Chapter 23: A New Year.
The birds singing was the first thing I heard when I woke up one morning halfway through the summer holidays. It was the same thing I woke up to everyday and there was always an owl sitting on my desk most days but this one wasn't familiar. I figured it was just another one from one of the boys as they sent both me and Remus one almost every single day (except from Peter, he sent one every four days) but they would always use their family owl and not this one I had never seen before. Every week I got a different owl from Naomi, because she was borrowing the ones from school but she still hadn't told me why she was staying at school instead of going home.
I just guessed that the owl belonged too her meaning another chance to check up on her vision search. So far nothing had been found that was important but she did give me a list of books that I could check out when we returned to Hogwarts in September. Naomi had also said that I should maybe get a pass from a teacher giving me entry to the Restricted Section because that's where all the best books probably were.
Pulling myself out of bed without waking Lynx, I approach the white owl and untie the small piece of parchment from it's foot. On the front my name was scribbled in Naomi's handwriting which I recognized well and I immediately open the letter.
Hello Meadow,
I've been missing you at Hogwarts, it's just not the same without you, Remus and the others. I always find it too quiet with only the professors to talk too, they seem to understand though. On the bright side McGonagall has been helping me with my Transfiguration. I seem to do a lot better now and can fully change objects. She also said that if I kept up the good work that there is a good chance I could become a curse breaker by the time we leave Hogwarts!
Although that is all my good news, I have some for you. I've been doing a lot of digging around in the library and found a book that might help you with whatever you want to know about visions. I haven't read much of it but I skimmed through the pages and there seem to be information your looking for. I would've tried to send it to you so you could look at it before you return to Hogwarts but Madam Pince wouldn't want it to leave the school. Not only that but she would get suspicious of why I would try and send it to someone out of school.
I hope you've enjoyed your summer so far and I'm looking forward too seeing you at school.
Naomi.
P.S. Say hi to Remus for me.
I reread the letter to myself after not reading it properly for the first time due to my sleepiness. I really did hope that the book had the answers I'd been seeking, it would make my life a whole lot easier if it did. Tucking away the letter in one of my desk drawers, I pull out some parchment, a quill and a bottle of ink. I also get a owl treat (we've gone to Diagon Alley and got our stuff already but I brought them as an extra for the owls everyone is sending) feeding it to the bird. It really enjoyed it and closed its eyes to get a nap before I sent it back up to Scotland.
Hi Naomi,
Thanks for finding that book, it really helps out a lot. I know that you want to know why I was after it and I promise that I will explain at some point. I would write it in this letter but I don't want it to fall into the wrong hands.
Congrats on your Transfiguration skills by the way! I'm glad that your both doing well and enjoying the subject (more than James and Sirius do anyways, you know what they're like). You will have to show me some of your new tricks in September too, I personally am not that good at Transfiguration but I'm glad that you are and could one day be a curse breaker!
Missing you.
Meadow.
After double checking my letter two or three times, I gently tap the owl waking it and feeding it another treat. He seemed to perk up a bit after being annoyed from being woken up and allowed me to tie the small bit of parchment to it's foot and send him off. When he first jumped out of the window, he did scare a few of the singing birds but I already knew they would be back tomorrow morning only to be frightened again by two owls, one belonging to the Blacks and the others the Potters.
"Have a good year at Hogwarts and don't get in too much trouble. I'm looking at you Meadow" Mum smiled wrapping both Remus and myself in a hug.
"No promises" I laughed pulling away and holding onto the bar of my cart. Remus went through the wall fist just like we had done last year and I mimicked his movements appearing onto the platform beside him. "Home at last" I muttered which Remus had heard.
"It's only been six weeks sis, calm down."
I rolled my eyes. "Uh yeah, six weeks to long" I sassed back making him laugh. We begin to walk through the sea of people on the platform and got our trunks aboard the train. A voice calls us both from down the corridor whilst they hung out of our compartment door. I spot Sirius for a split second before older students got in the way again. I feel a hand hold my wrist and pull me through the crowd but I don't fight back as Remus got us to the compartment.
"Ay they are finally here" James laughed pulling us in for a hug. I hugged him back laughing and am immediately embraced again by Sirius.
"Anyone would've think you missed us" I laughed giving a Peter a small wave. I would've been more than happy to give him a hug but I knew he wasn't a touchy person and I respected that.
"Says you. You were the one whining about the holiday being six weeks to long" Remus smirked sitting down opposite us and beside Peter. I was somehow wedged in between James and Sirius but I honestly didn't mind. I roll my eyes at Remus' comment when the compartment door opens once more revealing an all to familiar girl.
"Nomi!" I shout scrambling out of my chair and hugging her. She laughed and hugged me back, resting her chin on my shoulder. "I thought you were staying at Hogwarts."
Naomi hums in response and pulls away as the train jolted forward. We both fell onto the empty seat beside Remus, making the entire compartment erupt into laughter. "I was staying at Hogwarts but I managed to persuade McGonagall to apparate me onto the train so I could see all of you sooner" she giggled sitting up. I pull myself up and fall into the seat in between the two boys.
"And this is why Minnie is my favourite professor" James laughed.
"Why did you call her Minnie?" Peter asked clearly as confused as I was.
"Well during the summer, James and I were bored and decided to come up with nicknames" Sirius began until I cut in.
"You better of given me something good." A small smirk plays on his face which only meant trouble. "Sirius..." I opened up my water bottle I had filled for the train ride because I didn't know what time the trolley witch was coming round.
"What Meadie?" Sirius asked causing me to start choking on my water. He begins to slap my back as I bent over. Naomi takes the bottle from my hand and helps me up when I'd finished.
"Don't you dare call me Meadie, I hate that nickname. At least call me Med or something" I glared. The boys roll their eyes but don't say anything as we sat in mostly silence (Remus and Naomi were talking quietly).
A group of people passed by our compartment talking but I couldn't make out what they were saying over the train. Leading them was Alice with Lily walking past in the back. She immediately grabbed James attention as he called her name down the corridor. "Evans! Go out with me!"
"No Potter" I hear faintly as we all laughed. The black haired boy sat back down grumpily and hugged me and 'cried' into my shoulder.
"What am I supposed to do Med?" he whined dramatically, just like Sirius had done whilst packing his things back in July.
"Well first you can get off of me and two leave the poor girl alone" I say, pushing him off of me.
"But I thought I was your best friend."
"I don't know who told you that but they were lying."
"But your supposed to comfort me."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do."
"No I don't."
"Yes you do."
"No I don't."
"Do you two really have to argue like toddlers?" Remus cut in. We both begin to mutter how it was the other that started it which the entire group heard. "Don't make me split you two up". Remus acted serious although we all knew he was just putting on an act.
"Fine by me, Rem you and I swap" I say eagerly. I begin to get up but Sirius pulled me back down. He began to shake his head and whine about him wanting me to sit with him so in the end James and Naomi swapped places.
"You guys are literal children" Remus rolled his eyes.
"It only took you a whole year to figure that out, I thought you had a brain in that head of yours" I sassed turning slightly to lean up against Naomi's arm while she played with my hair. "Meadow.." I hummed in response looking at him. "Shut up". I roll my eyes and stroke Lynx who had climbed onto my lap long ago.