Chapter 32: Memory Lane

"Here you are. You just take that money and keep it okay?" Mrs. Hodgepeckins was insisting on not taking the money I had won for the Tri-wizard Tournament.

"I really don't want it," I said but took the money anyways.

The Hodgepeckins turned to leave but I called after them, "Mrs. Hodgepeckins?"

"Yes?"

"I didn't mention it before but I probably owe Corrine my life, she wouldn't have died if she hadn't of tried to wait and save me too. I'm sorry for everything that happened," I blurted this out very quickly. I wanted to be forgiven, released from blame for the death of their daughter.

"I know dear, that's the way she would have wanted," Mrs. Hodgepeckins turned and walked away. I didn't feel even the least bit better.

"Riley, do you want to play the winner?" Celeste had been trying unsuccessfully to get me to join in on wizard's chess all day.

"No," I replied.

I was staring out the window taking, once again, a trip down Memory Lane that included those two awful words, 'Avada Kedvra', and Corrine, a talented young witch and Quidditch player, falling dead to the floor. The image was burned in my memory and I knew it would bother me for years.

"You have to let it go," Spencer said more than a little irritated.

"It's not that easy," I replied shaking my head to clear the scene replaying in it.

"Yes, it is. It wasn't your fault. Riley, you'll never get over the fact that she died but you have to realize there's nothing you could have done," Spencer spoke softly because the Common Room was packed with people trying to hear my story.

I just shook my head and thought, you don't know the whole story and I'm not telling anybody everything yet.

"I'm going outside; there's too many people trying to hear every word I say," I informed my friends before leaving the Common Room and going outside.

I couldn't decide which was worse, being alone, or being with people. They each had their problems and I couldn't decide which had more. Whenever I was with people I longed to be alone and whenever I was alone I wanted someone to talk to. I needed my dad, he would understand perfectly, but they had sent him off to find Lily and Moresby. I knew that was pointless, but nobody else did.

"Riley," Greg jogged to catch up to me, "I just wanted to tell you that Mum wrote and said you can come to stay with us again."

"Thanks, but I think I won't go right away, I've got some family to try and fix. I'll probably be there within a week though," I smiled, a rare thing in the past couple of days.

"Are you sure? I mean I thought it was clear that your mum didn't want you around at all," Greg looked at me quizzically.

"I'm sure," I replied confidently, "I need to at least try to fix things. Nothing's going to happen overnight, but if I don't try I'd wonder if I could have done something for the rest of my life."

"Okay, well you know where I am, if you ever want to talk or something," Greg shrugged and started to walk away.

"Greg?" I called and he turned, "You'll be the first person I'll talk to when I'm ready. You're the first one who believed me. Thanks."

"Hey, what else are friends for?" Greg smiled and left to join Logan and Morgan over by the lake.

"Yeah, what else are you good for?" I muttered; smiling again I felt slightly better.

Chapter 33: New Beginnings

I clambered into the waiting carriage and glanced back at Hogwarts for the last time that year. My Dad hadn't come back from searching for Lily yet and I was going to go to the Weasley's, but only after I talked to my mum.

"It's been a long year," I commented quietly.

"Yeah, what did you decide to do with that prize money?" Greg looked curiously at me.

"I don't know, it's not like I wanted it," I replied.

"I could take it off of your hands if you wanted," Greg hinted, grinning.

"I don't think so," I responded, making a face at him.

"You sure you want to talk to your mum?" Lauran asked me, "You could come right to our house if you wanted to."

"I have to try. I'd never forgive myself if I didn't try, that's just who I am."

"You're crazy," Celeste shook her head in disbelief, "Why don't you give up? What keeps you going?"

"Celeste, I learned a long time ago that the worst thing for a person to do is to give up. There's always a chance, even if you're more likely to get hit by lightning. If I had given up when things looked bad, I'd be dead instead of Corrine. That's what keeps me going."

Nobody spoke for the rest of the ride to the Hogsmeade platform. We all sat and thought our own private thoughts. It wasn't until the carriage stopped that anyone moved or mad any noise at all.

"So, I think that we should be getting on the train now," I spoke cheerfully to the quiet group, "We wouldn't want to miss it would we?"

"No, because then we'd have to stay here and listen to Delacour rant about punctuality," Spencer replied cockily and everyone laughed.

We all climbed out of the carriage and walked through the train looking for an empty compartment. We finally found one at the very back of the train. I sat down by the window and everyone proceeded to not waste the final few hours that we were permitted to do magic.

I thought some more about everything. I had a choice, would I fulfill the Prophesy or would I turn my back? For me there was no choice, I wouldn't turn my back and ignore the fact that my sister was out murdering innocent people in their sleep. I wouldn't be the cause of the suffering of hundreds and the terror that would soon transpire across the planet. Little children would go to sleep fearing that they or their families wouldn't live until dawn. These children had done nothing to deserve that terror, the only crime they were guilty of was being born.

I thought about Mum. How was she going to accept me at the platform, begging for her to listen and to hear me out? I hoped she would listen, she wouldn't like what she heard but at least she would hear my words. I hoped I didn't just get a slap across my face.

I thought about Corrine. I knew fans everywhere were mourning her demise. She didn't deserve that fate. Corrine had only been guilty of one thing, bravery. She was the strongest person I had ever met and I would take to heart the things I learned from her.

Finally I thought about the person sitting next to me. Spencer had been there for me throughout every up and down of the past year. He had listened to my ranting and calmed my nerves. I knew he deserved a better person than me but he didn't seem to want a better person, he was content to have me. I remembered that smile that drove me crazy…

"Hey, Spencer?" I asked suddenly.

"What?"

"What is that smile about? You know the one where you look like you know something that nobody else does, that little lopsided one?"

"What is that smile about? It's all about you. Riley, that smile is because you're doing something stupid, or funny, or something that just makes me smile."

"Oh," I replied trying to figure out if he was joking or not, he sounded perfectly serious.

"Look, we're almost there," Celeste pointed to the sight of London getting larger.

"Hold on, I've got to do something," I pulled out my wand and walked out of the compartment.

I looked into all of the compartments as I passed and finally found the person I was looking for, Logan Malfoy.

"Malfoy, I'm going to give you some advice. You don't have to take it or anything but I suggest you listen," I made sure my wand was in plain sight as I talked, "Don't fall into Lily's crowd. If you do you're going to get in serious trouble. It may seem like she cares about you but Lily only cares about herself, she's good at manipulating people to see what she wants them to see. I'd watch my back if I were you."

I turned and left the compartment, doubting that anything I had said had sunk into Malfoy's fat head, but I had to try.

"Where did you go?" Spencer asked as I walked into the compartment to grab my stuff and get off the train.

"I had to give some advice to, hmm, let's call him an acquaintance," I replied and dragged my stuff out into the hallway.

"What acquaintance? What is she talking about?" Spencer turned and looked questioningly at Celeste and Lauran who both shrugged.

We all clambered off the train and pulled our stuff over away from the doorway. I spotted Mum over near the arch leading into the Muggle world. I swallowed.

"I'll see you guys soon, okay?" I hugged Celeste and Lauran and kissed Spencer on the cheek before lugging my trunk over to Mum.

"Hello Riley. Have you heard from your father or Lily yet?" Mum asked me, she was wearing a look on her face that a person might wear if encountering a particularly rancid smell.

"No, mum I wish I had heard from dad but I haven't. Thank you for coming to meet me," I replied politely.

"I don't plan to be here very long."

"Well, then I won't keep you. I just want to say that I'm sorry, I'm sorry that I was born and messed up your perfect family, I'm sorry that Lily is what she is, and I'm sorry that you can't see the person she's become. But most of all I'm sorry that you don't love me; we can't have another chance but I think we should at least live peacefully for the rest of our lives. We can't undo the past, but nothing has been set in stone for the future," I scanned Mum's face for any reaction good or bad.

"I don't want to have another daughter, one is enough for me. You have been forgotten, and I'm sorry if I ever implied otherwise."

Mum turned on her heel and stalked off. A single tear rolled down my cheek and I brushed it away. I wasn't surprised about the outcome of our conversation but it hit me like a ton of bricks.

"I see to you pride means more than family. Blood is thicker than water, but that obviously doesn't matter to you. And you know what Mum? Now I see where Lily gets her inability to love. You don't deserve to be called 'Mum'." I grabbed my trunk and turned my back on my mother, one of the two creatures on the Earth that couldn't love anyone.

Two can play that game Mum, I'm not going to be your daughter by choice not by force, I thought.

"Riley, do you want to come home with us now?" Alicia Weasley asked me.

I didn't reply, just hugged her. I had just been through a very bad year.

"I'm sorry dear, I guess it wasn't meant to be," Alicia muttered before letting go.

As we left King's Cross I saw my mother in the distance. She was crying, most likely over the disappearance of Lily. I felt no pang of remorse as I turned my back on the sight of my crying mother. She had never been like what a mother is supposed to be to me. I realized that after a bad year I had just made a new beginning.

AN/ Hey guys! that's the last chapter of year two! I'm so excited because year 3 is so much better, and I'm not done with it so you can help me out of any writing ruts I get into! (I have started it) Leave some reviews and I'll post chapter 1 sooner! Thanks so much and please stick with me, I promise that next book will be BETTER!

Love From,

MotherCrumpet