Fay felt a weight release from her shoulders as she entered the dormitory. Her things were all sitting out and ready to be unpacked. This had been as much of a home as Dunbar Castle had been for the past several years, and she always felt happy to be sitting in her bed.
She reached into her trunk, first pulling out her vintage Moontrimmer. It had belonged first to Evander, then Ewan, before being passed on to her during her second year. It had an Anti-Burglary charm upon it, and was easily the best broom Fay had ever seen. Easy to repair, difficult to break, and damn fast, it was in the same league as Potter's Firebolt.
Surely, since Oliver Wood was gone, there would be tryouts that year. She could give either one of the Weasley twins a run for her money and become a Beater on the official Gryffindor Quidditch team.
Tomorrow afternoon, she would have to start practicing. She glanced at Alice. Her friend would not like it— she never did care for Quidditch or flying— but she would understand.
"I'll get Dad to send us his fudge recipe for the house-elves to make for the Dr. Who marathon next Sunday," Fay offered. "All you have to do is just watch me practice, make sure the Bludger doesn't actually kill me."
Alice looked up from some Star Wars book she was reading. "Fine. But only for that fudge— it's the best I've ever had. Puts our neighbor's shop to shame."
Fay grinned and pumped her first. She then sat down and gave her broomstick a loving clean-up, polishing the handle and clipping any fraying twigs. The Moontrimmer would have to be re-twigged before her seventh-year, but Evander had done that once before, after the end of his broom-racing days as a young man were put to an end by a rather unfortunate crash.
Then again, it resulted in him meeting a Healer that eventually married him, becoming Ewan's mother.
Once that was done, Fay pulled out her favorite, a plush pegasus with green hair and tail, a brown coat, and green wings. Dorcas had sewn it herself after her favorite horse as a child, right before she went into labor with Fay.
Running her hand over the soft and worn texture, Fay sat it on her pillow, adjusting everything for a moment. Satisfied, she reached into her trunk and pulled out a banner advertising the Montrose Magpies— the official team, and the Junior League version that she'd been flying for.
"Come on, everyone knows that Puddlemere United is best," Parvati pointed out.
"The fact that Oliver Wood is on the team alone is a reason to dislike them," Fay declared. "Besides, I've got to support a Scottish team, and the Magpies are locals. I'll only support English bastards if they're in the World Cup— and not a second sooner."
"Oliver Wood wasn't that bad," Hermione said softly.
Fay rolled her eyes. "Please, you're just saying that because Harry benefitted from Oliver being willing to bend a few rules."
"Yes, it always does come back to Potter with you, doesn't it?" Lavender demanded.
"I don't see what—"
"Will you keep defending him, now that he's mad and claiming You-Know-Who is back?" Parvati asked.
Hermione blinked. "Lord Voldemort is back, Parvati."
Any chance of good feelings had died. Any chance of ignoring the heaviness of Umbridge's speech, of the Aurors at King's Cross Station— it all flew out the window when Hermione Granger said his name.
Fay herself flinched.
Hermione just continued to unpack, and Parvati and Lavender exchanged a look. They didn't believe the brightest witch in their year. Despite that the witch had said the Dark Lord's name— Fay couldn't help herself.
"Granger's right, you know," Fay said before she could stop herself. "Don't all the little strange things that were happening last year make more sense now?"
Now Lavender rolled her eyes. "Please, I'm pretty sure you believe that because you want to believe your crush died bravely rather than because he was an idiot and got himself killed by something in that maze."
Fay turned red from anger and embarrassment. "Lavender! I told you that in strict confidence!"
"Everyone knows you have a thing for pretty Quidditch players." Lavender shrugged.
"Yes, I remember when you and Alice ranked the members of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team," Parvati said.
"I thought we were alone in the Owlry," Fay said, turning to Alice, who shrugged.
"Merlin, I wish you were so I didn't have to overhear you twits giggling about Roger Davies," Parvati said, looking to the sky. "I have no idea how he ended up in Ravenclaw— Padma says he really is as much of an idiot as I thought he was."
"Still, whatever my feelings about Cedric are— were— we can't deny the Dark Lord returned," Fay said.
"I can," Parvati said. "And I suggest we all get to bed. I heard from my mother that Umbridge will be running a different ship around here."
"I thought Dumbledore was still headmaster," Fay pointed out, confused.
Parvati didn't answer her.
Alice shrugged, and Fay sighed. So much for the solace of her dormitory.