Hannah returned to Skyward School of Practical Sorcery feeling more peaceful after the visit to her father's grave.
Hannah was gratified to see that Harry, Amy, and Susan had kept their promise to wear the lemon drop necklaces that formed an interlocking H and A.
Before breakfast was served, Heather addressed the student body of Skyward School of Practical Sorcery.
"You may have noticed, " said Heather in a slow and clear voice, "That the Yellow Quartet are wearing lemon drop necklaces that form an interlocking H and A. That is because today is the eleven year anniversary of Hunter Abbott's tragic death at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Hunter was my husband and the father of my daughter Hannah. Hunter was a snake animagus and worked as a spy against Lord Voldemort. Unfortunately, eleven years ago to the day, Voldemort caught Hunter in his snake form and realized that the snake was not on his side. He killed it. I later retrieved the snake's body and buried him in snake form. His favorite candy was lemon drops so Hannah made lemon drop necklaces forming an interlocking H and A for herself and her three closest friends, Harry Potter, Amy Alworth, and Susan Bones. These four students call themselves the Yellow Quartet. First, fair warning that any student who mocks or makes fun of Harry, Amy, Susan, or especially Hannah over these necklaces-"
Heather took a pause here and her eyes veered in the direction of Zacharias Smith, someone who she could plausibly see doing such a thing.
"Will, in no uncertain terms, receive a fortnight's worth of detentions. Plain and simple, " finished Heather.
A roaring silence filled the air.
Heather then said more gently, "Losing my husband at such a young age was heartbreaking. But I'm far sadder for my daughter Hannah to have grown up without her father. There is no worse tragedy than a child losing a parent. However, I also want to pay tribute to Hunter on the anniversary of his passing. How are we going to do that? By having some of his favorite things."
Heather now retrieved her wand from her right hand pocket with her right hand and raised it. She then proceeded to perform a nonverbal spell to make breakfast appear.
When breakfast appeared on their plates and in their cups, Heather explained, "Hunter's favorite meal was pancakes, sausage patties, and Budweiser. So today the students of Skyward School of Practical Sorcery shall have a breakfast of pancakes, sausage patties. and Budweiser."
Harry, Amy, Susan, and Hannah all ate particularly slowly and quietly, as did Heather at the staff table.
Really stretching out the meal and taking the time to savor every bite of pancakes, every bite of sausage patties, and every sip of Budweiser felt like a tribute to Hunter on the anniversary of his death.
"Hey, Yellow Quartet," moaned Zacharias, "Hurry up. You're eating slower than snails move for god's sake! Of course, our Headmistress isn't exactly setting a great example herself. "
Then, seeing that Harry, Amy, Susan, Hannah, and Heather all had tears in their eyes, with Heather's and Hannah's being the most pronounced, Zacharias burst out.
"I can't believe this! The Yellow Quartet and our Headmistress are shaming Skyward School of Practical Sorcery by crying in public at breakfast! What an embarrassment!"
"Mr. Smith," said Heather firmly, "You are being horribly insensitive to the situation at hand. You have earned yourself a detention with me tonight. If you carry on, I'll make it a week's worth!"
That shut Zacharias up. He looked stunned, as he'd never even been given a single detention the previous year at Hogwarts. Now, he was learning firsthand that Heather wouldn't let him get away with what Dumbledore had.
Breakfast resumed in peace, and everyone took their time, partly in tribute, partly because most of them were deep in thought.
After breakfast, Heather looked out at them all and said, "I'm going to sing a song to you all because this song was my husband's favorite song. He would sing it to me when we were alone sometimes. "
So, Heather burst into song.
"Looking for the feelings that used to tell me something's wrong.
Like all the doubts when love sent shivers down my spine.
But all I'm feeling Is pure and simply we belong.
And what's come over me are chills of another kind.
One emotion wrapped around me.
One emotion I can hold on to.
Wherever it's going is exactly where I want to be.
One emotion's got a hold of you and me.
There's nothing left of the useless things I used to feel.
Only love now as everything else just fades away.
It's all around us.
Though you might not see it, It's just as real as the wild horses you would have to have to drag me away.
One emotion wrapped around me.
One emotion I can hold on to.
Wherever it's going is exactly where I want to be.
One emotion's got a hold of you and me."
When Heather finished singing, the majority of the students applauded her as they could feel the way she was paying tribute to her late husband. A small handful of students such as Zacharias Smith and Cho Chang gave no reaction and had looks of indifference upon their faces, but most students were applauding in a respectful type of way. Apart from the Yellow Quartet, Luna Lovegood was the student cheering on Heather the loudest. Having lost her own mom at age nine, Heather's quote about there being no worse tragedy than a child losing a parent hit home with her and she could also feel the aura of the tribute that Heather wanted to give Hunter.
"Now," said Heather after the applause had died down, "Hunter, my dear and loving husband, this is for you."
Heather raised her wand and cried, "Expecto Patronum!"
Next nanosecond, a long silvery snake erupted from the tip of Heather's wand and flew across the Eating and Meeting Hall. It took several laps around the hall before dissipating and Heather followed it's every move with her eyes fully fixed on it, as did most students, but especially the Yellow Quartet.
Somehow, someway, both Heather and Hannah could feel Hunter inside of them as the snake made its way around the hall. They had found him within themselves.
A shout out to the following members who have added Harry Potter and the Yellow Quartet to their favorites and/or follows lists since the last update:
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Much love from Arizona for all the support. Love you all-Michael. :)