Some people found comfort in sitting next to a fireplace or having someone hold onto them and whisper sweet nothing into their ear. James Potter did not find comfort in any of these things, instead finding comfort in food, specifically sweet food th...
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chapter fifteen: the consequences of everything being alright
Matilda had learned something at a very young age when her parents died. There was always a consequence for being happy. You could wait for years for the consequence to come about or you could wait a mere day. For Matilda, the consequences for her complete and utter content came exactly a month after the group became close friends again. December 10th was a day that Matilda began, thinking it was to be a completely unremarkable day but she was still happy.
She was in potions, as usual, joking about with James as he pinched her sides causing her to squeal before Professor Sprout walked in asking to see her outside for a moment. The professor wore a sad expression as she looked at the girl who had a smile on her face, James following her with his eyes as Sprout's hand when and closed the door behind Matilda.
James couldn't concentrate as she disappeared from the class and waited for her return that never came. His stress and anxiety were at an all-time high although he told himself that she was probably fine and Sprout probably needed her for a Herbology-related situation. He knew that she was one of the best Herbology students in the entirety of Hogwarts. The end of the class came about and there was still no sign of the girl causing a deep frown to settle on his face as he picked up his things and hers.
His mind raced as he thought about all the different things that could be happening with her as he walked toward the Hufflepuff common room before sitting down next to the entrance, waiting for her or at least someone to hand her books to. He fought the temptation to go and grab the marauders map as his worry increased. But he was met with the glassy eyes of Evan and Louisa, the two looking at James with surprise as he stood up, clutching Matilda's books and quills in his hands.
"Matilda left the class and left these behind. What's happened? Is she okay?" James noted their slightly disheveled appearances as Louisa stepped forward grabbing the books and quills that were handed to her.
"Matilda's grandmother died this morning," Evan said, his voice cracking at the end of the sentence as Louisa grabbed his hand, comforting them both. James' heart sunk into his stomach as he heard Evans's words.
Matilda had always talked to him about her grandmother, a woman who was her only family, and who Matilda looked up to and had learned everything from. James wanted to rush to her and hold her as she cried and tell her that she wasn't alone. He knew the girl would believe that she was now alone in the world and she had no family, he wanted to tell her that that wasn't true. But he couldn't, she was gone.
Matilda Allens had been whisked away from Hogwarts to pack up her things at her grandmother's, being permitted by Dumbledore to store a lot of it in a suitcase at Hogwarts using an expansion spell. She stood in front of her home, the weather matching her mood as it rained down on her, drenching her hair and hiding the tears on her face. She grabbed her keys from her pants pocket and tried to steady her shaky hand as she tried to put it in the keyhole. She let out a sob as she twisted it, pushing the door open to reveal her dog lying in front of the door, his sad eyes staring up at her.
