The Girl From Hufflepuff

Chapter 29

    Two days of nothing pass and each second feels like a million. Florence stays in a haze and Casey has to basically drag her around. It isn't until they're sitting in the common room, now packed with Hufflepuffs. Florence takes notes from her History of Magic book while Casey works on Transfiguration.
    "I have something." Casey says after finishing her paper.
    "What is it?" Florence continues to focus on the paper.
    Casey pulls a rolled up scroll from her pocket and her friends eyes shoot up. "Is that what I think it is?" Florence stares at the letter as if it's poison.
    "Are you gonna open it or not?" She grabs it from Casey who huffs loudly, "ain't gotta be so rude about it."
"Sorry." Florence mumbles but her focus lies with the letter rolling around in her hands. She worriedly looks up, "what if-"
"Florence," she stops her friend mid sentence, "it can't be a death note, chill and just open it already."
Florence looks up at Casey. The girl she's known since first year who's always had a smile on her face through everything.
"How do you stay so positive?" Florence asks in her own demise.
Casey shrugs, "it's the only thing I can do. Only thing I can control anymore."
    Florence nods and Casey leaves her alone in the common room to read the letter. Once she's sitting on a chair in the corner, her fingers carefully open the letter,
Dear Florence,
  James is going through one of the hardest things a person can go through but he's strong. And he's not alone. Remembering the first year after Fred's death still brings me to tears, I felt completely and utterly alone. Like I didn't matter because he was gone. The difference between me and James is that he has you. Sadly, I didn't find Angela until later in life but she still helped me through my grief. What I'm trying to say is, James feels alone right now, as if the whole world is against him. Don't let him face the world alone. Listen to his silence, as it will tell you what he needs.
  You are all good kids who don't deserve any of this and yet the world has punished you for nothing. Don't let this control your life as I let it control mine. Move forward, be children. Live.
P.S. For what it's worth, I'm sorry to even have to be writing you this letter. I thought we would meet under better circumstances.
  Your friend, anytime, George
    Taking a deep breath, she stands knowing what she has to do.
    "Casey, I'll be back!" She calls out to the dormitories.
    "Bring me food!"
    Florence smiles to herself as she heads out of her common area and up the stairs and through Hogwarts. Most the pictures make comments about her but she ignores them, her mind focused only on one thing. On her final flight of stairs, she realizes there's no way to get in.
    Her eyes meet the Fat Ladies and she smiles, "Hi?"
    "What is it now, you little huffpuff?"
    "I really need in, to help James. Please?" She begs.
    Instead of her usual grumpy comments, the older woman sighs, "You know that little Potter is one of the only one of these stupid gryffindors who actually sees me. He talks to me often and isn't a total snob but I haven't seen him in days, weeks even. I know I'm not supposed to let you in but..." the door clicks and glides open, "help him."
    "Thank you, truly madam, thank you."
    She doesn't waste anytime heading all the way up the stairs to his dorm and doesn't bother knocking. She throws his door but James isn't bother by it. She can see his form under the covers of his bed, eyes staring out the window, watching the rain.
    Slowly she joins him on the small bed, propping herself up behind him, free hand running through his hair. He tenses at her touch but falls into it after a moment. In their silence, she doesn't notice the tears sliding down his face until she goes to caress it.
    "He loved the rain." She barely registers the rough words from James dry throat.
    "Oh baby..." she wraps her arms around him and he falls into them, eyes staying on his window. "I'm sorry"
    Time falters as she holds him, sobs wracking his whole body. She doesn't care though, somewhere in her mind, Florence realizes everything is going to be okay. With some time, everything's going to be okay.