June 22nd, 1996. Saturday.
Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry
Infirmary Wing
Annabeth Black hadn't spoken in two days.
Hermione had tried to get her to talk, Ginny had tried, and even Harry had tried.
But she had just laid in her white infirmary bed, sleeping on and off. When she was awake, Anne just stared at the plain stone wall, refusing to speak to anyone who came up to her.
She had finally started responding to Madam Pomfrey's treatments. Anne had come back to the infirmary with a concussion and was being monitored by the gentle school nurse. But Anne would only take her medicine if it was left on her nightstand.
Selena had wanted to stay with Anne since they got back.
They had arrived at Hogwarts, transported by Ministry staff. The sun had risen by then and it was almost noon. The seven students (Harry was reportedly with Dumbledore, so they said) were taken to the Infirmary Wing at Hogwarts. The Aurors arrived next. Tonks - that was what they called the pink-haired woman - had to be dropped off there, cared for by Madam Pomfrey. Apparently Hogwarts was more low-profile than St. Mungo's Hospital.
Selena had only needed a bandage for her knee and a little ointment for the tiny cuts on her hands left by the shattering glass and stone pit.
Ginny had her broken ankle mended in the blink of an eye. Neville, too, had his broken nose mended expertly. The same couldn't be said for his wand.
Ron and Tonks had been the worst. But nothing was too bad for Madam Pomfrey to handle.
Madam Pomfrey had let all of the students sleep there in the Infirmary Wing, resting after the long ordeal.
Selena had barely been able to sleep at first. She had laid there, watching as Madam Pomfrey swept over to an unconscious Anne in a bustle of skirts.
It was the next morning, Friday, when Anne had woken up and began her silence.
After several attempts on Selena's part to get her to speak, Madam Pomfrey had given Selena a sympathetic look.
"Why not go back to your dorm, love?" the nurse had asked, blinking her kind eyes. "Maybe come visit tomorrow."
Selena knew it was more than just a suggestion.
She had left that morning, walking back slowly to Gryffindor Tower. Hogwarts was quiet in the early hours of the day. Light shone brilliantly bright through the tall windows, bathing the stone corridors in gold. Ghosts floated amiably, whispering to each other about the "fiasco in the Infirmary Wing." No other students were walking around, but breakfast should've been starting soon. Exams had ended the day before, and today was the last Saturday, meant for packing up luggage and saying goodbyes. Everyone would be leaving the next day on the Hogwarts Express. How long would it take for them to hear about what had happened at the Ministry?
Selena had heard from Ginny and Hermione what the Ministry workers saw after Harry had chased Bellatrix down: Voldemort appeared and tried to kill Harry, but Dumbledore was there to save him. And how Minister Fudge had arrived in time to see Voldemort in person.
Selena pulled off her Gryffindor robes as she walked, sick of wearing them. They still had dust marks on them from the stone pit.
She tried to shove the memories out of her head.
Thinking of Harry chasing down Bellatrix just made her think of Siri-
No.
She set her jaw, walking up the Grand Staircase. She wasn't going to think about him. Not right now. If she did, she might fall apart. So instead, Selena just focused on putting one foot in front of the other as the staircases changed directions. The paintings were alive with chatter, gossiping as much as the ghosts. When she reached the Fat Lady, Selena found the painted woman filing her nails and whispering conspiratorially with the portrait next to her.
"Well you're up early," the Fat Lady said when she noticed Selena. She adjusted her pink silk dress. "I don't suppose you've heard about what happened at the Ministry the other night?"
"Bowtruckle," Selena deadpanned.
The Fat Lady rolled her eyes at the portrait next to her. "I'm telling you Fiona, Third Years are never fun."
The portrait swung open and Selena crawled in through the hole in the wall. When she jumped out of the other side, the Common Room was empty. Embers sat black and cold in the fireplace, textbooks piled up the coffee table. A pile of trinkets sat on the round table by the table with a sign reading "LOST ITEMS FOUND IN COMMON ROOM, COLLECT BY TOMORROW OR NEVER SEE IT AGAIN!"
Selena shuffled up the stone steps, dragging her robe, not caring if it got messed up. She didn't intend on wearing it again.
Meow.
Selena paused as something tugged at the Gryffindor robe in her hand. She turned, recognizing the sound.
On the step, Crescent pulled at her robe as it dragged on the floor, the fabric caught in his tiny fangs. The black cat blinked his green eyes up at Selena innocently.
Selena bent down, scooping her arms around the cat. She buried her face in his black fur, blinking back tears. "I'm glad you're still here," she whispered.
Crescent purred as she kissed the top of his head between his soft ears. Selena held him close to her heart as she walked up the rest of the stairs. Every step felt a bit lighter now with him. Crescent had been with Selena for years, always there every time she needed him. Now was no different.
"We'll need to tell them what happened," Selena murmured to Crescent as she reached the top of the stairs. "They'll be worried... We just can't mention... him."
The wooden door to her dorm loomed before her. Selena knew her friends would be sleeping, and Elizabeth would be waking up early any moment now.
Selena took a deep breath.
"Here goes nothing," she whispered.
She pushed the door open.
June 23rd, 1996. Sunday.
Breakfast was buzzing like a swarm of Glumbumbles.
The Daily Prophet had set the already kindling excited chatter ablaze. Selena stared at the front page as Elizabeth had her blonde head buried inside the middle pages.
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS
In a brief statement Friday night, Minister of Magic Cornelius Fudge confirmed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned to this country and is active once more.
"It is with great regret that I must confirm that the wizard styling himself Lord - well, you know who I mean - is alive and among us again," said Fudge, looking tired and flustered as he addressed reporters. "It is with almost equal regret that we report the mass revolt of the dementors of Azkaban, who have shown themselves averse to continuing in the Ministry's employ. We believe that the dementors are currently taking direction from Lord - Thingy.
"We urge the magical population to remain vigilant. The Ministry is currently publishing guides to elementary home and personal defense that will be delivered free to all Wizarding homes within the coming month."
Selena looked away, back at her plate. She hadn't been able to eat all morning.
"Looks like Harry was right all along, who would've guessed?" Alisson griped. She scowled as she pulled apart some bacon, but Selena could hear the edge of nervousness in her friend's voice.
Elizabeth folded the paper. "Even my parents didn't believe him. They'll be singing a different tune now."
"We all will," Tess piped up. She shook her head. Her reddish-light-brown hair wasn't in its usual bun today. Tess' small hands shook as she ladled some fruit onto her plate and then looked at her friends. "This is going to change everything."
"At least Dumbledore got the Minister to remove Umbridge," Renee said. "That's gotta' be a good thing if I've ever heard of one."
Alisson lifted up her goblet of orange juice. "Here's to Hogwarts: an evil wizard may be back, but at least the toad in pink is out of our halls."
"Cheers to that," Renee said, clinking her goblet.
2 Hours Later
Selena waited at the edge of the Infirmary Wing as Madam Pomfrey carried a stack of pillows across the room. A house-elf walked around, snapping his fingers to make potion bottles vanish, presumably somewhere to be washed up.
Madam Pomfrey sat down the pillows with a "whew!" She turned, noticing Selena. With a smile, Madam Pomfrey walked over, brushing off her crisp white apron. "Hello, Miss Malast. I take it you've started packing?"
Selena bobbed her head. "I packed almost everything last night."
"Good," Madam Pomfrey said. Her smile tightened as she turned to look towards Anne. "Miss Black's concussion is resolved, but... I think everything that happened was a shock."
She lost her father. And she can't even tell anyone. Selena forced a reassuring smile. "I just want to speak to her for a few minutes if I can."
Madam Pomfrey finally nodded. "Go ahead. I'll be here sorting things by my desk if you need me."
Selena thanked her and walked slowly toward Anne's bed.
Anne had her back turned to Selena, her red curls tangled from days of sleeping in the hospital bed.
Selena paused at the side of her bed. She picked at her fingernails. "Anne. It's me, Selena. I wanted to come see how you are."
Silence.
She watched Anne's body move the slightest bit under her blanket as she breathed. But she didn't bother to turn to look at her.
Selena looked down at her hands. "Everyone's outside today, it's so sunny. Renee and Tess went down to the Viaduct Courtyard to play Gobstones, and Alisson went to the Quidditch pitch with some other students to play a match of football. I think some people wanted to go on a last-of-term swimming trip with the giant squid. Um. I... I just wanted to come say goodbye. I guess you'll be staying with the Weasley's again this summer, so Ginny and Ron-"
"I didn't stay at the Burrow over summer holiday."
Selena looked up in surprise. Anne's voice was scratchy, but it was hers. "Pardon?"
Anne finally turned over in bed. Her brilliant blue eyes were rimmed in red. "I wasn't at the Weasley's home this past summer, Selena."
Selena furrowed her dark eyebrows. "But I... I thought you were staying with Fred?"
Anne blinked. She looked down at Selena's jeans for a moment, taking a few breaths. And then she looked up. "I was at my father's home. We all were. Twelve Grimmauld Place in Islington in London. It was Papa's, and we all spent the summer there. Harry, Fred, Ginny, Ron, Hermione..." Anne's voice broke. "Now we won't. We won't ever get that again."
Selena knelt down next to Anne. She could feel the cold stone floor seeping through the knees of her jeans. "Anne... you never told me. I'm sorry, I had no idea..."
Anne's eyes welled up. "I thought maybe I would spend this summer there, even if he was on the run and even if his terrible house-elf lives there. It's mine, it's my family's... and now he's gone. He's gone, Selena."
Selena leaned forward, holding Anne as she cried. Selena finally let her own tears fall, running down her cheeks and disappearing into Anne's hair. Selena couldn't even tell her father that his brother was dead. She couldn't even tell her father how it happened to his baby brother. And she couldn't tell him who Anne was.
A thought sparked in Selena's mind.
She may not be able to tell her father who Anne truly was, but that didn't mean Selena couldn't keep her close.
Selena leaned back, looking at Anne, whose pale skin had turned blotchy. "Spend summer with me. If you want. My brother's room is free now, you can stay in it."
Anne blinked, shaken from her tears with confusion. "Huh?"
"You can spend summer with my family," Selena said quickly. "I live in Bath, have you ever been? You can meet my other little sister, Violet. I'm sure my parents would be alright with it. I mean... unless you did want to stay with the Weasley's. Sorry... I'm rambling."
Anne sighed, wiping her eyes with her blanket. "I don't think so... I was actually going to break up with Fred, it was just too much being apart from him and with his business starting..."
"I'm so sorry," Selena said, frowning. Anne and Fred had seemed so good together.
Anne shook her head. "I made my decision a while ago, it's okay. I think it's best for both of us. I'm really not upset about it."
They were both quiet for a moment.
Selena tried to imagine Anne staying at Hogwarts all summer with Dumbledore like she had since she was eleven. It must've been lonely growing up all alone at Hogwarts during the holiday. Selena tilted her head. "Anne, I can't ever replace your father. No one can... But I know he wouldn't want you to be alone. He would want you to be with friends. He would want you to be happy."
Anne was silent, gazing at a pool of light shining in through one of the windows. "I know," she finally said. "I know he still does."
She grew quiet again.
"I heard my mother," Anne blurted.
Selena opened her mouth to ask what Anne meant.
"In that arch at the Ministry," Anne continued. She looked up. "Selena, I could hear my mum's voice... It's been repeating in my head... I feel like it's the only thing that got me through the past few days... Knowing that... that when Papa crossed through, she was there to hold him again." Anne's eyes welled up with tears again. "I feel selfish for wanting him here with me, but... but I'm happy that they can finally be together again. It just hurts because now I don't have any family left."
Selena brushed some hair off of Anne's face, and Anne didn't stop her. "You have me."
Anne watched her for a moment. She blinked her red eyelashes. "Do you really mean it? Your parents wouldn't mind if I stayed with you?"
Selena shook her head. "Nope. My mum loves meeting my friends. She'll probably cook you whatever you'd like."
Anne curled up tighter in her bed. "Selena, I'm sorry for how I was to you at the beginning. For, you know... everything."
Selena held up her charm bracelet, letting Anne see the hippogriff charm she'd given her during her first year. "We're family now, Anne. What's passed is past."
Anne took a deep breath. She nodded.
"Now let's go get you a shower." Selena stood up, holding out her hands for Anne. "We need to pack. Cinnamon probably misses you."
"Will your cat try to eat my rat?" Anne wondered aloud.
Selena finally laughed for the first time in days. She had forgotten how good it felt to laugh. "We'll figure it out. Now let's go, we're burning daylight."
Anne took her hands, standing up shakily for a moment. She finally found her balance. "Selena?"
"Yes, Anne?"
"Thank you."
"Anytime."
June 26th, 1996. Wednesday.
"I don't know what I'll do without Sasha!" Renee cried as they made their way through the bustling corridor of the Hogwarts Express.
"Crazy that tonight is her graduation ceremony," Alisson continued. "Can you imagine in four more years when that's us?"
"Like you'll graduate, Hatten, you can't get through a single Potions exam," Renee joked, grinning back at Alisson.
Selena smiled as Alisson flicked Renee's ear, making Renee burst out laughing.
Rolf found a compartment empty and pulled the sliding door open. They all slipped inside, throwing their small bags up onto the racks above the seats. The train whistle blew shrilly, announcing they would be departing Hogsmeade Station in ten minutes.
With a dramatic sigh, Rolf collapsed onto one of the seats. He pulled Karrot from his hood and gave his rabbit a loving pat. "Well. I did hear that Miss Sasha Anisa Ramirez broke things off with that Lennick bloke."
"We all knew it was going to happen," Tess said, straightening her jumper as she sat down.
Renee gave a sigh almost as dramatic as Rolf's. "I want a boyfriend. Is that too much to ask the universe?"
"Sounds like a question for Seamus Finnigan," Alisson muttered, making everyone burst out into laughter.
Renee flashed her a hand gesture that earned her a disapproving look from Elizabeth.
Shorty began hooting wildly in his cage on the ground.
"I am not going to miss that owl," Alisson said. She cuddled Sierra, her black-and-white kitten who was no longer really a kitten anymore. "Three months without that bird sounds fantastic. Cats are so much more civil."
Tess kissed her small owl the top of her feathered head. Spice turned her head all the way around, keeping an eye on Crescent. "I'll miss all of our pets while we're away."
Hazel perked up, finally glancing away from her book. "Maybe I can finally get a pet this summer!"
"Not another owl," Alisson with a laugh. "We can maybe donate this one here." She pointed her foot at Shorty who gave an indignant hoot as if he understood.
Selena grinned at them before she stood up, settling Crescent down on the seat. "I'll be back. I'm going to go see where the sweets trolley is. I want a licorice wand so badly I could combust."
"Ooh!" Renee said. "Get me some Fizzing Whizzbees!"
Selena gave her a thumbs-up before she opened the compartment door. The whistle blew again, giving them the five-minute departure warning. Steam billowed outside the windows as the sun shimmered across the Scottish highlands. Selena walked down the train corridor as people wandered around, laughing and hopping compartments. She passed one with Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron and Ginny Weasley, Neville Longbottom, and Anne. Anne glanced up as Selena passed. The cousins shared a smile before Selena walked on.
A familiar, tall, blond boy with a brown leather jacket caught her eye down the corridor.
A smile broke across her face as Selena walked towards him. "Damon."
The boy turned around, smiling when he saw Selena. "Hey," he said. "How's your last day been?"
Selena shrugged. "Same old. We struggled to get out of the dorm in one piece. Renee almost fell down a flight of stairs. The usual."
Damon nodded. "Excited to get home?"
Selena beamed. "Yeah, Anne is coming to stay with me."
"Annabeth Black?" Damon said, raising his eyebrows. He cracked a smile. "Glad to know you two can finally be in the same room without wanting to rip each other's heads off."
"She's grown on me," Selena laughed. "What about you?" Excited to go back home?"
Damon's smile faltered. "Sort of. My uncle is going to be talking about the Daily Prophet nonstop no doubt."
"Oh," Selena said, frowning in sympathy. "I'm sorry to hear about that. Does he get quite frightened by that sort of news?"
Damon glanced at the carpeted floor. He shifted his footing uncomfortably. "Er... something like that." He ran a hand through his hair, glancing down at Selena with his light blue eyes.
Her stomach flipped.
"I guess things are going to change from now on," Damon said. "The Second Wizarding War... it's only a matter of time."
Selena stood up straighter. She stared at Damon, surprised at how strongly she felt confidence rise up. She had faced Death Eaters and lived. "I'm not afraid."
Damon looked at her, something in his expression Selena couldn't identify changing. Then his eyes lit up with their usual mischief and he smirked. "Well, you are a Gryffindor after all. Speaking of which, we'll see who wins the Quidditch Cup next year. I have a strong suspicion I'll be team captain."
Selena clapped her hands once. "That's brilliant! Congratulations! Has anyone told you the good news?"
"Not officially, but I think I can make it happen," Damon said with a smile. "I have big ambitions for the team next year."
"Well you are a Slytherin," Selena admitted with a grin.
"Damon, we've got a compartment! Let's go!" a brunette boy Selena recognized as Theodore Nott called from down the corridor.
Damon gave Selena a quick smile. "See you in September, Malast. Have a good summer."
She waved. "You too! Bye, Damon!"
He turned, walking over to his friends. Two seconds later, he vanished into the train compartment.
Selena stood in the corridor as some students passed by. The train gave its final, longest whistle, and the engine roared to life. The floor began to thrum as the train trekked out of the station. Selena kept walking, searching ahead for the sweets trolley. In six hours they would arrive in London and she would make a plea to her parents to take Anne in. But she knew her mother couldn't ever resist helping out someone who needed it. She would love Anne by the end of the summer. Of course, Ivy would probably campaign to bring a friend over during the summer too now, but they'd sort that out when the time came.
A dark flash caught Selena's attention out of the corner of her eye.
She turned her head, peering out of the train window.
What seemed to be the skeleton of a pegasus covered in black skin with bat's wings flew through the air, soaring high above the rolling hills that sloped into the Black Lake. A bony tail whipped behind it as the animal dipped and floated on the wind.
Selena suddenly recognized this creature she had never seen before.
It was a Thestral.
And that wraps up our THIRD YEAR! *celebratory confetti*
I'm soooo happy about this! How long have we been on the Order of the Phoenix? Six years? Seven? Something like that? I feel like it's actually been that long.
ANYWAY! I'm so happy to have it finished! We can finally move onto Half-blood Prince, and boy do I have a cornucopia of ideas. I'm so thrilled to get to explore a lot more in the following year. We're gonna' have a lot of fun with this.
Thank you all for being with me throughout all this. I've changed a lot as a person over the course of the years while writing this year at Hogwarts, and I'm sure you guys have too. It feels great to have accomplished this, and I'm so thankful to have you reading every step of the way. Selena's 3rd year has been the longest one in terms of chapters as well:
1st Year: 22 chapters
2nd Year: 22 chapters
3rd Year: 29 chapters
Do you guys like having more chapters? I'll try to keep making them longer, but we'll see how the story plot plays out.
OKAY! So thank you for the reviews on the last chapter:
SakuraDragomir
CharmedMilliE- Karry Master
Thank you both so much!
I hope everyone is doing well and staying safe.
I'll catch you in the next chapter!
~ Meghan