her or her character at all. She can't be upset with me. Besides, I have said it to her face before, I told her that I knew she hated me. She didn't correct me." Madam Pomfrey had shaken her head and she sipped at the tea that was in her hand the whole time.

"No, she knows how you feel. That doesn't mean that she was too happy about it. She cares about you and you believe that she hates you. A strong word to use when you aren't sure of how she feels, we both know that you don't really know how she feels about you." My arm wrapped around my body as the other played with the hem of my scarf.

I took that as my time to leave and I gave her a kind goodbye before moving to my room, silently cursing Mike to hell. He may have put me in a situation where I had to tell others about my past and it was good for me but more bad seemed to be spitting at me.

"Miss Flint." I nodded as a passing greeting and also goodbye to the small professor who suddenly came to a stop before me and I nearly fell over him as he blocked my way. It felt mean to step over him so I was patiently waiting to see why he had moved out of his way to stop me suddenly.