When I had gotten to the Gryffindor common room my first night at Hogwarts, Remus apologized for his friends. I forgave him, but Potter and Black were not on my good list. When I told him that, he just nodded understandingly. From then on whenever Potter asked me out, he'd give me a sympathetic smile and try to hurry his group of friends away from me.
My first week had consisted of classes, Potter constantly asking me out, and Sev avoiding me. It was hard enough starting at a new school that I could have done without a stalker and a best friend deciding not to talk to me. On my second day of school, I wrote Rye telling her about the move. I used the light green stationary she gave me for my birthday every year since we met. It had been six days, and she still had not responded.
"Lily," Alice was shaking me.
"I'm up." I said sitting up. Alice was already dressed, so I told her to go ahead without me. It took me half an hour to get ready, and then, I headed down to breakfast.
The Great Hall was practically bursting at the seams by the time I got there. There was fifteen minutes before first class, which meant mail would be arriving any minute. I hurried to the Gryffindor table and took a seat next to Frank across from Alice.
After a quick hello, I heard the tell-tale signs of the post. I turned, almost frantically searching for a letter from Rye. She normally responded within three or four days, and I was starting to worry. Fortunately, I saw a tawny owl fly towards me, and drop a letter next to my plate. I stared at it unblinkingly. The normally mellow light green envelope was suddenly blinding from a single bright red word stamped over Ryndon's name.
"What is it, Lily?" I heard Frank ask.
"Lily?" Alice sounded concerned. "Lily, are you okay?"
I had a vague notion of a hand being waved in my face, but like my friends' voices nothing was penetrating my thoughts.
"Lily!?!" Hmm…Potter? My mind suggested. "Frank, Alice, what is wrong with her?"
"We don't know! She just stopped responding."
"Lily?" Potter, again, but quieter.
Functioning slightly, I handed the letter to the masculine voice. I closed my eyes trying to get the offending red word out of my mind.
"What does it say James?" Alice asked.
"Um…it says deceased…" I felt everyone's eyes turn to me, but I was stiff. I couldn't respond. Rye was…dead. My head could not figure it out. Slowly, I got to my feet and walked out of the Great Hall.
I heard several people say my name, but I did not stop. When I was out of the hall, I took off running.
Days passed in a blur. At first, I did not go to classes or eat, but not doing anything gave my brain too much time to think and remember. When I did start following a normal routine, I spent my free time going over the most recent chapter Rye had given me.
Belles Baguettes Magiques had just docked, and the students' luggage was being unloaded. Until everything was taken off the boat, it was mandatory for all students to stay on deck.
"Lils, I cannot believe you are going to leave me here by myself." Rye said unintentionally whining. With everything being unloaded magically, we had about five minutes or less before I would be leaving France.
"97 days until Easter break, and 175 days until Christmas holiday," I informed her. "My parents said you can come visit us."It was obvious I was dreading the separation and restlessly counting down the days.
"But, but that is such a long time."
"I know!" I told her giving her a hug trying not to cry.
"Write me as soon as you get there."
"Please exit orderly and carefully. Stay safe, and we will see you after the holidays!" I heard the intercom and listen nostalgically wishing I never had to leave.
Slowly, but surely Rye and I descended onto the wharf.
"Lily!" Petty was calling out motioning me to come towards her.
"I guess that means I have to go…Bye, Rye." I giggled sadly at the rhyme.
"Bye, Lils." She hugged me again, and I started towards my older sister. "Oh, wait!" I turned back questioningly. "I have a new chapter. It's the scene you've been waiting for; it's the resolution."She handed me a small stack of papers.
"I cannot wait to read it!"
Three weeks after the letter and I guess to hurt myself more, I requested a copy of the article on Rye's death from a French wizarding paper. It was from the article that I discovered a watered down version of the grisly details. A rising sociopath, a psycho calling himself Lord Voldemort, murdered the entire Knoll family in their home. I struggled through the article, but I never could finish it.
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Emy Note:
I know this is about half the length of my other chapters, but I thought this was where the chapter needed to end. I plan on posting the next chapter as soon as possible.
