The Doe

The Lady of the Lake

I closed my trunk softly, placing my hands on top of it momentarily. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I hauled my trunk off my bed and made my way to the front of Hogwarts. The Great Hall was empty as I entered, the echoing of my footsteps making my nerves rise even more. I allowed my trunk to settle on the floor as I fiddled with the buttons on my coat, staring up at the windows behind the professors' tables. A pair of arms snaked around my waist, a head resting on my shoulder as I lent mine into it.

"What are you thinking about?" James' voice asked from beside my ear.

"You, Sirius, Remus, Peter," I sighed.

He turned my body to face him, searching my face questioningly. I smiled sadly, placing my hands on his chest.

"You boys can't leave Hogwarts right now, I can't ask you to leave for me," I shook my head.

"Mads, we've already gone through this, we-"

"Prongs, please," I begged, looking up at him as he stopped talking and nodded his head, "You told me that this is what I'm meant to do. You told me that this is how I change our world. I need to do this alone."

"...I don't understand what changed," he told me, almost sounding hurt.

"Nothing, I just-" I sighed, "I can't ask you to do this."

He took my hand.

"I hate to break this to you, Bambi, but I am coming whether you like it or not. We all are. You need us there just as much as we need you."

I kissed him softly as my nerves lifted for the first time in weeks.

"Alright break it up before you all make me swoon," Sirius' sarcastic voice called from the entrance to the Great Hall.

We laughed and pulled apart just as Dumbledore rounded the corner.

"Ah, splendid, you are all here. Nicolas is expecting you all momentarily, I wish you all the best. And, Miss Chase? You know how to contact me should you need to," he told me, before ushering us towards the nearest fireplace in an empty classroom.

"Flamel Cottage will be your home for the next 7 months. Should you need us, you will always be welcome back at Hogwarts."

And with that, he left us alone. Sirius took a handful of floo powder, standing in the centre of the fireplace.

"Flamel Cottage," he announced, clearly.

After a minute or so, I wouldn't know exactly, I was standing as one person. I took in the wooden tables, chips and engravings making the surface rough. The candles with dried wax hardened in place during its journey to the candle holder. The forgotten pots of ink dismissed on the teacher's desk, the broken quills keeping them company.

"You're coming back, Maddie, stop being stupid," I said aloud to myself, shaking my head slightly.

But for some reason, I had this feeling, this overwhelming dread, that I would never be just a Hogwarts student again.

"And you must be Miss Chase."

I looked up at the man stood before me. He was taller than the boys, with greying hair and a thin frame. He had wide, sparkling eyes and long, deep purple robes.

"I am," I smiled, offering my hand out, "Nice to meet you Mr Flamel."

"Please, call me Nicolas," he grinned back, shaking my outstretched hand.

"Then please call me Maddie," I insisted.

He nodded, before leading us into the living room.

"Whilst you stay with me, you should class this house as your home. Maddie, you won't be here as often as the others, but you should still know you are welcome all the same," he explained, before turning to the stairs and taking one at a time.