Chapter 20

Disclaimer: Don't own Hogwarts, wish I did but I don't. I also don't own Starkid, though I am a major fan.

As soon as Meredith entered Hogwarts she stormed towards her dorm. When she reached her room she flung the door wide before slamming it as she turned towards her bed, landing face first into her sheets. No one cares. It's only me now. Only me that cares he's gone. Only me that still thinks about him. 'I miss Brian too' how dare she. How fudging dare she even think that never mind say that. She has no idea. No idea at all. I miss him so much and they obviously don't. Do they even care? Did they just forget him? None of them seemed that upset that he was gone. Well Lauren cried but Lauren always cries. They'll all probably be in the Gryffindor Tower now comforting a crying Lauren.

…

She was right. Across the school the group of friends had reached the Gryffindor common room, and sure enough they were all trying to stop Lauren's water works. They all sat in their usual formation except with the absence of Meredith and Charlene, Denise and Julia moved closer and Joime took their friends seats. It seemed more intimate but no one could stop worrying enough to care. Lauren was crying for the second time today but this time it wasn't just sadness, she felt guilty. She should have tried to comfort Meredith, tell her that of course she missed Brian, more than she missed anyone in her life and that she wasn't thinking about what she was saying but her brain just wouldn't work today on the train. The group sat silently while each member replayed today's events in their mind. Everyone asking themselves different questions: What happened? Could I have said something to stop Meredith leaving? How is Meredith? Is Lauren okay? Is Meredith Crazy? Has she gone insane? What would Brian want us to do?

…..

I feel so alone, I miss him so much. Why am I the only one who feels this sad all the time? They were his friends too. They cared about him, didn't they? Maybe they don't care, maybe they never did. Maybe they did it. Maybe they killed him. Yeah, that makes sense. They always secretly hated him but were too scared of him to say anything. They never cared. They're murderers! They killed Brian. Why didn't I see this before? Well they don't fool me, anymore. Time for revenge! Yes, sweet justice!

…

With a flash of green light and a loud bang a deranged Meredith barged into the Gryffindor common room, her deranged eyes meeting the surprise looks of her friends. With a flick of her wand and a loud growl Meredith successful disarmed and tied them together. The group were confused and scared. What the hell was going on? Why was Meredith doing this? Was she nuts? Had she finally gone mad?

"So, you thought you'd all lie to me? Huh? Thought you'd leave little old Meredith out of it? Think it be funny? Well?" Meredith prompted only to be answered by a round of confused faces. They all desperately racked their brains. What on earth was she on about? What did we leave her out of? The silence was becoming too much for them.

"What Meredith? What did we do?" Lauren asked shakily. Meredith glared at her with crazed eyes, before harshly pressing her wand into Lauren's throat.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about bitch. You killed him! You all did. You never cared for him. None of you! Ever! He's dead and you guys are to blame." Meredith spat at them never lowering her wand. The group had a collective flash of confusion before the fear returned to their faces. The only thing the group were certain of right now was that Meredith was insane.

Lauren was terrified. The most afraid she had ever been in her life. Meredith was going to kill her. She never thought it would end like this. Meredith was her friend, she just needed to remember. Tears trapped in her throat as she spoke in the calmest voice she could muster.

"Meredith, please listen. We didn't kill Brian. We didn't, you don't believe that do you?" She stuttered. The wand pressed harder into her neck as Meredith spoke.

"I do because it's the truth. You did it!" The group urged Lauren to say anything with their eyes, praying that Lauren could be braver than they themselves could be.

"Meredith, do you have proof?" Meredith grumbled something unrecognisable. "I'll take that as a no. Meredith why would we kill Brian? Why? What would we possibly gain? He was our friend?" Big mistake Lauren thought as Meredith removed the wand from Lo's neck and growled a hex aimed at a now standing Lauren. Some turned away, some closed their eyes as a green flash burst from Meredith's wand hitting Lauren in the chest. Lauren fell instantly, shrieking in pain.

"How dare you call him your friend. He never cared about you. You killed him! I don't need proof. I know I'm right. There is no one who can stop me now! No one! One murderer down, seven to go," Meredith yelled before cackling manically while raising her wand again, looking like she had just escaped out a mental institution.

Suddenly the laughing stopped as a flash of blue hit Meredith in the back before Meredith collapsed in a heap on the floor before the group.

"Who can't stop you?" said a familiar evil voice. Not her. Not now. The group where shocked. "Well a thank you wouldn't go a miss; I just saved your ass's. Now stop gawping at me and get that pair to the hospital wing! Now Lauren doesn't look too good but I just used a sedation charm on Meredith. Well move" when no one shifted she realised "Oh your tied together!" with a flick of her wand they were free. Joe flung Lauren over his shoulder before sprinting out in the direction of the hospital wing, closely followed by Darren, JoMo, Joey, Jaime and Dylan carrying Meredith. There was an awkward atmosphere when it was left to just the three of them. Denise was the first to say anything.

"Thanks by the way. But why? Why did you help us Bonnie? You hate us. You nearly killed Lo in first year now you may very well of saved her. Why?" She asked genuinely curious but she had tight grip of her wand in her pocket just in case. Julia stood with waited breathe for her answer. Bonnie thought for a minute before she answered.

"I don't know. I've been taking anger management classes for the past two years, and seeing a physiatrist. I've been working through my problems and I discovered the reasons behind why I'm so mean to people and a lot of it has to do with abandonment issues. I've always been possessive and even though I've been working on it when I saw Meredith tower over Lauren's body something in me just snapped, like an old forgotten feeling that I needed to protect her. Don't ask me why but I felt I needed to help her. If I was to tell Nicholas that he'd call me crazy..." Bonnie rambled.

"Yeah, that makes sense. Sorry for intruding but Nicholas as in the Nicholas we used to hang out with in first year?" Denise asked trying to make conversation. Julia felt the grip on her wand tighten as Bonnie laughed.

"Yeah, Nicholas he's my boyfriend, funny story we actually met out my psychiatrist's office. We've been dating about a year and a half." Bonnie laughed to herself until the room became uncomfortably awkward. Julia opened her mouth to speak before Bonnie interrupted.

"Look I have something to say to you guys. I was going to say it when more of you guys were here but … anyway I wanted to tell you I'm sorry. I mean really sorry. If I could go back in time and undo every mean thing I ever did, I would, you've got to believe me. But I can't and all I can do is apologise. I was young, I was stupid and if I'm being honest I'm pretty fudged up in the head, always have been, always will be. I just wanted you to know how sorry I am. I'm not looking for forgiveness by the way. I could never do that. I've done too much. I don't deserve forgiveness. I know if I was you I would have hexed me into oblivion by now but I just needed to let you know that I am truly sorry for anything I ever did to you." Her voice dimmed to an almost whisper towards the end, tears threating her eyes. When suddenly Denise and Julia did something she wasn't expecting. They enveloped her into a hug.

"I don't know if this is because you just saved me, my friends and my sister or that you genuinely seem changed but Bonnie, I never thought I'd say this, I forgive you. "Denise stated friendly with a confirmed nod in agreement from Julia.

"If only I'd tried being nicer years ago we could have maybe even of been friends." Bonnie smiled

"Well, let's not push it to far Bonnie" Julia said failing at hiding her laugh at Bonnie's look of horror. "I was joking. If you were my friend you'd know that was sarcasm." The three girls laugh quickly before Julia turned solemn all of a sudden. "Maybe we should go see how Lauren and Meredith are."

….

Meredith blinked rapidly waking herself up. Her eyes were still blurry as she took in her surroundings. She was in the hospital wing, she didn't want to be. She didn't want to be anywhere anymore, no she wanted to be somewhere, she didn't know why but she felt drawn to the bell tower. As she got up to leave she felt jolted back being pulled by her arm. When she looked down she saw a shiny magic chord tied around her wrist and the bed. Great, she was restrained. This didn't stop her as she pulled out her emergency wand she kept in her sock. She wasn't in her normal clothes she was in a hospital gown that was ghost white. With a flick of her miniature wand she was free and on the move.

When she reached the tower the cold air hit her like a stone wall. Anyone in their right mind wouldn't have been up here tonight, it was too cold. But I'm not in my right mind. I'm crazy. I attacked my friends, my friends. I accused them of murdering Brian then I hexed Lauren. Why did I do that? Why? Meredith looked up at the starry sky. I hope you're not up there Brian. I don't want you to see me like this. Meredith felt the ring around her neck heat up gently but she guessed it was just the fact the air was so cold that anything would feel warm. I never meant for this to happen. Why did I do that? They'll never forgive me. Hell I wouldn't forgive me. No one should, I don't deserve it. Sometimes I think you got the easy way out Brian. You didn't have to suffer two years of torture without your best friend. You didn't have to wake up every day and know that you were never going to feel anything other than the same depression you felt last night when you cried yourself to sleep. Maybe you had the right idea. Who wants to live? Not me. Not if every day will be the same misery the past two years have been. Not if I have to live without you. No one will care if mad Meredith doesn't make it past tonight. I can't handle this anymore. It's my time, my time to join you. I need to see you, I will. Meredith raised her wand to her chest. This was it, time to meet up with Brian. Avada…

"Wait stop! Don't Meredith! Mer Please Stop! NO WAIT! Please… Don't…!"