Aquila spared one last lingering look up at the castle that had been her home for seven years. Tears dripped down her cheeks, as she stood on the platform. This was the end. She had loved it there. She had made friends for life. Been a prefect, head girl, been a chaser on the Quidditch team. She'd met Oliver here. It was hard to believe that she may never be back here again. She wasn't the only graduating student staring back up at the castle. She wasn't the only one who was a little bit scared and wondering what they were going to do next. Aquila held the Head Girl badge in her fist. It had taken some scuffing, and lost some of it sheen. She wasn't as fanatic about badges as Percy. She certainly didn't sit up polishing it. But she would keep it all the same. She climbed up onto the scarlet steam engine, her trunk floating expertly before her. She picked a carriage and stowed the unruly trunk, and felt quite melancholic. It was a happy day, but so terribly sad. Her friends from Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff came by her compartment to say their goodbyes. Charlie and Daisy were a couple of years younger than her, and would continue their Hogwarts experience without her next year. It was somewhat tearful, but she assured the pair of them that she would see them soon. Something told her she would. The Weasley Twins piled into the compartment, and awkwardly mumbled how they would miss her, and that she was a bloody good chaser.

"At least you'll be seeing plenty of Oliver." Fred said, waggling his eyebrows.

"No I won't. We're not dating, Fred." she said, in her most serious voice. The twins scoffed. She paid them no mind. But she did wonder where Oliver had gotten off to. As though her thoughts had summoned him, he trundled in through the door of the compartment.

"Aquila, my parents got tickets to the Quidditch World Cup! You have to come with us!" he said, breathlessly and very much excited.

"Is this a team outing, Oliver?" George said sarcastically. Oliver looked around at them all.

"Shove off, George." Oliver said, as he clambered into the compartment. "Ireland is shaping up to be in the final. You have to go to support your country." Aquila laughed at the imploring look on his face.

"Well nothing is more convincing than my national pride. I'm in." He grinned ear from ear for her, and she thought he heart would explode. How dare he be so adorable?

"Oh no, we're not dating at all!" Fred mocked, in a high falsetto. His best impression of an Irish accent was offensive to say the least. Aquila couldn't help but roll her eyes again. Before she could launch an attack on the twins, Angelina and Katie came shuffling in. They flung themselves at Aquila, very sad to be seeing the older girl leaving.

"Merlin's pants, girls, it's not a funeral." Fred said rolling his eyes. Aquila smiled at the sassy boy.

"Shut up, Fred." Angelina said with a sullen face, as she wrapped her arms around Aquila again, muttering things in her ear about how much she'd miss her, and how they had to visit and write. Aquila was feeling very loved. Streams of people stopped off and said goodbye to both her and Oliver. Cedric Diggory stopped by the compartment, a small smile for Daisy, his fellow Hufflepuff. Aquila raised an eyebrow, and looked between the two Hufflepuffs. She knew there was something going on between them, but she suspected it was going to fall apart soon.

"Oliver, Aquila. It was wonderful to go to school with you both. You were an excellent captain, Oliver. You deserved the cup." He shook Oliver's hand, and looked to be quite choked up. His hand lingered in Oliver's for a moment, before he turned to Aquila. She stood and took the boy into a hug.

"You're meant for great things, Cedric. It was wonderful to work with you as a prefect. I'm sure I'll be hearing great things about you soon enough." He beamed at Aquila. He thanked her quietly before he slipped out of the carriage, with one last miserable and confused look at Oliver. Oliver didn't seem to notice. Aquila sat back and thought for a moment. How did Oliver fail to see the amount of lingering looks he got? He was surprised when she told him that people gave her dirty looks when they found out they were dating. He couldn't conceive that anyone was attracted to him. He just didn't really have time to, did he? But Aquila could appreciate how handsome he was. His face was always a look of concentration, even though it wasn't always the right thing he was concentrating on. He had high cheekbones and a jawline for days. She had seen him out of his robes. He was well muscled from his constant training. To her, he looked like a fine statue of Adonis. Handsome, and beautiful, and artful. She was the right person to appreciate Oliver. She appreciated him in the ways he wanted to be appreciated.

The train journey seemed to last forever, while simultaneously taking no time at all. The sun put a smile on her lips, as she stretched out like a cat basking in it. They played a game of exploding snap, which had tears running from her eyes with laughter. The Weasley twins made everything funny. As the train lurched to a stop, students were saying their goodbyes and hugging, promising to write over the Summer. Aquila realised that she was no longer a student. She and Oliver lingered behind in their compartment, hauling their trunks down from the overhead rack.

"When will I see you?" Oliver asked, very quietly, as though he was scared of her answer. She set her trunk down and took him into her arms.

"Very soon, I promise. I need to sort out some things with my parents and then I'll come by. I promise." He nodded. She twined her hands around the back of his neck, and kissed him for a long time. She didn't know if seconds or minutes had passed when she opened her eyes again, and dizzily took a step back.

"I love you." he said, and he sounded so sad when he said it that she thought her heart would break.

"I love you too. We'll be together again soon." He had a soft smile for her, as they trundled their things out of the scarlet steam engine one last time.

Aquila had not been met by anyone at the train station. She hadn't expected it. Her parents were those kind of people. They loved her well enough, but just never in the ways Aquila needed. She got by well enough. She never made complaint, and understood her parents very well. She loved them dearly, and they got along very well. When she apparated home, they hugged her tightly and asked her how her journey was, and how the exams had gone. They talked briefly enough before she went to her room to unpack. Being of age made her life so much easier. Her unpacking was done in no time at all. She sat on the edge of her bed, and flopped backwards, somewhat happy to be home. She heard a crinkle of paper under her head. She sat up and looked at the source of the sound. An envelope. She scooched up and investigated. She took out three sheets of folded paper and recognised her father's handwriting instantly. She read through the quick letter then, set the paper down, shocked.

Our darling Eagle,

You have always made us proud, and we are certain your N.E.W.T. results will be all that you hope for.

Your mother and I love you so dearly, and we are excited for our daughter to take her first big steps in life.

We want to give you this small apartment for you to make a start on your adult life. This does not mean that we are rushing you out of the house.

It means that when you are ready to live away from home that you can.

We'll see you later for dinner, our bright little star.

Love you always,

Dad & Mum

Aquila looked at the other two pieces of paper. They were deeds to an apartment in Glasgow. She looked through the pictures. It was by no means small. Her parents had bought and furnished a penthouse apartment for her. She stared at the paper with big eyes. This was too much. She ran from her bedroom to the kitchen where her parents were slowly putting together a meal, and stood. They turned around to her and smiled.

"You got our letter then." her mother said, all smiles. Aquila nodded.

"Yes, but… It's. It's too much. You can't…" Her father cut her off with a wave of his hand.

"Aquila. We gave your brother every opportunity when he left school, and he squandered it all. You're too young to remember. This is no different. But we know you will make good use of this. And besides, you know we have plenty of money. There's nothing in the world that we can't give you." He took his daughter in his arms and rubbed her back. Her father's hugs were rare and she had gotten two in one evening.

"I suppose Oliver will be looking for somewhere to live as well…" her mother mused. She was an awful wheedle.

"Leave it out, now…" Aquila's father warned. Oliver… She hadn't had a chance to consider it, but she knew she just had to tell him, offer him the chance to live there.

"I need to go and write a letter. I'll come back and help with the dinner then." Her parents nodded, and she silently left the room, her future sprawling out in front of her in spirals. They could live together. Oliver could pursue Quidditch properly. He wouldn't have to get an awful job to find a place to live. And she could be there with him, figuring out her own life. She set her quill to parchment on the writing desk in her room.

Dear Oliver…