A/N: Greetings, my dear crystals! I hope that you are all having a lovely day / night! :D
Before we dive into the next chapter of "Indigo Dumbledore and the Sorcerer's Stone," I would like to make a couple of things known.
Firstly: I am currently in the final few weeks of my first semester in my fourth year at college. I want to make sure that I say this because for these next few weeks, I won't be able to focus on writing as much as I would like. Instead, I'll be having to keep on top of final projects and not to mention studying for exams. So, the next chapter might take a bit longer for me to put together. All I ask is for you all to please be patient with me. I can assure you, I'll be writing whenever I have the time / energy! I just have to make sure that I fairly balance my schoolwork and other responsibilities on the side of this. :)
Secondly: I usually take a couple of weeks off between every update in order to give my brain a chance to relax and recharge. Although, in the case of this chapter, I pretty much started working on it as soon as I finished the first chapter. This is because I was in the mood to do nothing but write. Now, as much as I love writing, I want to make it clear that it's not always that easy for me. I won't always be able to start the next chapter right off the bat, especially if my schedule is packed with other duties around that time. So, please make sure that it's understood that I do not have any particular update schedule. I simply write when I have the time / energy, as well as post a chapter whenever I feel that it is complete. I hope that's understood. :)
Thirdly: Again, I am not from the UK. If I use any British terms incorrectly, I apologize. Just understand that I am an American that is doing her best to write a British character. XD
Fourthly: Reviews really make my day. I always look forward to hearing what you all think, so please don't hold back! Share your thoughts in the reviews or you can PM them to me at anytime! Again, I really appreciate reviews! :D
Now, I believe that's all I wanted to say at this time! It's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the second chapter of my retelling of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."
Happy reading, my fellow viewers! :)
Indigo Dumbledore and the Sorcerer's Stone
Chapter Two: The Abrupt Leave
In that moment, after standing still for what felt like a century, I didn't think twice before turning around. That's when I saw the new person that had entered the Leaky Cauldron—the one that Tom had been speaking to. It really hadn't been some trick from my mind.
There, standing near the bar, was Rubeus Hagrid—a half-giant man that had been by my side ever since Dumbledore had first taken me in. I actually thought of him as an uncle, courtesy of how well the two of us got along. He was over eleven feet tall, possessing a fair complexion, somewhat rosy cheeks, and a meaty figure that—as a child—I had gotten into the habit of comparing to Santa Claus. Aside from that, he also had a lengthy, bushy, black mane that blended in almost entirely with the beard on his face. Then, there were his features: shaggy eyebrows, eyes that were like pools of dark chocolate, a rounded nose, and lips that were hidden almost completely by all of his facial hair. Finally, he was wearing a beat-up overcoat with a wine-colored button-down, a pair of dark brown trousers, and some oversized boots that were noticeably riddled in dirt. There were multiple buttons missing on his outfit, as well as various discolored patches sewn over what must've been rips.
In less than a second, my eyes started to shimmer with complete and utter delight. At the same time, a much more genuine smile spread practically ear-to-ear across my face, exposing plenty of my pearly white teeth. It might as well had put all of my prior grins from that evening to shame.
"Hagrid!" I exclaimed, sounding just as ecstatic as I looked.
He turned in my direction almost immediately, a broad smile of his own appearing just seconds later.
"Ah, Indigo! Just the one I came to see!"
Abandoning my spot near mine and Odette's usual table, I started to jog in Hagrid's direction. He decided to meet me halfway, being careful as to not accidentally bump into any of the furniture or customers as he swiftly walked to the center of the first floor. He then spread his arms, just as I skidded to a halt and threw my arms around his neck. He gladly returned my hug, which was when I also took the liberty to place a friendly kiss against his cheek. As this happened, I had no choice but to stand on my tiptoes and keep my head tilted back as far as it could go. Otherwise, my face would've been completely buried against Hagrid's body.
"Blimey, just look at ya!" Hagrid said with elated snickers dripping from his words, just as the two of us released each other. "Absolutely beautiful!"
I let out a flattered chuckle, pushing another stray strand of hair out of my face with my fingertips. Even when I was wearing nothing more than just a plain, dark green shirt with long sleeves and a pair of faded blue jeans that had some stylish rips in the knees, Hagrid still believed that I was pretty enough to earn a compliment. He—without a doubt—had one of the warmest and kindest souls that I'd ever encountered in a person.
"Tell me," Hagrid went on, sending me a playful wink, "you haven't been breaking too many hearts since my last visit, have ya?"
"No more than the usual. At least two or three a day." I replied, carrying on the joke. "And speaking of your last visit, I never did get a chance to say thank you for dropping by to celebrate my birthday with me."
"Ah, you don't have to thank me for that. It was my pleasure."
Two weeks previously, on the morning of my birthday, Hagrid had decided to stop by the Leaky Cauldron to surprise me. With him, he brought a white box that had a bright yellow ribbon tied loosely around it. It turned out to be filled with a delicious batch of red velvet cupcakes that were decorated with strawberry icing and chocolate sprinkles. They looked like they had been made by a three-year-old, despite how I knew that it had really been Hagrid. I remember him saying that he wanted to bake me a cake instead; but it turned out that he didn't have enough ingredients. So, he resorted to making cupcakes ... and there were no words that could possibly describe how touched I was. He had also brought a present from Dumbledore—a small, velvet box that contained a pair of shiny, beautiful, silver stud earrings that were designed to look like roses. I was actually wearing them tonight.
Unfortunately, as one of the most well-known wizards in all of existence, Dumbledore rarely had any free time. In fact, now that I was out on my own, the only time in which I really got to see him was during the holidays—Thanksgiving and Christmas, to be more specific. Aside from that, there were also some occasions in which he would invite me to go on trips with him—particularly over the summer. When I was growing up, I went practically everywhere with Dumbledore. It was difficult to name a place in which I hadn't visited; but that didn't change the fact that my adoptive father was—and had always been—a very busy individual. It had been almost two-and-a-half years since our last trip together. It had been to Spain, where Dumbledore and I had stayed in a luxurious hotel for wizards and witches. To this day, those memories still managed to bring a smile to my face.
Hagrid, on the other hand, was the main person who I often received visits from. He would come by the Leaky Cauldron at least once every one-to-two weeks; and almost every time that he did, the two of us would end up spending at least a couple of hours together. Even if I were handling a shift, Hagrid would patiently wait until I got off. Then, he and I would walk all around London, cracking jokes and talking about what was going on in our lives as we enjoyed pastries that I would usually buy from this popular Muggle bakery. I always looked forward to Hagrid's visits, needless to say.
"So, how have you been lately?" Hagrid inquired, the sound of his voice immediately bringing me out of my thoughts. "Working more shifts, eh?"
"Gee, I wonder what gave that away..." I replied as I crossed my arms over my chest, my lips molding into a teasing grin. "Hmm. Could it be the fact that my hair looks like it's practically fighting to stay up in its ponytail? ... Or is it possibly because I'm still wearing my apron?"
Hagrid snorted. "Very funny. How long have you been on your feet today?"
"I got up at eight and opened the place at nine. Although, customers didn't really start piling in until around lunchtime. So, I would say that I've been clocked in for about ... ohh ... eight hours, give or take."
"I see. You know, Indigo, you should be proud of how hardworking you are." Hagrid said as he raised one of his large fingers, wagging it at me knowingly. "Nowadays, there aren't many young witches or wizards that are as committed to their responsibilities as you are. That's quite the accomplishment there."
"Well, 'with great power comes great responsibility,' right?"
As those words left my mouth, something caught my gaze from the corner of my eye. I turned my head to look at it—a dainty, brown vase that was gathering dust like moths to a flame. It was tucked in the corner of a windowsill, filled with a cluster of dry flowers that had clearly been dead for quite some time. I narrowed my eyes a little as I stared at them, focusing ... and, about five-to-ten seconds later, the flowers suddenly began to straighten themselves back up. The rotten parts of their stems practically dissolved into thin air, while their shriveled petals became smooth and regained their pretty colors. Until then, it had been nearly impossible to tell that the flowers were orange and pink tulips, mixed with a couple of lilacs and daisies.
I redirected my gaze back over to Hagrid, who had clearly witnessed what I had just done. I could tell by how he was softly nodding his head at me in approval, as if he were saying that he was impressed.
"Anyway, Hagrid, I couldn't help but overhear how you had mentioned my father's name when you were talking to Tom." I said, tilting my head slightly. "You said that you were here this evening by his request. Is that right?"
"Uhh, yeah. That's right..." Hagrid answered in a tone that made it obvious that he was now caught up in a thought. "Oh, pardon me, Ma'am."
A woman with short, curly, rust-colored hair and double pupils had stood up from her table, carrying the strong scents of saltwater and seaweed with her. She needed to shimmy her way past Hagrid, which was pretty difficult since he was a half-giant. So, Hagrid did his best to step aside and provide at least a somewhat wider path for her—all while making sure that he didn't accidentally bump into any of the tables, chairs, or other customers. I did the same, stepping out of her way and watching as the woman proceeded to stroll down the aisle like she was walking on clouds. I could tell that she must've been heading to the bathroom.
"How about we talk over there?" Hagrid suggested quietly. "That way, we aren't in the way of any of these folks."
"Okay, sure."
I led the way, turning around and walking all the way back over to where mine and Odette's usual table was located. I could hear the sound of Hagrid's heavy footsteps following me. Then, when I was sure that there was enough distance between us and the customers, I froze in my tracks and turned back around to make eye contact with the half-giant. I stood at the bottom of the staircase and placed my arm against the railing as this happened, treating it as though it were an armrest.
"All right, Hagrid ... what's going on?" I questioned, unable to tell whether my eyes were brewing more with confusion or curiosity. "Why did my father have you come all the way out here tonight?"
"Well ... before I explain anything, you're going to need to see this."
I cocked an eyebrow, getting ready to open my mouth to ask what it was that he was referring to. However, before I could, I ended up stopping myself when Hagrid reached one of his large hands somewhere behind his battered overcoat. He then began to rummage around.
"Hmm ... now, where'd I put it? I know that I got it in 'ere somewhere..." Hagrid murmured. "Peppermint humbugs, dog biscuits, my handkerchief — aye, I've been looking for that since last week...! Hmm ... let's see, maybe it's ... oh, hold on! I found it! Ah-ha!"
An accomplished grin broke out across Hagrid's face, just as he pulled his hand back out and revealed that he was now holding an envelope. He held it out to me afterwards.
"This is from Dumbledore. He wanted me to give it to ya."
I batted my lashes, automatically feeling an extra spike of confusion inside of me. Normally, if I were to receive any mail, it would come over the weekend. It also wouldn't be delivered by Hagrid, but by owls that would leave it outside for me to find. This was a whole new experience for me.
I reached out and took the envelope from the half-giant, holding it by its bottom corners. Sure enough, right there on the front, there was the familiar handwriting that belonged to none other than Dumbledore. It was printed nicely in ink that was the color of an emerald, proving even more that it came from him.
INDIGO A. DUMBLEDORE.
The Leaky Cauldron.
1 Diagon Alley.
London, England.
I then turned the envelope over ... and as soon as I saw what was on the back, I could've sworn that I felt my heart literally punch me in the chest. For a moment, I was actually convinced that the entire world around me had come to a screeching halt. An uncomfortable chill tingled through my bones, my eyes now appearing a little larger than normal. On the back of the envelope, there was a symbol that perfectly resembled a medieval badge. It was split into four parts, each one containing the silhouette of a different creature—a lion, a snake, a badger, and an eagle. The final detail was a large 'H' that was printed in the direct center of the crest, confirming that the four parts came from the same place.
A dab of red wax sealed the envelope shut, accompanied by an imprint of the exact same symbol. I knew exactly what it stood for ... and it almost made my stomach feel like it was seconds away from sagging all the way down to my feet. Still, I made sure to maintain a calm exterior—as if the familiar crest hadn't caught me off guard.
I peeked up at Hagrid again, watching as he gestured towards the envelope.
"Well, go on now. Open it up an' give it a read."
With that, I straightened my lips and lowered my attention back down to the envelope. I then poked a few of my fingers underneath the flap, being careful as to not nick myself on accident. Finally, after breaking the seal, I reached inside the envelope and pulled out the piece of paper that had been neatly folded inside of it.
I proceeded to unfold it, my eyes never breaking away. Once I finished, I immediately saw more handwriting that belonged to none other than my adoptive father. It was all printed in the same, dark green ink that had been used to fill out the information on the front of the envelope; and as I started to read, it was like I could hear Dumbledore's voice as clear as day inside of my head.
My Dearest Indigo,
It has been quite some time since my last letter to you—and I certainly hope that you can forgive me for that. During these past few months, I trust that you've been well and that you've been providing wonderful service to the Leaky Cauldron. I wouldn't expect anything less from you.
Now, I wouldn't be surprised if you had a question or two in regards of what this message is about—especially with its sudden delivery. To be quite honest, I had been planning to put this letter together ever since last year came to its conclusion. Unfortunately, whenever I felt that I was able to start working on it, there was always something else that seemed to require my attention in that very moment. I wanted to make sure that I was able to dedicate the proper amount of time into constructing this message to you—the time that it deserved. However, since we are now nearing the end of June, I'm afraid that I allowed too much time to slip by; and I would like to apologize in advance for how this letter more than likely won't do justice for its contents.
I understand that this is rather short notice, but I have a couple of matters that I would like to discuss with you in person. With that being said, I have requested for Hagrid to stop by the Leaky Cauldron to pick you up. He will then bring you back to Hogwarts, where I will be waiting in my office to speak with you. Even after all of these years, I believe that you will do just fine at recalling where everything is; but if you—by any chance—still require some assistance, I am more than certain that Hagrid can lend you a hand. After all, help is always offered at Hogwarts.
Also, I highly recommend that you bring as many of your belongings with you as possible—clothes, hygiene products, personal items, and so on. I will expand on this more once you arrive.
I most definitely look forward to seeing you again, daughter. We will talk soon.
Warm Regards,
~ Father Dumbledore
By that point, I could've sworn that I perfectly resembled a deer caught in headlights. A lump started to grow in my throat as soon as I saw the word "Hogwarts;" and when I took down a small gulp to help get rid of it, it almost felt like I was trying to swallow a rock. Another cold chill lingered through my bones as this happened, almost making me shudder.
Hogwarts was a boarding school that was located in Scotland. In fact, it was one of the most popular institutions in the wizarding world—commonly known for assisting young wizards and witches in gaining a better understanding of wands, spells, potions, and overall magic. Dumbledore was also the headmaster, who had been serving his position at the school long before I was even born. I had practically been raised at Hogwarts. My entire childhood might as well have taken place there. I even became an official student there at the age of eleven. However, during my second year, something awful happened ... and it resulted in me leaving Hogwarts entirely. With the help of my adoptive father, I was able to transfer to another wizarding school—Durmstrang Institute, to be precise. Then, when I left, I never returned. It had been twelve years since I had last been on the grounds of Hogwarts ... and now, according to this letter, Dumbledore wished for me to go back and pay him a visit.
My head suddenly felt heavier than a cauldron, continuing to look down. My eyes continued to glide over the message, rereading certain passages. Eventually, after scanning over the handwriting for what felt like the billionth time, I managed to crank my neck back up and make eye contact with Hagrid once more.
"Hagrid ... is this for real?!" I inquired, sounding just as bewildered as I looked. "My father wants me to come see him ... at Hogwarts?!"
"Yep, he sure does!" Hagrid replied with full confidence, nodding his head a couple of times. "That's why I'm here tonight. I was asked by Dumbledore to pick you up and give you a ride back to the school."
I blinked repeatedly, trying my best to process all of this information. I then dropped my attention back down to the letter, as if I were checking to make sure that it wasn't just some figment of my imagination. Of course, it wasn't. Every last piece of Dumbledore's handwriting was one hundred percent real. I could practically smell the ink, despite how it was evident that it had been dry for at least a few hours.
"Um...! Wow...!" I let out a single, empty laugh and ran one of my hands along the top of my head. "Well, uh...! I—I to say, this is something that I definitely wasn't expecting...!"
"Well, according to what your dad had told me, he had wanted to reach out to you about all of this sooner." Hagrid explained, the tone of his voice making it clear that he understood my reasons for being shocked. "And if it wasn't for all of these other duties constantly muddling up his schedule, he would've. Although, I'm pretty sure that he already explained that in the letter that you got there."
Normally, I wasn't the type of person who got worried easily. However, in that moment, I couldn't help it; and I was certain that the look in my eyes gave it away.
I shot my head back up, almost surprised that I hadn't managed to throw my neck out. My gaze automatically locked on the half-giant once more.
"Hagrid ... there's nothing wrong with my father, is there? I mean ... he's—he's not wanting to see me to discuss anything bad, right? Like, there's nothing going on with his health or anything among those lines?"
"What...?"
At first, Hagrid seemed confused; but then, a couple of seconds later, his eyes widened a little in realization. He was quick to provide me with reassurance, immediately placing one of his massive hands on my shoulder as he shook his head.
"Oh, no, no! Don't worry, Indigo! There's nothing wrong with Dumbledore. He's as healthy as a lark, as a matter of fact!"
As soon as I heard those words leave the half-giant's mouth, I found myself letting out a breath that I hadn't even realized I'd been holding. The tension fled from my shoulders, allowing them to lower, and I rested my eyes shut as I felt the worry inside of me immediately begin to dissolve. Meanwhile, relief swept across my features.
"Oh, thank Merlin..." I muttered, shortly before I opened my eyes again. "But, Hagrid ... if there's really nothing going on, then what could he possibly be wanting to speak to me about?"
Hagrid exhaled thickly and retracted his hand from my shoulder. Then, with faint disappointment lining his accent, he said, "I'm afraid that I can't answer that question."
I retaliated almost immediately, "Why not...?!"
"Because, Indigo, before I came here to get you, Dumbledore made it perfectly clear that he wanted to be the one to discuss these matters with you. It's simply not my place to spoil what he has in store to tell you."
I furrowed my brow. "Do you even know what he's planning to talk to me about?"
"Yes. As a matter of fact, I do ... but like I just said, it's not for me to tell." Hagrid declared, flicking his eyebrows up as high as they could go—which was something that he often did whenever he was being serious. "I can assure you though ... it's nothing to be anxious over."
I straightened my lips as I thought about the half-giant's words. There really was no point in trying to convince him to let me in on whatever it was that Dumbledore was wishing to discuss with me—and I knew this. For as long as I could remember, Hagrid had always been loyal to my adoptive father. It was one of the main things that I had always admired about him. He never went against any of Dumbledore's instructions ... and that meant that he really wasn't going to tell me what this whole request to see me was about. Still, as glad as I was to know that Hagrid was still a trustworthy individual, his resistance only made me even more curious. Or confused. I couldn't exactly tell what it was that I was feeling, especially since I was still trying my best to process Dumbledore's abrupt request.
"He ... he stated here in the letter that he highly recommends for me to bring as many belongings as possible." I said, in which I then pointed at the specific passage with one of my aqua-painted nails. "Just how long exactly is he wanting me to stay at the school? ... And why?"
"Well, that'll be for you and him to discuss." Hagrid replied, right before he cut a glance over in the direction of the clock. "Oh, blimey! Would you look at the time? It'll be nine in just 'nother twenty minutes! You'd best get a move on an' get your stuff together, Indigo. When you're finished, we can — hey, what's the matter?"
Compassion, along with concern, invaded the half-giant's accent. I could tell that he must've noticed me rubbing my face with one of my hands, as if that would somehow help me put all of these jumbled thoughts in order. I then let out a heavy sigh, placing my unoccupied hand on my hip as I looked down at the letter once more. It was as though I were checking to make sure that none of the paragraphs had changed.
"I'm sorry, Hagrid. It's just, I'm — I'm just—" I cut myself off and closed my eyes again, releasing a small huff as I did my best to piece the right words together. "I'm still trying to wrap my head around all of this. After all, I haven't been to Hogwarts since I was twelve ... and now, completely out of the blue, my father is wanting me to return like this. I just ... never pictured myself receiving this type of news—especially on such short notice."
It might've not been noticeable, but I had to fight the urge to grimace when I said the name of the school. There was a piece of me that could've sworn that it left an unpleasant taste in my mouth. Still, I maintained my composure and continued to study Dumbledore's fancy handwriting.
"Yeah, well ... that's understandable. Surely, it's a lot to take in." Hagrid said with a couple of small nods, only to then try shedding some light on the discussion. "But just look at it this way, eh? There's bound to be plenty of memories in store for you—just waitin' there! That's somethin' to be excited about, ain't it?"
At the word "memories," I flicked my eyes upwards and squished my lips together—almost making it seem like they had transformed into a straight line. I then lifted my head back up entirely, blinking multiple times to show that I had acknowledged what Hagrid had just said. However, instead of broadening on it, I decided—after a brief pause in the conversation—to bring up my next concern.
"But what about Tom and Odette?" I asked as I held up the letter. "What exactly am I supposed to tell them? That—for the time being—I can't keep working because my father wishes for me to return to Hogwarts for ... I don't know ... personal matters?"
"I'll tell ya what..." Hagrid said, a warm grin crossing over his features. "How about you go upstairs and pack your trunk? In the meantime, I'll talk to Tom and Odette about all of this. How does that sound?"
I paused again, giving the half-giant's words a chance to sink in. As this happened, I knew deep down inside that—despite how abrupt all of this was—I didn't have much of a choice. After all, the person that was requesting my presence was Dumbledore. He was the one who saved me that day—the one who took me in and raised me. I just couldn't turn down his desire to see me, especially after Hagrid had traveled all the way out to the Leaky Cauldron to get me in the first place. Whether I liked it or not ... I had to go back to Hogwarts.
"Yeah..." I replied after what felt like hours, nodding a little. "Yeah, that sounds like a good idea."
"All right then! Leave it to me!" Hagrid declared positively. "Now, go pack your things and meet me back down here when you're done."
I gave another faint nod. "Okay, Hagrid."
"Attagirl."
The half-giant gave me a pat on the back, making sure that he didn't apply too much pressure and cause me to lose my balance accidentally. Then, as Hagrid proceeded to walk off in the direction of the bar, I turned towards the stairs and began to trot up them. Almost every step creaked beneath me, my footsteps lightly echoing against the old wood.
Back when the Leaky Cauldron had first been built, there had been a couple of bedchambers on the first floor—hidden somewhere behind the bar. However, as the years wore on, the establishment had undergone plenty of repairs and remodels. Now, there were no bedrooms on the ground level. They had all been moved upstairs to ensure more comfort and privacy for those who stayed in them. The rooms were also surprisingly pleasant, regardless of how they were fairly small and nothing really extravagant. They contained warm beds, along with wardrobes, nightstands, changing screens, desks, mirrors, a few chairs, and a fireplace that was always crackling with a fire—just like the giant one on the ground floor. In addition to that, there were maids who worked alongside me and Odette. It was up to them to keep all of the bedchambers tidy, which was why they came every morning and night to make sure that the unoccupied ones were ready for company. So, the furniture was always polished and the floors were nicely swept. Although, one of the downfalls that came with these rooms was that only a selected few had private lavatories.
"Dammit..." I cursed under my breath, just as I finished making it up to the second floor. "I can't believe I'm actually doing this..."
I pursued down the long and narrow corridor, casting occasional glances back down at my letter from Dumbledore. Along the way, as my eyes slid over the word "Hogwarts" again, a tremble shot through my lower body like a bullet and I could've sworn that my knees nearly buckled. Luckily, I was able to prevent them from doing so; and after shaking my head a little to myself, I compacted as many of the dreadful moments from my past as I could into the very back of my mind.
At last, I made it to Room 9—the bedchamber that I had lived in ever since I graduated from Durmstrang Institute. I didn't hesitate to open the door and enter, only to then close it behind me.
This room consisted of washed out walls that had noticeable spots of water damage in a bunch of random areas. They were accompanied by grey floorboards that were practically ancient. A medium-sized, four-poster bed was also positioned against the north wall, perfectly made. Two nightstands sat on either side of it, supporting spherical lamps and a few stacks of books that I had read over the years. The desk, on the other hand, was positioned directly in front of the window—which provided me a decent view of various buildings. Lastly, aside from the wardrobe, changing screen, and two stray chairs, there was the fireplace that was built into the south wall—directly across from the foot of the bed. Overall, it wasn't much ... but it had been my home for about six years now.
Upon closing the door, I took a moment to lean my body back against it. My mind was all over the place, still trying its hardest to gain control of the stampede of thoughts that were still in the process of trampling through it. As the result of this, my head fell back and I found myself squeezing my eyes shut—as if I were trying to see if all of this was just some dream. However, when I opened my eyes again, my gaze immediately met the wooden beams that were incorporated into the ceiling. All of this was actually happening.
With a sigh, I pushed myself away from the door and proceeded to walk over to the bed. I placed my letter down on the bright yellow comforter, knowing for a fact that if it had been written by any other witch or wizard in the entire world of magic, I sure as hell wouldn't have been agreeing to return to Hogwarts so easily. I then emptied the pockets of my apron, setting my wand and the three Galleons from Mr. Marrow on the bed as well. Afterwards, I worked on untying the strings of the black garment.
"Well, Indigo ... I'm afraid that you're just going to have to bite the bullet and push through this. You can't just ignore your father's request, after all..." I grumbled to myself, just as I finished removing my apron and tossing it over to one of the stray chairs. "Now, where did I put that...? Oh, right...!"
I lowered myself down onto my knees and peered underneath the bed—one of the only spots that didn't receive much cleaning. That's when I saw my trunk, completely surrounded by dust bunnies and old cobwebs. The last time that I'd used it, I had been a student; and ever since I graduated, I had stored it underneath the bed without a second thought. I'd even gotten into the habit of using a different bag for my luggage whenever I went on trips with Dumbledore. However, since I was officially going back to Hogwarts ... I didn't see the point of leaving my trunk behind.
"Hmpth ... never thought that I'd use this bloody thing again..." I murmured, right before I reached one of my hands out and grabbed the handle of my trunk. "Better start packing. I don't want to keep Hagrid or my father waiting any longer than necessary..."
With that, I dragged my trunk out, rose back up onto my feet, and sat it on the edge of the bed. It was bulky and a deep shade of blue, consisting of multiple locks and latches. It was also covered in a thick layer of dust; but even after being tucked away for all of these years, I was still able to make out the slab of duct tape that was placed over the direct center of the trunk's front. Its edges had noticeably become rotten and there were now bits of gunk stuck to it; but other than that, it was still covering the spot that I had placed it over long ago.
I straightened my lips at the sight of the duct tape, automatically recalling why it was there. Nonetheless, instead of allowing myself to fixate on it, I picked up my wand, pointed it at my trunk, and focused. Within seconds, the tip started to emit a bright purple light.
"Scourgify...!"
As soon as that spell left my lips, the bright purple light from my wand shot out and slid over my trunk in a manner that was similar to the Northern Lights. In the blink of an eye, all of the dust was swept away. It then disappeared into thin air. Even the random grime from the old piece of duct tape had vanished; but I'd made sure that the magic wouldn't cause the duct tape to disintegrate.
I continued to focus on my—newly cleaned—trunk, watching as the tip of my wand then started to glow the same shade of green as a shamrock.
"Alohomora...!"
The vibrant shade of green electrocuted forward and struck each of the locks, making them give off the same color. The locks then proceeded to undo themselves at a rapid speed, the latches clanking with every immediate move that they made. Finally, after the final lock was undone, the trunk swung open and revealed the series of magical drawers and secret compartments that were inside of it.
I blinked slowly, my attention never breaking away from the trunk. Once again, the color of the tip of my wand changed. Now, the light was a vibrant shade of orange—similar to Odette's eyes.
"Capacious extremis...!"
The orange light lunged at my trunk and illuminated the inside like some sort of scanner, vanishing a couple of seconds later. Now, I wasn't going to have to worry about the possibility of running low on interior space. This was because—thanks to that final spell—my trunk had basically become bottomless; and I only felt the need to do this because I still didn't know how long I would be remaining at Hogwarts. All I did know was that Dumbledore had instructed me to bring as many of my belongings as possible ... and that's exactly what I was going to do.
I placed my wand back down on the bed. Then, without allowing another moment to go to waste, I got right to work. The entire time, the only sources of light that I had to depend on came from the moon and fireplace.
The first thing that I did was gather the various items that I had organized along the top of the wardrobe. This included perfume bottles, makeup products, and hygiene essentials. Then, after storing them away in different compartments inside of my trunk, I strode back over to the wardrobe—my high-heeled boots clicking against the floorboards with every step that I took. I proceeded to pull out each of the drawers one at a time, collecting multiple pieces of clothing before carrying them back over to the bed and placing them neatly inside of the trunk. This was a process that I repeated, briskly walking back and forth. I had actually lost count of the amount of times in which I had gone back to gather more clothes from the wardrobe. Before I knew it, I had completely emptied five of the seven drawers—which, by the way, were also under the "capacious extremis" spell. I had also packed several pairs of shoes, which had previously been lined up against the wall—directly beside the wardrobe.
I let out a huff, placing what felt like the millionth article of clothing into my trunk. Afterwards, I returned to the wardrobe and started to push the drawers back in—deciding that the remaining garments could stay behind.
"All right, I think that's just about enough clothes..." I muttered as I pushed in the drawers that were now entirely vacant. "Now, all I have left to pack is a couple of books and—"
Suddenly, just as I finished pushing in the final drawer that I had completely cleared out, something ended up catching my eye. It was at the bottom of the wardrobe, placed in the second to last drawer—one of the only drawers that I hadn't bothered to take anything from. As soon as I noticed the item, my eyes grew to be at least a size or two larger than normal. At the same time, I could've sworn that I felt my heart lock up in my chest. I froze entirely, just staring down at what it was that had caught my attention. It wasn't completely visible, but one of its corners could still be seen poking out from underneath one of my leftover jumpers. There was also something else bulging from beneath it.
My bedroom became choked with silence, a sudden heaviness beginning to weigh down on my shoulders.
"Oh ... oh my Merlin..." I whispered, finally finding my voice after what felt like a century. "How could I forget these? ... They should've been packed first, dammit..."
I bent down and slowly reached my hands into the drawer. Then, with pure delicacy, I pushed the jumper aside to reveal the two items that had been tucked underneath it. In that moment, it was like my heart had been punctured by a series of needles. It also felt as though my throat was starting to close up, regardless of how I knew that it wasn't really doing such a thing. It was harder to swallow, nonetheless.
The first item that had been hidden beneath my jumper was a small, white, rectangular box that was decorated with red stripes. The design was similar to a tent from the circus, especially since it had golden archways and what looked like faces of some marching band members also detailed into it. Through the windows of the box, dozens of colorful beans could be seen. They—as stated by the medieval logo—were "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans." They were one of the most popular sweets in the entire world of wizardry, appearing to be no different to what Muggles referred to as "jellybeans." However, unlike those, "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans" were actually a treat and a game. They consisted of literally hundreds of unimaginable flavors—some pleasant, some not; and since plenty of the colors were remarkably similar, no witch or wizard could tell which flavor was about to invade their mouths. That is, until they actually bit into the bean.
The second item, on the other hand, had been the one that had been slightly peeking out from underneath my jumper. It was a book that looked like the result of some "Arts & Crafts" session. The cover was decorated in scatters of remarkably drawn lilies and—ironically—indigos. The lilies had been designed with the colors pink, orange, red, and yellow. Meanwhile, the indigos were a beautiful blend of purple and blue. Tiny, pastel-colored buttons had also been glued to the cover, placed in the direct centers of almost each of the flowers. Then, there was the mixture of gold and silver glitter. It was sprinkled nicely across the art, making the flowers look as if they were accompanied by dew. Lastly, aside from the small, cute, lavender ribbon that was perfectly positioned in the upper right corner, there was a message printed in the direct center of the cover. In sparkly, cursive letters, the message read: "I.D. & L.E. ~ Forever."
In that moment, a whole new swarm of memories began to engulf my mind like a thick fog. I hooked my fingers around the book and small box of candy, treating them as though they were made out of glass. I then lifted them out of the drawer, unable to stop my lips from falling into a heavy frown.
"Forgive me for my negligence, Lily..." I sighed, slowly straightening myself back up. "I'm afraid that due to the unexpected events of this evening, it slipped my mind to pack these before anything else..."
Once that name left my mouth, I couldn't help but grimace. A sharp sting had shot through my chest like a bullet. Then, I took down a gulp to help clear a lump from the direct center of my throat. By this point, it was very sore—similar to the feeling that one would experience when they were diagnosed with strep.
With my attention never breaking away from the book, I turned around on my heels and began to walk back over to the bed. Everything suddenly felt like it was going in slow motion, my brain still swarming with moments from the past. If there were any noises at all, they might as well have been falling on deaf ears.
I took a seat on the opposite edge of the bed, placing the box of candy beans beside me on the comforter. After that, with the book now resting against my lap, I carefully traced the cover with my fingertips. The glitter continued to sparkle right before my eyes, while the pain in my heart continued to spread.
I quietly inhaled through my nose, only to exhale through my mouth a couple of seconds later. It came out shakily, my gaze once again gliding over the message: "I.D. & L.E. ~ Forever." Then, after trailing the tips of my fingers over to the edge of the cover, I proceeded to delicately open the book to the first page. It was nicely decorated with small, cute, multicolored stickers that were in the shapes of hearts, rainbows, butterflies, and smiley faces. There was also more glitter, pastel ribbons, and even some rhinestones incorporated into the first page, creating what looked like frames around four photos. The photos were even moving, looking as if they were playing from some sort of slideshow. This was an incredibly common phenomenon in the wizarding world.
In the first picture, there were two girls. One of them looked no older than five, possessing light tan skin and dark brown hair that was pulled back into a ballerina-like bun. The other girl, on the other hand, appeared to be around the age of twelve. She had skin that perfectly resembled powdered sugar and long, shiny hair that looked like it was made out of fire. Her eyes were also the brightest shade of blue that I had ever seen, looking as though they were made from the sky itself. The two girls were smiling broadly, standing in some sort of corridor with their arms wrapped tightly around each other's necks and cheerful gazes locked in the direction of whoever was taking the photo. The younger one was also showing off multiple gaps that she had in her mouth from a couple of missing baby teeth.
The second photo incorporated the same girls. Although, this time, the two of them appeared to be at least a year older. The taller girl was slightly hunched over and twirling around in circles, wearing a stylish, knee-length, maroon coat that was trimmed with black faux fur. She also had a long, yellow and red scarf laced snugly around her neck and her cheeks almost looked as red as her hair. A wide-open smile was accompanying her face, making it evident that she was caught up in laughing. Meanwhile, the smaller girl was on the redhead's back, clothed in a lavender puffer jacket with pink earmuffs and matching mittens. Her cheeks almost perfectly resembled cherries, while her smile looked significantly similar to the older girl's. A snowman could be seen in the background and snowflakes were dancing down from the sky, landing in their hair beautifully.
As for the third photo, the two girls were—once again—looking another year older. The redhead was sitting cross-legged in the grass, smiling fondly with her vibrant hair pulled back into a French braid. In addition to that, a marigold was tucked behind her right ear and she was gently dragging a brush through the shorter girl's wavy, dark brown hair. As this happened, the smaller girl also sat with her legs crossed and she was in the middle of twirling a dandelion around in her fingertips. She blew on it, causing the seeds to blow away in the peaceful wind.
Finally, there was the fourth picture—the one that I had no doubt would've caused immediate reactions. The smaller girl—now appearing to be eight—was lying back in a bed that looked like it belonged to some sort of infirmary. She had bandages wrapped thoroughly around the right side of her head, covering her right eye. Not only that, but she had various cuts on her face. They looked like they had just recently been healed, despite how they were still noticeable against her skin. Overall, it appeared that she had woken up not too long before the photo had been taken. The redheaded girl was also there, sitting on the edge of the bed. Her eyes were horribly red-rimmed, giving it away that she had been crying, and she was wearing dark robes with a tie that were the same colors as the scarf that she'd been wearing in the winter photo. Her shiny hair was also pulled back into a ponytail, helping to expose the mixture of pure joy and relief that was splashed across her face.
The younger girl was me ... and the redheaded one—at the time in which these photos were taken—was Lily Evans. She was like the older sibling that I'd never had—one of the biggest parts of my childhood. I was five when she first approached me. She—being seven years older—was in her second year at Hogwarts ... and it didn't take long before the two of us became as close as two peas in a pod. Before Lily came along, I might as well had been like a ghost at that school. Nobody appeared to acknowledge me and the only people who I really seemed to connect with were Dumbledore, Hagrid, and a few other professors. Lily might as well had been a diamond in the rough, treating me like an actual little sister. I used to think that she and I would be at each other's sides forever ... but unfortunately, fate had other plans in mind.
Ten years ago, one of the most well-known tragedies in the wizarding world took place. One of the most sinister wizards in history—who was typically referred to as "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named"—was on a rampage, tracking down those who were trying to fight against him. Sadly, Lily turned out to be one of those unfortunate people ... and on Halloween night, in the year of 1981, she had her life taken from her. To this day, I still remember how much I screamed once I found out. The devastation that I felt was unbearable—every second worse than the last.
Now, all I had to remember Lily was this scrapbook that she and I had put together over the years of our friendship. I also had the box of "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans," which Lily had given to me before I headed off to Europe to attend Durmstrang. It was the last gift that I had ever received from her...
I watched as the four photos continued to move, replaying the memories like scenes from a movie. As the happened, millions of other thoughts continued to shoot through my mind like balls from a Quidditch match. Hagrid's arrival, my adoptive father's letter, that damn school that I haven't been to since I was twelve, and the list could go on for miles.
"Oh, Lily ... what I'd give to have you here with me right now..." I whispered, my accent dripping with pure sincerity. "I could really use some advice. I mean ... after all of these years, I'm actually going back to Hogwarts ... and even though I don't know how long my father is wanting me to visit ... I can already tell that it won't be the same without your presence. I wish that I could talk to you about all of this ... and I mean really talk to you..."
I could've sworn that I felt my heart sink as that final sentence left my mouth. It kept aching, as if it was being pulled apart at an agonizingly slow pace. Meanwhile, my gaze continued to glide over the four photos, taking in the sight of Lily's gorgeous smile. I could literally see the amount of love and care that she had for me. Her eyes might as well have been mirrors, reflecting it in each of the pictures.
I traced my thumb along the edge of the fourth picture, being careful as to not ruin any of the rhinestones or ribbons that surrounded it. That photo was taken on the day in which I received my scar. I couldn't remember everything, but I still recalled the events that led up to the incident. Everything had gone black ... and when I woke up, I found myself in the Hospital Wing with the taste of blood in my mouth and bandages wrapped around my head. According to my adoptive father, Lily had shown up immediately after she heard about what happened. There were tears rolling down her face; and it had been a challenge for the professors to convince her to go to class. Until she knew that I was going to be okay, Lily refused to leave my side. Dumbledore didn't make her either. She ended up keeping him company as he also waited for me to wake up.
I watched the fourth photo closely. My eight-year-old self looked absolutely dazed, while fifteen-year-old Lily looked like she was on the verge of bursting into tears again. Although, this time, it would've been from an overwhelming amount of happiness. She placed one of her hands on top of mine, right before she reached her other hand into one of the pockets of her robe and pulled out a lollipop. As she presented it to the eight-year-old me, I was able to witness a look of pure delight sweep across my injured face. My left eye—the only one that had been visible—practically twinkled like a shooting star. Then, as I sat up and gladly took the sweet, the redhead laughed and leaned in to plant a kiss against my forehead. More tears ended up escaping from her eyes as this happened, confirming that her excitement really had gotten the better of.
My lips curled into a sad smile as I continued to stare at the fourth picture, as if I were expecting it to continue showing more from that day. However, not long after Lily had delivered her kiss to my bandaged forehead, the photo completely reset. It showed me lying back in the sterilized bed, looking like I was trying to figure out where I was. Meanwhile, Lily was back on the edge of the bed with the realization just hitting her that I had woken up. Unfortunately, a picture could only replay a limited amount from the memory that it captured.
With that, the emotional grin on my face automatically dropped back into a frown. Until then, I had failed to notice just how wet the corners of my eyes were beginning to feel. I let out another shaky breath and wiped my nose with the back of my back. Then, after another few seconds of observing the photos, my attention was caught by the box of "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans" from the corner of my eye. It was as if I had just remembered that they were there, my head immediately turning to look down at them. It took a moment, but another gloomy smile still managed to cross over my face.
I retrieved the box and held it up, listening to the candy beans rustle around. As this happened, I cut another glance down at the scrapbook.
"Hey ... I still have these, you know?" I said, as if Lily could actually hear me. "It almost seems like just yesterday was when you gave them to me. It was right before my departure from Hogwarts. You pulled them out from your pocket and gifted them to me..."
I flicked my attention back over to the striped box, observing it like it was one of the most valuable trinkets in the entire universe of magic. The sweets that were inside continued to make noise, toppling over each other as I slowly twirled the box around in my fingertips. The whole time, my brain thought back to the day that I had been describing—the day in which I had abandoned Hogwarts and seen Lily for the last time.
"I still remember what you said when you handed me the box..." I went on, the candy beans almost making me think of multicolored clouds as they continued to be visible through the windows of the container. "You told me that it wasn't much, but that these candy beans were going to be used to create a promise between us. One day, you said that we would reunite and ... and eat the entire box together. You had even placed a charm on it in order to prevent the beans from ever going bad or running out beforehand..."
Before I had the chance to stop it, a small sniffle escaped from my system. I could feel my lips starting to quiver a little, as if they were doing their best to put up a fight and maintain my sorrowful grin. I dropped my head and squeezed my eyes shut, noticing that the dampness from their corners was gradually beginning to increase. As this happened, I could also feel my teeth coming together and starting to grind a little.
"But in the end, life had other plans ... and damn ... those plans were cruel..." I hissed in disappointment, shaking my head. "If I had known that that day would've been the last time in which the two of us would ever be face to face, I ... I don't know, Lily ... perhaps, I would've stayed at Hogwarts until the next morning. Or maybe even until your visit came to an end ... but I'm afraid that I can't be entirely certain..."
My shoulders sunk a little as I said that final sentence, as if they were being deflated. Deep down inside, I knew that I had been very eager to get the hell away from Hogwarts after what happened. So, even though I enjoyed the thought of spending more time with Lily before heading off and never seeing her again, I genuinely didn't know if I would've been able to handle sticking around that school for another day. After all, I had only been twelve back then ... and at that time, all I could think about was fleeing. Unfortunately, the incident that caused me to drop out of Hogwarts also managed to rob me of the final few days that I could've had with Lily. I honestly couldn't tell whether that pissed me off or broke my heart more.
I opened my eyes again, feeling a slight cramping sensation beginning to form in jaws. With that, I unclenched my teeth and did my best to flash a new, small, downhearted grin. However, due to the fact that my lips were trembling much more noticeably by this point, that was much easier said than done.
"H-hey...!" I said again with a slight stutter, unable to prevent another sniffle from slipping out. "I can spare another moment. H-how about ... I have two of these right now? Just like we did before I left that day..."
I could still recall that memory as clear as day. Just as my transportation had arrived to take me to Durmstrang, Lily ended up making the swift decision to pop open the box of candy beans. She then insisted that she and I took one at the same time, saying that it would be our way of sealing the deal; and as much as I just wanted to get away from that school right then and there, I agreed for her sake. We selected two beans at random, counted to three, and then popped them into our mouths simultaneously. Lily had gotten one of the pleasant flavors—coconut, to be exact. I, on the other hand, hadn't been so lucky. My mouth was invaded by the revolting flavor of liver, which made my face twist in disgust. Although, it also made Lily laugh ... and looking back on it, since that had been my final opportunity to ever hear the sound of her laughter, I'm actually pretty glad that I ended up with one of the bad beans.
I flicked the bottom of the box, causing the pointed top to pop open effortlessly. Then, as the four photos continued to replay their scenes on my lap, I plunged two of my fingers as far down into the box as they could go. I listened to the sound of the fire crackling in the fireplace as I rustled through the colorful beans, refusing to look at whichever one I was about to end up with. Finally, after about five seconds, I pulled my fingers back out and saw that I had selected a solid white bean.
I lowered my gaze back down to the scrapbook, focusing specifically on the photo that consisted of Lily running a brush through my hair. I held the piece of candy up, still wearing an emotional smile.
"For you, Lily..." I declared softly. "One ... two ... three...!"
As soon as that final word left my mouth, I tossed my head back and popped the bean into my mouth. I braced myself as I automatically began to chew, waiting for a flavor to spread across my taste buds. Thankfully, almost immediately after I bit into the sweet, I was greeted by the taste of what was most definitely marshmallow. It was gooey and almost warm, as if I had just gotten done taking a bite out of a smore. My shoulders practically melted in a mixture of pleasure and relief.
"Mmm. Oh, yeah, that's ... that's definitely marshmallow." I confirmed, continuing to chew between every few words. "One of your top favorite flavors, I do recall. Now ... I believe it's my turn..."
I continued to savor the scrumptious taste of roasted marshmallow for a couple of more seconds, my gaze lingering back over to the picture that consisted of me and Lily goofing around in the snow. Shortly afterwards, I swallowed the white bean and jammed the same two fingers back down into the small box of candy. Like before, I wouldn't allow myself to take a peek at whichever one I was about to pull out. Then, after a moment or two of rummaging, I withdrew my fingers to see which color I had chosen this time. It was a dark blue bean, decorated with small specks that looked similar to sand.
"Here we go..." I said quietly, keeping my attention glued to the scrapbook as I held up the second piece of candy. "For me. One ... two ... three...!"
Once again, I braced myself as I lightly threw my head back and tossed the bean into my mouth. As I proceeded to chew, I couldn't help but grow a little nervous. After all, it wasn't very common for a witch or wizard to get multiple pleasant flavors in a single sitting—especially back-to-back. Nonetheless, much to my surprise, it didn't take long before I detected the blended flavors of graham cracker crust, sponge cake, and runny blueberries. That's when the realization dawned on me that the bean that I selected must've held the taste of blueberry cheesecake.
I closed my eyes and let out a deep breath, not even realizing that I'd been holding one in. This time, even though the flavor was rather blissful, I felt much more relief than what I'd did before.
"Oh, Merlin's beard, thank you..." I murmured, still chewing as I opened my eyes once more. "Well, it looks like I got a good bean, too. Blueberry cheesecake, to be exact. Mmm ... I guess that's one piece of luck for me this evening, right...?"
Not long after I asked that rhetorical question, my gaze was captured by the box of sweets. I witnessed the inside of it begin to shimmer out of nowhere, a cluster of hot pink sparkles appearing over the candy beans like a thick cloud. It only lasted a couple of seconds and disappeared as quickly as it had appeared; but I remained unfazed by it. That always happened I removed any of the candy from the box, courtesy of the charm that Lily had placed on it many years beforehand. If any beans were taken out, her charm would effortlessly replace them.
I blinked a couple of times at my box of "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans," right before I flicked my attention back over to the scrapbook. My tongue continued to relish in the heavenly flavor of blueberry cheesecake; but I could still feel my lips quivering as I pressed them together as tightly as possible, trying to prevent them from dropping and creating another frown. My eyes delicately wandered over the page, observing the four photographs as they continued to replay the memories that they captured from mine and Lily's youth. Even after all of these years, I still couldn't believe just how beautiful she had been—both on the inside and out. I also couldn't believe just how wet my eyes felt by this point.
My vision began to flicker back and forth from blurry to clear, while my nose started to feel a little stuffy. I didn't like crying, nor did I seem to shed many tears to begin with; but in times like this, as much as I hated to admit it, I knew that I couldn't help it.
"Oh, who am I kidding? ... It's just not the same without you..." I whispered, just barely managing to prevent my voice from cracking. "I miss you, Lily..."
Another sniffle escaped from my system. Then, just seconds after that, I felt what was most definitely a single teardrop escaping from the corner of my right eye. It trickled down my cheek, reminding me that I was lucky to be the type of person who preferred waterproof makeup over the basics. Meanwhile, with my heart still aching in my chest, my gaze continued to slowly linger over the scrapbook. That redhead had meant so much to me ... and she still did.
My sobs were so small that they were practically silent, not even managing to compete with the sounds of the fire crackling in the fireplace or the wind whistling outside. Without entirely realizing it, my body slowly started to lean forward. I almost looked like I was trying to curl up into the fetal position, my breasts now touching my knees as I folded my arms over the opened scrapbook and held it close to my abdomen—as if I was hugging a small child. As this happened, I clenched my teeth and squeezed my eyes shut, forcing more tears to begin spilling down my cheeks like individual rivers. I could feel a whole swarm of emotions beginning to build up inside of me—sorrow, pain, shame, and—the most recognizable one—rage. Still, as I squeezed that scrapbook against my body, it's like all I could really focus on was the pain. I missed Lily ... and all I could think about in that moment was what it would've been like to have her arms wrapped around me.
"Aye, Indigo!" Hagrid's voice suddenly called out, being carried from downstairs surprisingly well. "Everythin' okay up there?"
My eyes popped back open almost instantly. At the same time, I straightened myself back up and began to take quick glances around the bedroom—as if I had just started to remember why I had been up there in the first place. I had nearly lost track of time of how long I'd been hunched over on the bed, weeping to myself. Although, something told me that it hadn't been any longer than thirty or so seconds.
"U-uh—yeah!" I called back, immediately starting to wipe my tears away. "I'm just finishing my packing, Hagrid! I'll be down in a moment!"
"Alright! Just checkin'!"
In that moment, I realized that the half-giant had just rescued me from possibly falling into one of my "moments." I got into the habit of referring to them as "rabbit holes of unintentional havoc," which was when my emotions would sometimes get the better of me and result in ... mishaps. This was something that happened for every witch and wizard. After all, when it came to our kind, our emotions and magic went hand-in-hand. This meant that they could influence one another very easily ... but I—in the words of my adoptive father—"was a rather unique case." Nobody necessarily knew the reason as to why, but if my emotions were to become out of control, the results would often be pretty abrupt and ... well, intense. Much more intense than any other wizard or witch, as a matter of fact. Although, that thankfully wasn't the case this evening.
I sucked in another breath through my nose, clearing it of any stuffiness that was still plugging it up. I then used my sleeves to clean away the remaining water from the corners of my eyes, being careful as to not accidentally smear my eyeliner. I could feel the negative emotions inside of me gradually beginning to defuse. At last, after clearing the final teardrop from my skin, I lowered my gaze back down to the scrapbook and was able to offer a new, fragile grin to the four photographs.
"Don't worry, Lily. Hell would have to freeze over before I ever agreed to leave these behind." I whispered sincerely. "They're coming with me."
I took a couple of more seconds to focus on Lily's lovely smile, planting a small kiss against the tips of my fingers before placing them against the edge of the first photo. Afterwards, I delicately closed the scrapbook and gave another small flick to my box of candy beans. As this happened, a bright yellow sparkle shot off from the tip of my index finger and ran in a spiraling motion along the box. Once it reached the top, it effortlessly brought the pointed flaps back together and sealed them again.
With that, I rose back up onto my feet and briskly walked over to the chair that was stationed in front of the desk. Hanging on the back of it, there was a camouflage sling bag that had multiple pins decorating it. It was a bag that had been in my possession for as long as I could remember, always carrying the "capacious extremis" spell and not to mention an appearance that gave it away that it had seen far better days.
I retrieved the bag from the chair and opened it, right before I slipped the scrapbook and my box of "Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans" into it. As this happened, a vibrant, pretty, turquoise light emitted from the inside of the bag.
"Ah, there we go..." I muttered, shortly before I flicked my attention over to the desk. "Now, all I have left is ... some of these, I guess...?"
As those words left my mouth, I raised an eyebrow and gave one of my shoulders a faint shrug. Then, I started grabbing random books that had been properly arranged along the back of the desk. Some of them related to charms, potions, monsters, history, and overall magic. Meanwhile, others were nothing more than just stories that I hadn't had the opportunity to read yet. Every time that I picked up a book, I would drop it into my sling bag and watch as the same turquoise light shined brightly—as if it was swallowing everything. By the time that I reached my fifteenth book, I lost track of just how many I had put into my bag. Once I finished, I slipped the strap over my head and positioned the bag perfectly against my left hip.
"Yeah, why not? It's best to bring them in case you find yourself in need of something to do..." I said to myself quietly, obviously referring to the books. "Anyway, I believe that's ... that's it. I shouldn't keep Hagrid waiting any longer..."
I turned and speedily walked back over to the bed, retrieving my wand. Afterwards, with a small swish of my wrist, I pointed it at my trunk. The tip automatically started to glow like a Fourth of July sparkler, its color perfectly matching cotton candy.
"Colloportus...!"
The bright pink twinkle immediately shot off from my wand, spreading across the entire trunk like a translucent slab of butter. Then, at a rapid speed, the trunk closed and each of the locks—as well as the latches—proceeded to fix themselves. Once my trunk was entirely secured, the see-through layer of bright pink magic dissolved. After that, since I no longer needed my wand, I slipped it into my right boot with ease.
At last, I was ready to go. I picked up the letter from Dumbledore, folded it back up, and slid it into one of the pockets of my faded blue jeans. Then, I grabbed the handle of my trunk and pulled it off the bed, almost grunting as it came inches away from thumping against the floor.
"Oh, shit...!" I cursed, shortly before I let out a huff. "Dammit...! Even while under the influence of 'capacious extremis,' this thing still manages to become a bit heavy..."
I couldn't help but give my eyes a small roll, using my unoccupied hand to push a new stray strand of hair back behind my ear. I then proceeded to walk over to the door, having no choice but to grasp the handle of my trunk with both hands. Upon making it, I sat the trunk down on the floor, reached my hand out, and grabbed the doorknob. However, just as I was about to turn it, I stopped and decided to take one final look around the room. I pressed my lips together as this happened, drinking in every last detail and trying to ignore how I was actually heading to Hogwarts of all places. With that, I was done. I turned the knob as far as it could go, right before I opened the squeaky door and stepped back out into the dim hallway. Then, after dragging my trunk behind me, I pulled the door shut.
I picked my trunk up again, releasing another faint grunt. Afterwards, with a slight strain already beginning to build up in my arms, I pursued back down the long and narrow corridor. I probably looked like a woman that was in the middle of experiencing a contraction during labor, having no choice but to almost waddle as I gripped the handle of my trunk with both hands. Meanwhile, my camouflage bag remained against my left hip and my wand didn't cause any disturbances inside of my right boot.
By the time that I made it back to the staircase, I saw Odette stationed near the bottom. She was standing in front of the gigantic fireplace, watching the flames dance across the logs as they cast a reddish-orange glow against her pearl-like complexion. I could tell that she was basking in the warmth, witnessing her rub her hands together before she started to gracefully drag them up her arms—as if she were applying lotion to her skin. Nonetheless, as soon as I started to make my way down the wooden stairs, it didn't take long for Odette to snap her attention over to me.
A broad, toothy grin broke out across her face. Her eyes perfectly resembled two shiny topazes, practically overflowing with fascination.
"Indigo! Hagrid told me and Tom everything...!" Odette said, just as I finished clambering down the final few steps. "So, you're actually going back to Hogwarts?"
I sat my trunk down once more, trying not to grimace from the mild thud that it made against the floor. Then, after exhaling, I did my best to return my best friend's smile. Although, I was positive that there was slight reluctance in my eyes—especially since the school's name nearly left a bad taste in my mouth again.
"It appears so." I replied with a small shrug, right before I gave a few pats to the top of my trunk. "My father has requested to see me and ... I honestly don't know how long I'll be away. In the letter, he suggested that I brought along as many of my belongings as possible."
"I can see that." Odette retorted, briefly glancing over my luggage as she released a couple of snickers. "That trunk of yours seems to be a little on the hefty side. I'm guessing that you didn't use the feather-light charm on it?"
I squinted. "...The feather-light cha—?"
Before I could finish reciting what Odette had just said, I ended up silencing myself when the realization struck me like a bolt of lightning. My eyes slightly widened, just as I felt the tips of my ears beginning to grow a little hot—both from embarrassment and exasperation. The feather-light charm was a beginner's spell that was known to minimize the weight of an object ... and I had completely overlooked its existence.
"Oh, bloody hell...!" I hissed, fighting the urge to smack my hand against my forehead.
"Let me guess," Odette said with amusement sprinkled across her accent, "that's a 'no?'"
I groaned. "It completely slipped my mind that a charm like that even existed...! After all, a lot has happened this evening..."
I grumbled a couple of more curse words under my breath, making a move to retrieve my wand from my boot. However, before I could, I found myself stopping when Odette signaled for me to do so.
She said, "Leave this one to me."
After that, with my eyes following her every move, Odette reached into one of the pockets of her apron and pulled out her wand. It was the color of a chestnut and slightly twisted along the handle, as well as decorated with shiny silver lines that ran up it like stripes on a candy cane. As soon as she withdrew it, Odette pointed it directly at my trunk and its tip started to give off a pale blue light.
Odette then recited the charm, "Incantation trunk...!"
Without any hesitation, the pale blue light lunged forward and struck my trunk. The light then rippled across my luggage like water, remaining visible for no more than three seconds. Once it dissolved, I decided to check whether or not the charm had worked. I grabbed the handle of my trunk and—with just one hand this time—gave it a tug. Thankfully, I was able to confirm that Odette's spell had done its job. My trunk was now as light as a feather.
"How's that?" Odette asked as she returned her wand to the same pocket that it had been stored in beforehand. "Better?"
"Much better." I replied, traces of relief now lingering through my tone. "Thanks, Odette."
"Don't mention it. Hagrid's waiting for you at the bar."
I turned my head, just now noticing the few new customers that were spread around the establishment, engaging in small talk as they looked over their menus and sipped alcoholic beverages. I had even noticed that the family of five were finally dining, sharing platters of what I could tell was most definitely roasted hog. Although, it didn't take long before my attention was lured over to the bar. Hagrid was there, having a pleasant conversation with Tom as he leaned carefully against the counter; and as soon as my eyes landed on him, it was like I needed a moment—once again—to process how all of this was actually happening.
"Hey."
I redirected my gaze back over to Odette, making eye contact with her after she had given my arm a small nudge. In that moment, I noticed that she was now offering me a fairly sympathetic grin.
"You nervous?"
"...To be honest, I don't even know what I am." I answered, shaking my head and letting out a sigh shortly afterwards. "All I know for sure is that I haven't been to Hogwarts since I was twelve. Until tonight, I never pictured myself going back there. Hell, I even think that I would much rather go back and relive my first term at Durmstrang ... but it's not like my preferences are actually going to influence anything, right?"
Regardless of how blunt my words appeared to be, I still did my best to give a smile back to Odette—especially when I made that final, rhetorical comment. I had no doubt in my mind that it looked ridiculously similar to the smile that a small, introverted child would force themselves to wear on the first day of school. Still, it was better than nothing.
"Indigo..." Odette began to speak in a sincere tone again, resting her hands gently on my shoulders. "I might not know the reason as to why you left Hogwarts, but whatever happened back there ... I hope that you understand that it's in the past and that you are now twenty-four-years-old. Whatever it was that occurred, it can't do anything to you anymore."
I did my best to listen to my best friend; but the more that she went into what I could tell was supposed to be a little pep talk, I couldn't help but notice how her words were starting to trail off inside of my mind. As this happened, my faint smile crumbled away like it was never there and I found my gaze being pulled away from Odette. My eyes fell on the fireplace, slowly narrowing as I stared intently at the flames. Meanwhile, inside of my head, scraps of dark memories were starting to come back to me. They blended with Odette's words.
Behind my lips, I grinded my teeth a little. I could tell that Odette was still trying to provide me with reassurance, but I couldn't get myself to listen. At least, not entirely. Instead, I continued to watch the flames in the fireplace with a sharp and somewhat distant glint beginning to form in my eyes. I could also feel my grip growing tighter on the handle of my trunk—the only thing that was preventing my hand from curling into a fist. All the while, a familiar sensation started to ball up in the direct center of my chest. It was an unpleasant blend of pain and anger.
As I kept my gaze firmly locked on the fireplace, multiple embers started to shoot up from the flames—similar to what popcorn would do in a microwave. I traced my thumb along the handle of my trunk, still keeping my other fingers locked tightly around it. Meanwhile, the unpleasant parts of my past started to dissolve until there was only one specific part remaining in my mind ... and it revolved around none other than the horrific incident that caused me to abandon Hogwarts at the age of twelve. I could practically smell and hear the things that I had on that day. That damn day...!
"Indigo...? Indigo, everything's okay...!" Odette's voice just barely managed to reach my ears, now drenched in concern. "Calm down, all right? The fire—!"
CRACK!
I jolted, suddenly having a much clearer mind. In the blink of an eye, all of the negative memories came to stop inside of my head and retreated to whichever part of my brain it was in which they hid. I immediately loosened the solid grip that I had on the handle of my trunk, almost surprised in how my fingers now felt like they were receiving proper blood circulation again. Finally, to top it all off, the dark emotions that had abruptly appeared in my chest disintegrated almost completely. I could still feel traces of them lingering around, but they were much more tolerable. Overall, it was like I had just snapped out of some trance—even though I was fully aware of what just happened.
I had been brought back into the present, but I couldn't tell if it was because of Odette ... or because of what happened in the fireplace. One of the logs had actually started to levitate, still lined with flames and surrounded by what might as well have been a blizzard of embers. Then, without any warning, the log broke in half like it had been roughly struck by an invisible axe. That's when everything inside of me seemed to come to a halt. Both halves of the damaged log dropped, landing back in the pile of wood. At the same time, the wild swarm of embers calmed down—as though they hadn't been shooting all over the place beforehand. It might as well had been a miracle that nobody else in the entire pub seemed to notice.
I hung my head and pinched the bridge of my nose, exhaling to myself in exasperation. A couple of seconds later, I straightened myself back up and watched as Odette continued to study the fire a little longer. If I had to guess, she was making sure that I hadn't caused any of the flames or soot to shoot out on accident. Eventually, she redirected her gaze back over to me; and I couldn't help but think that there now was a slight awkwardness in the air.
"Sorry about that..." I grumbled, trying not to think too much about what I had just done.
"Nah, don't worry about it." Odette said with concern still laced around her accent, her head softly shaking. "Perhaps, I ... shouldn't have said what I said..."
I could tell that she was trying to choose her words carefully, but that didn't stop me from shaking my head next. As this happened, a sour taste attempted to invade my mouth, almost making me pucker my lips. I nearly cringed, recalling pieces of the unpleasant parts of my past once again. Nonetheless, instead of allowing myself to fixate on them, I did my best to force them back into their hidden spots. Then, I put on the best grin that I could muster. It was tiny and dull, but—like before—I figured that it was better than nothing.
"No, Odette. I get what you were trying to say." I retorted, unable to do anything about the bland look that was surely in my eyes. "You're right, it has been many years since ... I left Hogwarts. But when it comes to the past, some parts are ... well, you know ... much harder to forget than others."
"Indigo ... whatever happened, I don't have a single doubt in my mind that it must've put you through shit..." Odette remarked as she placed a hand on her hip, her voice soft and orange eyes looking like lanterns of pure sympathy. "...But I'm afraid that I'd be lying if I said that didn't wish that you would at least try talking more about—"
CRACKLE.
I rested my eyes shut for a moment, sucking in a sharp breath through my nose. Then, after holding it in for a couple of seconds, I let it out in the form of a sigh. I made sure to maintain my composure, once again forcing the few shreds of dark memories that had returned to my mind to dissolve. I kept my gaze locked on Odette as I reopened my eyes, not needing to look over at the fireplace to know that another ember had abruptly shot up and practically burst like a miniature firecracker.
"I just ... don't like talking about it." I said as calmly as possible, despite how it was clear that I was being serious. "So, I would appreciate it greatly if we could just drop this topic."
Odette batted her lashes and started to lightly fiddle around with her nails, never breaking eye contact with me. She then started to rub her lips together, which was a sign that I knew like the back of my hand. She always did that whenever she was worried—even if it was just the slightest bit.
"Yeah ... yeah, all right, Indigo." Odette said after what felt like a century, giving her head a couple of soft nods. "It's just — well, I ... I just hope that you know that you can rely on me for anything. A conversation, a favor ... whatever you need and whenever you need it."
In that moment, I couldn't help but feel a trickle of guilt run through my body. Without even realizing that I was planning to do it, I sat my trunk down on the floor and took Odette's hands in my own. I then gave them a reassuring squeeze, my purple eyes staring directly into her orange ones.
"Of course, I know that. You're my best friend." I declared, now speaking with pure sincerity. "And with that being said, I really hope that you understand that you're not the only person who I prefer not talking to about that specific moment of my past. I would much rather try putting it behind me without having to speak about it at all..."
Odette exhaled, a small grin curling up on one of the corners of her mouth.
"You've always been self-reliant, haven't you? I've admired that particular trait of yours for as long as I can remember..."
I cocked an eyebrow. "Why do I feel a 'but' coming on?"
"But—"
"There it is."
"—You rarely allow yourself to ask for help, Indigo." Odette finished, as if I hadn't intervened. "Ever since we first met back at Durmstrang, you—ninety-nine percent of the time—preferred handling everything on your own."
I retaliated wisely, "Maybe that's because—ninety-nine percent of the time—I didn't feel that I actually needed any help."
"Not even when you woke up in the middle of the night, drenched in sweat and thrashing around in your bed like you were being attacked by some type of ravenous creature?" Odette inquired, briefly rubbing her lips together again. "All through your first year, you had night terrors almost every night..."
The confidence that had started to build up inside of me automatically began to fall apart at the mention of my night terrors. As a child, I experienced typical nightmares every so often; but once I transferred to Durmstrang, they became full-blown night terrors. Like Odette had said, all through my first year, I had woken up almost every single night in a gigantic puddle of sweat, breathing hard and jerking around like I was trying to fight off a wild animal. There was even one incident in which I had accidentally punched one of the professors in the mouth and sent him to the floor—all because he had barged into the room, fully prepared to take on a threat, and found himself trying to shake me awake. I ended up getting detention for that, too.
At last, I released my best friend's hands and said, "That was a long time ago, Odette..."
"That's not the point. You never liked talking about them." Odette pointed out. "Then, it got to the point where you started—"
"Sleepwalking." I cut her off, peeking up at her through my lashes. "I know, I was there. I would wake up and find myself in random offices around the school, depending on whichever staff member it was that found me."
"Exactly, Indigo! It's common knowledge that night terrors and sleepwalking can happen as the result of the brain trying to handle an overwhelming amount of stress. Even if they don't happen as often as they used to, they could still be signs that you're keeping in more than your mind can bear."
I didn't wish to beat around the bush anymore. "Is this whole conversation your way of trying to get me to talk about why I dropped out of Hogwarts?"
"No, it's my way of letting you know that you don't always have to rely on just yourself." Odette replied, not seeming the slightest bit fazed by the shred of annoyance that had been buried in my voice. "There's nothing wrong with turning to others for assistance ... and I want you to remember that when you're at Hogwarts—especially since I won't be able to physically be there with you. Just keep in mind, no matter what happened in the past, you are a complete and utter badass now. Nothing can change that either."
An entertained smile broke out across Odette's face as she spoke those final two sentences. Within seconds after that, my lips ended up twisting into an equally amused smirk of my own. The two of us then found ourselves quietly exchanging chortles; and it didn't take long before I felt my prior irritation practically fade into an oblivion. Odette was one of the only people who seemed to have that type of effect on me.
"Damn straight...!" I said with a few soft nods of approval, my chuckles coming to an end.
"If you ever need me, I'm just an owl away. Never hesitate to reach out for anything." Odette instructed fondly. "I want to hear everything that you have to say about your stay in Scotland—no matter the time or day. All right?"
My smirk melted into a much more genuine grin, right before I responded with, "All right, Odette."
"Oh! And be sure to tell Dumbledore that I said hi."
"I was already planning on it."
"Great! Also, before you go, I have another small piece of advice for you."
"What is it?" I asked, slight confusion now sprinkled across my features.
Odette narrowed her eyes a little at me, her sweet smile suddenly being replaced by one of her well-known smirks. Then, she said with a taunt in her voice, "When you're at Hogwarts, try looking around for any decent blokes that could possibly turn out to be a fine suitor for you!"
I scoffed and playfully rolled my eyes, automatically telling myself in my head that I should've seen that comment coming. At the same time, I gave Odette's shoulder a quick and small shove. We then broke out into another small fit of chuckles, our faces decorated with amusement.
"You know something, Odette? I'm starting to wonder if you are hella horny for my life." I remarked, my smug tone making it clear that I was only kidding. "Should I be concerned?"
It was Odette's turn to scoff. She delivered a playful punch to my arm, retaliating with, "Oh, shut up, you wiseass!"
With that, I flashed a cheeky grin and—while snickering a little more—wrapped my arms around my best friend. It didn't take long before Odette gladly did the same, squeezing me like a parent would do to their child before sending them off to university. Even after working alongside me for all of these hours, she still carried the scent of her vanilla perfume.
"I love you, Indigo."
"I know you do ... and I love you, too."
As cliché as it might've sounded, Odette and I had been at each other's sides ever since we had first met back in school. We went through so much together. Even after we graduated and she ended up tying the knot with Luke, we didn't go our separate ways. We had been working at the Leaky Cauldron ever since we finished our education; and even when Odette wasn't handling a shift, I knew that her and Luke's home wasn't very far from the pub. Ultimately, the two of us were living our lives together in London ... but now that I was heading back to Hogwarts, I was officially going to be separated from her daily presence. I could already tell that that was going to be very difficult to adapt to; but I was just going to have to pull through it.
Eventually, after carrying the hug on for about another ten or so seconds, Odette pulled herself back. She then placed her hands on my shoulders again, her lips now stretched into a sentimental smile. The rims of her eyes were also appearing to glisten a little, going along perfectly with the rest of her expression. Between the two of us, she was the far more sensitive one.
"Remember, keep in touch." Odette instructed with her brow furrowed. "I want to hear from you, regardless of how long Dumbledore is wishing for you to stay there. So, write to me as much as can."
"I will." I promised, grinning much more fondly.
"And if you ever need anything, all you have to do is reach out to me. Okay?"
I gave a single nod. "Okay, Odette."
Odette exhaled softly, retracting her hands from my shoulders. Then, with an emotional smile still accompanying her face, she quickly wiped a single tear away from her left eye—not even giving it a chance to escape and roll down her cheek.
"All right ... you better get going then. Time for you to go and make this visit your bitch."
With one final chuckle, I picked my trunk back up and did my best to ignore the small piece of my heart that felt as though it was being tugged. Odette then gestured in the direction of the bar, indicating that I should go first. So, that's what happened. I was the first one to begin walking over to the bar, my best friend following a couple of steps after me. I also didn't need to look at her to know that she was cleaning away more water from her eyes.
Until that moment, I had failed to notice how Hagrid and Tom had been looking over in mine and Odette's direction. I didn't have the slightest idea as to how long they had been watching us, but I could tell that neither of them had witnessed the minor mishap that had occurred in the fireplace. So, it couldn't have been very long.
Tom flashed a small grin at me and gave a small nod, indicating that he knew what was going on. His hands were folded, his spectacles were resting on the bridge of his nose, and his chest was resting against the edge of the counter. Suddenly, his attention cut away from me and landed on my best friend.
"Oh, come now, Odette. There's no need for any tears." Tom said, almost sounding like a grandfather. "It's not like Indigo is going off to war. She's just going to visit her father for a while."
"I know, I know."
Odette traced the tips of her fingers along the rims of her eyes, wiping away whatever was left of her tears. She then folded her hands neatly in front of herself, still wearing her affectionate smile.
Hagrid spoke up next, "I was wonderin' when you would get back down here, Indigo."
"Yeah..." I drawled, slight awkwardness grazing my tone. "I'm sorry for making you wait, Hagrid."
"Ah, there's no need to apologize. I saw you standin' over there with Odette, but didn't want to risk bargin' in on your conversation." Hagrid explained, right before he flicked his eyebrows up at me. "Although, we do need to get going. Do you have clothes?"
I held up my trunk as I replied with, "Yep, I have them in here."
"And your wand?" Hagrid asked.
"It's in my boot." I answered.
"What about your personal items? Books and whatnot?"
I used my opposite hand to give my camouflage bag a couple of pats, feeling at least somewhat accomplished.
"All in this bag."
"Excellent! Sounds like you're all ready to go!" Hagrid proclaimed, smiling in approval as he then held one of his larger hands out towards me. "Here, let me take that trunk for ya."
"Thanks, Hagrid."
With an appreciative grin, I held the dark blue trunk out and watched as the half-giant took it from me. After that, without any difficulties at all, he lifted it up and placed it on top of his shoulder—as if it were a sack of potatoes.
"Blimey, this is light! Even for me!" chortled Hagrid. "Are you sure that you packed enough?"
"Trust me, I packed plenty. The trunk is just under the influence of the feather-light charm."
"Ah, I see! Well, that explains that."
I gave him a single nod, right before I flicked my attention over to my boss.
"By the way, Tom, I still have some clothes and other belongings upstairs. While I'm away, can you make sure that nobody receives access to my room?"
"Oh, certainly!" Tom replied almost immediately, readjusting his spectacles. "You won't have to worry about that, Indigo. That room will always belong to you—whether you're here or not. So, I'll make sure that no customers receive it for an overnight stay."
"Thank you."
"Ahem...!" Hagrid pretended to clear his throat as respectively as possible, automatically gaining my attention again. "I'm sorry for having to move this along, Indigo; but as I said before, we really must be on our way. Dumbledore is waitin' at the school, after all."
I straightened my lips, doing my best to focus more on the mental picture of my adoptive father—rather than on the reminder of where I was going. Something inside of me still managed to grow a little heavy; but I was able to ignore it well enough to nod at the half-giant.
"Right. I understand, Hagrid." I said, right before I flicked my gaze back around to Tom and Odette. "Well ... I'd best be going now."
Tom responded warmly, "Enjoy your time in Scotland, Indigo. We'll see you again in the near future, I'm sure."
Odette then chimed in with the same request as before, "Remember to send owls!"
"I'll be sure to do that. Have a good evening, guys."
"You, too, Indigo!" Odette said back, followed by a faint and optimistic sniffle.
By that point, Hagrid had placed his unoccupied hand against my back and started guiding me away from the bar. Before he had done that, I hadn't even realized that I had still been standing in the same spot. The sound of our footsteps were accompanied by the additional sounds of customers socializing, glasses clinking, and silverware sliding across plates. However, just as Hagrid and I made it about five steps away from the bar, we ended up coming to a halt when Tom spoke up again.
"Oh, and, Indigo—!"
I glanced over my shoulder to look back at him, still feeling Hagrid's massive hand against my back.
"Yeah, Tom?"
"Before you go ... I just wanted to say that I hope you know that I truly am sorry for what I said earlier." Tom replied, a sheepish grin peeling its way across his lips. "You know ... in regards of your..."
He trailed off and briefly pointed a finger at the right side of his face, not bothering to finish his sentence. Although, it wasn't necessary. I could tell that he was referring to how he had asked about the event that caused my scar; and even if he hadn't pointed at himself, I still would've been able to connect the dots pretty quickly.
"No need to fixate on it, Tom. I know that you didn't mean any harm." I said in a fairly nonchalant tone. "...I'll see you around, okay?"
Tom let out a breath that I hadn't even realized he had been holding. Then, with relief now detailed across his features, he said back, "Okay, Indigo. Safe travels!"
After that, I noticed Odette give a final wave in my direction. I made sure to return it, right before I guided my gaze back over to Hagrid. Until then, I hadn't realized that he had also been looking back towards the bar. He had one of his eyebrows raised in confusion; and not long after I glanced back over at him, he ended up making eye contact with me. As this happened, he lightly pressed his hand against my back and the two of us proceeded to head towards the Leaky Cauldron's main entrance.
"Aye, what was that about?" Hagrid inquired, speaking quietly. "What was Tom apologizin' to ya for? Is everythin' all right?"
"Yeah, everything is fine, Hagrid. Don't worry about it. It's nothing big." I answered, just wanting to put that overall incident behind me. "Anyway ... how exactly are we going to get to Hogwarts?"
The half-giant still looked a little concerned; but once that question left my mouth, he couldn't seem to resist chuckling a little. Meanwhile, I really was confused over how we were going to travel all the way to the school—particularly because all of the typical forms of Hogwarts transportation weren't known to run at such late hours.
"Well, the same way that I got here, of course!" Hagrid declared, right before he withdrew his free hand from behind my back and used it to push the main door open. "After you now!"
Without any objections, I stepped out into the darkness of the evening ... and that's when I saw the motorbike.
TO BE CONTINUED...
A/N: There we go, my lovely audience! We have reached the end of the second chapter of my retelling of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone." :D
I hope that you all enjoyed reading it just as much as I had fun writing it!
Remember, I usually take a couple of weeks off between every update in order to give my brain a chance to relax and recharge. Plus, as I stated at the very top in the first Author's Note, the next chapter will take me a bit longer to put together since I'm currently in the final few weeks of my first semester. I need to keep on top of exams and final assignments. So, please be patient with me as I continue this story. As much as I love writing, I still have other responsibilities to handle on the side of this. I thank you all for understanding. :)
Remember, I love feedback and I get very excited to hear what you all think of my work! So, please don't hold back on sharing your thoughts! :D
Until the next post, everybody! Happy reading and writing to you all!
Much love and God bless!
Crystalteen, out! :D :D :) :)
