I was never one for books. I only read what I had to, the textbooks and spell books for class, but other than those, I never occupied myself with stories. But after spending the first two weeks of summer alone, I decided it was worth a try. It took me ages just to get through the first chapter, unable to focus on the words, my mind going every which way except the pages in front of me. But once I got through the initial shock of actually reading for enjoyment, I got into a sort of rhythm. It was pleasant, being able to live through someone else's eyes, their life, even just for a little while.

One late August day, my mom walked in my room, leaning up against the door frame. She wanted to say something, but she wanted me to ask her what she wanted to say before she got on with it.

" 'In that moment, there was no time, no space, no war, no movement. No disturbances, vibrations, or ripples in the entirety of this vast universe. In that moment, the only present life was our eyes, and the love that passed between them freely, no air nor gravity hindering the connection' Isn't that wonderful?" I asked, setting the book down in my lap.

"Lovely," she said, untouched, as she made her way farther into my room, sitting herself at the end of my bed. She took in a dramatic breath, settling her eyes on me, her chocolate hair swept into a sort of side-bun, different strands coiled around themselves, making intricate waves and curls.

"Astoria, you've been cooped up in this room for two months now. Honestly, I'm starting to worry," she said in a calm, silky voice. I shrugged.

"I've been writing to Holly." I glanced over to my desk, where a stack of her letters sat.

"I suppose that's something," she said, sighing, looking at the letters lazily. "Anyhow, that's not why I came in here," she said, brushing off the last subject and standing up. "Get ready, we're going into Diagon Alley today for your school supplies."

A new brightess filled me up. I was getting my supplies. I was going back to school. Something I was usually miserable about but now posed as an exciting adventure (I know, how sad).

She smiled, and left the room without saying another word.

* * *

I grasped my school list, already bearing checkmarks next to each item from our trip to Diagon Alley. I was rechecking my trunk, making sure nothing was left behind. It was early in the morning, (probably too early to already be dressed and ready to go) but warm sunlight tumbled through the curtains, illuminating dust motes suspended in the air in wide slats of light.

I snapped the latches on my trunk close, after checking my list at least four times. I did a mental scan of the room, thinking of any and all possible items I was forgetting. "Oh," I whispered, almost neglecting to grab my wand. I seized it off my nightstand, my eyes flickering down to the drawer.

I stood still for a moment, staring at the silver nob. A mini war was waged in my mind. My weaker side won. Reluctantly, I ripped the drawer open, the familiar glint of metal meeting the sunlight, taunting me. I snatched it up, closing it in my palm, and shoved it in my pocket without looking back down at it.

* * *

The Slytherin table was bare, and the sorting ceremony hardly helped to fill it up. There was a rumor going around that all first-years who weren't muggleborn were pleading not to be in Slytherin after the war. I doubted it was a rumor; more like solid fact.

I sat alone in a stretch of open table (afterall, so many seats were available, there was no need to annoy the now fourth-years I'd sat by last year), munching on the feast -- the last first day feast I would attend.

The Common Room was extra quiet without Pansy and her goblins. I still had a dormitory all to myself, being that no other Slytherin girls were in their seventh year after they'd fled during the Battle.

I laid in the silent room, a cold dampness in the air. I wished Holly was in Slytherin, or at least any other girl to keep me company in the lonely room.

Over the next weak and a half, I had a startling realization; I actually slightly missed Pansy. She was wretched, and horrid, and odious, and loads of other equally dreadful synonyms, but still, she was someone. Someone I knew, someone in Slytherin I actually talked to (even if all our conversations were unpleasant). Maybe I just missed the idea of having one of Daphne's old friends around.

It came as no shock, however, that the real person I missed was Draco. Of course I did. The common room was empty, and boring, and uneven with him absent from it.

I'd found a new place to stash my necklace; under my mattress. It was a dramatic place to put it, highly unnecessary. I could've just placed in my trunk or on my dresser, but it gave me a sense of intrigue and mystery, hiding it under my mattress. Out of sight but not out of mind. I dunno, maybe I was just going mental and this was the first stage.

However, Holly tried to help sort it all out. When I told her I brought it and I didn't know why, she tried making some sense out of it.

"Hmm" -- her finger was on her chin, looking up thoughtfully as she stirred our potions assignment -- "well, when I was little, this boy I liked, Johnny" -- a wistful smile graced her lips, enjoying the memory, -- "he gave me a plastic ring once." I dropped a handful of dandelion roots into the cauldron.

"And up until I was like, I dunno, thirteen, I kept the ring on the bottom of my jewelry box. Every once and a while I would take it out and look at it, you know, all nostalgic and stuff." She rolled her eyes at her past self.

"So this one day, my cousin invited me to go swimming in her pool. And for some unknown reason, I wore the ring, this cheap, little plastic thing. I dunno why, or what came over me, but I put it on. So, later, when we were swimming, and I was looking down at this dumb thing, I thought of something. Johnny, well he was a muggle, and when I came here" -- she motioned around the room -- " we stopped talking because all of a sudden he had new friends." She put the words in air quotes, a pompous look on her face, mocking this Johnny kid.

"So I said to myself, 'well why the hell am I wearing this thing?' and I took it off and dropped it in the deep end of the pool." She finished with a smile, looking proud of the story.

"So, you're saying I should drop it in the Black Lake?" I said with a short laugh.

"No, what I'm saying is that you brought it because you're not over him. But, one day when you are, it will be no more than a pretty necklace." She smiled sincerely. "Then, maybe, you can drop it in the Black Lake -- you know, if you want."

So I will be carrying the necklace around for the rest of my life, I thought.

* * *

The rest of the year was repetitive, and uneventful, but nonetheless, it was good. I got to see Holly two times a week during lessons, and we hung out over weekends. Other than that, I studied, and studied some more. Half the time I didn't even need to study -- I'd already memorized the topic the first dozen times I'd gone over it, but it gave me something to do in the dormant common room. At least I received good marks.

The year was rapidly coming to a close, something I wasn't ready for. Even if I didn't do much there, I was still there, with people, and teachers and things going on. I wasn't ready for it all to be over, to commit to the inevitably dreary and monotonous life that awaited me at home.

But try as I might to will time to slow, will the day to cease to exist, it came; my Hogwarts graduation. My last night in the quiet dormitory, the last time I curled up by the warm fire in the common room, my last class, my last feast.

After McGonagall said her speech, we were instructed to go to the boats, heading over the lake the same way we'd arrived our first year. I took a good look around the Great Hall, smiling to myself. I would miss it.

Later, when I stepped off the Hogwarts Express (for the last time, I couldn't help but think), Holly wagged a finger in my face. "Even though we're officially graduated now, you still have to write me, no excuses, no exceptions."

I hugged her. "I wouldn't dream of it." When I pulled away there was a sadness in her eyes, mine too.

"I'll see you later this summer, alright?" she said solemnly. I nodded, sealing the promise.

She waved goodbye, and met up with the rest of her family.

Looking at the magnificent train, all the parents and kids chatting excitedly about their year, McGonagall's final words still swirling in my mind -- I was desperately trying not to get too swooped up into it all, trying not to fully give into my emotions, but surrounded by all the nostalgia made it difficult. I pushed the thoughts, the feelings, down as much as possible, and found my parents. I left Platform 9 ¾ with the tiniest glance back.

Goodbye, Hogwarts.