The corridors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were dark and chilled by the night. The only light came from the dimmed fires posted at every pillar along the corridors. The castle was silent as its occupants were sound asleep in their warm beds, snuggled under the warm blankets. The students' dreamed of many happy things, some dreamt of not so happy things, and others simply did not dream. The silence of the corridors were broken by the soft padding of tennis shoes on the stone ground accompanied by the clicking of nails that belonged to a short haired, brown, standard dachshund.
A girl walked down the corridors with her head held high and her left arm in a cloth-made sling. Her brunette hair with a natural red tint to it was pulled up into a ponytail that was messy. She wore a pair of simple blue jeans and a blue t-shirt that were both torn and burned and stained with blood. Her exposed skin matched the clothing as it was dirty, cut, and bruised. The cloth sling had been made out of the jacket she had been wearing. The thought of dreams were far from her mind as she made her way down the corridors toward the head master's office. What was on her mind though was all the times she had seen these corridors. She had been near death where she was coming from and now she couldn't help but think of where she had grown up. Like many of the students in Hogwarts, it was her home, but to her the term took on a much stronger meaning.
The girl managed to make her way up the moving staircase and through the dark corridors with her dog without waking any of the portraits which she was grateful for because if they were to awake to see her, they would wake everyone in the castle and that was the last thing she wanted to happen. A small smile graced her lips when she finally reached the gargoyle which guarded the headmaster's office and she gently prodded him to wake him up.
"Passwo-," he started to say but stopped when he opened his eyes and saw who stood before him. "Ah, Lucy. Good to see you've returned safely," he said softly and Lucy's left side of her mouth lifted slightly. "He's been awaiting you." He slid aside to reveal a moving spiral staircase that led to the headmaster's office. She and the dachshund made their way up the stairs quickly and opened the large oak door without knocking. The dachshund ran in ahead of her and circled the room as Lucy closed the door softly behind her and then surveyed the room. The headmaster's office had not changed since she left. Silver devices filled the tables and shelves, some producing smoke and making sound. Thousands of books sat on all of the shelves against the high walls. The Sorting Hat sat atop one of the shelves, sleeping. The portraits of previous headmasters and headmistresses slept soundly in their frames. Fawkes the Phoenix sat perched on his silver stand next to the elegant oak desk. Upon seeing Lucy enter, Fawkes stretched his wings and lifted from his perch to fly the short distance to her shoulder. He saw the long gash that adorned her right forearm and tilted his head down and to the side so the two tears he produced would land on the gash. Lucy couldn't help the smile as the gash smoked with the magic held by Fawkes' tears and the gash healed without a scar. Lucy kissed his head when he tilted it her way as thanks and he flew back to his perch.
"You have not been to see Madame Pomfrey yet," a kind and age worn voice spoke from just in front of a door slightly in the back of the office. Lucy's eyes glided over to a man dressed in light blue robes with silver embroidering and met his blue eyes behind his half-moon spectacles. He was an elderly man whose white hair and beard was long enough to tuck into his belt and his eyes held a slight sparkle that only his could hold.
"I was going to see her after I saw you – I thought you'd be happy to know I'm alive," she told him with a smile. Dumbledore chuckled and nodded and walked toward her. The dachshund watched them from his spot on the floor in front of the desk. Dumbledore stopped in front of her and opened his arms which Lucy practically ran into. She wrapped her right arm around his waist and he hugged her gently but firmly to him. Lucy sighed and took in the comforting smell of the headmaster. Dumbledore let go of her after a minute and led her to a chair in front of his desk.
"I take it you did well?" he asked sitting down in his elegant high backed chair. Lucy let out a breathy scoffed and nodded.
"I did well," she said. "After all, I am here am I not?" she asked. Dumbledore smiled.
"Yes you are," he replied. "What happened?" he asked her.
"The ring was where you said it would be," Lucy started and dug a small, green satin pouch out of her pocket and handed it to Dumbledore who ran it through his nimble fingers. "I didn't expect anyone to know I was there, but something set an alarm off and Bellatrix showed. We dueled and I'll have to admit that I thought she was going to kill me, but Remus, Tonks and Kingsley showed and got me out of there," she said and slightly shuddered at the thought of dying. Claude, sensing her discomfort, jumped up into the chair with Lucy and curled up on her lap. Lucy smiled at him and ran her hand over his soft fur.
"I am sorry for putting you in harm's way, my dear," Dumbledore told sincerely. He didn't like the thought of Lucy in any kind of danger. Lucy shook her head at the man.
"I volunteered, Dumbledore. He needs to be stopped and I will put myself in harm's way if that means stopping Him," she told him seriously meaning every word coming out of her mouth. Dumbledore nodded believing her and slipped the ring out of the pouch. Lucy's eyebrows crinkled and she flinched slightly as she got an evil feeling from it. "That thing gives me the creeps," she said. Dumbledore nodded solemnly and sat the ring down on his desk.
"Thank you for retrieving this, Lucy," Dumbledore told her. Lucy nodded and stood up from her chair after Claude jumped off of her lap. Lucy nodded.
"Of course Dumbledore," she told him.
"Now I want you to go straight to Madame Pomfrey for her to fix that arm of yours," he told her looking over the top of his spectacles at her. Lucy chuckled and nodded.
"Of course, I wasn't thinking anything else," she told him. Dumbledore smiled and watched as the almost 18 year old made her way toward the door of his office with her dog. He thought of the fact this was her last year at Hogwarts and after years of watching over her, she was going to be out with the Order and not under the safety of Hogwarts. Lucy paused when she opened the oak door and turned back to Dumbledore. "Dumbledore?" she asked.
"Yes my dear?" he asked her. Lucy bit her lip for a minute.
"He hasn't found out yet as he?" she asked. Dumbledore smiled knowing whom she spoke of.
"No, my dear, you know you're the only that can tell him," he told Lucy who took a breath and nodded. She made to leave, but Dumbledore stopped her. "Lucy, I'd tell him soon," he said.
"I know, Dumbledore. I know," she told him. Dumbledore gave her a smile.
"Sleep well, Lucy," he said. Lucy bowed her head in thanks and exited the headmaster's office. Her and Claude made their way down the spiral staircase, said goodnight to the gargoyle, and then started down the dimly lit corridors toward the infirmary. They were just a corridor away from the infirmary when Lucy ran into Nearly Headless Nick who had been floating the other. Lucy gasped slightly when the chill of being touched by a ghost washed over her and stopped.
"Oh my dear girl I am so sorry," Sir Nicholas said upon hearing her gasp. Lucy laughed and turned to face him.
"It's alright Nick," she told him. Nick's face lit up seeing Lucy.
"Lucy! I heard rumors you would be returning soon. I am glad to see that they are true and you are back alive," he told her floating a bit closer. Lucy chuckled slightly.
"You know that I would've come back one way or another to haunt with you," she told him and Nick smiled at her.
"It lightens my night to hear you say that." He then noticed her am in the sling. "Going to the infirmary are you?" he asked. Lucy nodded.
"I am."
"Well then, I'll let you be on your way. I have to finish my nightly hauntings," he told her. Lucy smiled brightly. He grabbed her right hand and kissed it in goodbye. The chill from before washed over Lucy's hand but she smiled. "Goodnight Lucinda," he said then disappeared through a wall.
"I told you not to call me Lucinda," she said after him toward the wall. She heard a floating laugh and knew Nick had heard her. Lucy rolled her eyes and shook her head and continued to the infirmary, but unfortunately she and Nick had woken a portrait or two and she soon heard them whispering, "Lucy's back! She's returned!" By the time she was through with Madame Pomfrey, the whole castle would know she was back. Lucy finally arrived at the infirmary and pushed one of the large double oak doors in and walked in. Madame Pomfrey hurried out of her office hearing the door open and knew who exactly was walking into her infirmary.
"Oh thank Merlin, Lucy. You're safe," she said with a relieved sigh as she hurried over to Lucy and led her to a bed. Lucy sat down as Claude hopped up behind her and let Madame Pomfrey start examining her. "My goodness dear, what happened to you?" she asked as she untied the sling and gently moved Lucy's arm. Lucy winced at the pain.
"Oh you know, dueling dark wizards," she said with a chuckle. Madame Pomfrey shook her head at the girl and then nodded.
"Your arm is broken, but that's an easy fix," she said with a smile and then turned to fetch a potion Lucy knew well. Madame Pomfrey poured the orange potion into a glass goblet and Lucy made a face as she hand it over. "Come now, dear. Drink up," Madame Pomfrey said sternly. Lucy closed her eyes and gulped the potion down. Once she had swallow she made a disgusted face. It was the foulest thing she had ever put in her mouth. "That's a girl." Madame Pomfrey took up the goblet and put them aside as Lucy's arm started tingling and burning slightly. The mending of bones was not a pleasant feeling, but it was better than re-growing bones. "Did Claude accompany you on this journey?" Madame Pomfrey asked as she set to healing the scratches, burns and bruises that covered Lucy's body. Lucy nodded and patted Claude's head.
"I needed his help, he's got some nose on him he has," she said. Claude picked his head up and Lucy spotted a smile on his lips.
"He's one amazing pet," Madame Pomfrey said glancing at the small dog.
"Did anything happen in my short absence?" Lucy asked the nurse watching as she healed a nasty burn on Lucy's stomach. Madame Pomfrey shook her head with a laugh.
"Not much can happen the first day, Lucy," she said. Lucy smiled and shrugged.
"With Fred, George and Seamus in this castle? Of course it can," she said with a smile. Madame Pomfrey looked up at her.
"You should add yourself to that list," she said. Lucy pulled a pout.
"That sort of hurt Madame Pomfrey," she said and Madame Pomfrey just shook her head.
"All you missed was the feast and the introduction of Delores Umbridge." Madame Pomfrey's voice took on a note of venom at the name. Lucy grimaced.
"She's not a likeable person," Lucy said shaking her head to add emphasis to her words. Madame Pomfrey only nodded in agreement.
"How's the arm?" she asked. Lucy glanced down at her left arm that had stopped tingling and burning a minute ago and stretched out her fingers and moved her wrist without any pain.
"All healed," she said happily. Madame Pomfrey smiled and took Lucy's chin between her thumb and pointer and turned her face to the side to get a look at the bruise that adorned Lucy's temple down to her cheek bone.
"I'm afraid this one is too bad to heal by magic," she said with a slight tut and released Lucy chin. Lucy's right corner of her lip twitched upward and she shrugged.
"It's alright Madame Pomfrey. I don't mind a few bruises and scars. They leave stories to be told," she told the nurse. Madame Pomfrey smiled at the girl. She was unusual, but in a good way. She always saw the light in dark things and managed to find something good about something bad.
"Well, you're good to go," she said patting Lucy's knee. Lucy smiled and hopped off the bed. "And please try to stay out of trouble. It's your last year dear," she said as Lucy and Claude made their way to the doors. Lucy turned around.
"I can't make any promises Madame Pomfrey," she said with a wink. The nurse huffed.
"And get plenty of sleep!" she called after the girl just as she slipped between the door. Lucy chuckled softly and looked down at Claude as they made their up the moving staircase toward Gryffindor Tower.
"You happy to be home boy?" she asked him. Claude looked up at her and gave a bark. Lucy smiled and looked around herself.
"Me too," she said. The soon arrived to the long corridor that at the end held the portrait of the Fat Lady and Lucy could've sworn she heard footsteps run away from them. It wouldn't be surprising, if the portraits had done what they usually do and gossiped all the way to the portraits in Gryffindor Tower who would've woken some of the students. "What'd you think boy? You think they're up?" she asked Claude as they neared the Fat Lady. Claude just looked up at her and Lucy chuckled. After the Fat Lady had stopped fussing over the fact that she was back, Lucy gave her the password and she swung open and Lucy and Claude stepped inside the short corridor to the Common Room. Upon entering said common room she was immediately tackled from both sides by two tall, identical, ginger boys. Lucy made a face as they hugged her at the same time.
"Fred! George! Please let go of me," she begged and then heard laughing. "Oi. Shut it Lee," she said, but the laughing didn't stop nor did the hugging.
"No way," the ginger on the right said and Lucy knew it was George.
"You disappear before we leave for Hogwarts without an explanation," the one on the left said and Lucy smiled slightly hearing Fred's voice.
"And then we have to hear from portraits you're back," said George.
"There is no way we're letting go right now," said Fred. Lucy whined softly.
"But I can't breathe," she complained and Claude gave a bark.
"Don't care," the twins said at the same time. Fred and George Weasley had been Lucy's closest friends since their first day at Hogwarts when they met her before the Sorting Ceremony. She had stumbled in late with a dachshund puppy following and they had liked her from the moment they saw the glimmer of mischief in her eyes when she explained to Professor McGonagall why she had been late. (She said it was because she had gotten lost, but the twins now knew that wasn't the case.)
"Okay, c'mon boys. Let her go." Lucy smiled widely at the sound of the thick American accent. Fred and George let Lucy go and Lucy opened her eyes to see her best girlfriend standing with her arms crossed over her tank top clad chest. Her waist long brown hair was pulled into a loose and messy bun and she had plaid pajama pants over her long legs. Lucy smiled sweetly at the American girl who had also been Lucy's best friend since the Sorting Ceremony. (Lucy had heard her say one word and wanted to be friends because of her accent.)
"I'm back," Lucy said with a shrug. Hydie glared. "Hey! At least I didn't die, Hydie," Lucy said dropping the smile.
"That doesn't make it better, Lucy," Hydie said sternly. Lucy pouted.
"Will you just bloody hug me already?" she asked. Hydie rolled her eyes but took the three steps to hug her best friend. Hydie hugged Lucy tightly to her thankful she was alive for she knew exactly where Lucy had gone off to. Lucy smiled when Hydie let her go.
"Oi! What am I? Chopped liver?" a dark skinned boy with dreadlocks asked throwing his hands up. Fred, George, Hydie and Lucy sniggered.
"Oh I'm sorry Lee. Of course you're not," Lucy said and hugged him tightly. She had met Lee the same time she had met Fred and George and they became close. Lucy then turned back to the twins who had the same flaming red hair, lanky build, and freckles to hug each one properly - though Fred's hug lasted a bit longer.
"Where did you go? And what happened to your clothes?" George asked looking over her burned and ripped clothing.
"And what happened to give you that nasty thing?" Fred said pointing to the bruise on the side of Lucy's face. Lucy smiled slightly and slapped Fred's hand away.
"I was on a mission for Dumbledore and events happened that were unexpected," she explained briefly. Both the twins and Lee's eyebrows knit together. Fred didn't like the secrecy.
"Was this one of his secret missions? Dad went on one last week," George said and Lucy nodded.
"I wish I could tell you more boys, but I can't," she said with an apologetic look. She hated keeping secrets from her friends. Lucy bit her lip thinking of the biggest secret she was keeping.
"Not your fault you can't tell us Luc," Lee said and Lucy glanced at him with a small smile. She then tried to stifle a yawn, but Hydie couldn't.
"We need sleep – especially you Lucy. Plus classes start tomorrow," Hydie said and the four looked at her. "So off to bed," she said sternly and pushed the boys and Lucy toward the staircase.
"Yes, mum," George said as they reached the stairs to the boys' dormitory. "Goodnight Luc," he said and kissed her head he then bent down to pat Claude on his head.
"It's nice to have you back," Fred added and also kissed the side of her head. When he did so, Lucy felt small tingles run down her body and she smiled at the boys.
"It's nice to be back. We'll see you in the morning," she told them and then she and Hydie climbed the girls' stairs to their dorm that they shared with Alicia Spinnet, Katie Bell and Angelina Johnson. They carefully opened and shut the door silently with Claude following them. Once in the room, Claude ran over to his and Lucy's bed and jumped up and watched as she quickly changed out of her torn and mangled clothes and into a pair of pajama pants and a tank top.
"I really am happy you're back, Lucy," Hydie whispered to her and Lucy smiled at her in the dark as she crawled under the warm blankets of her bed with Claude.
"You have no idea how happy I am to be home," Lucy told her and Hydie smiled lying down to fall back asleep. It didn't take long for the events of the day to catch up to Lucy as Claude made himself comfortable in the dip of her stomach. Her eyes fluttered shut and her mind began to shut down with exhaustion and it wasn't long until Lucy had entered the dream world that was sleep.