Rain

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tragedy: "Farewell, My Father"

Draco Malfoy didn't bother Dorothy at all for another two months, not until O.W.L. time. It was coming close to the middle of May and teachers were lecturing the students in their fifth years an up more and more about their O.W.L.'s and dishing out more homework as well. Dorothy didn't mind much, having gone through the same ritual at her old school, except Madam Seremine's modus operandi was much more intense. The dark-haired Gryffindor girl often found herself in the library with Hermione or other students but always accompanied by other Gryffindor's for her "protection."

With each passing day, the apprehension in the air of Hogwarts School grew more and more. More people were cramming in the library. The teachers were becoming more flustered and active with their students. A day before the examination date, a Subday, people were sitting at their tables for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, most with books in their laps. Dorothy and Hermione were two of the people getting some extra studying in before the big day.

(A/N: Okay, let me just clear something up. I don't know if sixth years have to take OWLs again. In my story they do, so deal with it. Moreover, you don't have to worry about Conquest of the Heart because all of the main characters will be taking NEWTs instead.)

Dorothy sighed at the end of breakfast and closed her book. Hermione saw her getting up to leave, Harry and Ron following her example. It was plain to see that Dorothy was really not enjoying one bit that fact that she had been being followed for the past four months for the irritation was showing on her tired features.

"Okay," she began, looking at Harry and Ron, "OWLs are tomorrow. I'm exhausted. I'm going to take a nap and I'd like to go ALONE. Please, just let me be for a little while."

She didn't wait for any reply. Her black, braided hair flew out behind her as she left the Great Hall and headed for the Grand Staircase, her black shoes clacking against the floor as she walked. She was so tired and her hand was limply following the rail. When finally she reached the seventh floor, Dorothy slumped over to the portrait hole, gave the password, and shuffled in. Too tired to make it to her bed, she plopped down in an armchair and fell asleep quickly only to be awakened the next instant to "Ms. Agel. Ms. Agel."

"What is it?" she asked, groggily, opening one eye and looking into the fireplace to see a worried looking, neatly trimmed head floating in the green flames.

"Ms. Agel, I have some…unfortunate news," said the man with a hint of grief in his voice. Seeing the saddened look upon the man's face, Dorothy sat up abruptly and listened close. "Your father…he…"

"He what?" pressed Dorothy quickly, a knot in her stomach tightening as she waited for the head to continue. She recognized the man finally, though the neat, combed mustache he had grown had been what had thrown her off. He was his father's friend and colleague in his auror work.

"He…" the man continued, choking back a sob that only made Dorothy's qualms worse. "He was killed last night…in his home…probably by a death-eater or so the other aurors think." The color drained from Dorothy's face immediately and she sat frozen in the armchair for a long time, listening to the head in the fireplace sob and choke and wail. "I'm sorry for you…-sob-…lose. My con-con-condolences, Dorothy. I shall see you at the funeral in July." The head faded and Dorothy broke down into a mess of sobs.

It was a long time before the portrait hole opened and Dumbledore walked in. He rested a wrinkled hand on Dorothy's back and rubbed it as she mourned her father's passing. Her body shook furiously as she cried and it was a long time before she turned her face to Dumbledore. The old man, walked around the chair and knelt before Dorothy.

"Ms. Agel, Dorothy, I have just been informed about your father," he stated, soothingly. "I was wondering if you'd like to go back to your home for the remainder of the school year. You can leave after the OWLs tomorrow."

Dorothy was silent for a moment. Then she looked up at Dumbledore and gave a croaky, "Yes, headmaster. I should need to move my stuff out of my house since that is where he passed away." Dumbledore left her then, alone to cry and wail her pain away.

About two hours passed when Hermione got the news and rushed up to the common rooms to find her friend. Unfortunately, Draco was at her heel, and Harry and Ron were at his. Hermione, without thinking, gave the password and left the portrait hole swinging open for all to enter, including the platinum blonde Slytherin who did indeed just walk in. Harry and Ron, however, grabbed him by the shoulders when they were in as well.

"Where do you think you're going?" asked Harry, watching Hermione climb the stairs to the girls' dormitories after finding that Dorothy wasn't in the common rooms. "You're not allowed in her so get out!"

The two Gryffindor boys were pushing Draco toward the portrait hole when two figures were seen coming down the girls' dormitories' stairs. Hermione and Dorothy. Dorothy's face was grin and glistened a little in the light from the common rooms to show she'd been crying. She looked at Draco as he was tossed out of the Gryffindor common rooms and the portrait hole closed, leaving the four sixth years alone. Dorothy spent the next ten minutes explaining her predicament. How her father died because of a death eater. How she was leaving the day after next.

…How she might not be coming back for her seventh year…

A/N: Oh…it's so sad. I was originally going to have her dad get remarried but this fits perfectly into the beginning of Conquest of the Heart. So this is where I stand. Also, I'm going to end the story in two more chapters. I hope you don't mind. R&R. Ciao

WEM