All I Have Left

Chapter Twenty Seven

I told Mother all about the train ride, and she told me it wasn't a dream. It was my first vision.

She refused to elaborate on the possible meaning of the vision, but I knew what that must have meant; I was the one being tortured in the vision. My parents were trying to shield me from the fact, but it was clear.

I didn't have any more visions that summer, only repeats of the vision from the train and auras. Mother said Divination will help me see my "full potential", which I was actually pretty excited for.

I wrote to all of my friends constantly. Hermione and I wrote to each other almost everyday. She would tell me about her and her parents and what they did this summer and I would do the same. Harry only wrote back a few times, his limits being restricted since he lives with his aunt and uncle.

Blaise and I wrote to each other weekly, and I'm proud to say we've gotten closer. He checks up on me and asks if I've been okay since the day on the train, even if I constantly tell him I'm fine. Daphne has probably wrote to me once, but I still write to her a lot anyways.

Malfoy has written to me too, which caught me by surprise. I wrote back, but I didn't write very much in my letters.

Ronald and I wrote to each other often, and he invited me to go with the Weasley's and stay at the Leaky Cauldron with them and Father said I could. We would be going there at the end of the summer, which was nearing.

I spent the rest of my summer reading in the libraries, hanging out with Smiley in the garden, doing homework, studying with Mother, or baking cookies. The cookies weren't bad, and Mother taught me her Mother's recipe. Father enjoyed the cookies very much and asked if he could learn to make them, so Father, Mother, and I made cookies together a few times.

I've also grown quite a bit. My body is... different, which Father fears will draw me to "start talking to boys". My hair has become nicer and calmed down since last year, and I started wearing more makeup now. My baby skin is all gone and I look older, much older, than I did last year. I'm sure that was the same with all my friends too. Mother says I'm growing into a "beautiful young woman", which I believe is what Father fears. Overall, I think I've gotten much prettier.

~

I was in my room reading one of Father's books about the Dark Arts when Rea, my owl, came swooping into my room. A letter was clutched in her beak and she drops it in my lap. I close the book I was reading and put it on the nightstand next to my bed. I take the letter and rip it open while petting my lovely owl. I immediately recognize the rushed and messy handwriting.

Lila

Mum says we are leaving to the Leaky Cauldron tomorrow. We just got back from Egypt, it was great. You should start packing for the trip. Hermione's coming too, and I'm sure Mum would love to have Harry come. I mean, you know her. I'm just excited to see you again. It's been a long summer with my excuse for siblings. I hope two o' clock is good, because that's when the lot of us are arriving.

Ron

I smiled and ran my fingers over the parchment multiple times, rereading the letter over and over again. I then stand up off my bed and walk over to my desk on the opposite side of the room. I pull out a piece of parchment from one of the cabinets and get a pen, a Muggle invention Mother showed us that is much easier to use than a quill. I start writing my response to Ronald.

Dear Ronald,

I am very excited to be seeing all of you again. I'll be sure to make it by two tomorrow, or as soon as I can. Mother wants to come along too, but don't worry, she'll be paying for her own room. She said she's excited to be seeing you guys again, even though I don't recall her ever meeting you. Anyways, see you tomorrow.