AN - This chapter is in honour of my Grandad who just passed away.

Chapter 28 - Ostera

Friday 12th March

Harry was walking through Chinook when Oliver ran up to him. His last quill had broken, so he needed some new ones. Harry had to admit that the Chinook shopping area was practical for Parchment and Quills. It was always a struggle at Hogwarts. Hermione had taken to Owl ordering in bulk and then selling it to the rest of the Gryffindors in their year for a discount. It was a discount because she got the discount buying so much so frequently. Harry knew it was only a slightly less struggle for the older years. They could go to Hogsmead once a month, but you had to make your supplies last that month. At Magere, they didn't have that trouble. You just went to Chinook and brought more as you needed.

"Harry!"

"Hey, Oliver." Harry looked at the older boy. Since getting ill last month, he had been avoiding the other Hogwarts students as much as his friends.

"You been avoiding us? Is everything alright, Harry?"

"Yeah"

"Alright, you are coming tomorrow, though, right?"

"Tomorrow?" Harry frowned

"Trick flying competition. I'm taking part."

"Oh yeah, sure. What time?"

"In the morning, third time slot."

"Right. I normally have my appointment then. But I can go a different time."

"I thought you got moved to fortnight. You were there last week" Harry went red as Oliver confirmed he had been watching. Even if he hadn't come straight out and said it.

"They put me back on weekly after I got sick."

"Because you didn't go yourself", Oliver sighed. "Never mind. We all had to be dragged there."

"What you mean?"

"None of us went on our own, Harry. Even I had to be taken. Sick days are normal here, but not at Hogwarts. Everyone tries to avoid Madam Pomfrey due to how she is. Two days for a broken arm, honestly. But here, it is different."

"I didn't know that"

"No, I didn't think you did. I bet you also missed Aspen losing her wand for fighting. Or that Harley got put in detention for a prank gone wrong."

"Which was that? The one that made everyone sing all Sunday or the waterfall on the Library door that removed all glamours."

"The Library. Got in the way of people studying, and a sensitive ended up in the infirmary. The older students of the group got tons of detentions since they should have known better than go with that idea."

"No, I didn't know. I avoided the Library that day."

"Good thing too. But really, Harry, you can talk to us, remember? We're a team, the Hogwarts lot. I'm arranging a meeting for next week for us to talk. We need to decide if we're going back to Hogwarts or not. Come tomorrow if you want. But we all need to talk. I have to go." with that, Oliver quickly left.

Harry watched him go. He wondered how he had missed so much. How they had become so distant. They had visited him when he was ill, but Harry had barely noticed when they were. He was just so tired and so busy. Hogwarts seemed like a world away now. Shaking his head, Harry turned and headed to the stationery shop. He still needed his quills, or he wouldn't get any work done. Nothing would change that.

The following day Harry spoke to Luke about going to the Trick flying competition. They decided to go to the competition and then go to his medical appointment. It wasn't a formal slot and just a drop-in. One benefit about being at a boarding school, he guessed. Nymira and Isur joined them as well. The Quidditch pitch wasn't as packed as it had been for Nymira and Isur's match. Harry found a spot in the stands and saw the rest of the Hogwarts lot sitting together across the way. They waved, and Harry sent a small one back as people started congregating on the pitch.

Oliver was standing in the middle of the group chatting before one of the teachers walked out. Harry didn't recognise him, so he guessed he must be one of the upper years. But that wasn't too important. There seemed to be some talking before all the students lined up and mounted their brooms.

"They'll start with a speed race, then an obstacle course. After that, you can show your skills. The panel judges you..."

"Panel?" Harry asked. Nymira pointed to where the headmistress and deputy's head were sitting together in front of a table off to the side. Right, that made sense. Oliver didn't win the race, but he wasn't last. It was enough to get through to the obstacle course.

"I guess as a keeper, Oliver never needed speed; short bursts but not long like that."

"He may struggle a bit with the obstacle course as well then", Isur stated. "Chasers are better at the speed portion and seekers at the obstacle course. It's a free for all in the demonstration phase."

"Right", Harry watched as the different students took turns tackling the obstacle course. As Isur had said, Oliver struggled a little. But from Isurs mutterings, it wasn't as much as the older boy had thought he would. Oliver did just enough to pass, but he was in last place. The demonstration phase was interesting. Many competitors did various tricks on their brooms. Some hung upside down or stood on the broom. It was often things he had done in a match without really thinking about it. This was the phase where Oliver shined. The other boy was a brilliant keeper and had outstanding balance. His tricks weren't as daring as some of the others but what he did do was impressive and well executed. It showed in his marks from the panel of teachers.

In the end, Oliver came 10th. Nymira commented it was very good for a first attempt. The boy who won was a senior student who had been doing the trick flying for years. Oliver didn't look too disappointed. They made a trip to the infirmary next. Because they had come out of their usual time, they had to wait 15 minutes before Dr White was free. It wasn't too much of a bother, though, and they were quickly shown through to the exam room.

"Alright, let's get you looked over and then talk about what happened on the full moon", Harry groaned. Dr White made quick work on going through their usual routine. But sadly, that week was vaccination week as well. Harry looked away as the Doctor quickly injected him with the needle. After came the conversation he was not happy about.

"Now that is all done. Does anyone want to tell me what happened on Monday? I know Harry, you had some sort of extreme nightmare."

"I don't remember much."

"It looked more like a flashback or something similar" Luke took over. "Harry was caught in the nightmare, and it seemed to almost bleed through. When he woke, it was almost as if he thought it was real or he was somewhere else. He didn't know where he was or who we were for a few moments. So I got Isur to open the door to create more space and summon help. Professor Merrows had to give him a calming draught to calm down as even after waking, Harry couldn't."

"Yes, I did get that report. Want to tell us anything about it?" Doctor White was looking at him, and Harry shook his head. That was one of the worst nightmares he had ever had. "Didn't think so. I take it that is the worst any of you have witnessed."

"Just a bit", Isur responded, and the others agreed.

"Harry, have you had one like that before" Harry could only shrug here. He wasn't sure, to be honest, as all his nightmares became a reality when he was at the Dursleys if he woke Vernon up. He had never had one like that at the Hostal or Hogwarts.

"Harry is somehow suppressing the worst of them, but they are beginning to show. Once he gets past meditating, I believe he will be very good at Occulemncy."

"As do I, but mind magic isn't the best solution to solving nightmares. If you ever take your shields down for some reason or another, you are flooded with the nightmares you suppressed. People have been locked in their minds for the rest of their lives because of this before," Harry paled, as did his mentor family.

"So Occulemncy isn't the answer", Isur stated.

"No, not long term and not in a healthy way."

"I sometimes get nightmares, though and have shields."

"But do you use them to block your dreams and nightmares"

"No, we haven't covered that yet."

"And you won't. For the exact reasons we just discussed. That is the dark side of Occulemncy. It is only discussed in theory in your last days as a senior if you take mind magic that far. All magic has a dark side."

"Right" Isur nodded as Doctor White turned back to him.

"Now we have covered that; I hope you stop trying to suppress the nightmares. With this, though, you do need to look over that list. Come next term, you will be starting counselling and need to pick someone."

"But", Harry scowled.

"No. I realise you probably don't feel you are ready. But this is getting to the point where it can't be left. Ready or not, you need to talk to someone to at least start building that trust for when you are. That will only be achieved by starting to talk to someone. I need a name by the end of term; Harry or I will pick someone myself. Come next term, you will be starting counselling" Harry glared at Doctor White but knew it was useless to say anything else.

"Can I go?"

"Go on", the Doctor waved. Harry took off like a rocket. As far as he was concerned, he wasn't going back.

"That could have gone better" Noah White rubbed his face. Isur, Luke and Nymria all shared that statement. It seemed it had begun.

Harry had calmed down somewhat when it came time for his potions tutoring later that afternoon. He had realised it wasn't his mentor's family's fault. But at the same time, they must agree as they hadn't spoken against Doctor White. It was better than before. And they had said next term. Professor Merrows believed he needed to in his own time. Harry wasn't ready to talk. He would never be prepared to talk. Talking about the past and the Dursleys was bad. He had learned that the hard way. Still, he didn't say anything. He had already come up with a way around it. He just wouldn't go. He knew Eveline had said they had forced her, but she had been younger. They wouldn't force him at his age, would they?

Sunday was spent the same as every other day. Only it seemed that exam fever had hit everyone. Most of the student body seemed to be in the Library studying.

"What is going on?"

"End of term tests next week. I can never understand why everyone stresses. It's only a review to see where everyone is!"

"Right"

"Ignore them, Arthithamcy it is", Luke started, and Harry tried to block everyone else out.

As Luke had said, during Transfiguration the ensuing day, they were given a test to do and then told they didn't have any more Transfiguration lessons that week. Harry was amazed at that but not about to argue with it. The same happened for Arithmancy, Runes, Navigation, Potions and Maths. Martial Arts was the only class they still had to attend from Monday, and that was because the test happened in the first week of term instead.

Tuesday, he had Latin first thing. Harry then wondered what to do during Navigation before heading to the Library. But, as was always the case, Luke wasn't far behind, and they started working on his homework. Despite not having class, they still had homework.

"Doctor White will be with you and Agnar tomorrow" Harry turned and looked at Luke at the words. Luke had been the one to wake him last night from the nightmare. "And I have the band all week with the three of you having tests."

"Don't you need to rest as well? That was the idea of rotating."

"I need less and don't have tests. Besides tomorrow Doctor White will be giving you the sleeping draught, so I will have some rest then."

"Guess so" Harry looked at his Rist Grand Stor.

For the rest of the day, he had Herbology, Mind Magic, Charms, Norwegian, English, and History. By Wednesday, he was tired. Last night, he had two nightmares for the first time in a while. Thankfully that day was just Duelling, Martial Arts and History. Though he did have his Magical Talents seminar in the evening. He was glad that Doctor White was coming that evening, and so was Agnar. Harry had hardly seen Isur and Nymira all week as their tests seemed different from his own.

Thursday, he woke much brighter, as was always the case. Harry supposed that was one of their arguments towards getting him to talk. That day they were class-free, and Harry spent the time in the Repository. He talked to the water Basilisks some and then was struck with a sudden thought. Harry turned and dashed out of the Repository and towards the creature section of the Library.

"Wo, where do you think you're going" Isur grabbed him.

"Isur, where you been?"

"Tests. We still have to go to class. You don't," the older boy laughed. "I have a free right now. What's going on?"

"The water Basilisks."

"What of them?"

"Well, they have that charm up, right?"

"Yes, or we would have a lot of dead or petrified students."

"Cause of their gaze."

"Yes, it kills on direct contact but petrifies on indirect. Why?"

"They age really slowly and grow to a large size."

"Again, correct. What is this about Harry?"

"What are the signs a Basilisk is around?"

"Spiders hate them. That is understandable for a six-eyed animal. But Basilisks can move silently despite their large size. Strong Empaths can sense them and their moods, while those who understand snakes can hear their speech. Where are you going with this?"

"The Hogwarts monster. I think it was a basilisk. The cat was only petrified, and there was water on the ground that night. I remember seeing a line of spiders running along the wall, and I heard a voice no one else could. If that was parseltongue..." Isur froze and then frowned.

"It would be enormous and ancient. But it may be possible. There hasn't been a known Basilisk in England in hundreds of years. But how would it get around."

"I don't know. But it fits. Salazar Slytherin was head of the house of the Snakes."

"The Basilisk is the king of serpents."

"And he was a Parslemouth."

"One of the most famous in history. I think you might be right. Okay, send a letter off to the Hogwarts headmaster. Maybe they can work out how a giant snake is getting around a school, where it sleeps, and the rest of it. For now, get some rest and explore some more. No more mystery solving."

"Right" Harry nodded and returned to the Repository, taking a translator book with him. Time to see what interesting books he could find.

That evening he had his third session with Nymira. He was slowly progressing to the point where he could fall into the semi-meditative state at a decent pace. Nymira wanted him to keep going until he could fall instantly before they started narrowing it down. They would start that after Easter as well.

Harry didn't have any classes the next day outside of Martial Arts. Luke had told him it was Ostara on Sunday, so they did his weekend tutoring on Friday instead. Then at Lunch, his mentor family told him what Ostara was.

"Ostara comes from the spring goddesses name Eostre. The spring equinox is about the earth returning to summer's warmth rather than winter's cold. It's a celebration of the flowers starting to grow and new animals being born."

"Alright"

"On Sunday, there will be a spring clean of the school. There will also be an egg hunt and egg decorating competition."

"Even for older students?"

"Yes," Luke laughed. "For the hunt, there will be different coloured eggs for different years. Older years have to use magic to help them, while younger years just have to find them. For the egg decorating, there are different prizes. One for younger years, one older and then one overall. This makes it fair. Outside of that will be the spring ritual in the evening."

"What's this one about?" Harry asked.

"Ostara is about balance and renewal. So part of the day will be spent thinking about things you don't need anymore. Not just physical but emotional and mental, things that are troubling you. You write them down and then burn them in the ritual. But you also write down things that are good, what you what to do and need to focus on. You write those down and burn them as well. It's symbolic you burn that which is troubling you and then welcome the good"

"I think I get it."

"We'll help"

Harry spent the rest of the day finishing his homework and trying to get ahead. He worked with his dorm mates until they all finished their work for the next week. That meant he could rest and relax a little on Saturday, though he still had his tutoring. Harry was aware he was missing Oliver's meeting with the Hogwarts students. But he couldn't bring himself to care. Sure he had grown distanced, but they hadn't bothered with him much either.

Sunday morning, he woke around the same time as Agnar and smiled at the other boy.

"Happy Ostara Harry"

"Happy Ostara Agnar", the two of them quickly dressed in comfy but nice clothing. Harry was dressed in his black jeans, red and black long-sleeve top and red lopappeysa vest. Agnar was wearing something similar, only in green and blue.

The two of them met up with the others in the main dorm before going to get something to eat. There they were met with many of the others in their year. Harry could feel Oliver's eyes on him but steadfastly ignored it. Instead, he tried to focus on what the others were saying. Susan was the only one of those in a single room, not complaining about Barnabas, Vesh and Oreth not helping in the cleaning. Instead, she was intent on staring at him all through breakfast.

"Right, Harry, shall we get the cleaning out the way."

"Sure", he nodded, happy to be away. They headed back up as a group, and like at Imbolic, cleaning supplies were waiting for them. Harry once again pulled on gloves as they set to work. They each did their own rooms in pairs before working together on the rest. Thankfully it didn't take too long with any of them particularly slacking off.

As soon as the cleaning was finished, Harry went for a walk and soon bumped into Jessica.

"Hey, you heading outside for the egg hunt."

"Was just walking, really. I've never been to one before."

"You have to come then. Come on," the female-Malfoy-look-alike grabbed his arm. They separated at the cloakrooms to change into their outdoor clothing. Even if the weather was starting to warm, it was still bitterly cold outside with plenty of snow.

"Isn't it a bit strange celebrating spring when it is always snow here"

"The snow does thaw a bit in about another month. But yeah, I said that last year as well," Jessica laughed as they headed outside.

Harry blinked as soon as they stepped out at what he was seeing. The professors had been busy, it seemed. They had used the snow to build igloos and other buildings all around them. The snow looked thin on the ground because of how much they had used. Then around the windows and doors and other areas were evergreen plants.

"Wow"

"Yeah, they do something similar each year. This way," Jessica led him over to the presiding teacher. Harry wondered how she knew who it was until he noticed the empty baskets next to the professor on the ground.

"Hey, Lærer Adams"

"Miss Lowly, Mr Potter. Happy Ostera"

"You too Lærer" Harry gave a soft smile.

"Here you are" they were both handed a basket. "You are both looking for dark blue eggs, 5 each. Should be plenty around at the moment."

"What's the difference?"

"The dark blue ones are for beginner students. They are just sat there and are easy to find. The Intermediate student's eggs are red and tend to be up a height or well hidden. The Advanced students must break some basic spells holding their eggs in place, and you will see a few around. The Senior student's eggs are well warded and hard to find. They can be found in locked boxes and other locations. Just have fun, Mr Potter. This is a day of rest and fun after exams."

"Right" Harry nodded and followed Jessica out. "Why only five?"

"So there is plenty for everyone. Their chocolate eggs, you can eat them after. Our year anyway. Again as you get older, they are different with spells, and that to work on" Harry just nodded and set about looking around.

It didn't take much to find the five eggs. Like the teacher had said, they were not hidden that hard. Half behind a bush, under a table inside a house, behind a curtain in an igloo. Harry had fun, though, racing Jessica to see who could find them first.

As soon as they had finished, they headed inside to warm up. Lunch that day was buffet-style made by the professors and some senior helpers. Like Imbolic, many of the scholars had left, and Chinook was closed for the day. After Lunch, Harry went with Jessica to the egg decorating competition. Unlike the outside, which was starting to get busy, this room was reasonably quiet.

"Not as many like art", Lærer Campbell smiled when he commented. "Still get plenty of entries, but everyone likes chocolate and treats. We have the rare student who can't eat the eggs, so we trade them for a different treat once they find them."

Harry spent an enjoyable afternoon decorating his egg to look like a Hedgog coming out of its burrow. It was tricky getting the spines to stay, but he was determined. As he worked, he watched the other students do theirs as well. The younger students just seemed to paint the eggs and put a bit of fluff on before declaring finished. The intermediate students weren't that bothered, and those who liked art put more effort in. The older students all used magic to help them. Harry guessed this was why there were different prizes.

Eventually, he finished his egg and took it down to the great hall. The decorated eggs were placed around the outside of the room with other spring decorations.

"Over here, Harry" Harry turned, expecting to see Isur, but instead, he was met with Rose.

"What's up?"

"Your ritual papers. Isur and I have swapped. I think Valerio needs to speak to someone other than me right now" Harry looked where the older girl pointed to see Isur waving from the other side of the room.

"Em alright"

"Don't worry about it. I just want to set you on the right track" Rose sat down, and Harry followed, taking the two pieces of parchment and a self-inking quill. "Right, I will start with mine to give you an example. For the things I want to start or are good, I have try something new and participate in a school competition. I always try to put something physical and something emotional to challenge me. Then the leave behind I have put to stop worrying about exams and trying to control everything."

"So you put two down?"

"You can put whatever you want, Harry. None of these will be read out. Unless you tell someone, no one else will know what is written on that parchment. It can be physical or emotional. In my first year, I put down stop avoiding the doctors, try harder at school, stop hiding from my mentor family and make a friend. It took time, but I did all of them. It's not a cure but a commitment to yourself to do those things."

"Right", he nodded.

"Take your time and come find me if you need help. I'll be up in the art room for the next hour" with that, she left.

Harry sighed and looked at his parchment before glancing around the room. Isur had already left, but Valerio was still there. Agnar was sitting with Hia while Susan was with Klara. Looking back at his two bits of parchment, Harry sighed and bit his lip. What was good, and what to start? It seemed the easier of the two. He guessed he could try to stop avoiding people and get more involved with school activities. They were similar to some of Rose's old ones but seemed appropriate.

But then the things to get rid of were harder. Harry liked his life and didn't want to change any of it. Except maybe the nightmares that he now admitted were bad. Silently Harry wrote it down on the get rid of. He knew it meant accepting that he needed help, but that went with his stop avoiding people. But what else? Rose was right in that two seemed to be a good amount. Silently he looked back over the last few months. A lot had happened since Hogwarts had closed, and he had been taken from the Dursleys. He had found out he was under the wrong medical group, and everything had changed. Harry knew he didn't want to stop fighting against the people trying to smother him. He admitted he needed help with his nightmares but not the rest of it. At the same time, his baths weren't something he could get out of either. He needed those. Taking a deep breath, Harry wrote down to stop running from his baths. He had never actually run but put them off as long as possible. He needed to stop doing that. Maybe then he would stay awake after.

Taking a deep breath, Harry re-read what he had written before standing.

To start – being with people more and getting more involved with school activities.

To stop – Get rid of nightmares and stop running from purification baths.

That seemed like a good set and things he could at least work on. Standing, he stuffed the parchment in his pocket and went to rest until it was time for the ritual. Most of the other boys were all in the dorm room playing Gobstones.

"Want to join?"

"Er sure," he nodded, feeling the parchment in his pocket. This seemed like a good place to start, even if they hadn't had the ritual yet. Harry spent an hour playing with those in his dorm before they headed to get ready. Like Imbolic, everyone was gathered outside in a large circle, and Harry hunted down Isur. The older boy was standing with Nymera and Luke. Looking around, he spotted a lot of people standing in mentor groups. But there was just as many standing with friends or siblings. In the middle of the circle were two large cauldrons with wood inside them rather than underneath. Harry wondered what they were for before looking around again. He noticed that all the ice sculptures from earlier had been removed. But a rogue blue egg in the snow was off to one side. It made him smile slightly.

"Welcome," Lærer Little stepped out into the middle. Harry noticed he was wearing a white robe over what must have been his winter clothes. "This is the festival of Ostara, sacred to the Goddess Eostre, she whose symbols of birth and life are the hare and the egg."

"This is the festival of the dying and rising Gods, of Attis, Mithras, Tammuz, Adonis and Osiris and many more", Lærer Porter stepped out after. "It is the time when the Goddess Persophone, Inanna, and others have returned from the underworld, bearing the knowledge of life and death and of rebirth. All these, and many others, have been renewed and refreshed, even as we seek to be renewed and refreshed in our lives." much of what the two were saying went over Harry's head, but he tried to follow anyway.

"This is also the Spring Equinox when day and night are equal and in balance. We seek this balance in our lives too, for each must seek to cast off the outworn to make way for the new." Lærer Little finished before they spoke together. "Blessed Be."

A chant quickly sprang up, but it was another one Harry didn't know. So he followed quietly and picked it up again on the second pass as he had before.

Joy in the gold buds of spring. Passion in the greening leaf.

Joy in the rising day. Passion neath the glowing moon.

Come swelling tides of Spring. Fill me with the promise of Green.

"Dark gives way to the light; the days increase in length. Now is the time for us to move from the darkness into light, to cast off that which is no longer needful." Lærer Porter moved forward again. The elf then waved her hand and light a candle before setting the wood in the first cauldron alight. "This is the fire of the old; let it burn away the things we no longer need. Blessed be." with that, Lærer Porter walked back into the circle.

Harry wondered what would happen now as a low chant went up around the circle. He didn't pay the chant much attention and watched as groups of people walked forward. They seemed to pause and speak before throwing their papers into the fire.

"Come on", Isur started walking forward as a group near them cleared, giving them a little privacy.

"Goddess, help me leave behind the anxiety I have felt these last two years. Help me also leave behind the bad habit of procrastinating in my work. Blessed be." Isur spoke before throwing his paper into the fire.

"Goddess, help me leave behind my childhood in the next few months. Blessed be." Luke stated, and Harry gave the vampire a look only to get a smile in reply.

"Goddess, help me to stop being so hard on myself and help me to stop being so afraid of the future. Blessed be." Nymira stated quietly, throwing away her paper.

"I.." Harry looked at them. He couldn't speak.

"Goddess Eostar.." Luke stated, giving him a nudge, and Harry quickly copied. "Take from me these things... which I no longer need... Blessed be" Harry breathed a sigh of relief and smiled as they finished and walked back to the circle. He stood quietly as people chanted before the last one, the headmistress, threw her paper into the fire.

"Dark gives way to light." Lærer Little walked forward again. "the days increase in length. Now is the time for us to move from darkness into light, to take on new hopes and aspirations." the Lærer took his wand and lit a candle before setting the second cauldron's wood on fire. "This is the fire of the new. Let it bring us to those things which are needful for us to grow in the light of the Old Gods. Blessed be."

A different chant sprang up again as the Lærer joined the circle again. Once again, Harry didn't pay it much attention. Instead, his focus was drawn to the paper in his hand. He looked between it and the old fire before focusing on the new. Doing this, burning the papers, made everything real. He did need help with his nightmares, and he did need to stop putting things off. He was isolating himself and needed to get more involved. It was all the truth. Maybe he did need a bit of help. But Harry didn't think it was the amount they insisted he did. He could look after himself after all. But his nightmares. Those needed dealing with.

Harry silently followed Isur forward when it was their turn, listening as his mentor family threw their papers into the fire.

"Goddess, help me to be a better listener and help me to learn to balance my time more. Blessed be." came from Isur as the paper burned.

"Goddess, help me to be a bit more outgoing. Blessed be." Nymiras paper went up in flames.

"Goddess, help me use my skills wisely and express myself more. Blessed be" Luke smiled at him before nodding at the fire and speaking again. Harry followed, throwing his paper into the fire as he did.

"Goddess Eostar, give me these things which I need to grow. Blessed be." Quietly he followed his mentor family back into the circle. As he did, he took a deep breath and looked back at the fire. Harry couldn't help feeling lighter.

"Alright", Isur whispered.

"Yeah", Harry smiled.

Once everyone had spoken, a final chant went around. Once again, Harry listened before joining in on the second pass.

Farewell to wintery spirits and friends.

On morrow, we greet the spirits of spring.

Our blessings to thee as your way you wend.

And merry, we'll meet next winter again.

As the teachers put out the fires in the cauldrons, everyone spoke one last time.

Merry meet. Merry part. And merry meet again.

Harry smiled, following everyone as they headed back inside. He soon found various spring cakes were all around the great hall. People were standing around and talking as they ate. It was so different to anything else he wasn't too sure if it was real.

After eating, everyone migrated up to their rooms. Harry smiled as he watered the Imbolic plant that was starting to grow. Then, as he did, he heard the laughter from the common area again. In the past, he had just ignored it. But not today. Instead, he went out to join them. Start, and you mean to go on.