Waking up to find so much had changed, that was hell. When I awoke, I was surrounded by my friends, Parvati, Seamus, and Dean. Dean had survived the Snatchers, thank Merlin, and they had all survived the war.
Seamus exhaustion was my first observation. He looked weary just sitting in the chair by my bed, and I noticed Parvati was sitting on my bed rather than the chair. Seamus, with his gentlemanly acts, would never take Parvati's seat unless necessary.
The second thing I noticed was that Dean had a large scar crossing his forehead, almost horizontally, and not at all like Harry's famous lightning bolt one. Harry's looked cool, an interesting point of converstaion. Dean's, deep and still raw, looked painful.
My third observation was, though Parvati was dressed as well as ever in a dark blue tunic dress and polka dot leggings, her eyes were red and bloodshot, as though she'd been crying a lot.
The fourth thing I noticed, something that surprised me, was that I was in a private room. It was rather small, with only one chair by my bed, but I had a table, a door to what appeared was my own bathroom, and a large cabinet, as well as a wireless.
" You guys look like hell," was the first thing I said. Dean and Parvati had been playing chess on the table in my room, while Seamus was reading a Qudditch tabloid. All three jumped, and Parvati squealed, launching herself at me. " Lavender!"
Seamus and Dean held back, under Dean's orders. I heard a soft whisper, " Don't crowd her. Healer Blakely said she might still be sore." " Welcome back, Brownie," Seamus told me, giving me the lopsided grin I loved. Dean grabbed my hand and started massaging my knuckles.
" How long was I out?" I asked. Seamus looked awkward as he said, " Two weeks." " Two weeks?" I asked. Dean said, " Greyback was pretty vicious, Lave. Healer Blakely said you're lucky to be alive." " Greyback… Oh no," was all I said.
I turned to my friends in horror. Parvati's eyes filled with tears as she nodded and hugged me tighter. I couldn't say anything for a few moments, before I said, " Can you three please leave for a while. I… I need to be alone."
It was four days of being awake before the social worker came to see me. " We need to discuss where we'll be placing Autumn, Lavender." " What do you mean where you'll be placing her?" I asked, getting suddenly very pissed off. " You'll be placing her with me, her of age sister."
The social worker, Raine Reynolds, was looking rather fearfully at the scars I knew I had on my body, my arms, my legs, my face, my neck… " Lavender, you are old enough to know that the chances…" " I am her sister." " You're a werewolf. And I have been informed that you wish to return to Hogwarts this year." " I am Autumn's only living relative," Lavender said. " My condition is of no concern to you, and if going to Hogwarts means I can't keep Autumn, I'll get a job instead."
Mrs. Reynolds hesitated. " Please, mam," Lavender said, looking at her desperately. " Autumn is all I have left. I would never hurt her." Mrs. Reynolds's eyes became misty as she said, " I'll see what I can do, Lavender."
The Death Eaters had killed my parents that December. Autumn had been living with some of our parents' friends since then while I got through Hogwarts, though they'd made it very clear they didn't want a five-year-old girl running around their home all the time.
I thanked Mrs. Reynolds as she left and turned blankly toward the wall. Taking a deep, painful breath, I sighed. Everything was changing. Greyback had just been the beginning. The beginning of the scars.
Author's Note:
How was it? Can I get some feedback please? I'd really like to know what you thought. Thanks!