Everlasting ⁂ Harry Potter [1]

Chapter Twenty Three

Olivia pulled on the handle of her trunk, handing it off to one of the men tasked with putting it away. With only Caramel's cage in her hands now, the owl peacefully napping away within it, Olivia took a look around. It was an odd sensation, much more different than when she was doing this for the Christmas holidays. This time she was leaving for longer, and after everything that's happened it felt unusual to think of being away from Hogwarts for months.

"Come on now! You'll be late." Hagrid's voice reached over the crowd as he helped the younger students board the Hogwarts Express which was meant to take them all back home for the summer.

As Harry, Ron and Hermione joined her side after putting away their own luggage, the four friends moved towards one of the entrances of the train. They looked over to Hagrid, waving their last goodbyes until they'd see him again. Ron was the first to move aboard the train, Hermione following close behind him. Once Liv started to move as well, she looked back only to realize Harry wasn't following after her.

"Are you coming Harry?" She asked him curiously, wondering why he was hesitating boarding the train with the rest of them.

"One minute." Harry announced, and with nothing else said, began to move towards where Hagrid stood, towering above the heads of many students of all ages, rushing around to put away their things, find their friends and reserve a compartment aboard the train.

"Hey guys, hold on." Olivia called out into the train, catching the attention of Ron and Hermione once again and making them walk back towards her. All three now grouped together at the door of the train, their eyes watching as Harry went over to Hagrid to say a proper goodbye.

"I'm going to miss Hagrid, and Fang." Olivia said as they all waited for the Potter boy together, her comment on the dog making Ron give her an odd look. "Oh don't start again, he's a dog, he can't control his drooling." She stopped Ron before he could even utter a word, making Hermione let out a small laugh of amusement at the two. Just then, Harry's conversation with Hagrid ended and the black haired boy walked back to his friends.

"Feels strange to be going home, doesn't it?" Hermione asked once they all stood together once again, both Olivia and Ron nodding their head as to say that they couldn't help but agree. However, unlike them, Harry looked back at Hogwarts for a moment before replying.

"I'm not going home. Not really." He said, a small smile appearing on his face as he looked back at the school which he had grown so fond of in the last year. The Dursley house he had never considered a home, but Hogwarts, Hogwarts was entirely different. And Harry now knew he loved it as much as anyone would a home.

The whistle of warning blew through the air, and with one final wave to Hagrid, and one last look at the school, the four finally boarded the train, following Ron as he lead them towards the compartment he had managed to snag before Liv called him back. As she sat beside Harry on one of the benches, for the first time, Olivia noticed something his hands as he opened up the small book and looked at something inside.