Chapter 2 is here, and we get to know a little more about just who Lana Avery is. Please let me know what you think. M x

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Taking a seat opposite Hermione and Ron, we waited to hear from Professor Dumbledore, giving us a small speech as he usually did then go on to eating our dinner. I smiled at my friends as they held hands and waffled on to each other, hardly noticing I was even here.

I was pleased for them; no one deserved to be happier than my two best friends. However I often found myself wanting to give them their own time to their selves, which would mean I'd get out of the way for a couple of hours to either study, roam the grounds or visit Hagrid. Finally when they decided to acknowledge me, we began to discuss our essays on our O.W.L.S theory work and how we'd planned to visit the library after the feast to finish them, ready for them to be marked in the morning. However our conversation was cut short as our Headmaster stood before the four Houses. Everybody's attention turned to the front of the Great hall.

"Some of you may be wondering about the delay for tonight's feast and the newly provided table." Eyes shifted at the Headmaster's words to indeed notice the extra table while Hermione and I smiled as Ron muttered his agreement to the hold back on the food. "But I have a special announcement to make."

"Well this can't be good." Lavender Brown mumbled next to Hermione. I frowned as I kept my eyes on Dumbledore.

"All of us here at Hogwarts know of the pain and suffering caused by the times we are in. Help has always been given to those who need it, and I ask you to help those now who need it most." Professor Dumbledore clasped his hands together and leaned into his golden stand. "We offer our school as a home to all of you, but now, in these dark times we will offer Hogwarts to some new students. Now, these students will not be put into houses, but I will say this; you are to welcome them as one of us."

Everybody shifted uncomfortably but with anticipation in their eyes. The doors began to open and everybody turned to watch.

"Please give a warm welcome to the Bostrum Academy students," the Headmaster bellowed as a group of teenagers, the same age group as us, walked in a line of three, two then three again. Two of the girls, one with striking red hair and the other with electric blue, walked confidently past the tables, giving a wink or a smile here and there. The three teenagers at the back looked only to the front of the hall in shyness.

But only one, to me anyway, stood out. She stood between the redhead and one of the boys, leading the group up to Dumbledore. It appeared she was breathing heavily, her dark eyes glistening with nerves and her lips set in a straight line. Her dark brown heavy curls bounced with every step. Her small gloved hand rubbed her other ungloved arm anxiously whilst the boy next to her looked at her with worry.

"Well, I'll be..." Ron mumbled as he seemed to be watching the same girl. Indeed she was beautiful but in front of Hermione? I frowned as Hermione agreed with an 'I know'. I turned back to the group and saw that the dark haired beauty's mouth twisted into a small smile. Her hands reached out as she carried on walking whilst the group stopped as they came to the end of the rows of tables, eyeing her carefully.

She suddenly appeared more comfortable as she warmly reached her hands into the headmaster's awaiting hands and was greeted with a genuine smile. With a quick squeeze, the girl's hands relaxed by her sides and once again, the boy came to stand beside her and moved to shake Dumbledore's firm grip. As the rest of the new students began to join the two, our Headmaster raised his hands up and announced, "Let the feast begin!" then began to greet the dark haired girl's friends.

And soon rows of meats, vegetables and unimaginables appeared before our eyes however most of the students were still watching the eight newcomers. Students began to gossip and share any information they knew, and in particular, there was one topic that everyone seemed to know of.

"Did anyone actually know she was coming back?" Hermione looked at us all expectantly.

Ron gulped down in reply, "I wasn't even sure if she hadn't been taken by You Know Who, or worse, let alone returning to Hogwarts."

Hermione's voice was very quiet in return. "You're not the only one; I assumed her and Elliot had joined him or may have been killed." She shook her head softly. Hermione then looked to smile at Neville knowingly, who sat next to me and Seamus. He knocked a stunned Neville's arm with a grin on his small face.

"You alright there, Neville?"

Neville Longbottom smiled lazily as he returned to look back. "Never better, should we go up and say hi?"

I couldn't take it any longer. I looked my friends in the eye. "Can someone tell me what you're all on about?"

Hermione and Ron threw me puzzled looks, but Ron scoffed quickly. "You're joking, right?"

"Sorry, am I missing something here?"

Luna suddenly got up from next to me and skipped over to the group. She pushed her long blonde hair behind her shoulders and gently tapped the dark haired girl on the shoulder, who quickly turned to look for the culprit. Suddenly her face brightened and she threw her arms around Luna as she did in return. Pulling back, their mouths moved quickly as they chatted away, and then Luna started greeting the other new students in the same manor.

"Harry," Hermione laid her hand on top of mine to return me back to the table, "Do you not recognise her?" She nodded towards the girl Luna had first pulled in for a hug. "That's Lana, from our first year in Hogwarts. Lana Avery?"

I had barely recognised her. She'd certainly grown up, but what did I expect? Vaguely remembering the name Lana Avery and then seeing the beautiful brown haired student instantly sent me back to our first year, where a small and timid young girl and I became very good friends. She had been closer to me rather than Ron and Hermione, but she was well known that year amongst the students for her exquisite talents in magic. Neville had had a huge crush on her for all the time she was with us, which now explained his sudden giddiness, but then Lana and her brother, Elliot, were pulled from the school, without an explanation or a goodbye before we had even finished our first year at Hogwarts.

Rumours had circulated of course after their disappearance. Ones that fitted too: Lana was often caught in lessons, causing spells and commotion without the use of a wand, and when a rumour came around that Voldermort wanted that power on his side, it was understandable how they had fled. She being my best friend, I asked Dumbledore if there was any truth in this; all I was told was that she was safe and I was to trust that everyone was doing their very best to keep her from harm. As for why her brother was taken too, we didn't know.

I gulped. "Do we know why she's back?"

Lavender shrugged and spoke on behalf of our group. "I guess wherever she had been kept safe all these years is no longer safe enough for her now."

The girl we all once knew and loved, those familiar black/brown eyes and enticing curls and brilliant personality, turned round and caught my eye. She held it, with no sign of any emotion plastered onto her face, just for a second, then let my gaze go.