Chapter Forty-Three: Something Not to Broadcast

Slowly, I lowered the letter once again. I about had it memorized from the amount of times that I have read it. How could my grandmother be dead? I still couldn't believe it.

Now there was one more thing that I had to do before I could go up to my room and attempt to sleep. Tell James before he looked at the stupid Prophet.

Shakily, I made my way to my feet and exited the Common Room. I'm rather thankful that I didn't receive this letter during breakfast like I would have if I was not running late this morning.

No one even glanced at me as I entered the Great Hall, though I did get a few strange looks as I headed toward the Gryffindor table.

"James, could I talk to you?" I quietly asked him as I stood in front of him. He was laughing with his friends about something and never noticed me walk up to him. He was annoyed that I interrupted.

My brother looked at me strangely, "What is it, Sophie? You make sure to avoid me and anyone in a red tie and now your actually talking to me voluntarily?"

"James, I am in no mood for your crap today, but can I speak to you? It's really important and-" I was cut off before I could finish.

"Oh come on, Potter. You are completely wasting our valuable time. We haven't got all day," Black interrupted impatiently.

I glanced around before answering. We were starting to attract attention. "Look, Black, this is none of you concern, so if I can now talk to James before-"

"Hey, what is it already Sophie?," James said, once again cutting me off before I was finished. It was really ticking me off, especially with my shorter than usual temper.

"Sirius, James, I really think that this is important. Maybe you should just go and talk to her." Remus, the brain of the group, suggested.

I saw Peter just look around uncomfortably. I always wondered why my brother included him into their little group.

James shook him head and looked at me with a hard expression. He was stubborn and now angry, "No, what Sophie has to say to me, she can say to everybody else."

"I really don't think that it would be best, James," I began. "This isn't something to broadcast."

Everyone was looking at us now.

"Just spit it out already. Everyone is waiting," Sirius replied lazily. It was like that conversation we had never happened the other day.

Well, I guess you could say that my anger getting the best of me was the cause of this outburst.

"Fine then. Grandma is dead. Murder by Death Eaters last night. There, happy I told you now?" I sneered as I shoved the letter that the Ministry sent me right in front of his face so he could read it for himself. It was crumpled and almost torn in half by the amount of times that I had read it.

"What?" James whispered quietly in surprise. "That can't be possible."

"Well, it is. Sorry I had to break it to you, but I have to go now. Places to be and what not. I'll make sure the next time I have to tell you something to schedule an appointment, so I'm not interrupting you childish antics. You know, I thought that the both of you had actually grown up this year, but once again you just have to prove me wrong."

I then proceeded to turn on my heels and stomp right back out of the Hall. Feeling all the eyes in the room on me as I left.

All the while I couldn't get James' shocked and hurt expression out of my head.

Dear Mad-Eye Moody,

I have received the letter you sent and gratefully accept your condolences. I'm also happy to hear that I am not the only one who thinks greatly of my father. He was a good man and I appreciate how you understand that. He died trying to get me to safety and I will never forget that.

Also, I remember you from that day. You were there and was helping me and my dad fight the Death Eaters. Saw what happened and made sure to get me out of there when everything was over. Never would I of made it through that day without your aid, so thanks for that.

The next Hogsmeade trip will be on February twenty-sixth, which is the day after my required trip to Gringotts.

See you soon,

Sophie Potter

I sighed and placed my quill back on the table. I would have to take this to the owlery to have my pure black owl, Midnight, take it to the old Auror. He would be happy. The bird loved it when I asked him to take letters to people. Seemed to never get tired, especially since I didn't really sent many things since I usually had no one to send them to.

Exiting the library, I quickly made my way to the tower. It was almost curfew and the Prefects would begin to patrol soon. I had no issues until about halfway there. That was when I heard the sound of someone cough quietly.

"Who is there?" I whispered as I pulled out my wand. Seeing movement in the dark corner in the wide hallway, I raised my wand and silently cast a spell.

I heard a loud thump of a body hit the ground.

When I saw who it was I rolled my eyes. Olivia Fictros. My lesbian stalker.

"Rennervate," I mumbled almost carelessly. When I finally think that she disappears, the Ravenclaw returns. Why must my luck be so terrible? "What do you want, Fictros?"

She giggled as she stood up from the floor and began her signature ramble, "Hey Sophie. I can call you Sophie, right? Is it short for Sophia or something? I always wondered whether it was or not. Man, I can't believe you caught me. Are you heading to the owlery or-"

I put my hand over her mouth so I didn't have to heat her nasal voice, "Shut the bloody hell up. Why are you following me, Fictros?"

Olivia looked a bit dazed when I removed my hand from her face, "Well, I heard about your grandmother and I wanted to see if you were okay. I mean, she was your family and I remembered when my granny died. I was bawling for days!"

I was a bit touched. Creeped out, but touched that she cared about me that much about me. Even if she was the most obnoxious and talkative person in the world. Bless her weird self.

Though that doesn't mean her stalking me didn't piss me off.

"I'm fine," I muttered quietly. "Although, if I ever catch you following me again Fictros, you won't live to see tomorrow. Now go back to your common room. Prefects will be coming out soon and you're holding me up."

The fifth year nodded sheepishly and walked away toward her tower. If I'm lucky, I won't be seeing her anymore this year.

Now I had a letter to send and I wasn't going to wait until tomorrow, so if I wanted to send it, I better get a move on.

AN- And Fictros returns. I couldn't think of what to put to finish this off, so I brought back the stalker from eariler chapters.

Thank you celeste.c. arguello, Blue Luver5000, lightbabe, XxSiriusSnufflesxX, and The Amendable Snow Freak for reviewing. You are all wonderful.

Leave a review as you exit the page. -Laura