Everyone nodded hoping that this next year would be a little bit better than the last. Everyone was afraid to talk about what had happened last year around Harry and Sydney, but when they weren't around Sirius and Sydney's parents was all they talked about. Each of them had had their own specific nightmares of the night of Sirius' death, but they had no idea what it was like for Sydney.
She had tried so hard to save her godfather from his own death only to get held back by Dumbledore. She struggled so hard against him, even with a broken leg, but he just wouldn't let her go. Then coming home to a house, which wasn't even a house anymore. It was just a black scorched pit in the ground. That must have been the worst feeling in the world.
The door opened and in walked Hagrid looking happy but tired. His eyes seemed to be scanning the room restlessly. He spotted someone and walked over towards them. Sydney followed the half-giant with her eyes. They landed on a tall bearded man, with half-moon spectacles and a tired face. He grinned at Hagrid and glanced toward their table. Sydney quickly looked away, almost as if she were ashamed of looking at him.
Harry never could understand his cousin. She was different from most girls. She liked being independent, she was pretty and yet hated looking at her image in the mirror because she despised herself so much. Her self-esteem was low and all she heard when people told her she was pretty was that's not good enough. She never did anything to make herself look gorgeous, hating make-up almost as much as she hated Voldemort. Voldemort, the one thing that seemed to be taking his entire family away from him. He hoped against hope that his aunt and uncle were going to be the last killed by him. It was devastating listening to Sydney's screams at night. Harry felt awful and wished he could do something to help her, but she wouldn't let him near her.
Harry was pulled from his thoughts as a loud burst of laughter erupted from the table he was sitting at. George was blushing madly and Fred was rolling on the floor laughing. Hermione rolled her eyes. "What happened?" Harry asked. "George just farted the loudest fart I've ever heard," Ron said cracking up. Sydney was grinning happily, it was good to see her smile.