The Girl From Hufflepuff

Chapter 28

    The school year started back and all the kids went back as if nothing ever happened. They had never went on this adventure and Bradie had never died because it didn't even seem like he even existed.
    The small group of kids walked the halls in agony listening to the faint whispers of "Isn't that the girl?", "Wasn't he best friends with the kid that died?" , "What was that kids name again, the one who died?" Each kid had to walk on with the pain and guilt they held inside.
    Only a few days after starting back, Florence sat at the table in her room, thought filling her head as she tapped the empty scroll in front of her. She had no clue how to start the letter to George Weasley.
    The candle was the only thing keeping the room lit from the darkness outside. Florence continued to think when a door opened. Casey entered rubbing her eyes, "When do you sleep?"
    "You think I sleep?"
    They smile at one another and Casey plops down onto her bed, "So, what have you been up to in here?"
    Florence spins around in her chair to face her friend, "I'm writing a letter."
    "That's a mischievous smile, I know that smile." The sleepiness from Casey's eyes has disappeared completely. She crawls across the bed to get closer to Florence.
Florence hands drop into her lap and she flips a pen in her fingers. "I might be writing a letter to George."
"Florence," Casey huffs and rolls her eyes while rolling of the bed, "you can't let anything go, can you? You need to give James time. Just stop pestering him and let him grieve in peace."
"Do you want me to leave you in peace?" Florence counters standing her ground against her best friend. "Because I can leave you to the nightmares."
Casey's head pops up, "Fine." She huffs. "Write the letter but the lights gotta go."
"I'll use lumos, now lay down and shut up." Florence gives her another smile before blowing lightly on the candle. With her only light gone and the quietness returning, she whispers a small, "Lumos." And the tip of her wand lights up.
    She's left to her thoughts. That would be terribly only a couple months ago but now the quiet was a peacetime. Her quill taps rapidly against the paper.
    'Dear George, ' she writes. 'I hope you are doing well as I wish I could say the same. You are probably aware of the death of Bradie, James best friend. I'm at a standstill on how to help him. I'm writing to you because I know you understand the grief he's feeling after losing his other half. If you could just write back, please. I only want to help.
    Sincerely, Florence.'
    She tosses the quill aside and reads the letter over and over again. After the tenth time, a voice calls out, "Oh, just send it for gods sake!"
    "Casey, but what if-"
    "Nope," Casey's quick on her feet and straight to the door, floating the letter to her. "Let's go."
    "Where exactly are we going?"
    "The owlery." Casey shrug.
    Florence peers at the time. Half past twelve. "We can wait till morning."
    "No, no, no, I already don't get to sleep because of you. I'm not waking up early either." She complains and pulls Florence by the arm out of the dorm.
    Florence doesn't argue as she knows it'll do no good. As they near the door, she pauses. "What about teacher?"
    Casey looks at her as if she's just turned into a ghost. "Honey, when have we ever cared about teachers?"
    Florence sighs and Casey continues their pursuit. Since it's located in the west tower, across school, they use back hallways and tunnels to get there rather quickly.
    The ascent up the spiral staircase is treacherous upon their feet.
     "We're here." Casey turns and says. Florence can now see a wooden, rustic door. "Stay quiet. We don't want the owls to go crazy or anything."
    "How would you know?" Florence questions.
    "I have an owl."
    "Oh, I didn't know that."
    Casey rolls her eyes and heads inside. Florence follows. This is the first time she's ever been in the Owlery and it's quite beautiful.
    A breeze hits her the moment she steps inside. The open window has dozens of owls flying in and out. Casey heads to a row and bends down.
    "Florence, meet Pweep." She whispers with a smile. "He'll take your letter to George."
    "Hi, Pweep." Florence admires the golden brown owl. She gently hands his the rolled letter and Casey whispers something in his ear. He takes off into the dark night getting lost among the other owls.
    They stand and watch him disappear completely.
    "What do we do now?"
    "We wait."