The rain had not stopped for two days. Short spurts of sunlight appeared every now and then throughout the long days, but the rain just continued to pour heavily upon Hogwarts. No one spoke of Elvin and no one wished to. Haylie walked around to her classes without talking to her friends or even showing a glimmer of happiness. Eating seemed to be a chore to Haylie as well and her usual joyful conversations changed to one word sentences. Hermione began to feel very concerned for her little sister and decided that Haylie needed to do something fun, to keep her mind from wandering to Elvin.

"Haylie, why don't you and I send an owl to Mum and Dad," Hermione said, trying to keep a small smile on her face. Haylie looked up from her dinner and shook her head. Darkness shadowed her bright blue eyes and small bags could be seen beneath her eyelashes. Her hair, usually brushed neatly, flew in all directions and her skin appeared pale and dry.

"Come on Hay, you need to have fun or at least communicate with somebody," Harry chimed in, his mouth full with food. This time Haylie didn't even glance at them.

Haylie lied in bed, peering around her dark room. She could hear the gentle breathing of Natalie and the rustle of blankets as Eileen moved in her sleep. The rain still pounded on the window beside her and Haylie watched the tiny drops of moisture slither down the window, connecting with other drops on the way. Drops also fell down Haylie's cheeks, but those drops were tears, not rain. After a few minutes of silent crying, Haylie leaped out of bed and ran to her drawer. She yanked her jacket from the bottom of her drawer and threw it on quickly. In the hallway Haylie could see no one. She was alone, as she had been for three days. She hurried down the hall until she reached the Common Room. No fire blazed in the chimney and no person sat, doing last minute homework. Even the wide hallways of Hogwarts were deserted and Haylie felt cold as she ran, quickly but quietly, to the door to the outside. To her surprise it was unlocked and she turned the handle to exit the castle. At once the cold raindrops soaked her hair and she felt a cold chill creep through her entire being. To anyone else this feeling would have felt horrible and frightening, but to Haylie it was an awakening. For the first time since that dreadful night, she felt free and she felt comfortable. The rain had always been a comfort to Haylie from the time she was born. Haylie had always guessed that the rain helped her so much because she had been born on a rainy day. Now, Haylie could not tell which drops that fell from her face were tears or which were raindrops, and for once it did not matter. Peacefulness fell over Haylie and her fears seemed to melt away. Unfortunately, someone interrupted this feeling.

"Haylie, what are you doing," Corinne's voice whispered through the thunder of the rainstorm. Haylie whipped around to look at her friend. Both girls stood still, staring into each other's eyes, trying to tell what the other was thinking.

"Corinne, I need to be alone," Haylie yelled, turning to run down the hill. This wasn't enough to get rid of Corinne, who followed Haylie to her resting point.

"What you need is to go back to normal!" Corinne said, as she sat on the slippery bench across from the Hogwarts Lake beside Haylie. Haylie sighed and looked at her friend.

"I can't."

"Why not Haylie? Why are you being so secluded?" Corinne asked, her brown hair drenched with rain. Haylie could feel warm tears mix in with the rain as she began to cry again. Corinne slipped her arm around her friend's shoulders as they sat quietly.

"Brent laughed you know," Haylie mumbled. Corinne bit her lip and said nothing.

"He laughed about Elvin, how could he laugh?" The dark sky brightened as lightening cut through the air, releasing the loud boom of thunder. Both girls knew that they would get in trouble if they were caught outside this late at night and especially during a thunderstorm. Neither of them cared, though.

"You and I both know Brent Clayton has the IQ of a doorknob," Corinne laughed quietly, attempting to brighten the dim mood, "So he probably didn't even know what was going on."

"But the way he laughed was so…" Haylie moved her hand in the air, as if she was trying to explain with gestures.

"Sincere." After Haylie said this Corinne sighed and realized that the rain was coming down harder.

"We should get inside Haylie, or we'll get sick," Corinne helped her friend up and together they walked up the wet hills to the entrance of Hogwarts. Once they made it inside, both of the girls could feel the warmth of the air. Haylie had to admit that the stuffiness of the castle felt good. They tiptoed down the hallways and up to the Gryffindor Tower. It was such a relief to them to plop their selves down on the two couches and relax. Neither of them could go back to bed now, since they were drenched with water and were wide-awake. The sun started to rise in the east and Haylie enjoyed the warmth shine on her soaked face. The rain had stopped, but Haylie knew it would return.

"You didn't answer my question Hay," Corinne insisted, watching her friend closely. Haylie looked confused.

"Which question?" Haylie asked, even though she had an idea of what that question had been.

"Why are you taking this so hard? Why have you been like a zombie for the last three day?"

"I don't know." Haylie snapped, not wanting to answer truthfully. Corinne knew this and knew that Haylie's secret would soon be told.

"Haylie! Stop this! I don't understand," Corinne demanded, sounding desperate. A huge sigh came from Haylie and she sunk into the soft cushions of the coach even further. Haylie knew that if she told Corinne her secret, that a huge burden would be lifted off her conscience. Maybe her judgment was altered at the time she told her secret, but Haylie didn't care. At that point all the youngest Granger wanted was some closure and a chance to defend herself.

"I did this to Elvin," Haylie cried, "It's my fault! All my fault!"