Chapter 7
Madame Pomfrey arrived soon tutting, "I see far too much of you Miss. Vickery!" her eyes soft with concern, handing me a potion, "Here, drink this. It'll take the pain away." I took the potion with open arms and drank quickly. The warm, buttery taste spread through my body and did clear out all the pain. I felt better then I had in days. I vaguely heard James mutter something about not staying long but couldn't care what he was saying. Snuggling up to James I viewed everyone that was around me. I had Al, Lily, Hugo, Fred, Roxy, Dom, Scorp, Louis, Molly, Lucy, Ginny Potter and most importantly, James. All of these people cared for me and I could never forget that. In 2 months I'm starting my NEWTs, and do you know what? Bring it on.
2 weeks later and we are all sat at the Gryffindor table in the great hall when two owls arrive at the table. The first one is carrying a letter that says Lucius Malfoy had been sentenced to at least 15 years in Azkaban, his release date will be reconsidered when that 15 years is up. The second one contains invites for us all to Teddy and Victoirie's wedding. It's taking place on the 5th August 2022. I'll be living at the Potter's at that point so it'll be quite easy to sort out. SO excited! Teddy and Victoirie are finally getting married! James had his scheming look on though. That is never a good thing.
"Ut-oh! Everyone step away from James! He's plotting!" Even James chuckled before leaning down to me for a snog.
"Nothing you need to worry about Red." He assured me, pulling me into a tight hug with his arms around my hips. Settling back, I rub my head into his chest to get comfy and grin. I feel so safe and warm! I've not felt this warm since I was about 5 out in the sun on the ranch and I've not felt this safe since… well… I've never felt this safe! Another owl swoops down and lands on my shoulder, sticking it's wing in James's eye.
"Ow!" he mutters, blinking rapidly as I rip the letter off it's leg letting it fly off at will.
"It's from the Hollyhead Harpies!" I squeak, ripping it open and reading through it as fast as I can.
"Well… what's it say?" Al asks excitedly whilst James just squeezes me, something that emits so many different emotions to me that I have no clue where to start.
"I've been accepted onto next years team!" I squeal! This is unbelievable! I… will be the new chaser for the HH next year, Ginny Potter played for them! To be fair to myself, I am apparently the best chaser Hogwarts has ever seen… I honestly doubt that one!
"Wow Red! Congrats!" and numerous variations of this can be heard from around the table being directed at me but the only opinion that matters to me is whispering in my ear.
"Well done Babe, I knew you'd have no trouble getting on." James says in a flat voice, giving me another, tighter, squeeze.
"Ready to come with me?" I whisper back.
"Wha-?" Is all James can think of in reply gaining a chuckle from everyone at the table.
"Come on, let's walk." I take his hand and pull him out to the Courtyard. "You're coming with me to Wales J, whether you like it or not, you are not getting rid of me that fast!" I joke, leaning into the hug I know is coming. Sure enough, it comes, but with a lot more force then I anticipated. James sweeps me up and twirls me round in his arms.
"Red, that's… that's… that's great! It was going to be so weird living without you! There's only one problem though, I want to work as an Auror at dad's office." His beam fell for a moment as he thought about our separate dreams and the distance between them.
"Well, you can apperate, floo, and I won't be working all the time!" I murmur softly as I lean up and stroke his cheek, earning myself a tight hug and a lip-nibbling snog.
"Sounds like you've got everything worked out then Red." He says softly.
"Well, this is me J! You know what I'm like!" I exclaim producing a chuckle from James and an extra squeeze.
"Come on then Red, We've got some NEWTs to revise for."
A month later all the 5th and 7th years are waiting in the great hall for exam timetables, I can't believe it's NEWT time already and I feel so unprepared! Luckily after the week finishes we have our final quiditch match and then we just have to pack to go home! Well, my new home with James, Al and Lils, They're already like family so it should be easy to settle in. Emphasis on should… they're a slightly crazy family, tempers from Aunt Ginny but slightly longer. Could be interesting. I get handed my timetable and groan at it. Potions exam first then Herbology. Tomorrow I've got Potions theory followed by Charms Theory. Wednesday is Care of Magical creatures and Transfiguration theory. Thursday is DADA theory and Transfiguration. Friday is DADA and quiditch! Turns out, if you play quiditch throughout your time at school you have to take a NEWT in it. Best, news, EVER! Friday won't even feel like an exam day for me!
NEWTs week passes surprisingly quickly. I didn't have many mistakes though Fred's cauldron did physically blow up in potions. I think it was more down to the exploding Snap cards that James put in then to what Fred did to his potion, I could be wrong though. My biggest hiccup was in Transfiguration when I transfigured my worm into a straw it still wiggled. Was funny watching the examiner drink out of it though! She looked petrified that it kept moving! It went better then Dom's… she managed to create a whole herd of Blast-ended Skrewts from her worm. They had to stop the examining. Whoops. Last exam next, quiditch theory and practical, if this doesn't go well then I have no hope for any of my exams… so if I screw this one up… I have no NEWTs… at all.
Last day of term, one word to describe it, Chaos.
I'm stood with Lils and James waiting for Al to wrestle his was through the crowd. When he finally gets here cursing the "stupid first years" under his breath we set off for a carriage to take us down to the train. James and I could apperate off but I want to ride the Hogwarts express for the very last time. When I think about it, this year has gone so fast. It seems like only yesterday that I was arriving for my last year, family behind me, and exams ahead of me and now I'm leaving. No family, exams behind me, heading towards a professional quiditch career and living with the potters full-time. I have no clue where my 'brother' is, he disappeared not long after we got the news of my parents death. He just left. Nobody could find him anywhere, as he didn't have the trace on him any more, it's like he just, poofed. Can't say I'm really going to miss him though, wasn't like we got along or anything. I fill my last train ride back with exploding snap, wizard chess, jokes and just general conversation but all too soon we're getting off the train, Ginny waiting to take us home, to where we belong.
