Disclaimer: I own my plot and chars.. nothing of J.K. Rowling's is mine. I disclaim the quote used in here.
A/N: This is, sadly, the last chapter of the first out of three novels in my series... but after this chap will be a brief letter to all my fans about the next two stories coming your way. So, please stay and watch for the A/N chapter.
Chapter 27: A Final Farewell
Last day of the year, June twentieth. I was very excited at first, because Hermione invited me to her house for vacation. But then I woke up today, and realized I would be gone from my home in the castle for a whole vacation.
"Hermione," I sat next to Harry, across from Hermione in the Common Room, "It's already nine a.m. We leave when?"
Ron entered the room and answered before 'Mione opened her mouth, "We leave at two p.m. Then when we get to the train station, we'll be leaving around three. Most of us will be home before supper time. Or midnight if you live on the other side of the world."
"You'd think I wouldn't miss the tests and homework, but I miss it already!" Hermione whined.
"You," Harry picked, "always miss homework. Even in your sleep!"
"Not true!" She objected.
The four of us had a hearty laugh, something we'd all miss during vacation. Taking our trunks and whatnot, we used Professor Flitiwck's levitation spell to drag everything down to the Great Hall. Our luggage would be taken from there to the train, and then to the homes of the students.. If anyone wanted to hold on to a special bag or something, they would have to do so now, before the Hall was cleared.
Now free to do anything we wanted until one-fifty p.m., I decided to walk around the castle and say my farewells to my professors. I started with Madame Hooch, who tought me how to fly a broom. She was ecstatic that I came to say farewell to her. Her expression to how glad she was at how quickly I learned to fly a broom was very uplifting to hear.
I made my way to Charms and then Transfiguration. Professor Flitwick and McGonagal were surprised to see me. My visit to them both was short, but I was happy to see them once more before vacation. Hogwarts became a big part of my life; Hell, it was my life, so I wanted to show everyone I cared. I decided against going to a few other classrooms because I wanted to make sure I had time for one more cup of hot cocoa with Hagrid before one-fifty. All the students were required to be outside before two o'clock.
Strolling down the third floor corridor, I peeked in at Gilderoy Poptart's classroom. Entering, I saw him washing the chalkboard using his wand. He peered behind him and grinned like the Poptart he was.
"Come in, come in, Miss Maguire." Gilderoy greeted me and ignored his soapy chalkboard.
Giggling at the mess the falling suds were making, I realized what a funny, klutzy guy Gilderoy could be. "Professor," I warned him, "The chalkboard is molting of suds."
He made an 'oh no' kind of gasp and attended to his mess. "Thank you. I'm so absent-minded sometimes you'd think I still belonged in the asylum. What can I do for you?"
"Oh nothing," I waited for him to turn around to face me before I spoke again, "I just came to say farewell. You know, going around the school one last time."
"Aww, isn't that sweet of you. You should visit Professor Snape. I heard he's in an extra crabby mood..He could use a visit." Gilderoy rolled his eyes, "But maybe you should stay out of his way. He might cast a curse on you. He shot me the worst glance today in the hall. I don't understand him."
"Me either," I admitted while giggling.
Gilderoy smiled, "Enough about him. It's the last day of school... How do you feel?"
"Pretty good," Perkiness was now in my voice, "Hermione invited me over her house for vacation since I don't have a real house to go to. The only downside is even though I put up with so much crap this year, I'll miss this castle. I guess you could say this is my home now."
"This is home to all. You think anyone wants to leave? Most of the teachers stay over the summer. Some go to summer cottages or elsewhere, but we all end up coming back. That's just because we work during vacation too." Poptart shut his mouth.
I took the opportunity to leave, "Well, I guess I should go. I'll see you next year, Professor."
"Goodbye, Miss Maguire." He said as I left the room.
The dungeons were extra chilly today, but I kept going to my next destination: Professor Snape's class. Knocking for the last time on his old wodden door, I heard his intimidating voice call from within the walls of the room. "Come in."
I felt myself hiding a laugh; Desperately, I wanted to yell Hey ol' Snapey boy! Letting myself into the classroom, he seemed relieved that it was me and not some other dunderhead student. At least I was fun to fight with.
"Miss Maguire, nice to see a familiar face on the last day of school." Snape didn't seem as crabby as Gilderoy said.
"Hi," I pulled a stray strand of hair behind my ear while walking up to his desk, "I just wanted to come and say farewell before I left. Thought it would make me feel better seeing all of my professors' faces one last time before vacation."
"How thoughtful of you. You know, I'm very proud of your progress this year. You came in knowing almost nothing about magic, and now you are natural, borderline perfect. Especially with your potion making. In the beginning of the year, you were shaky and, no offense, dense to the art of potion making. Now, you make a potion like you've done it a thousand times." Snape complimented me, which made me blush so much, my ears even turned red. Who expected Snape to give a compliment?
"Thank you, Professor," I twiddled my damned twiddly-thumbs.
He shook his head, "No need to thank me, all of your professors have said the same thing. You really blossomed this year in classes. We are all very proud of you."
Again, I was stumped, "Thank you anyways." I was also stubborn.
"Now," Snape folded his hands on his desk, "If you can keep your temper down next year, I will reccomend you to the E.Y.P. You remember what that is, right?" I nodded my head, and Snape continued, "You need three teacher reccomendations to take the manditory test, and if you pass, you're in. It's as simple as that. But I'm not going to reccomend a student who used to constantly fight with me, so we have to make sure to keep our tempers out of each other's way. Agreed?"
"Agreed," I shook his hand which was shockingly soft.
Snape parted his lips, "Now, until next year, Miss Maguire."
"Until next year, Professor Snape." I smiled and paced out of the room.
Gradually, I made my way to Hagrid's hut. We sat down at eleven a.m. and didn't conclude our talk until one-thirty p.m. It was such a long, wonderful talk about the entire year. Hagrid was so happy for me and how much I grew up. He told me about a time when he last saw me as a child. It was when I was dropped off at the orphanage. Hagrid was hiding behind a tree, which I found to be amusing, wishing the best for me. My reply was a giant hug. We must've had three cups of cocoa before we noticed the time. I had to get going. Giving one last hug, we both waved farewell until we could no longer see each other. Now I know what it's like to have a family member.
I met up with Hermione, Ron, Harry, and Neville outside of the castle. Seamus ran over to us just as buggy after buggy reached us. We all got in, seperated and spread out in the buggies, and saw Albus Dumbledore waving to us all as we drove off.
The ride on the buggy was quiet, but enjoyable. I watched out the window as trees, bushes, lakes, and roads passed by as quick as the year had. Soon, we arrived at the train station. Getting out of the buggy, I ran over to Hermione. We were then joined by Harry, Ron, Seamus, and Neville. Our permanent friend group.
"When's the train coming?" I asked anxiously.
Ron whined, "Not for another ten minutes. Then, when they're here, they have to load it up with our lousy luggage which takes at least twenty minutes. Damn time"
"Here here!" Harry blurted.
Seven boring minutes later, the train pulled up to the station. Men in red and silver uniform started to load the luggage compartment. We all watched, as there was nothing else to do.
"Finally!" A girl yelled, "We can board the train!"
This was my first time on a train, so I told Hermione to lead me to our compartment. We found one within three minutes, and I sat next to the window. Hermione sat across from me, Harry next to me, and Ron next to 'Mione. Draco and his posse passed our compartment and sneered at me. Did I do something wrong other than breathe and live? I didn't think so.
When the train began to move, Hermione rested her head on Ron's shoulder and closed her eyes. Ron blushed and smiled. Harry laughed quietly while shaking his head.
"I'm going to nap too," Ron whispered and shut his eyes.
Harry turned to me, "I'm just going to read a bit. What about you?"
"I'll just watch the world go by..." I smiled and stared out my window.
Tall, empowering trees with elegant leaves swished and danced in the wind. The sky was a painted canvas with white splotches scattered in a way to make you wonder why clouds are so magical. Riding next to a lake, I could almost see the reflection of my confused face. I was confused about life. Why was it that for one spec of a moment, you can feel the happiest emotion, but then in the next whisper of a second, you could be the most upset person in the universe? I was sad, upset, because I was yet again going to be alone. I was used to the feeling, but taking me away from a home I had just been accustomed to was cruel. Hogwarts became who I was, am, and will be. So many adventures, lessons, and terrors came my way, and were going to come my way. Hogwarts prepared me for them, and even contributed too.
Being with Hermione wouldn't be bad, but I knew that seeing a family for the first time in my life was not going to be easy.. Then again, is life ever easy?
All I knew, sitting in the cushioned seat of the train, was that I probably wouldn't be able to get through the summer without thinking of Hogwarts. The agony of leaving kicked in when I got on thr train. I really did accomplish a lot this year. I learned how to stand up for myself, for one, and I also learned how to get along with the least compatible teacher in the castle. Yet, the two most important things I learned were to accept myself for who I am... and to keep the friends and family I do have close at heart.
I already missed Hogwarts. After all, as Dorothy said in the Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home..."