More from the Pensieve-load of stuff! :D

It's the 1st of September, and we're off to school! Time to reunite with old friends, and perhaps make some new ones :)
An interesting letter from an interesting person may just set the record straight...

Steam billowed from a red train, sitting on the tracks like a lazy caterpillar. The steam wafted through the platform, twining itself around people as if saying hello to long lost friends. The crowd, mostly made of students and their families, all were chattering excitedly as they said their farewells and began boarding the train. Overhead, a clock began to chime the 11th hour.

I emerged, coughing in the steam. I waited for a few moments before Ginny emerged, blinking in the sudden light. I looked around, seeing new faces, and plenty of old ones, and my heart sang as my gaze settled on a scarlet locomotive.

It was so good to be back.

I grinned as my gaze settled on a young boy with a toad, and remembered another boy, in my first year, who'd lost his toad on the platform. Some things never changed..well, considering, that this toad hadn't been lost yet, maybe they did. I laughed, startling my red-haired companion. "What's so funny?" she asked me in surprise.

"Lyra! Ginny!" I caught a glimpse of someone frantically waving and dashing forward, before Hermione threw her arms around me. I laughed and hugged her back just as fiercely. "Hermione! How are you?"

"Good, good!" she exclaimed breathlessly. "I found Luna too!" she grinned and gestured behind her, where the white-blond girl followed at a more sedate pace. She was again wearing her Spectrespecs and her radish earrings. I felt a grin break out on my face as she approached.

When Hermione and Luna disappeared briefly to find a compartment, Ginny spoke to me. "Did you sort everything out with George?"

I shrugged helplessly. "I don't know. We didn't end up talking about Diagon Alley. I guess he just needs some time to think. Merlin's beard, I need some time to think. I don't know," I repeated again, feeling lost. Ginny studied me. I hadn't told anyone of what George and I had talked about, and we had avoided eachother for the rest of July. I resisted all attempts at prodding and interviews.

As I looked back at the wall which we'd come through, I felt a twinge of pain. We'd been seen off by Molly, Arthur, Ron, Harry, and Draco, but- "I wish he'd been there," I muttered.

Ginny gave me a quick hug. "It'll be alright. He's not that stupid."

Quickly we left our stuff to be loaded onto the train and joined the others to find a compartment. It was there I parted with my three friends, as I had been appointed Head Girl again (just as I had suspected). I was actually rather surprised-I thought Hermione would get the role. She assured me before I left that she didn't care-she needed all the time she could get to study for her N.E.W.T.S. "You're studying already? Figures," I heard Ginny say, as I hurried away.

I was gone for at least half the trip due to the meeting and sorting out patrols, but I did not return alone. When I finally slid open the door to our compartment, someone was standing behind me.

"I asked Blaise if he'd like to join us after our meeting," I said calmly to my friends, as Blaise, the new Head Boy, shifted uneasily behind me.

Ginny was the first to recover. "Um, sure," she managed. "There's plenty of room."

Once he was sitting down, Luna-still wearing her Spectrespecs-eyed him over the latest issue of The Quibbler. "You're Blaise Zabini," she said in her usual dreamy way.

The boy blinked at her words. "Yes, that's me," he finally managed.

"I saw you fighting in the Great Hall," murmured Luna, then went back to her reading. Blaise stared at her. He looked like he'd been Stunned.

"Don't worry about Luna," I said softly, so she couldn't hear, "she has that effect on everybody."

Blaise shook his head, still looking a bit overwhelmed. "Why did you come back?" he finally managed.

"Well, Hermione wanted her N.E.W.T.S," I replied. "Ginny and Luna are still in school. I just had to come back. To decide what I wanted."

Blaise nodded. "Me too." His voice was softer. For once, I let myself inspect him. I realised then that Blaise had become just another boy at Hogwarts, trying to recover his sense of place after the Second Wizarding War, and felt a rush of respect for the boy. After all, he was now just like me.

"Lyra!" Ginny nudged me. I looked, and caught a glimpse of a feather ball outside my window.

"Pigwidgeon!" I muttered, startled, leaning over to throw open the window. The owl zoomed into the room, dropping a letter in front of me. I snatched it from the air as Ron's owl settled, bouncing, on my lap, obviously very pleased with himself. Carefully I shifted him to the space next to me.

Blaise was staring at Pigwidgeon. "That thing is an owl?"

I understood his surprise. While Ron had been given Pigwidgeon the very same way as I now had received him, the thing still looked like a miniature feather duster that would be blown away in lightest breeze. My grey eagle owl, Athena, studied Pigwidgeon, ruffling her feathers. I ignored both owls as I flipped over the envelope.

Lyra Malfoy

Hogwarts Express

I recognised the writing instantly. Carefully I opened the envelope, and removed the letter.

Dear Lyra,

I wasn't sure whether this would get to you on time. I wasn't even sure if I should contact you until the last minute. I'm borrowing Ron's owl because Hermes was busy and I don't trust Errol as far as I can throw him. Even if you throw him the old feather duster won't fly.

You're not the only person I write letters to. Fred gets one every week as well, but I haven't figured out what to do with them yet.

Anyway.

I'm sorry I didn't come to see you off. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to, so I settled for a letter instead. I hope it finds its way to you. I hope you have fun this year. Work hard, get your N.E.W.T.S., be a good example for younger students (yes, I heard all about your Head Girl Badge, you goody two-shoes, and I must say that I'm not impressed. Big Head Girl.), and most importantly, WIN THE QUIDDITCH CUP. Or try at least.

Well, I can't think of anything else to put, so bye for now, I guess.

George

P.S. I'm trying. I really am.

Hermione was chatting to Blaise. The girl had this odd knack of making friends with just about anyone. Ginny pretended not to notice as I folded the letter silently and slipped it into the front pocket of my robes (I had changed before attending my meeting). Luna was engrossed in The Quibbler, and only looked up when I asked to borrow her quill. Quickly finding an old piece of paper, I smoothed it out, and began to write.

Dear George,

Thank you for the letter. For you, Fred, and Oliver Wood (that man's spirit is still here haha), I will try to win the Quidditch Cup.

I'll be home for Christmas.

If you need cheering up, I can also send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.

Love Lyra.

I smiled at the second to last line, before rolling it up and offering it to Pigwidgeon. "Return to sender, please Pigwidgeon," I said, smiling. The owl gave a muffled, high pitched hoot, before flying out the window.

Well, hopefully that sorts things out...you'll have to wait to be sure though! *evil grin*

My favourite line from Harry Potter has and always will be about the Hogwarts toilet seat, I couldn't not include it! Ahhh, Fred and George, what wonderful people you are... :D What's that? I'm childish? Well, I still have more fun than you! xP

I just had to make a jab at Oliver's obsession xD

I thought I'd introduce Blaise as well, as a sort of side note to show that at least some Slytherins have a happy ending...or they don't have an unhappy one, anyway :)

~ MagicalLeaves