I gazed into the distance from the astronomy tower. I remembered the night I left home. I just floated around whenever I was forced to leave school since then. I often waited for muggles to go out of town, and then squatted in there empty homes. It's likely that I had eaten more canned food than anyone else alive. I wondered what might have happened if I hadn't provoked my unstable brother. I sniffled, rubbing tears from my cheeks.
I lent farther over the railing, and watched an owl swoop low over the lake. Maybe I would still be living with my family.
"Miss. Leroy, five minutes until it is past your curfew. I suggest you return to the Gryffindor tower," a stern voice spoke. I tensed at the interruption. We both knew I shouldn't have been up there at all, and really it was basically curfew now, but McGonagall wasn't so bad sometimes.
"Yes, Professor McGonagall." I replied softly, pushing away from the edge.
With a short, dismissive nod of approval, she disappeared around a corner. Maybe I wouldn't be wearing first year school robes from the lost and found, which had been clumsily engorgio'd to fit.
I walked back to Gryffindor tower, breaking into a hasty trot after the grand staircase. It was later than I thought. Maybe, if I had allowed Louis to take out his relentless anger on me, I would be in bed on time instead of sitting up in the astronomy tower crying alone. I raised a hand to my face and it felt hot, still red and blotchy. My eyes were sore. I quickened my pace considerably, if I didn't make it back in time, detention would be given. I thundered into the common room. Once past the portrait hole I sighed with relief. Panting, face wet with tears, I was glad that at least I would have the tower to myself so late at night.
"Is someone crying?" A low voice taunted, laughing actually.
Ugh. Black and Potter were smirking at me like they were so much better than me, and I was not in the mood. They were already getting to me.
"N-not as hard as you will be," I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest, hoping that would make them see I was angry. I wanted them to shut their fat gobs and to dissuade them in their mission to keep on talking to me.
"Is that so?" Black questioned mockingly, his eyebrows raised. I tried to swallow my melancholy.
"Look, this isn't the night f-for it," I said, in what I hoped to be in something of an angry manner.
"Leave her alone, guys," Remus sighed. I realised he was sitting by the fire, reading over a fresh scroll.
"You know what," I said, sweetening my tone falsely. "I have to go upstairs, because Lily will be worried, and she'll want to hear all about this encounter. You won't be getting away with being mean to me. So please, don't bother."
"You wouldn't tell tales, Leroy." His eyes were as round and pleading as moon-sized saucers.
It was my turn to smirk. "Why nn-not?" I asked.
"Because bad things happen to people who gossip," Potter said, as if he was an Unspeakable.
"Are you thh-threatening me?" I asked, rubbing my puffy, red eyes tiredly. Could Potter's ego get any more inflated? I squinted at the boys, eyes dry at last. I needed to sleep. "Goodnight then," I said, and with that I walked to the staircase to the girl dorms.
"Goodnight," Remus called after me. I smiled to him politely before continuing to the stairs. I had never been more happy to have a day over with. I did take the opportunity to vent to Lily who was still up, before getting into bed, and falling soundly asleep.