The whole Potter family apart from Harry; Rose, Hugo, Hermione and Hazel all sat round the Potter's enlarged dining table in silence. Eventually Hazel couldn't take it anymore and before asking if anyone wanted a new cup of tea she headed into the kitchen. She busied herself by putting the kettle on and was just beginning to search for the teabags when she heard the door creak and then heavy footsteps. Two slightly muscled arms enveloped her and she rested her head on a shoulder. His comforting smell filled her nostrils: she felt calmed and safe and they both stood there in silence just holding onto each other's company.

A shriek was heard from the dining room; Hazel and James sprinted back and stood in the door frame as Mr Potter and Mr Weasley flooed in to the hearth. James ran forward to join his family but Hazel stayed back, not wanting to intrude on the moment. But Mr Potter broke the embrace looked up and walked over to her. "Thank you Hazel, for being there for James. He's told me what you've done for him; I'm eternally grateful."

"I just wanted him to be alright I didn't do anything special," she replied modestly. Harry gave her a knowing smile and retorted,

"But what you don't know Hazel," his voice turning to a whisper, "is that love and friendship is the best weapon we possess. A very wise wizard once told me that and it took me years before I believed him." smiling wistfully he beckoned everyone to sit at the table. He and Ron began to explain what had happened after they had left.

"Several Aurors are injured but it's nothing St Mungos can't handle," explained the tall ginger man.

"Unfortunately the main culprits escaped but they left the dark mark above the house so we're pretty sure who we're dealing with. But our main priority is to keep everyone safe. We're going to have more Aurors at Hogwarts and I've already cast some more charms around this place." He explained, putting on his Head Auror voice.

Straight after that it was half term and Hazel went home for a week. She didn't contact James very much at all because she thought that he should be with his family. They had sent a few owls back and forth but she spent most of her time revising or flying in the enchanted meadow down the road. She started to miss performing magic and felt so left out when both her parents and Marcus were casting spells all over the house. Even James was seventeen now; his birthday was during the crisis of the last few months and had gone past almost unnoticed. He had told Hazel all he wanted for his birthday was Lily back. Unfortunately her own birthday was still several months away and she had to make do with physically peeling vegetables and mopping the floor. Marcus often laughed at her when she was doing chores as he waltzed past causing all the dishes to jump into the dishwasher.

It wasn't long before Hazel was re packing her trunk and saying goodbye to her parents on the platform. She looked for James before eventually climbing aboard the train and continuing her search. Eventually she found her friends carriage and sat down next to Louis. James was sitting in the corner and he looked up Hazel when she entered. He looked at her then gestured to the corridor, slightly confused she got up and he followed her out of the carriage.

"So why have you been ignoring me all holiday?" James asked, sounding slightly hurt as the door slid shut behind him.

"What? I have not been ignoring you!" Hazel answered feeling very confused.

"Why have you not answered any of my letters then?"

"Because I never got any letters" she said incredulously

James laughed out loud, "Nice try, I definitely sent you at least three."

"Seriously James, I received no letters"

"Are you sure?"

"Yes"

"Well what happened to them then?"

"How am I supposed to know? Maybe we should tell a professor when we get to school"

"No, it'll be nothing my idiot of an owl probably just lost them. Don't worry, well it's great to see you" James pulled Hazel into a brief, affectionate hug before pulling her back into the carriage. Although James brushed off the missing letters Hazel had a niggling sensation in the back of her mind that this was a bad sign.

The train ride back to school was as loud and hilarious as ever. Louis insisted on playing several rounds of exploding snap even after the head girl came in to complain about the noise. James adopted a strangely life like impression of her that had Hazel and Annie snorting their pumpkin juice out of their noses.