"Fred? George? Did you want to go get butterbeer with me tomorrow?" Hunn asked excitedly at breakfast
Fred exchanged a look with George, and they shook their heads together. "Sorry, can't. We're busy."
"Oh. Can I join you then tomorrow?"
They shook their heads, "Sorry. Really can't hang out." Fred told her
George smiled, "Yeah, already have plans with someone else."
Before she could say anything else they stuffed their faces with food and literally ran from the great hall without another word.
Hunn finished her food and found herself in the library over the weekend. George and Fred were off doing something they wouldn't tell her anything about it.
When she would see them they'd smile and wave and make an excuse about studying or practice running late and the lies really hurt her feelings.
Hunn forced herself to ignore it, if they were getting bored of her, then she guessed that she would at least be happy she'd had more time with her books.
Books didn't talk though, they didn't know how to always make you laugh. They didn't make you smile and they didn't have red hair and a smile to make your heart melt, books didn't have those strong arms to hold you in and make you feel safe and wanted.
She would much rather have Fred and George.
Feeling down she buried her nose in Hogwarts A History and revealed the facts and shared knowledge between the pages.
It was relaxing but lacked the rush and actual experience of living the words.
Over the weekend, Hunn created a nest in the library.
Generating strange looks and curious glances from passersby. She had taken a small blanket into the library and on the second floor in the back corner behind the stacks she placed it on the ground and settled in with all of her favorite books and some from current classes to keep her entertained.
It felt strange branching out and reading in the library and not within her room but it was relaxing and entertaining nonetheless.
It was on Sunday night in the corner of the library after dinner but before curfew when Professor Flitwick found her daydreaming about red hair, strong arms, and goofy grins.
"Ms. Rose-Singer? Is that you, child?"
"Yes, Professor. Is there something you need?" She closed her books and paid him full attention.
Sitting on the floor wrapped in blankets She was the perfect height to look at her professor.
"Yes, dear I need you to come with me to see the Headmaster."
Hunn looked at Flitwick and panicked. Her heart was racing. Had she gotten herself into trouble?
What had the twins done?
Were they okay?
"What about Sir? I'm not in trouble, am I?" She hugged her book to her chest and stood up next to him.
He gave a small smile and shook his head no, "Come dear the Headmaster will explain everything in detail." He turned away and started walking down the stairs to the first floor
Hun left behind her favorite blanket and all her books to follow him closely, making sure to keep her strides short and her book clutched to her chest.
Together they stopped at the golden Griffin and Flitwick stepped forward and said, "Chocolate Cauldrons."
The Griffin spun to the side and revealed a shimmering gold staircase leading up into the wall.
Flitwick took her up the stairs and into Dumbledore's office.
The headmaster was sitting behind his desk and looking at her over his half-moon glasses as McGonagall stood by his side, "Hello Ms. Rose-Singer. Please have a seat."
He waved to indicate the chair in front of his massive desk.
Dumbledore was talking to McGonagall behind his desk about something very serious. They frowned and turned to her, watching her very closely.
Hunn looked around the room and noticed every portrait was empty. The air felt thick and heavy, hung with something sour and bitter. She struggled to breathe at all.
"Where have they all gone, Sir?"
"Oh, the portraits have been asked to retire for the evening in one of their other frames."
"But why Sir?" She held her book tighter and looked at him with tears burning to come out
"I am afraid, my dear that something serious has happened, and you are needed immediately," Dumbledore told her, his gaze never wavering
"What is it, sir?"
"Well my dear, it seems that your parents were in an accident earlier today and they need you there with them now."
"Oh god, what's happened, sir? Are they alright? Are they going to be okay?" Her voice rose, and her heart dropped to the floor.
Her parents were all she had. Without them, she wouldn't know what to do.
"My dear, your parents were both hit with a curse, and they aren't doing well." Dumbledore stood and came to her side, kneeling next to her with McGonagall on his other side
"A curse? What were they doing? My mother is a teacher at a muggle school, for god sake. My-my father is a reporter for the Profit. How could this happen? It's not possible! They never do anything dangerous!" McGonagall wrapped her arms around her and held her close
"Dear that is why you're still here. You need to go see your parents right now, and when you come back, we'll help you understand everything that's happened, and why."
"They're at St. Mungo's now being taken care of. It's not looking good, but there is always a chance they will make it. Your parents are strong-willed and excellent fighters."
They helped her stand and walked to the fireplace, supporting most of her weight. McGonagall stepped into the fireplace with her and took them away in a mass of green flames and smoke. When they reappeared, McGonagall led her through the hospital and to her parent's room.
McGonagall didn't take her in, but she placed her in a seat and made her wait. It felt like hours that she sat there. Knowing that her parents were in the room so close to her made her chest constrict and the air burn in her lungs.
Someone sat next to her, and they started talking about her parents.
She nodded, feeling dazed out.
She pretended to hear and understand everything they said. When they pulled her up by the arm and led her into the room she froze.
Her mother looked pristine as if she was only asleep. Her silver hair was tied up to the side smooth and clean like always. She didn't move and she looked as flawless as the last time she had seen her in the kitchen cooking muffins.
Her father was unrecognizable, his mop of black hair was matted and tinged red with blood and his skin was bruised and angry.
"Your mother was put into a spell-induced sleep this morning, she was tortured with the Cruciatus Curse. It was done a number of times, and though she is alive, she isn't doing well."
She didn't know what to say.
"Your father on the other hand is being treated with everything we have and anything new we can find. He isn't predicted to last the night though..." McGonagall took her hand and squeezed tightly, "His internal bleeding is bad, and we don't know what he was hit with so we can't counteract it."
"What's going to happen?" Hunn choked out
"Well, we're going to keep your mother asleep for now. Your father hasn't woken up, and we don't know if he will. He's fighting off most of it, but he's getting weaker."
Her legs felt weak, and when they started buckling, the mage caught her and sat her in a chair between their beds. "Oh god."
Tears started to flow, and her vision blurred
McGonagall appeared beside her and wrapped her arms around her quaking shoulders. She whispered in her ear soothing words, and Hun couldn't help but feel worse. Her body shook, and her hands trembled, she had no control of her own breathing whatsoever, and in the next instant, her world went black.
. . . .
"Sweetheart? Wake up, Hunny bunny. I want to see your beautiful eyes." A sweet voice cooed.
"Please, Bunn Bunn, we want to talk to you." A deeper voice begged
Hunn rolled over and opened her eyes slowly. She could smell her mother and father next to her and feel their hands rubbing circles into her back
When she turned over there, they were still there. Her mum's long silver hair hung low, and her father's nappy mop of hair was pulled back into a ponytail. He smiled.
"Darling, we just wanted to tell you we love you. So much. We didn't want you to find out this way. We definitely didn't want to leave you alone." Tears fell down her face, and her father gripped her into a hug.
"Darling your mum was a muggle school teacher, but she was also a bridge between the muggle world and the wizarding world. She was given names of children who were to be wizards, and she helped them adjust and grow. When her role became more prominent in the world, she was attacked."
"The dark forces are here again, and I hoped for you to never see them, but they're here, and you'll have to choose a side." Her mum finished and took her from her father to squeeze her tight.
"Why. You didn't do anything wrong. You helped people." Hunn cried out, holding her mum around the neck as she wept.
"Your mum helped muggle-borns, and these dark forces don't want muggle-borns to... to exist. So to make it harder for them to adjust to their magic, your mum became a target."
Hunn took in ragged breaths and held tighter.
"What about you? What did you do?" Hunn asked, hating to know the answer.
"I protected your mother. I wanted to save her. I placed myself between her and their killing curse, and for that, they tortured her. We survived, barely. We are a message to those who stand on the other side. They want them to stand down or die."
"No! They can't."
"Don't worry, Hunny Bunny Dumbledore is never going to let that happen."
Hunn was wrapped in a hug by both her parents, "It's time for the hard part, darling."
"Baby, we won't be there when you wake up. Not really, anyways." She squeezed tight.
"It will be hard, but you have friends the ones you told me about in your letters. The ones with red hair and goofy plans. Let them help you."
Her father kissed her forehead, "Don't worry one bit about money. You're taken care of, we have savings, and you'll be set to start a good life after school."
Her mother smiled sadly, "You don't have to fight for us. No vengeance, just make sure you live a good life. Full of love and strength. Don't let your brains rule your heart, and don't ever give up." Their embrace was fading, and the world was spinning.
"We love you, baby. Be strong and be safe." Their voices faded, and before long, Hunn was alone in the emptiness. The world was black, and she couldn't feel anything.
The hospital room came into focus, and McGonagall was dabbing at her eyes.
"Are they..." her voice trailed off into the silence. Her throat was tight, and her breathing was hard.
She knew it in her heart but didn't want to hear her answer.
"My darling, they aren't. I'm so sorry dear. They've gone on now." She held her hand, and Hunn cried and cried and couldn't stop.
They've gone.
. . . .
"George? Have you been able to find Hunn? I've checked everywhere." George asked his brother
"No, I haven't, and that damn Eagle won't let me in the common room either. We should ask Professor Flitwick if he's seen her, he would know."
They stood and left the Great Hall in a hurry. It had been a whole day since they had seen Hunn, and they were worried. The full moon was next week, and they wanted to do the spell with her, to show her they'd always be there to support her.
When they walked into Flitwick's office, he sat behind his desk with his wand drawn working on something.
"Hello, boys, what can I do for you?" he narrowed his eyes at them carefully, probably expecting nonsense.
"We want to know where Hunn is. We haven't seen her, and we're worried." George told him
He stiffened and sat up as tall as he could, "Well, boys, I assure you she's okay, but she won't be coming back to Hogwarts for the rest of the year due to some family issues." he spoke slowly and softly trying to give nothing away
"What! Why?! Is she okay?" George yelled, rushing to the front of the small man's desk.
"Yes! She's fine!" Flitwick stood on his chair and raised his arms before he tried to calm them.
"Then where is she? Why isn't she coming back?"
"She is going through a tough time right now. She is in her family home and should be back by the start of next term for her sixth year with you."
"We need to see her! Be there with her!"
"Right now, she needs to get herself together, and you have exams to study for. Talk to McGonagall if you need to know more, or maybe try writing to her."
They didn't stay to say goodbye; just raced out and down to McGonagall's office. They didn't even bother knocking, just burst through the door, "Where is she?!" They screamed, rushing to the front of her desk demandingly.
"I assume you're speaking about Ms. Rose-Singer? Well, she is not up for visitors at the moment." she waltzed around her desk and stood in front of them.
"Tell us what happened?"
"Please."
"No. That is her business, and she will tell you if she's ever ready to. You may write to her, but that is all." She pushed them out of her office and closed the door in their faces, but for a spilt second, they noticed upon McGonagall's face what looked to dry tears.
"George, she needs us."
"I know she does. We have to wait and write. Have to get her to come to us."
"I hope she's okay."
"Me too, Fred."