AUTHOR'S NOTE We're almost there, folks! This is the second to last chapter. My beta Lauren has stipulated that I tell you that although the end of this chapter seems like an epilogue (and in fact is the first part of said epilogue), there is a real epilogue to follow. So, this is not the end of the story! There will be one more chapter, as well as a theme song to come.

DISCLAIMER Don't own em…

…

The long scarlet Hogwarts Express waiting patiently at the Hogsmeade Station. Students milled around the platform, calling good-bye to professors and then scrambling for compartments on the train.

Michelle couldn't believe that she was going back. Hogwarts felt like home to her. But now she could stop feeling afraid of everyone around her. Provided, of course, her father had forgiven her or would forgive her.

When she boarded the train, her original plan was to share a compartment with Diana. However, one look at how Diana and Oliver were acting sent Michelle to look for others to ride with. She eventually found Cassandra and the two found a seat with another Ravenclaw girl.

As the green and gold fields of Scotland rolled by, she began to get nervous butterflies in the pit of her stomach. What if her parents never spoke to her again? What if they hated her? Or even worse, what if they just pretended she didn't exist?
"Michelle, I've got to go meet my parents," Cassandra suddenly said. She handed Michelle a slip of paper. "Here's my telephone number and address if you want to talk or something. Happy summer!"

She left the compartment and it took Michelle a moment to realize that they had arrived at Platform 9 ¾ already. Collecting her things, she hurried to find Diana. On the way, she found Percy and Penelope.

When asked if he'd seen Diana, Percy sniffed. "She and Oliver are…saying good-bye."

"Snogging," Penelope clarified, sending a teasing wink in her boyfriend's direction. Percy blushed.

"Uh, have a good holiday," he mumbled to Michelle before Penelope led him off.

Somehow she fought through the throngs of students and parents. She stood face-to-face with Diana in front of the gateway back to the Muggle world. "Okay," Michelle muttered. "Here we go."

Bricks dematerialized into air as they ran through the passage. Their mother and father waited patiently for them on the other side. Marie rushed to her daughters. "I'm so glad you're both home!" Michelle just hugged her mother tightly.

Diana hugged her father also. Michelle smiled at him. After a moment, he put a warm hand on her shoulder and smiled back. "Welcome home, Michelle."

It wasn't much, but it was a start.

…

The first year was unlike any other Michelle experienced at Hogwarts. Not everyone in Slytherin despised her forever and over time, she learned how to avoid Draco Malfoy and his followers.

Percy graduated the following year, along with Oliver Wood. But Michelle maintained her relationship with Seamus and built a strong friendship with Cassandra. And her bond with Diana was never threatened again.

Only by her own choice, Michelle lost contact gradually with Fred and George. Every now and then her thoughts would wander towards Gryffindor Tower or her eye would be caught by scarlet Quidditch robes, but she kept her feelings for George safely locked away as a memory.

It was during Michelle's fourth year the last time she saw him. Rebelling against the dictatorship of Headmistress Dolores Umbridge, Fred and George created a huge, realistic swamp in the middle of the hallway. Together they summoned their brooms, bid the school good-bye, and flew off into the air. Nothing was heard from them at Hogwarts again. Michelle heard that they opened a very successful joke shop in Diagon Alley.

After six long, but worthwhile years, Michelle graduated from Hogwarts a full witch. Her summers were spent divided between her parents' house in the countryside and Diana and Oliver's apartment in the wizarding town of Hogsmeade.

She never forgot her first year at Hogwarts and the abuse she suffered. It was a part of her and made her forever stronger. Remembering made her believe in who she was.

…

Morwen Amlug Yeah, this semester has been hell…I made the mistake of taking Film Production 1 and Screenwriting 2 at once. Oh, it's been fun. And Michelle is 11, George is 14 – hence why it won't really work. At least, not for now…