Disclaimer: Although all the mentioned Harry Potter characters belong to J.K. Rowling, the plot of THIS story and any un-mentioned in the Harry Potter book characters are mine and figments of MY imagination. Thanks
Harry straightened up after pushing the last thing into his already overcrowded trunk. Looking fondly around the room, he smiled, remembering all the good times he had had in it. The four poster beds were just the same as they always were, some of the hangings ripped, and a bed or two messy. Harry smiled again, and looked at his own bed where he had slept for the past six years.
In the fall, all of Harry's old room mates would be back, Neville, Seamus, Dean...but two would be missing. Harry and Ron weren't coming back.
As Harry looked over the now empty room, tears unconciously came to his eyes. Harry wiped them away, annoyed at himself for getting teary about a ROOM. A sound in the doorway made him turn. In the doorway, stood one of Harry's best friends in the world. Ron Weasley cleared his throat awkwardly and rumpled his firey red hair. "Um, Harry? We have to leave for the train any minute. Are you ready to go?"
Harry nodded and stroked Hedwig softly before leaving the room. The house elves would take care of the luggage.
Down the winding staircase Harry followed Ron to the Gryffindor common room where other Gryffindors were saying goodbye to their fellow classmates.
"Seems weird to think that we're not coming back next year, doesn't it?" Ron muttered to Harry.
Harry nodded silently, scanning the common room anxiously for a bushy, brown head. He spotted the head in question, talking to someone else and he nudged Ron's arm, pointing to where their other best friend, Hermione Granger was standing. Pushing through the crowd, saying good-bye to others as they went, they finally came to stand by Hermione.
"Ready to go?" Ron asked, placing his hand on Hermione's shoulder, turning her around.
When Hermione turned, both Harry and Ron were surprised to see that her eyes were red and puffy.
"Hermione, are you all right?" Harry and Ron both asked her.
Hermione nodded, brushing the tears in her eyes away with an impatient gesture. "I'm fine, really. I just never thought that it would be so hard to leave Hogwarts when the time came," she explained.
Harry nodded understandingly while Ron shook his head with a puzzled look on his face.
"Girls," he said, "They always get so darn emotional about everything!"
Hermione looked at Ron disdainfully. "Just beacause girls have feelings does NOT make them emotional," Hermione retorted.
Harry ignored both of his friends. He was too used to their bickering by now to mind. It was only if it got out of hand (when they were in danger of not speaking to each other) that Harry intervened.
Looking around the familiar common room, Harry tried to memorize every detail. He looked at the cushy arm chairs by the fire, the paintings with their moving occupants and, of course, the people. Finally, Hermione and Ron finished their heated argument. Looking at her watch, Hermione tugged both Harry and Ron by the robes.
"Come on you two, we have to get out to the train."
Harry stumbled through the portrait hole after Ron and Hermione, taking a last look at the common room before the Fat Lady swung shut behind him, closing him out...forever?