I slung my luggage over my shoulders, looking at my room for one last time. As I made my way downstairs, I looked at the photos that adorned the wall, trying to remember every detail. All of the photographs were from I was a child and contained memories that seemed like a blur to me.
"Ah, Aria, are you ready to go so soon?" Grandpapa asked as he refolded the local newspaper in his lap. I threw my belongings by the front door.
"Almost. I just can't seem to find Dmitri." I walked into our small, compact kitchen and started to prepare his food. Hopefully the smell will allure my familiar. Right on cue, I felt fur brush up against my ankles.
"You hungry, boy?" I smiled down to Dmitri, my black cat. I found Dmitri many years ago when he was just a kitten. He was ill and injured, and I nursed him back to health. We have been inseparable ever since. I grabbed his food bowl and I filled it. I watched him eat as I prepared breakfast for Grandpapa, Garth and myself.
"You nervous, little one?" Grandpapa asked as I set his food in front of him. I shook my head in response as I placed Garth's food in his spot at the table.
"No. Why do you ask?" I sat in my chair next to him.
"Well for starters, your hands are shaking quite a bit," he smirked knowing he was right. "Look, Aria, I was in your position once before. I know how you feel. Your parents cannot help and teach you during these years, but transferring to a new school will really do you good."
I know he had a point – both of us knew it. He understood the struggles I'd been going through these past few months. Moving back across the water doesn't make a person any different. I was so lost in thought that I didn't even know Grandpapa was still trying to talk to me.
"Do you have everything?" His voice brought me out of my thoughts. I 'hummed' in response, eyeing the floor.
"I guess I just don't want to start at a new school for my last two years" I played with the silver ring on my left pointer finger.
"I understand, Aria, but you have to finish schooling. It was a promise I made your mother and father. Think of it this way, you'll be back in your old school and you'll get to see your old friends."
That's right. I've been gone for a little over three years. Right before my fourteenth birthday, my parents took me over sees to America for a 'vacation' – it was only last month that Grandpa came to retrieve me after the accident. I've been living with him and Garth since then, and now I'm supposed to start back at Hogwarts in two days. I don't know why but I can't seem to remember anything from when I was younger. I can see faces, but it's distorted and blurred like its being blocked.
"I guess," shrugging, "I just don't know why I had to come back here to finish my two years. I mean, I would have been living in a dorm any way. I don't understand why I just couldn't finish up in America" I sat next to Grandpa at the table and I noticed Garth's food was gone. "How does he do that?"
"I stopped questioning it years ago" Grandpa replied with a chuckle. I'm going to miss this.
"What time is it?" I asked, suddenly getting nervous.
"It's time, little one," he grabbed to plates from the table and headed to the kitchen. "Come on, I'll give you a lift to the train station." I stood up from the table and headed to the front door, picking up Dmitri on the way. Stepping out the front door, I turned to say one last good-bye to my home. I was surprised to see Garth standing there.
"Garth! I'm so glad you came to see me off!" I ran up to the elf.
"Stupid child, I didn't come to see you! I just knew your Grandfather would need help lifting your trunk" he retorted, walking past me and helping Grandpa. He has such an attitude, but I'll miss it.
I watched as they loaded all of my belongings into the car – silly boys wouldn't even let me help.
"Alright, we're all done," Garth started to go back into the house when he stopped next to me. "Be safe." I smiled.
"Ready to go, love?" Grandpa yelled from the car.
"Yeah, I'm ready." I sat next to him and placed Dmitri on my lap. I sighed and leaned my head against the window. Let the journey begin.