I watch Lupin trudge out to his carriage, carrying his luggage. He'd resigned, I assume he didn't want to risk hurting anyone.
It's a nice day, warm, clear skies, students wandering the lawn. The sun was starting to go down on the last day of Hogwarts, feasting finished in the Gryffindor-clad hall. I was perched in a tree, not very high up, just enjoying the light breeze. As I close my eyes, smelling the leaves, I'm bizarrely reminded of the crows nest of the Argo II. It was where I spent the most time, keeping watch, avoiding the seven. In an odd way, I missed it.
But then I'm interrupted by quiet clamouring under the tree. I crack my eye open, looking down. Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas are down there, shoving each other and quietly arguing.
"Can I help you?" I ask, voice just loud enough to hear.
"Yeah." Dean starts. "We're going to have some candy, and were wondering if you wanted to join?"
"Harry and Ron will be there, too." Seamus adds.
I stay silent for a moment, considering. I didn't overly want to, but Will had urged me to be social in recent letters.
I must have been taking too long. "I told you he wouldn't want to." Seamus hisses at Dean.
"Okay." I say, interrupting him. "I'll join."
They looks surprised, but Seamus regains his grin as I hop down from the tree. "I knew you'd accept! C'mon!"
The two Gryffindors lead me into the castle, up through the staircase, and into the Gryffindor common room. It was a lot nicer than I expected, less like a messed up party house and more elegant. They bring me up to their dorm, where Harry and Ron are waiting.
"You got him!" Harry smiles.
"Nico, mate, catch!" Ron tosses something at me, which I instinctively smack away. The others are silent for a moment before bursting out laughing.
I pick it up, discovering its just a chocolate frog.
"Oh..." I'm a little embarrassed, and they just laugh more.
But eventually they calm down, and we settle down, eating and talking. We talk about the year, quidditch, summer, and anything we can think of. Dean hands me a black coloured candy with a mischievous grin, making me wary as I eat it. It tastes odd, but I don't know what his look was for. Until...
"Mew!" I slap my hand in front of my mouth, but then I start purring, meowing again behind my hand. The others laugh, and each take one themselves. Ron flutters like an owl, Seamus makes a sound like a boat horn, seawater coming out of his mouth, Harry screeches like a monkey, and Dean barks. I hiss at him, not because of the candy. I was just starting to... Have fun. I felt comfortable, and happy.
We're together until late in the night, laughing and eating magical sweets, none of us worrying about the next two months. For now, we just smile.
YOU ARE READING
Nico di Angelo and the Prisoner of Azkaban
FanfictionThis is the third book in my Nico at Hogwarts series! Nico goes back to Hogwarts in his third year to continue his slow quest. Even though he had begun again with the golden trio, can they be friends anymore? What will Nico's boggart be? What does...
