-8-

T H E A

Flying was actually OK, I wasn't kicked out, and I actually aced the lesson. I guess Prof. Potter was right. It was now time for dinner. Walking to the Great Hall, Asena is talking about what Slytherin's like, and if she has any other friends. "Have you heard about Greyson Blake?" I snapped out of my daydream and shook my head, Asena gasped and then giggled at me.

"Greyson's in our year, and he was definitely made by some ethereal gods or something. Like, it's ridiculous to look that good!" I rolled my eyes but smirked at my only friend. "Come on, we'll eat dinner quickly, I've got so much homework to do,"

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After an hour of sitting in the library and getting one thing done, I let my head fall on the desk in frustration. "This homework will take all week at this rate!" Asena sighed and looked over to her huge pile of 'done'. "I'm not going to lie Thea, but if you were in the lessons, you'd understand it." I glared at her, "Not helping. " She grimaced.

I heard someone sit in the chair next to me, "Need help?" I looked over and saw a boy with light brown hair and crystal blue eyes. "Uh, yeah." He brought his chair closer to mine, "So this is easy. What's the name of the charm that makes things fly?" I thought for a moment, "Win..." He smiled at me. Why is his smile stupid cute, too? "Gardium, Leviosa?" He nodded, "Have we met before? I feel like I remember you from somewhere?"

I shook my head, "Do I remind you of someone?" The boy squinted his beautiful eyes at me, "Every time I feel like I know who, it changes to someone else." He got up from his chair and smiled at me before turning to leave. "See you around, forest." He smirks and leaves, I furrow my brows, forest?

Half an hour later, I give up on doing homework. My brain is fried from too many words, and there were way too many thoughts circling around my head. "Isn't it your birthday soon, Thea?" My eyes opened from their slight sleep, "No, its not until April. " Asena sighed and frowned, "That's a shame." I shook my head, "I don't really like birthdays." Asena's brows furrowed, "Why?" I ran a hand through my wavy red mane, "Well, it's just a reminder of my parents, and they didn't want me... my last birthday was awful anyway. " Asena nodded.

"Then we'll make this birthday 100 times better!"

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I finally collapse onto my bed after a very full day of school. Looking to my table, I see James sitting their looking unamused. I raise my brows at him. "The nerve of you! I've had a stupidly long day. You sleep and eat all day!"

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The next morning at breakfast, the letters are being brought in from home. An owl lands in front of me, and I slowly open the neat beige envelope.

Dear Thea,

It's Sirius, Remus, Tonks, and Teddy writing here. You know we would never be ashamed of you losing points for Gryffindor. Just ask Minnie how many Remus and I lost for them back in the day. Your measly 15 will look like nothing then. Speaking of Minnie, we have spoken to her about how you're struggling, and now she'll look out for you around school when she can. Please make sure you take care of yourself and keep eating! Tonks says that if you try your hardest at school, she promises to get your tickets for the Weird Sisters in the summer. Also, once you're finished with breakfast, meet us in the DADA classroom at 8am. You better be there as Tonks will not want to get up that early. Say hi to James for us! Teddy is so excited to be with you at Hogwarts next year.

- S,R,T + T

I look to the clock in the Hall and see that its 7:50. I finish my toast and get up from the table to leave, I spot Asena from across the Hall and give her a small wave as I go by. I notice further down the Slytherin table that Greyson Blake is there too. His eyes lock with mine and he smirks before nodding in acknowledgement, then going back to his food. My cheeks tint red for a moment before I swiftly leave the hall, not needing to bump into anybody else I might know.

Walking through the corridors of Hogwarts before lessons is almost calming. Nearly nobody is around, and the ghosts just leave everybody alone. With the exception of Peeves, who I believe is trying to look over everybody's shoulder when they're reading their letters and almost howling in laughter when some poor kid gets a howler. Reaching the DADA classroom, I knock on the door, but there's no answer. I slowly push it open but see there's nobody inside. Walking further in and to Professor Potter's office, I see that the door is slightly ajar. I knock on that door, thinking that Sirius and everybody else could be in there.

I hear the laughter before I see anyone. The door is opened by Madame Weasley, this confuses me but I try not to show it. As she sees me she gives me a welcoming smile and as the door is opened further I spot Sirius, Remus, Teddy and Tonks. "Sirius!" I rush over to him and engulf him in a hug. His arms wrap around me and he smiles down at me too. I pull back from him, "How are you squirt?" I shrug absentmindedly, "Okay, ups and downs". I Look to the other people in the room, "Why are we here?" I ask, confused as to why we had to meet in this classroom and not outside or with Professor McGonagall. "Well squirt, Professor Potter here, is my godson, we have to check in with each other every once in a while." I think back to one of the room's in Grimmauld Place, one of the many empty rooms that I would explore when I got bored. It was a lot like the other empty rooms, but some reason I wasn't supposed to go in there. It didn't matter though, I still crept in.

"Its your room. The one on the fourth floor of Grimmauld Place" Sirius looks at me with a strange expression, "You're not supposed to go in there" I bite my lip guiltily. "I never understood your room!" I'm now talking directly to Professor Potter, "It's just like somebody up and left in the middle of the night and left everything. There was even a packet of unopened Fudge Flies on the floor! I remember when I was little, I went in there and there was so much stuff, there was a bed, trunks, brooms, old clothes, a radio and even a crib; which I did not understand. Teddy and I had never been up there before then." Professor Potter raises his eyebrows at me. "What part of that do you want me to unpack first?" Heat rises to my cheeks,

"Why'd you up and leave? Never come back?"