The sunlight shined through the blue curtains of the hospital wing, giving the empty room some life. The smell of bandages and Wiggenweld potion filled my nostrils, a very distinct smell that I will never get used to, no matter how many times I found myself here.

"Oh, good! You're awake!"

Nurse Noreen Blainey circled around my bed, standing next to the nightstand that was full of flowers and Get Well cards. She held a familiar green flask in her hands, handing it over to me.

"Drink this, it'll make you feel better. We're going to need a change of bandages, and then you'll be off to the House Cup ceremony down at the Great Hall."

Today was the last day of my first year at Hogwarts as a fifth-year student. I must have gotten so caught up with Ranrok and Rookwood, that I could barely remember how the O.W.L.S went. Headmaster Black hasn't summoned me nor sent me an owl, so that must mean I passed.

I opened the small flask and poured the green liquid down, feeling myself growing sick from drinking Wiggenweld potion practically every day, for months. But now that the worst was over and behind me, I could only hope this was the last of it.

No more Wiggenweld potion, please.

Sitting up I could feel sharp sting of pain shoot down my body, making me groan uncomfortably. The battle was long, dreadful and costed Professor Fig's life. I couldn't forget holding his body in my arms as he took his last breath. the traumatic memory made me look down at my bandaged hands, with blood stains all around.

His blood is on my hands.

"Now, now!" The nurse's voice brought me back from the events that occurred a few days ago, as she approached me with a tray full of bandages. "Can't let our heroine look Ike a mess after all you've been through."

Heroine.

I continued to look down my bandaged hands, pounding over how I stayed in this room for two days, and already I was being called a heroine. I knew I didn't deserve it, after all, sometimes I felt as if I had been cursed with becoming a Keeper of ancient magic. The battle costed close friendship and Professor Fig's life.

While nurse Blainey began to switch up my bandages, starting with my hands, I studied the note cards left at the night stand. Many were from my closest friends: Poppy Sweeting, Natsai Onai, and even Ominis Gaunt. But I didn't see a single card from Sebastian. After our fight, calling me ignorant, and then watching him use the killing curse on his uncle, Solomon, things were not the same. Anne and Ominis wanted to turn Sebastian in for using the curse, but I was able to convince them both otherwise. Anne disappeared shortly after burying her uncle, and with Anne gone, Sebastian slowly began to withdraw from Ominis and I. We started to rarely see him around, much less in the Undercroft. Ominis and I agreed that Sebastian needed time, yet, I couldn't help but worry that he was shutting us out completely.

Flashback

"Give it time, Lily."

Ominis and I met one night at the Undercroft, sometime after dinner. We were hoping to find Sebastian here, but got unlucky.

"I understand, Ominis, but I'm worried. Sebastian not only lost his uncle, but his twin sister as well."

I was pacing around the room, unable to simply stand still as all the overwhelming thoughts circled around my mind. I could tell Ominis was just as worried, but he was much better at keeping his worries to himself.

"Sebastian is very stubborn, you know that. He may just not want us to see him in the state he is."

But my mind was already occupied with every worried thought possible: where will he stay for the summer? Will he be able to be okay on his own, away from Anne? What if he goes looking for her and gets himself in trouble?

"Lily."

Ominis leaned away from the wall, his wand guiding him towards where I was pacing.

"He will be okay. You must have faith in him."

* * *

My footsteps echoed down the empty hallways. It was the first time I've seen this school be so empty, and so silent during the day. Many students were back in their common rooms, packing, getting ready to leave. It was supposed to be an exciting day, yet it felt hollow to me.
It took me some time to reach the Great Hall, and a lot of effort to summon the courage to enter it. I could hear laughter and music. The students were celebrating the end of the year, and the professors were celebrating a great Hogwart's victory.

Alright, Lils. You got this. Just open the doors, and walk through them.

Natty was the first one to notice me enter, and eventually, the rest of the Great Hall did, too. the laugher and music died down, They were all staring at my half bandaged figure.

"Alright, alright, back to the music and your plates!"

Headmaster Black snapped his fingers, which summoned the instruments to return to playing music. After another moment, students began to return to their conversations, and laughter resumed once again.

"LILY!"

Natty and Poppy were running towards me, and before I could greet them both, I was tackled down to the ground.

"Oh-!"

I felt the air get knocked from my lungs, my sore body sending another jolt of stabbing pain down, which made me wince. I bit the inside of my cheek to keep my discomfort to a minimum, not wanting to scare the girls.

"You both are going to crush her."

I looked up to see Ominis standing in front of us, his gaze empty, but there was a small smile forming on his lips.

"You're the talk of the year!" Natty exclaimed as she let go of me, helping me up after Poppy moved herself as well.

"Yes! Our heroine!" Poppy nudged me gently, "So much for wanting to keep to yourself."

Poppy teased as I scratched my cheek nervously, unsure how to respond. I forced a smile, not wanting all of the dark thoughts and traumatic memories to show themselves today.

"So much for that, huh," I chuckled softly, getting himself up with the girls' help. "so, who won the House Cup?!"

"Do you even need to ask that?" Poppy pointed upwards, towards the Slytherin banners that hung high among the candles.

"We won?" I stared at the banners in disbelief. " Slytherin won!" I almost grabbed Ominis, who chuckled at me.

"Please don't," He gave me a smile, as if he was able to read my thoughts just now.

Natty and Poppy both took my hands and spun around in a circle, while Ominis stood there, picking up on our movement and laughter, nodding with a small smile.

"We may have lost, but we've missed you!" Poppy pulled me and Natty into a hug, "You saved the school. You saved us all!"

"It is good to see you, and I know this is last minute, but my mother wants you to spend the summer with us."

Natty's offer made me tilt my head to the side in a questioning manner, "Are you sure that's alright? I could always go to Mrs. Weasley's, she planned on having me stay anyways."

"No need, our home is your home," Natty gave me a reassuring nod, before my stomach growled.

That's right: I haven't eaten much since the battle with Ranrok, and the sight of food made me realize just how hungry I truly was.

"Come!" Poppy tugged me by my sleeve, gesturing for us to take a seat at the Hufflepuff table, "you too, Ominis! No use in siting alone on this beautiful last day of school!"

Alone?

I looked towards the Slytherin table, where Sebastian, Ominis and I used to all sit together. But he was not there. Sebastian was not here, at the Great Hall, celebrating our House's victory. He was not here to greet me after the battle with Ranrok.
We ate, laughed and spent the day celebrating before calling it a night and returning to our common rooms to pack. I spent the entire day feeling my heart ache.

He's gone.

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Wanted to give a small recap, of some kind, just to have a set up for the story :)