CHAPTER FIFTY-FIVE
People had talked about what had happened to Aaron for the rest of the school year. It was hard for anyone to keep a straight face whenever they passed him in the corridors. And while most of the focus was off of Jane now, people still whispered every now and then, and she even endured some snide, vulgar remarks from a few Slytherins, though, they would've been harsh to her even without the rumours Aaron had started. Jane learned to deal with it; after all, what had happened to Aaron was more than enough to compensate her for her own humiliation. However, it still bothered her at times, and she would go back to feeling stupid for ever letting something like that happen to her.
Near the end of the school year, Jane was unusually calm. Despite having the big Quidditch match against Ravenclaw and upcoming exams, she felt more relaxed than she ever had during this time of year. She had actually managed to find a balance between studying and just enjoying time with her friends. With all that had happened, she figured that she needed a break from being stressed about things.
For the first time in weeks, everything was back to normal, and Jane couldn't have been happier.
The Ravenclaw game was something Jane had desperately needed, and though she had been penalised for it in the end, she was happy to find that knocking Aaron off his broomstick was a lot easier than she'd thought it'd be. He had been sent to the Hospital Wing with a broken arm, and Gryffindor had ended up winning, not only the match, but the Cup as well.
The rest of the year ended up being filled with unauthorised Hogsmeade trips and exams and late night treks to the kitchens. After exams were over, and with only a week left at Hogwarts, Jane began to dread going home. Another whole summer without her friends, and she didn't even have Sarah to make Stockbridge more bearable now. Nearly three months of sitting at home wasn't something that she was looking forward to. Plus, she was still kind of mad at her mother for her ruined Easter, though, she had been thankful in the end that she had never told her parents about Aaron.
It was extremely hard for her to board the train, and even harder to get off at Kings Cross. Jane didn't want to have to say goodbye to all her friends, not again. But she had to, and as she watched them all leave with their parents, she was filled with a longing to be going with one of them (save for Sirius; she'd pick Stockbridge over Sirius' house any day).
Jane couldn't wait to be older, to no longer be living in that godforsaken town. She couldn't wait to leave. She had it all planned out. Once she graduated, she'd live in London for a while. Then, she'd fall in love with a very respectable wizard, and she'd get married. Then, they'd move to Hogsmeade and live in one of those little cottages, like that white one that she loved so much. And after a while, she'd finally have a beautiful baby boy who would later attend Hogwarts and become the next Minister of Magic (Jane had very high hopes for her future son).
Jane wasn't exactly sure why she wanted a boy when she was older. Maybe after all those times of watching that family in Hogsmeade, the idea just wore off on her. The young mother was always chasing her little boy around the yard, laughing and playing with him. Jane would love to live that kind of life, a quiet peaceful life in a little cottage with her husband and son. She was going to be such a good mother; she was certain of it.
But in the meantime, she was forced to live wherever her parents were, and unfortunately, it was Stockbridge, and there was nothing to be done about it.
She sighed before walking through the barrier to be greeted by both of her parents.