Leaving.

Disclaimer: This is a work of Fan Fiction set within the Harry Potter universe. As such all Characters and Locations belong to J.K. Rowling and this work is not being produced for commercial gain.

x

The curtains around her bed were pulled shut.

She sat cross-legged on her bed the letter from her parents open in front of her. She hadn't reached the end of it before the tears had started to flow.

She tried to keep quiet and the stifle her sobs she didn't want the other girls to know, not yet. She held her black and yellow scarf to her face it muffled her sobs and absorbed her tears. She had to get herself composed before she broke the news to her friends.

Thinking about her dorm mates brought another wave of tears. Eighteen months ago she had been terrified but doing her best to hide it from the girls she had suddenly found herself sharing a room with. Now they were closer to her than the sister she had left behind.

They had initially been so different. Meg and Sue, the ones who were from wizarding families. Soph, the blunt spoken girl from Yorkshire but a fierce friend. Han like her, Muggle-borns they called them, at least to their face. She had heard the other terms too. They had both been initially overwhelmed by it all but had been taken under the wing of the other girls. Han and Sue had become inseparable. Meg and Soph and her had become a trio. Quite different in their ways.

Meg struggled with having to do everything in English and often had to pause to describe something when she couldn't think of the exact word she needed. It had taken Sally a week of practicing to pronounce Megan's village. Sophie had never really bothered. Still their differences made them stronger.

She cursed herself for her stupidity. How had she expected her parents to react?

A creature was loose in the school, targeting people like her. She was a second-class citizen here much as her grandparents had been in Germany and they all knew how that ended.

So she had the letter, they would let her stay until Christmas; it was only two more days, then once home she wouldn't be returning. Not to this school. Neither to her friends nor to the shy round faced boy who had never done more than smile at her and tell her who to care for plants.

She would tell her friends soon but not just yet. The boy would never get to know, not until she was gone.

x

It had been an emotional two days for the girls. They drew an aura of exclusiveness around them as they drew comfort from proximity. They boarded the train and took a carriage together. She had her full trunk packed. She wouldn't be back. She took one last mournful look at the castle. Then the train pulled away from Hogsmeade station and she started her last journey from the castle.

She still couldn't believe her dad was pulling her out. He had always taught her to stand up for herself and be proud of what she was. For him to refuse her the option of fighting back when it was always his first choice seemed wrong to her.

All her early photos were of her in mismatched hand me downs. Striking miners didn't have a lot of money and she understood that now. Now that she was older she understood where his scars came from and why he always looked scared whenever he saw a horse.

He had stood up for himself and yet he was taking this choice away from her. It was so unfair. Uncalled for her tears began to fall.

Sophie put her arm around her and pulled her into a hug. "None of that Sal, or you'll start Hannah off again and then we'll all follow. As you're leaving I want to know, who did you fancy? Who did those green eyes of yours follow around the castle?"

Sally-Anne thought of the round faced boy with a gentle voice. She felt a blush rise up her face.

Megan sitting opposite laughed. "Look at that blush. Go on pretty, who was it?"

Sally-Anne finally squeaked out the name. "Neville."

After some teasing, she finally got the other girls to admit their crushes. Hannah also liked Neville, Susan had a thing for Harry as did Sophie, Megan admitted to liking Wayne, although it was mostly because he was the only one who spoke a civilised language according to her.

After they had all calmed down and the teasing had stopped she headed off to the trains toilets, Susan followed her. It was then she gave Sue some instructions and made her promise to follow them.

The rest of the journey went too quick, promises were made of keeping in touch and staying friends but she didn't know what her dad had planned.

Eventually the train came into its station and with a heavy heart, she said goodbye.

A.N.

As it's a new chapter I shall leave it at the end of Odds and Ends. In a week's time I shall move it into its correct chronological position. Which at this moment is the earliest part. I may write an even earlier one.