Disclaimer: Anything you do recognize isn't mine.
Chapter Two: Leaving
"Are you absolutely positive that you wish to do this, Ms. Thunders? This is serious, you know."
"I know. But it's not like I have a lot to lose."
"I see. Well, than, you'll be happy to know that Delta New Salem has accepted you. They're just starting the school year, so you'll catch up in no time. Go quickly pack and floo your stuff to my office, so I can send your luggage ahead of you. Then, you'll have an hour to say goodbye to Hogwarts before you leave."
"With all due respect, Professor Dumbledore, there's no one for me to say goodbye to."
"I didn't say for you to say goodbye to the students. They will be informed in due time. I meant for you to say goodbye to the campus, to Hogwarts."
"Yes, Professor Dumbledore, sir."
Lucy Thunders turned to leave. She timidly opened the door and checked to see if there was anyone outside waiting to harass her. Seeing no one, she shut the door quietly behind her and tiptoed away.
Within seconds, Lucy had managed to pack away all her belongs neatly in her trunk and flooed her things using the Common Room fire to Dumbledore's office.
Luckily, the Common Room and dorms were empty, as everyone was probably out somewhere attending a party the Marauders were holding.
Lucy bitterly spat to no one in particular.
"They think they're so great! I'll show them! I'll be the world's most wanted superstar. I'll dominate the singing, acting, dancing, beauty, sports, and modeling world. I'll be the best in everything! That'll teach them!"
She sat there for a while. Her rampant thoughts pounding around in her head as she stared at the fire, the flames' heat licking at her face and tickling her skin.
Then, she realized how much she would miss about Hogwarts. She gazed around the Common Room, taking in the red sofas, the gold and red Gryffindor banners hanging around, the mahogany tables scattered around the room.
Her gaze landed on her favorite corner.
She stood up and walked over to a far corner in the back of the room. The fire's heat didn't reach there and the drapery sort of hid it from view. In that corner, she had spent most of her time. She read there, studied there, and thought there, gazing longingly at where everyone else would be sitting, crowded around the blazing fire, laughing with his or her friends.
She moved the one-seater to the side a bit, and gazed at the back of the couch.
She traced the words written neatly in felt tip there.
"Someday, I'll become popular. And everyone will like me. I'll have friends and people will care about me. But until then, I'll stay in the shadows, watching a dream I know I'll never be part of sway onwards."
She bitterly laughed at the stupidity of the words.
"I'll never be popular at this school. That's why I'm leaving."
She wiped way a few stray tears, and moved the couch back into place. Backing away slowly, she gazed at the Common Room, one last time, before turning on her heel and marching out of the room, face held high, and facial features hard as stone.
It was a cool and starry night. The calm winds gently tousled the girl's silky black hair.
'Wonderful.'
Lucy stood there, swaying back and forth, rubbing her arms while staring at the calm serenity of the lake.
Tired of standing, she scrambled up her favorite tree and sat there on the sturdy branch, legs dangling on either side, head leaning on the smooth bark.
The stars were like little pinpricks of light scattered around the velvety midnight sky, twinkling and shining, comforting the girl, and telling her everything would be just fine.
Lucy opened her mouth and began to sing.
All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin', it's early morn
The taxi's waitin', he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go
There's so many times I've let you down
So many times I've played around
I'll tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, I think of you
Every song I sing, I sing for you
When I come back I'll wear your wedding ring
So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Oh, babe, I hate to go
Now the time has come to leave you
One more time, oh, let me kiss you
And close your eyes and I'll be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I won't have to leave alone
About the times that I won't have to say ...
Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
'Cause I'm leaving on a jet plane
I don't know when I'll be back again
Finishing her melodious song, the girl jumped off the tree and landed on the ground with such agility she looked like a cat, before scampering back to Dumbledore's office.
Lucy stood there facing Dumbledore, the bewitched muggle airplane whirring behind her, ready to transport her to her destination in seconds.
"So, I guess this is it. Goodbye?"
Dumbledore smiled kindly and patted Lucy's shoulders comfortingly.
"Not goodbye, merely until we meet again."
Lucy smiled a nervous smile before turning to board the plane.
She started out at the window as Dumbledore got smaller and smaller, and then disappeared altogether.
She caught a glimpse of Hogwarts towering in the background and gritted her teeth.
'I'll show you. I'll show you all.'
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