Chapter Twenty-One
"The Tallest Tower"
Before either Lizzie and Hayden knew it, the last day of term arrived. The two of them were joined at the hip more than ever, knowing that by this time tomorrow they would be saying their goodbyes. Lizzie tried her hardest not to think about it, but as it was the last day, the idea couldn't escape her.
In the little time she and Hayden spent apart, Lizzie spent catching up with her other friends.
Since rekindling her friendship with Lavender and Parvati, as well as many others, she had begun to talk to other people, not just her close circle.
"So he's only staying for this year huh?" asked Lavender as the three of them sat in the almost empty common room while everyone else was outside. "Yeah," said Lizzie gloomily. "Well…..you can visit, can't you?" asked Parvati. "Yeah, but that's not what I'm bummed about," said Lizzie. "Then what?" asked Lavender. "We agreed to try for a long-distance relationship. He said he didn't want distance to be an obstacle between us," said Lizzie.
"And you're worried that it might not work out?" asked Parvati. Lizzie nodded. "I want it too, but I've had a lot of people tell me to just think of it as fling that wasn't meant to last, and let it go."
"You hate it when people tell you that! Those are your three least favorite words!" said Lavender. Lizzie laughed slightly. "Yeah," she said. "I love him so much! I don't want to end the relationship just because we're going to be living in different countries."
"That's not the only thing bothering you, is it?" asked Parvati. Lizzie stared at her. "I've know you a long time, Liz, we all have, and this is exactly what you do when you have something else on your mind and don't want to share it."
Lizzie played with the figure skate necklace around her neck, the engraved letters, and the date 12-21-2005 standing out. "I don't want to say goodbye," she said finally. "I mean, I know I don't have a choice, he can't reapply for another year, but…"
"You still don't want to," said Lavender. "No," said Lizzie sadly. "Not after the prophecy Professor Trelawney made about us last term…took me forever to make the connection….."
"Wait, what prophecy?" asked Parvati, looking up eagerly, and Lavender inched closer to Lizzie gazing at her with great interest.
"Professor Trelawney made this prophecy last term about me and Hayden – though I didn't know it at the time. Hayden and I hadn't officially met yet when this happened!"
"What did the prophecy say?'' asked Lavender and Parvati excitedly. "It said that I would meet someone new this year, a handsome stranger whose name began with an 'H'. I was totally confused by this and I told Professor Trelawney that apart from Harry, I didn't know any other guys whose name began with 'H'. She said 'You will, and he will be extremely important to you. At some future date, he will save your life'." "Hayden?" asked Parvati. "At first I didn't think anything of it, because Professor Trelawney has a tendency to overstate things and stretch the truth – hey, I'm just being honest," said Lizzie fairly as Parvati and Lavender glared at her.
"So I sort of, put it in the back of my brain and forgot about for a while. It was only when Hayden and I started to get closer – especially toward Christmas when we did that figure skating show together…" "That was so amazing! You guys did a really good job!" sighed Lavender. "Where did Hayden learn to skate like that?" asked Parvati. "I taught him everything I know," said Lizzie. "It was amazing how fast he learned." "My favorite part was Waltz of the Snowflakes!" sighed Lavender. "Oh, me too!" breathed Parvati. "The snow really set the mood, didn't it?" asked Lizzie, smiling. "He spent the entire three week break with me at my house and he almost kissed me under the mistletoe…."
"Almost?" asked Lavender. "Yeah, almost," said Lizzie. "What happened?" asked. Parvati. Lizzie shrugged. "Lost his nerve I guess," she said. She wasn't about to tell them what had really caused Hayden to not kiss Lizzie, just on the off chance they wouldn't believe her. This year had caused Lizzie to develop serious trust issues with people.
"He tried again during Valentine's Day when we were at Madame Puddifoot's…." said Lizzie. "So it was a date, then?" asked Parvati excitedly. "Sorry, no," said Lizzie and both Lavender and Parvati looked slightly disappointed. "The truth was, both of us were still feeling really conflicted and confused about how we felt for one another."
"And yet he still tried to kiss you!" said Lavender. "He tried," said Lizzie, "And I didn't object. At the time I was a little disappointed he didn't get the chance…" "Why not?" asked Lavender.
"Harry was with Cho Chang a few tables away from us, and ran past our table when Hayden was millimeters away from me." "Rude!" said Lavender. Lizzie smiled good naturedly. "They were kind of doing their own thing when we came into the shop – I don't think they even knew we were there," she said. "It wasn't until after he saved my life in the Forbidden Forest that, I started putting the pieces together and realized that Professor Trelawney had been talking about Hayden the entire time."
"At what point did you figure this out?" asked Lavender. "I was all but convinced after our first date, because I realized Hayden had ticked all the boxes that Professor Trelawney had mentioned. There was no question in my mind that it was him."
Lavender and Parvati smiled. "I wanted to do another figure skating show with him, we didn't have the time, and the seasons change so quickly…"
"If you could have done one more with him," said Lavender. "Which one would you have done? Star Wars?" Lizzie laughed. "That is a good idea, but I thought maybe we could have done The Wizard of Oz on Ice," "But hasn't that been done already?" asked Lavender. "In the Muggle world, yeah," said Lizzie. "But I don't think it's ever been performed in the Wizarding world."
"You might still get a chance!" said Parvati. "Yeah, maybe," said Lizzie, her gloomy tone returning. Her mind wandered back to the day she first met Hayden on her way to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
She had revisited this memory many times, but she couldn't believe how lucky she was to have met him in that moment, and that he happened to be in the same corridor less than a hundred feet away.
Now she was actually feeling grateful that she had lost her balance and fallen that day If she hadn't…
"He kept staring at you during the start-of-term feast," said Molly who caught up with Lizzie as she walked down the Charms corridor later that day.
"What, you mean like – checking me out?" asked Lizzie. "Not exactly," said Molly. "I think he was…drawn to you," "I was going through a lot back then," said Lizzie. "And I think he knew," said Molly. "He did?" asked Lizzie. "Mmm-hmm," said Molly. "He didn't know about Raven then, and how people were treating you, but he knew you were going through something. And he knew how lonely you were. He told me later that he had a conversation with Neville about you – He had stopped him to ask for directions to the Charm classroom – and he asked about you, and Neville said you were the prettiest girl in the entire school, but no one would give you a chance because you're disabled – sorry – should I used a different word?"
Lizzie shook her head. " 'Disabled' is fine," she said as she laughed. "You're not surprised?" asked Molly. "Not really," said Lizzie. "Neville's had this crush on me ever since we were first years." They both laughed. "It's been really nice having you guys here," said Lizzie. "It's been really nice getting the opportunity to stay," said Molly. "I'll miss you – all of you," said Lizzie. "I wish you could stay longer."
Molly smiled. "I was just saying to Hayden the other day, that it was just too good to last," she said.
Lizzie nodded. "But, hey, if you ever find yourself in the Toronto area, look us up!" said Molly brightly. Lizzie's smile widened. "I'd like that," she said as they continued to walk
What made Lizzie happier was that Umbridge was officially kicked out of Hogwarts. She had been rescued in the Forbidden Forest, much to Lizzie and Hayden's extreme disappointment, but more for Lizzie, who felt Umbridge should have been made to suffer the way she had suffered in the Forest. Instead she lay recuperating in the hospital wing and jumping out of her skin every time someone made the sound of a horse whenever she was within earshot.
It seemed she had tried to depart undetected, but unfortunately for her, she met Peeves on the way, who seized the chance to give his version of a parting gesture by gleefully chasing her from the premises, whacking her alternately with a walking stick and a sock full of chalk.
Many students, including, Lizzie Hayden and Molly, and the rest of Dumbledore's Army ran out into the entrance hall to watch her running away down the path, and the Heads of Houses tried only halfheartedly to restrain their pupils.
Indeed Professor McGonagall sank back into her chair at the staff table after a few feeble remonstrances and was clearly heard to express a regret that she could not run cheering after Umbridge herself, because Peeves had borrowed her walking stick.
Lizzie, however, was given the chance to express her own feelings and did so in a rather gutsy way. Just as Umbridge ran past her, she stopped and stared desperately at Lizzie, as though to ask for her help. But instead, Lizzie walked right up to Umbridge, looked her in the eye, and spat in her face. Umbridge flinched as Lizzie's spit hit her in the eyes as she blinked hard, as Hayden walked up to Lizzie staring Umbridge down with a look of satisfaction and pure loathing.
"Mr. Chamberlain!" said Umbridge imploringly. "Please…"
"You go to Hell," said Hayden as Umbridge was run out of the castle and down the path by the rest of the crowd.
Most people had finished packing by the evening. Lizzie had taken her time, making sure all her stuff was packed as she squeezed the plush toy of Raven into her trunk – though not before kissing it tenderly on the forehead. She picked up Flicka's sash and her rosette from the horse show and carefully folded them before tucking them into her trunk.
She folded her red and white figure skating dresses, and made sure the laces of her skates were tied, and the soft guards were secured on the blades before putting those in her trunk as well.
She ran her Titanic coal necklace across her palm, staring at it, before putting it back in its box and into her trunk.
By this time tomorrow, Lizzie would be back in her mansion home with her mother and Tara. She had talked with Hayden about seeing if he could spent part of the summer with her, but all they had done was entertain the idea. No plans were made.
Hayden likewise was in the Room of Requirement, packing his own trunk; folding up his navy blue robes, skating clothes, putting the soft guards on his own pair of skates as he tucked them into his trunk.
All his schoolbooks were worn and dog eared. He picked up his copy of Defensive Magical Theory, and threw it into a nearby trash bin. There was very little chance he would be using that book again.
The last thing he packed in his trunk was the oil painting of Jedi that Lizzie had given him for Christmas as he closed and locked his trunk.
The sun was almost down now as he looked out a nearby window. The moon was beginning to rise outside and the stars were beginning to come out one by one. Nice night for stargazing, thought Hayden, and he could think of only one person he would want to spend this last night at Hogwarts with, and this time he wanted it to be just the two of them.
He and Lizzie had moments alone together, but there were almost always people within earshot, so they weren't totally alone in these situations.
Now it was his last night at Hogwarts, and he wanted to spend the last few hours he could with Lizzie and only her.
As he walked down the corridor, a flood of memories came back to him. It was as if he never really appreciated just how beautiful the castle of Hogwarts was; with its endless passageways and corridors that would sometimes lead to nowhere, the moving staircases, and hidden rooms, like the Room of Requirement, the portraits that could talk and visit one another; the grounds with its beautiful lake, and forest, the stables with the horses….
We don't have all that back in Toronto, thought Hayden as he realized after a moment that he was standing in the very stretch of corridor where he and Lizzie had met on the first day of term. He had been talking to Molly and some other friends when he heard a crash, and turned to see Lizzie kneeling on the floor, trying to get her things back into her bag so she wasn't late while other students pushed past her or laughed at her…..
He had risked being late on his first day to help someone, and it turned out to be the best decision he ever made.
"Getting one last look at the castle before the feast?" asked a voice as Hayden looked and saw Lizzie standing at the other end of the corridor, and she was standing without her walker. "Yeah," said Hayden as Lizzie walked up to him. "I'll never forget the first time I walked through the front doors," said Lizzie fondly. "I'd love to do that again," said Hayden. "Mmm," said Lizzie. "So what are your plans for the summer?" asked Hayden.
"I was thinking about getting my Muggle driving license," said Lizzie. "Really?" asked Hayden excitedly. "Yeah, I might need to have hand controls, but…" said Lizzie. "Still that's great!" said Hayden. "I got my practice permit last year," said Lizzie. "What about you?"
"Haven't thought that far ahead," said Hayden honestly. "I didn't think I'd get so attached to this place." "Hogwarts has that effect on everyone who comes here," said Lizzie. "They feel so at home that they don't want to leave."
Hayden nodded. "That what it feels like," he said. They could hear the faint stampede of students heading to the end-of-term feast downstairs as they continued to walk.
Everyone was already seated at the House tables when Lizzie and Hayden sat down at the Gryffindor table. Lizzie didn't need to wonder who was going to win the Inter-House Championship this year. The points that were rewarded to her, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Ginny, as well as congratulatory points given to Lizzie for her win at the horse show and the ones that counted toward her scores all but guaranteed a win for Gryffindor.
Hayden and Lizzie sat in between Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville with Molly and Ginny sitting across from them as Dumbledore rose to his feet. Lizzie grinned. It was so nice to see the real head of Hogwarts back where he needed to be.
The babble throughout the hall died away instantly.
"Another year has come and gone," he said cheerfully. "And quite an adventurous year it has been, I might add! We welcomed new students and made several new friends….." he said nodding at the students from the Toronto Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry. "And I can assure you all that you are more than welcome to return to Hogwarts at any time! But I do believe that the House Cup needs awarding…"
It was just as Lizzie had expected. Slytherin was in final place, with Hufflepuff taking third, Ravenclaw second and Gryffindor first with an amazing five-hundred and sixty-two points.
"Yes, well done, Gryffindor! Well done indeed!" said Dumbledore happily. "Now before we enjoy our End-of-Term feast, I do have one more important announcement to make."
Everyone in the hall sat up a little straighter, staring at Dumbledore with looks of the utmost attentiveness.
"As I am sure all of you are aware, we lost one of our own students last year. And this year, Hogwarts came very close to losing another one. If it were not for the actions of one courageous student from the Toronto Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Miss Elizabeth Brooks would not be with us here today."
The babble started up again as everyone turned in their seat to look at Lizzie, who had suddenly gone red as she shrunk down into her seat.
"On April twenty-fifth, Miss Brooks went out for a ride on Flicka, as she had done many times before, with little event. But on this day, things went terribly wrong. Miss Brooks' appendix had ruptured, causing her unbearable pain, and leading her to fall off Flicka."
Several people were looking at Dumbledore, as though to question how he knew that. What they didn't know however was that Dumbledore, upon learning of this, had interviewed both Hayden and Lizzie at great length about what had happened that day, and both of them had given him near identical accounts of what happened that day. Hayden worried that retelling this story was only going to retraumatize Lizzie, but she held her head high, and told her story, as she had done during Raven's memorial, like the true Gryffindor she was.
"Miss Brooks had become good friends with one student from the Toronto Institute of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and after noticing Miss Brooks' lengthy absence, went out into the Dark Forest to search for her. Miss Brooks was found and brought back to the castle, in pain and barely alive. She was taken to Hagrid's while additional help was sought out. During this time, Miss Brooks' blood pressure crashed and she went into cardiac arrest."
A loud gasp rang through the hall as Dumbledore continued. "If it were not for the actions of this one student, Miss Brooks would not be alive, and here to enjoy the feast with us. His determination, bravery, and quick thinking prevented the loss of another student.
All of the Canadian students were looking at Hayden, then at Dumbledore as though waiting for his name to be mentioned.
"I am of course, referring to Mr. Hayden Chamberlain," said Dumbledore. "Who was able to perform emergency resuscitative measures on Miss Brooks, keeping her alive long enough to transport her to the hospital wing."
Dumbledore began applauding as everyone in the hall joined in, except the Slytherins, who looked as if they were questioning why this was worth celebrating.
Professor McGonagall got up from her seat and walked out to the podium in front of the staff table as did Dumbledore. She was holding a velvet bound case in her hand.
"Miss Brooks is on of our finest, brightest students, a pleasure to teach, and a pleasure to know. A gifted student, a talented equestrian, and an exceptional figure skater. And I daresay, this school, is so much with her in it, than it would be without."
There was a strong murmur of agreement – especially from the Gryffindor table.
Professor McGonagall opened the velvet bound case and handed it to Dumbledore.
"It is therefore my pleasure, to present with gratitude, the Medal for Magical Merit to Mr. Hayden Chamberlain, for his valiant and courageous action in saving Miss Brooks' life."
Someone standing outside the Great Hall might well have thought some sort of explosion had taken place, so loud was the noise that erupted from the Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw tables. Molly Cobb was crying as were Parvati and Lavender. Hayden looked absolutely stunned. Lizzie was grinning as she kissed him on the cheek and Hayden gazed up at Dumbledore who nodded at him to come up to the podium.
Slowly, and blushing crimson, Hayden got to his feet as everyone continued to applaud and whistle.
Still in shock, he climbed the stairs to the podium and approached Professor Dumbledore, who took a shining silver medial shaped like the Hogwarts crest with the Gryffindor lion, Hufflepuff badger, Ravenclaw eagle, and Slytherin serpent surrounded by a large black H with the words Medal for Magical Merit below it, from the box in Professor McGonagall's hands and pinned it beside Hayden's prefect badge and shook his hand. "Well done," he said softly. "Th-thank you, Professor Dumbledore," he said. Dumbledore smiled and nodded for him to return to his seat.
Everyone was still clapping as Hayden returned to his seat beside Lizzie, Harry, Ron and Hermione.
"And that I believe," said Dumbledore as he and McGonagall returned to their own chairs at the staff table. "Is enough speechmaking for tonight! Tuck in!"
Everyone ate, drank, and talked. People kept marveling at the badge on Hayden's chest. "So that's why he was interviewing us about that…that day," said Lizzie, and Hayden could tell that memory of what she went through in the Forest that day still haunted her, even when she pretended to be over it. "To see if you met the criteria for it!"
"I guess," said Hayden, taking a drink of pumpkin juice. "Well I think you deserve it!" said Hermione. "Thanks, Hermione," said Hayden.
Lizzie was halfway to the marble staircase outside in the entrance hall. The feast had ended, as people continued to stare at her. But not, she noticed, in a bad way. By now the entire school knew that the only reason she ended up in the hospital wing with one foot already in death's door was because Umbridge had, as Lizzie had always suspected, tried to kill her, simply for being disabled.
Neither Dumbledore or McGonagall had made any mention of Umbridge being responsible for Lizzie almost dying, nor did they say what was to happen to her, since she had confessed. But Lizzie silently prayed with every fiber of her being that the Ministry knew about it, would take it seriously and punish her to the fullest extent of the law.
She glanced over at the hourglasses, which since the announcement of the House Cup winner, had been emptied, the lower bulbs bare with the upper ones filled with sapphires, rubies, emeralds, and golden yellow gemstones.
Another year come and gone, thought Lizzie. In two years, I'll be outta here, then I can go work for the Ministry and make a difference in the Wizarding world.
"Lizzie?"
Lizzie wheeled around and saw Hayden smiling at her. "Hey," he said. "Hi," said Lizzie as she walked up to him, admiring the medal pinned to his robes. "It looks nice," said Lizzie. "He was right in giving that to you," "Yeah, I guess," said Hayden modestly. "You totally deserve it," said Lizzie. Hayden smiled. "Thanks," he said as Lizzie walked closer to him. She looked much stronger on her feet now, Hayden thought as Lizzie wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him – Because she was shorter than him she had to stand on her toes a bit to reach him – as he held onto her waist, kissing her back.
A bunch of fourth year Ravenclaws passed both of them and began hooting, and wolf-whistling in their direction. Hayden glared in their direction as they all parted like the Red Sea, scurrying out of sight. "I'm never going to be able to kiss you in peace am I?" asked Lizzie dreamily. "I wish we could just…go somewhere where no one can bother us….."
"How about the Astronomy Tower?" Hayden suggested. Lizzie laughed. "You're serious?" she asked. "Why not? Tonight's the last night of term. I want to spend the last few hours I have left at Hogwarts with you, and only you," said Hayden, reaching up with his left hand and touching her face. Lizzie thought about it. She really wanted to, but on the other hand, it would be the first time she had ventured out of bed after hours since she was a first year. She would need to borrow Harry's Invisibility Cloak and the Maurader's Map….
"What time?" she asked softly. "Midnight sound okay?" whispered Hayden. "Okay," said Lizzie as she kissed him again.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione were walking up the marble staircase as they saw Hayden and Lizzie kissing. "They really do love each other, don't they?" said Hermione happily. "Mmm," said Harry, who despite still being grief-stricken over losing Sirius, couldn't help but smile. Ron shrugged. "Oh, come on, Ron!" said Hermione. "After everything she's been through this year with Raven's death, and Umbridge….I don't think I've seen her this happy in a really long time."
"Me either," said Harry, who had watched Lizzie struggle with being autistic as well as her mental illness from the moment she arrived at Hogwarts. Now that he came to think about it, Hermione was right. This was the first time in the five years he had known Lizzie, that he had seen her genuinely happy. Hayden very well may have saved her life in more ways than one….
Lizzie met Harry, Ron, and Hermione at the foot of the marble staircase as she watched Hayden walk past them up to the seventh floor to the Room of Requirement.
"I need to borrow your Invisibility Cloak, and the Maurader's Map," she said to Harry without missing a beat. "Okay, what for?" asked Harry. "Hayden wants to meet me up in the Astronomy Tower at midnight – It's not like that Ron!" she snapped, noticing the smirk on Ron's face. "We already talked about that, and I told him that he had to marry me first!" said Lizzie firmly as she turned back to Harry. "So can I borrow them? I promise I'll give them back," said Lizzie.
"Sure," said Harry as the two of them ascended the marble staircase up to Gryffindor Tower.
It was almost eleven o'clock so Lizzie had thirty minutes to go before she had to leave and meet up with Hayden. So in the meantime, she decided to check and recheck that she had everything packed for tomorrow. As she was rechecking her trunk, folding, and refolding her school robes and her figure skating dresses and pants, she realized just how quickly this school year had flown by, how much she had changed as a person, and everything she had learned – not just magic.
She flipped through the leather-bound journal that Hayden had gifted her last term, as she sat down on her bed, reading through each entry. In the beginning, a lot of Lizzie's writings were very angsty, and sometimes angry. She would take up several pages at a time venting her frustrations over Umbridge, and her tyrannical ways. Then towards the end of the first term, the tone of her entries began to even out, and the topic changed from venting about Umbridge, to her gushing about Hayden, and her feelings for him that were slowly beginning to cross the barrier between seeing him as a friend, to something more.
She wrote about her figure skating, and how Hayden had come to spend the Christmas holidays with her, then the entries became dark and ominous again as Lizzie had detailed how Dumbledore's Army was discovered, and how Umbridge tore out a large chunk of her hair, nearly scalping her. There were mentions of her being suspicious that Umbridge was plotting to kill her, but she had no way to prove that this was true. 'I know, it sounds mad, but given everything that she's done to me so far, and the fact that she inspected my riding lesson and talked to me like I wasn't able to understand her questions, when I could, was just – insulting seems like too nice of a word in this instance….'
Later, Lizzie would write in tremendous detail about what she endured in the Forbidden Forest and how Hayden had saved her life…..her first date with Hayden, and their first kiss…..her career advice meeting where Umbridge hadn't been the least bit shy about telling Lizzie how she really felt about her, and anyone else like her…
The entries ended after Lizzie wrote about O.W.L.s and the horse show. She hadn't written anything since then….
A clock chimed midnight from far away as Lizzie closed her journal, put it in her trunk and latched it shut.
She felt like she hadn't spent enough time with Hayden this year, when in actuality, they spent almost all of their free time together, and yet it still didn't feel like enough. Now they only had a few more hours before the both of them would be heading home for the summer.
Feeling tears struggle against her eyes, Lizzie turned and left the dormitory.
Harry was waiting up for her, sitting in front of the fire with his Invisibility Cloak and the Marauder's Map. "You know how to work it, right?" asked Harry, handing both items to her. " 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good,' to read it, and 'Mischief Managed' to wipe it blank," said Lizzie, nodding. "Be careful," said Harry. "I will," said Lizzie as she threw the cloak over her head as her entire body disappeared, her head appeared to be floating in midair. She pulled the hood over her head and disappeared from sight.
Harry watched as the portrait hole opened and closed, seemingly on its own, before heading up to the boys' dormitory to go to bed.
Hayden had just turned the corner toward the corridor leading to the Room of Requirement, when he saw somebody up ahead fastening a note to a board on the wall. A second glance showed him that it was Luna.
"Hello, Hayden," she said pleasantly, glancing around at him as she stepped back from the notice. "What are you doing out here so late?" asked Hayden curiously.
"Well, I've lost most of my possessions," said Luna serenely. "People take them and hide them, you know. But as it's the last night I really do need them back, so I've been putting up signs."
She gestured toward the notice board, upon which, sure enough, she had pinned a list of all her missing books and clothes, with a plea for their return.
As Hayden started at the notice, then at Luna, he was only now beginning to realize how alike she and Lizzie were. He also realized that very much how he felt for Lizzie in the early days of their friendship, he was feeling sorry for Luna.
"Why do people take your things?" he asked her, frowning.
"Oh…well…" she shrugged. "I think they think I'm a bit odd, you know. Some people call me 'Loony' Lovegood actually."
"That's not nice!" said Hayden automatically, and somewhat angrily. "People shouldn't take your things because you don't fit everybody's definition of what normal is! I mean, Lizzie…"
His heart ached at the thought of leaving Lizzie behind in only just a few hours time. Now he was desperate to make it to the Astronomy Tower and savor every last moment he had with her.
To Hayden's surprise, Luna was smiling. "Lizzie is very kind," she said. Hayden smiled back. "She's kind to everyone. Unless they disrespect her." Luna's smile widened. "You're lucky to have her," she said. "Thanks," said Hayden. "Listen – D'you want me to help you find your stuff?"
"Oh, no," she said, still smiling. "They'll come back, they always do in the end. It was just I wanted to pack tonight. Anyway, where are you going?"
"I wanted to spend some time alone with Lizzie," said Hayden.
"Well, have a nice holiday, then, Hayden," said Luna, holding out her hand to shake it. "It's been very nice getting to know you. " Hayden smiled and took Luna's hand in his and shook it. "It's been nice getting to know you too. Maybe we'll meet again someday."
"I hope so," said Luna as she walked away from him. He watched her go until she rounded a corner and disappeared from view. For another long moment, Hayden just stood there, in the middle of the desolate corridor before turning and continuing on towards the Astronomy Tower to meet up with Lizzie.
It was oddly strange, and somewhat spooky, walking the castle at night. The last time she had done this was when Harry had shown her the Mirror of Erised when they were in their first year.
She looked down at the map in her right and with her wand in her left hand, scanning it for any signs of Filch or Mrs. Norris.
She saw that they were on the first floor, nowhere near where she was as she continued walking.
She took a shortcut that Harry had pointed out to her on the map and within five minutes she was on the floor beneath the Astronomy Tower.
Lizzie saw that Hayden had laid a blanket on the floor. A shadowy figure was staring out into the starlit sky.
"Hayden!" Lizzie whispered. The figure turned and Lizzie saw by the light of the full moon, Hayden's handsome face slightly illuminated in the dull light. "Lizzie?" he whispered back, looking around. "Is – is that you?"
"Yeah, it's me," Lizzie hissed. "I can't see you," said Hayden, still gazing around. "I'm wearing Harry's Invisibility Cloak – hang on!" Lizzie pulled the cloak off her and tossed it aside, stepping into the dappled moonlight so Hayden could see her clearly. "I was starting to wonder if Filch had caught you," said Hayden as he and Lizzie sat down on the blanket that he had laid out. "Nah," said Lizzie "He and Mrs. Norris are on the first floor – with Peeves apparently," said Lizzie, pulling out the Maurader's Map. "Is this a map of Hogwarts?" asked Hayden peering over Lizzie's shoulder to glance at the little tiny footprints crisscrossing the map with the names of people labeled beneath them. "Mm-hmm," said Lizzie. "Fred and George gave it to Harry in our third year, and they stole it from Filch in their first year."
"Those two never really weren't much for following the rules, were they?" asked Hayden, smiling. "Not, really," said Lizzie, smiling too. "If there ever was an opportunity for them to cause mayhem and make people laugh, they were happy."
They both sighed as they lied down on the blanket gazing up at the stars. "When I was taking my Astronomy O.W.L. I remembered thinking how nice it would be to come up here with you," said Lizzie. "Hmm," said Hayden, smiling. "When I was a kid, my sisters, my brother and I used to camp our on our back patio and watch the stars come out."
"I used to do that to!" said Lizzie, turning and propping herself up on her elbow. "Really?" asked Hayden, doing the same. "Yeah, my dad and I used to take our sleeping bags out and he would tell me stories about the constellations." "I wish I could have known him," said Hayden, smiling. "He sounds wonderful," "He was," said Lizzie. "I saw him, you know," "When? During Christmas?" asked Hayden. "No, when I died," said Lizzie. "You know, in the hospital wing….."
"Oh, right," said Hayden. He had forgotten that Lizzie had indeed died on the operating table. "He told me to tell you that he was sorry for scaring you during Christmas. He said that it was the first time he had ever seen me bring a boy home, and he just sort of…panicked."
Hayden laughed. "So, that means he's okay with us?" "I think so," said Lizzie as she rolled onto her back and continued to look at the stars.
For a very long moment there was a long silence between them, and the only sound that could be heard was the sound of a gentle breeze as it ruffled their hair. Lizzie was expecting this to be more romantic, but up until now, all they had done was make casual small talk, and Lizzie hated small talk.
Almost as if he could read her mind, she felt Hayden's hand brush against her face as she turned to face him.
She reached up and put her hand on his face as he leaned in to kiss her.
Their lips parted numerous times as the two teenagers continued to kiss passionately under the full moon and star studded sky. Lizzie's eyes occasionally darting toward the door, looking out for Filch or Mrs. Norris.
It wouldn't make any difference to the caretaker if it were the last day of term or not. If he found students out of bed, then he would be absolutely thrilled to punish them both, and Filch had been Umbridge's biggest supporter, so he would be more than happy to make Lizzie's punishment, should the two be found out, exceptionally severe.
"What is it?" whispered Hayden as he broke away from Lizzie. "I'm worried Filch might find us." "Don't worry about it," said Hayden as he kissed her lips and her neck. "Hayden," Lizzie whispered. "If he finds us, we'll both be in for it!" said Lizzie. "You don't get it! They're really serious about students being out of bed after curfew! We could get into real trouble!" Hayden's eyes fell in the Invisibility Cloak that Lizzie had tossed aside when she arrived, and when she looked down at her watch she was shocked to discover it was nearly three in the morning.
Hayden picked up the Invisibility Cloak, which was big enough to cover both of them and threw it over both of them like a blanket as they disappeared from view.
Even if Filch and Mrs. Norris came lurking to check that there were no students out of bed when they should, they wouldn't even know that they were there.
"Now," said Hayden once they were covered by the cloak. "Where were we?" Lizzie smiled. "Oh," said Hayden as he came closer to Lizzie's face. "I think I remember…"
They made out passionately under the full moon, completely hidden from potential onlookers.
This was better than Lizzie hoped for. Getting some alone time with the man she was so in love with, just the two of them with no one to interrupt.
It was all simply just too good to last long. Lizzie knew that in a few hours she would be on the Hogwarts Express on her way back home, and Hayden would be going back to Toronto. Despite Hayden's reassurance that they would make a long distance relationship work, it still didn't make the idea of saying goodbye any easier.
