Wishing that I was the one that
Wasn't gonna be here anymore.
The one that isn't here anymore
The one that isn't here anymore
Oh, we can't trade places,
Our lives are strangely our own.
-"Mr. Ambulance Driver" by The Flaming Lips
The crowd of students bustled around us, parents giving their kids one last good-bye kiss and classmates reuniting after Christmas Break. I held tightly to Al's hand so I wouldn't get lost in the fray. Suddenly, I spotted Marie's dark hair as she shoved Trent towards the train.
I hadn't seen my family since I'd left for the Potters', so I pulled off from Al. "I'm going to go say bye to Marie, 'kay?" I told him and darted through the masses.
"Hey, Iz," my sister greeted me and pulled me into a tight embrace. "Guess I'll see you during Easter Break then?" she asked, smiling down at me.
"Yep! Bye, Marie," I said. "Give Mum and Dad my love." I gave my older sister one last squeeze, then pushed back over to where Al was waiting for me.
"Better go find a compartment," Al said to me. "I'm not sure if Rose is saving us a spot."
We found that Rose, Scorpius, James, and Celeste were in fact keeping a space in their compartment for us. As the train pulled from the station, I glanced out the window and spotted my sister. I gave her a quick wave and a smile, and then she was gone with the rest of the platform as the train sped off.
"You're so mean to me!" I yelled at Al, who only laughed harder. "Stop laughing!" I shrieked, but he could tell I wasn't mad.
"Here," Al choked out. He flicked his wand towards me, and I was immediately dry.
"Why would you ever think it was okay to spray me with water?" I cried, my screams echoing across the lake from.
"Th-the look…on your face!" Al was still howling with laughter.
"Albus Severus Potter, you are going to be dearly sorry for this!" I hissed maliciously.
"All right," Al managed, calming himself, "do you worst." He stepped in front of me, holding his arms out.
"Oh no. You're going to wait in fear. You'll have no idea when it's coming until after I've gotten you," I spat.
"Izzy, please don't kill my dear cousin."
I spun around to see Rose walking towards where we were sitting in the grass.
"He- but- he," I sputtered indignantly. "He sprayed me using aguamenti!" I yelled furiously.
"Oh, I see," Rose chuckled. "Well, go at him, then."
"Not yet. I'm patient when it comes to revenge," I told her, and I probably sounded a little insane.
"Right, then. I need to go study for potions," the redheaded girl chirped as she trotted away.
"Sorry…"
I looked over at Al. He was staring at his feet, obviously suppressing his laugh. "Whatever," I said, rolling my eyes.
"So, Dad was telling me some more about that Dúnmharú bloke," Albus started, clearly trying to just make conversation.
"Hm. What's the idiot doing now?" I inquired, though I really didn't care much. I looked out over the dark, glassy surface of the lake.
"Not much. Threatening the minister, torturing muggles, the usual," he said nonchalantly.
Shocked, I raised my head to look at him. "What? I thought he was just some creep who did a lot of big talk…"
"Obviously not," he muttered. "Sorry to dampen the mood with this."
I looked up. "Oh yeah. Too bad you took me out of my murderous mood," I snorted sarcastically.
"Well, yeah…erm…let's go get ready for dinner."
"Gimme a hand." I reached my hand up to Al, which he grasped tightly. Swiftly, I pulled him off his feet into the mud by me.
Jumping up, I smiled sweetly down at Al. He was sprawled on the ground, shocked. "Dinner sounds grand," I said ostentatiously. "But Al," I began in a reprimanding tone, "you'd really better clean up."
"Izzy." Rose was shaking me awake. Again. "You're going to be late for Charms," she told me and spun around and went out of the door, her vibrant red hair flying behind her.
I glanced at the clock on my nightstand. Rose wasn't kidding, I had slept through breakfast, and Charms started in five minutes. I hurriedly got dressed, braided my hair sloppily, and dashed down the stairs. I saw Al about the climb out the portrait hole, so I yelled after him.
"Huh?" Al turned around to face me. "Hurry up Izzy, we're going to be late for Charms!" he scolded me. Huh. Déjà vu. Albus tossed me a muffin, which I caught hastily. "Grabbed you some breakfast. I know how you hate to go without food."
"Thanks," I mumbled as I bit into the muffin.
We barely beat Professor Scamander into the classroom, not that she would have cared. The woman loved Albus.
Our professor started the lecture in her usual dreamy tone, and I completely zoned out for about half the class. I was only taken from my pensive state when the door opened, revealing a timid third year. Ravenclaw, by the looks of it.
"Er…Professor Scamander…" The teacher looked over towards the girl. "The Headmistress wants to see Albus Potter and…er…Isabelle McCallum," the girl garbled out, stumbling over her words.
"Thank you, Miss Jonson," Professor Scamander said kindly. She looked and Al and I, then gestured towards the door.
I stood up wearily and followed Al towards the Headmistress's office.
"What do you think she wants?" I questioned carefully.
Al must have sensed my fear. "Don't worry Izzy. Everything's all right," he assured me.
I sneaked a glance up at Al. His face was a mask of tranquility, he was happy, no worries. What did he have to worry about? What did I have to worry about…?
Something…something wasn't right.
I mumbled my consent and continued down the hall silently with Albus. When we reached the gargoyle, the little Ravenclaw murmured the password before scurrying off.
Al squeezed my hand lightly, and I squeezed back, looking up at my friend. I got a kind smile in return. "I don't think I've done anything bad enough lately to get sent up here," Albus joked brightly, "but I've been wrong before."
I forced a laugh. Why was I acting like this? It's not like I'd never been sent to the headmistress before, that was an occupational hazard of being Albus Potter's best friend. Something was just off today. There was something terribly wrong.
"Erm…Minnie?" Al's voice came from beside me.
"I'm not sure who you're addressing, Mr. Potter. There is, however, a Professor McGonagall here." I jumped slightly as the professor's shrill voice came from a corner of the room.
I peeked around to where the thin professor was standing and gasped.
The stout figure of my mother was talking with my teacher, my tall father's arms wrapped around Mum. Trent was standing awkwardly to the side, appearing just as bewildered as I.
"Er…is everything…all right?" I stammered.
My mother only offered a wry, uneasy smile in return.
McGonagall cleared her throat. "Would you prefer I let you talk with you children alone?" she asked.
"I think that would be best…if you don't mind," my father answered politely.
It was only then that I noticed my mother's eyes were slightly puffy, her face a fading shade of red.
"Something's wrong," I muttered to no one in particular, and Al squeezed me in a one-armed hug.
"I think I'll go catch up with Min- er, the headmistress," Al mumbled as McGonagall flashed an angry look towards him.
"Oh, Albus darling, I- I think it'd be best if you stayed," my mother sighed. "Isabelle will be needing your support for a while."
Al shifted on his feet uncomfortably. This time, I gave his hand a slight squeeze.
"Mum…what's going on?" I asked nervously.
"Isabelle, Trent," my mother started, then broke off painfully.
My dad took over for Mum, bringing Trent and I into a tight embrace. "There was an accident last night," he started. "At…at the hospital."
"Was…Marie on her shift?" Trent whispered cautiously.
After a moment, Mum nodded her head almost imperceptibly. "It was a small explosion on the ground floor, in Artifact Accidents." She paused. "Where Marie worked."
"She's okay, right?" I squeaked out. I sounded so weak. But I couldn't be weak. I had Trent, and I had to be strong for him. But what if I couldn't be?
Even before Dad said anything, I knew the answer. The single flame of hope left burning inside me was extinguished, and my whole world came crashing down around me with four simple words.
"She didn't make it…"
Before anyone could say anything, before I could think, I was sobbing in my father's arms. What else could I do?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing. She was…gone. Marie, my older sister, best friend, role model…gone.
But, she couldn't be gone. She was too strong. Why would she leave me like this? I needed her, so she couldn't be gone. But she was. She was gone.
Gone.
I'm so sorry. I don't like killing her…but…well, I've had this figured out since day one.
Thank you to my wonderful reviewers. And I'm sorry, but, well, as you can tell, Al and Izzy won't be hooking up soon…but they might in the end…
Review my dears! Send me love…or hate. I can take it.