27
The Splendid Season
As the year was slowly coming to an end, their days were filled with studying for exams and enjoying their last month at school. Though, not everyone's time was as joyous.
Amelia Bones had left school early, due to the fact that her aunt had been found murdered.
She wasn't the only one, a third year Hufflepuff left the castle in tears, after hearing about the death of his older brother who had just started working for the ministry.
It was scary to think that You-Know-Who was becoming organized enough to target specific people. It was beginning to get very dangerous in the wizarding world.
The sixth year Gryffindor girls were sitting in the dormitory discussing it when Mary came in, eyes full of tears clutching a letter in her hand.
" What's wrong Mary?" Doe asked.
Mary looked distressed, she had tears in her eyes as she looked at the rest of her friends.
She looked at them sadly, " My parents are moving our family to America. I'm not coming back to Hogwarts next year"
" What? Why" Lily demanded.
" They can't be serious" Marlene said.
Mary bit her lip and tears began to run down her face. She wiped them quickly.
Mary nodded, " We leave in three weeks, they think it's too dangerous in Britain with all of this You-Know-Who stuff"
" Oh, Mary!" Lily said throwing her arms around her.
The girls spent the rest of their evening upstairs in their dormitory trying to calm Mary down and convince her that everything would be alright.
News of Mary leaving, traveled quickly and soon everyone was saying goodbye to her. It hurt for her friends to think about, and Doe was taking it especially hard.
Mary had been her friend for six years, she couldn't believe she was actually leaving.
Peter had taken it very hard too. Sirius told Doe in confidence, that Peter had always fancied Mary. It felt as if everything was ending.
They finished their exams, which seemed like nothing compared to the O.W.L's from the year before, and before they knew it.
They were all heading down to the Great Hall on their last night of term to find out who had won the House Cup. The Great Hall was decorated in emerald and silver.
" Ugh, Slytherins wons" James said sitting down at the table bitterly.
" You win some, you lose some" Remus told him.
" but did we have to lose to them?" James asked stabbing a small potato with his fork.
They all ate and talked happily during the feast, enjoying their last night of term.
When the food disappeared, Dumbledore stood up at the podium and began to speak.
" As another year draws to a close I am, I am happy to say that this one has been one that I'm sure we will always remember. And even though it has encompassed sadness and loss"
Doe felt his eyes on her and then Gemma Fairview, and the rest of the people who had lost family.
" It has also been one of happiness, joy, love, and fun. Personally, I look forward to another year filled with more. So goodnight students, have a safe and wonderful summer. We will see you back next year"
They all got up and headed back to the common room. They were all tired from the day, and stuffed with food from the feast. They sat themselves in the large armchairs by the fireplace, lounging around and enjoying the last night of their sixth year.
The next morning everyone got dressed and brought their trolleys down to the Great Hall, where one of the teachers would magic them over to the Hogsmeade station.
They ate breakfast and then headed over to the gate that led them to Hogsmeade.
The Hogwarts Express was waiting for them all.
" The year went by so quickly" Lily said looking behind her at the castle.
" It really did" Doe agreed.
" Come on guys, let's board the train" Peter called from the platform.
Taking one last glance at Hogwarts, Doe climbed onto the scarlet engine with her friends.