The Lost Black (The Predestined Trilogy - Bk 1) (A HP FanFic)

Chapter 31: Howling Solutions

 "Here is a list of books I strongly recommend," Professor McGonagall said, the morning of departure. She had caught me as students started making their way out of Hogwarts and down to the train station. You couldn't tell that she had been hit with four spells and spent nearly a week at St. Mungo's by how she spoke and stood. The only thing even hinting at her injury was the walking stick she was leaning on.

"What if I don't pass the Transfiguration O.W.L.?" I asked with a furrowed brow.

The corners of her lips twitched upward. "I do not allow students unless they received an 'Exceed Expectations' into my N.E.W.T. classes but I can make an acceptation if you receive an 'Acceptable', given your unique situation."

I grinned and hugged her, but immediately jumped back when I heard her gasp and wince. "Sorry," I squeaked.

However, she wasn't upset. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I would have thought she was trying not to smile.

"Enjoy your holiday," she said, giving me one last beaming look before limping away.

"Did you just hug, McGonagall?"

I turned to find Harold with his trunk and a bag over his shoulder.

"I just did," I grinned. "I take it that it's not a thing around here?"

"No," he snorted. "Far from it. Come on, before we miss a carriage."

I slung my book bag onto my bag and grabbed my guitar, trunk, and owl. I looked around the Entrance Hall. Despite living at Hogwarts for over nine months, I still couldn't believe that I was actually here. Roaming these halls, learning magic, experiencing things that you could only read about in stories. I'll be back the following term. After all, Theodore did say that he was going to teach me how to use my Seer abilities and I have to repair the timeline.

I followed Harold out of the Entrance Hall. Zendaya, Arthur, and Cora already left, promising to find a compartment on the train while I stayed back to talk with McGonagall. Once outside, Tracey called for our attention and waved us over to her carriage. Daphne had joined Pansy and Millicent, leaving her friend behind without so much as a glance back.

"We had a fight." Tracey answered our unasked question. She rested her head on her hand and gazed up at the castle as it slowly got farther away. "Differences of opinions."

Harold met my eyes, but he only shrugged.

While I was recovering from the battle at the Department of Mysteries, the Slytherin common room had seriously divided after hearing that Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and Nott's fathers were present there as Voldemort's Death Eaters. Many didn't acknowledge what happened, but there were quite a few that talked about how correct I was. Least to say, when I walked through the common room that morning lugging my luggage, there were a few housemates that greeted me and asked how I was doing and offered to help carry my trunk. Something that never happened before. It was strange, but I welcomed it, and I realized that I was finally seeing what really makes Slytherins stand out. They put up these walls and make these personas to act tough and ruthless, but really, they're just like anyone else at Hogwarts: there to learn, make friends, maybe make a rival or enemy or two, and just live. The other houses aren't the best at hiding, but with Slytherins, you don't know what is going on in their heads unless they want you to know.

And I'm one of them.

At the beginning of the year, I only had Zendaya, but even that took some time. Everyone in my house labeled me as a 'Potter sympathizer' and 'blood traitor' amongst other things. I only knew Slytherin to be deceptive and cunning and the house to hold the 'bad guys'. I was scared and I resented the hat and Dumbledore for letting me being sorted into that house.