Zhenya boarded the train for the last time.

Ugh it hurt her, deep inside.

She only had a few hours until she was home with Sophia, and she could cry into her pillow. Z slowly made her way down the corridor to the end of the train and slipped inside one of the back cars. She sat down and drew her knees into her chest, watching out the window.

Home.

He was going home.

To which 'home' he would be visiting first was not yet clear. If it was his guess, then La Rochelle would be it, but his last letter had been very vague.

As it was, he was still tired from the night before. Opting not to sleep hadn't been the best idea, but it had seemed worth it at the time. Now on the train, he was looking for a little quiet and a little solitude, somewhere he could nap and just chill. The back cars were usually fairly free.

Peeking through the windows to the compartments as he went, he passed by the more crowded ones, and decided on a lesser occupied one.

Sliding the door open, Zeke paused in the entrance. "Do you mind?" he asked, gesturing to a spot on the opposite side of her. It was then that he realised he was speaking with Zhenya. Granted he hadn't spoken with her much this year, but he wouldn't forget when she had helped him in potions his first year. The way she was sitting made him feel as if he had intruded on a private moment. Whoops? Had he? "Are you okay?" he asked.

Abby was looking for a seat as she was sad about going home but that was a horrible term and she saw Zheyna and Zeke and was sad cause she had only met Zhenya this year and she was already leaving and wanted to sit with them both but she didn't know whether that would be welcome so she just hung at the door and hoped that she would be asked to join them both

Zhenya looked up when the compartment door slid open. It was Zeke. She shook her head and offered a smile at the lovely lion. He asked if she was okay, and she blinked a few times. No crying, no no no no no NO! She released her legs and sat up a bit straighter. "Yeah I'm okay," she said quietly. "I'm a bit... sad, I guess. I'll never be coming back now. Everything is done. I'm a graduate now." She took a deep breath and smiled despite her sadness. "But that's okay, because I have the rest of my life to look forward to."

The smile felt a bit more natural now. "Are you glad to be going home for the summer?" she asked.



Zhenya saw something from the corner of her eye. A dark haired something. It was Abby. Zhenya had wanted to say goodbye to everyone, but knew that would be hard; for one she didn't have the time, and two, she wasn't sure she would be strong enough to say goodbye that many times. "Come in Abby," Zhenya said. If she wanted to, of course.

Abby smiled at Zheyna and made her way into the compartment and took a seat she wasn't sure what to say cause she knew this would be the last time seeing Zheyna and it was tough to say goodbye to a friend

Zhenya smiled at Abby, who came in and sat down. "How are you Abby? Glad to be going home?" Conversation = distraction, which = no time to be left with her sad thoughts.

Once she was back at Sophia's house, she would probably have a cup of tea and fill her cousin in with everything that had happened that year. And also ask for her help in deciding how to go about life now that Hogwarts wasn't going to be there. What was the first step in her new adult life? Did she have to go out and apply for jobs, for college, volunteer for experience? Perhaps she would enjoy this summer before she worried about jobs and stuff. She wanted to spend some time with Teddy and Ava before they came to Hogwarts. Z thought she would perhaps go with them to the platform, and whilst there she would no doubt see some of her old friends. Zeke and Abby included.

Abby smiled at Zheyna and said "I am good thank you Zheyna, and yes i am actually glad to be going home the end of the year was terrible with all the Acromantulas and everything" Abby shuddered at the thought of it ran through her head at least she had got off lightly but still being bitten by spiders was not good

He didn't waste much time in the doorway, cause, SEAT! Zeke sat across from Zhenya, sparing a short glance out the window before returning them to the Slytherin graduate. She made itout alive!

As weird as the concept seemed to him, he could understand how after so long change was a little surreal, and sure, even sad. "It's exciting though, you won't have to worry about lame classes and homework and things..." those were still his concern, that, and staying alive long enough to get it done. "What are you planning on doing now?" Did she know? Most people did, but sometimes it took a while to figure things out... this is how he envisioned his life will be like when the time comes. No clue.

Turning his head when Zhenya looked to the door, Abby was there.

He shot her a smile, happy for her to join them.

Zeke sat quietly a moment, listening to Abby as she declared her pleasure at leaving school for now. He supposed it WAS good to get away, but he kind of wanted to stay. Seeing family again would be an obvious bonus, but there would be friends that he was going to miss.

"The castle should be lived in properly over the summer though, so that nothing goes back in..." Just saying. It's be a nasty surprise to find the castle overrun by something else when they got back. Maybe not acromantulas but... perhaps manticores?

That was true - no more lame classes and homework. Zhenya let out a small laugh, "I'll miss some of the classes, but not others. Homework I definitely won't miss though. Or the exam study. This year just about liquified my brain." She had thrown all of her exam study timetables into the fire in the common room after her last exam, and it had felt good.

"I'm not too sure. I want to do some further studies in potions and herbology, and eventually I'd like to become a healer or... or perhaps part of the Potion Accident Response Team. I haven't applied for anything yet, I might try and have a year off to work before studying again. Maybe in a greenhouse or something," she considered. "But for now I'm looking forward to enjoying the summer with nothing to worry about."

Except NEWT results.

"Do you have many plans for the summer, Zeke?" she asked.

Abby was not wrong about leaving the acromantula business behind. That was terrible. "How about you, Abby, many plans this summer?" she asked.

Zhenya pulled out a packet of Bertie Botts and offered them around.

Abby smiled at Zheyna and said "Not got many plans at the moment Zheyna apart from spending time at Diagon Alley, was thinking of trying to catch a professional qudditch game during the holidays" Abby took a bertie botts bean from Zheyna and smiled to herself Chocolate which was good

Zeke could empathise with Zhenya on that point, there were some classes that he didn't much mind, others though, he could hardly wait to drop. But something in Zhenya's response made him wary of the coming years. "Are NEWT's really that terrible?" he asked, and if they were, what of OWL's?

Slouching in his seat, Zeke couldn't help but smile at Zhenya's plans, or lack thereof. A direction was good enough a plan considering school for her was over... for now. A break was much deserved. "That sounds awesome, working with potions I think would be quite cool, but I don't know about Healing... that'd be scary... I'm sure you'll be awesome at whatever you decide on though." Mmhhmm. He had all the faith.

Summer holidays though were going to go fast, and though he would only be entering into his fourth year, he was certain that OWL's would creep up on him. As for plans... "Spending time with family, a bit of time in France, but most of the time at home... no real plans really." Just camping, and then... whatever opportunities present themselves. "And you?" Any big plans to celebrate the end? If it were him, he'd have MASSIVE plans.

Twisting in his seat slightly, Zeke smiled at Abby's response. Quidditch, cool. "Do you support a team?" he asked, curious.

Abby smiled at Zeke and said "Yes i do support the Holyhead Harpies but i am also a fan of the Appleby Arrows" Abby did like qudditch and she did want to go and see as many professional teams as possible

Oh cool, Quidditch! "That sounds awesome, Abby," Zhenya said, putting a spinach flavoured bean in her mouth. Spinach was a bit... ehh.

Zhenya smiled at Zeke's question. "They're even WORSE," she said, "But... I had a pretty good study plan right from the start of term so I felt pretty organised for them." The study plan had just taken a lot out of her.

"Thanks Zeke," she replied to his comment on her hope of future. "How about you, any ideas about what you want to do?" Zhenya was merely curious. She realised it was a pretty annoying and stressful question for most, but some people had already chosen what they want to do.

"Wow, France? Cool! What area?" She was curious. Now that she had finished, and was legal, she could travel more. "I might go and visit a friend in Baltimore, if she has some free time. Besides that I might see my siblings. Two of them are starting next term. I'm sure they will want to hear all about this acromantula... stuff." Neither of them were particularly scared of spiders, but perhaps they would be when they realised just what spiders they were.

Sapphire was walking through the train's hallways when she suddenly caught a familiar voice. She didn't know him personally, but he was either the same year as she was or a year older. In any case, she decided to go for it and poked in with a friendly smile. "Hello!" Phi greeted brightly. Meeting new people at the end of the year... Odd, but oh well. "Did someone say France?"

Abby smiled at Zheyna and said "Yeah it is awesome i have had a ticket for Puddlemere United for ages and i really cannot wait to see the game, i am hoping once i have finished with Hogwarts i might take up Qudditch professionally but i have a while to decide about it at the moment" Abby would be a fifth year next year and well she had her dreaded OWLs coming up as well

Wanting to stretch her legs a little and walk off some of her anxiety over being stuck on the train for so long, Lux had decided to check out the different compartments and say hi to some of her friends.

The distraction helped her feel better but she knew she'd be happiest once she was with Bay and her family. She wanted her boyfriend ASAP, but he wasn't here. Pout. Ugh, she was so restless and needed him.

Peeking into one of the compartments, she spotted some of her friends. "Hey, guys!" Taking a seat, she thought about how this was Zhenya's last train ride too. Seemed she was a lot sadder to go. "It will be okay," Lux told her while trying to be reassuring. They were leaving together.

Someone else poked their head into the compartment, asking about France. Zhenya didn't know who she was, one of the many faces she hadn't been able to get to know. "They did! Do you want to come in?" she asked. There were plenty of seats available, and the more the merrier.

"That's awesome Abby! I had no idea you wanted to be a professional quidditch player." That was awesome. "I'll come and see your first game."

And then LUX came and joined them! "LUX!" Zhenya said, standing up and giving her a hug. She would really miss Lux. She just knew that Lux got it... the leaving. How, she didn't know. She smiled at Lux, "Thanks." It was nice, reassuring words. "I bet you'll have a great holiday relaxing after the events of the year. I'm sure Hogwarts will be back to normal next year. No more spiders." She was sure of that. And as Zeke had mentioned earlier, the castle will be lived in. No room for creatures to overtake the castle during the holidays.

SPOILER!!: Abby

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saz Hale

Abby smiled at Zeke and said "Yes i do support the Holyhead Harpies but i am also a fan of the Appleby Arrows" Abby did like qudditch and she did want to go and see as many professional teams as possible

A girl supporting the Holyhead Harpies was not a surprise, really. BUT he was thrilled to hear that the Arrows rated with her. "Heyyyyyyy, I'm an Arrows supporter too," he beamed, extending a hand for a high-five, the Harpies forgotten for the time being.

SPOILER!!: Zhenya and Sapphire

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jessiqua

Oh cool, Quidditch! "That sounds awesome, Abby," Zhenya said, putting a spinach flavoured bean in her mouth. Spinach was a bit... ehh.

Zhenya smiled at Zeke's question. "They're even WORSE," she said, "But... I had a pretty good study plan right from the start of term so I felt pretty organised for them." The study plan had just taken a lot out of her.

"Thanks Zeke," she replied to his comment on her hope of future. "How about you, any ideas about what you want to do?" Zhenya was merely curious. She realised it was a pretty annoying and stressful question for most, but some people had already chosen what they want to do.

"Wow, France? Cool! What area?" She was curious. Now that she had finished, and was legal, she could travel more. "I might go and visit a friend in Baltimore, if she has some free time. Besides that I might see my siblings. Two of them are starting next term. I'm sure they will want to hear all about this acromantula... stuff." Neither of them were particularly scared of spiders, but perhaps they would be when they realised just what spiders they were.

Quote:

Originally Posted by affy7ann

Sapphire was walking through the train's hallways when she suddenly caught a familiar voice. She didn't know him personally, but he was either the same year as she was or a year older. In any case, she decided to go for it and poked in with a friendly smile. "Hello!" Phi greeted brightly. Meeting new people at the end of the year... Odd, but oh well. "Did someone say France?"

Even worse?

...

That was not good. He was going to fail. FAIL SO BAD. Was it even worth bothering with? Probably not, but he would regardless. "Thanks for the reality check," he groaned, clearly not at all enthused by this piece of information.

What did HE want to do?

"No idea," he replied with a shrug. "I mean, I'm good with charms, and I like DADA... so I would't mind doing something like my mum.. auror and security type stuff, but I know you have to be really really good at like, EVERYTHING to do that, so maybe not. I don't mind creatures, so there's another alternative." Yeah. No clue, but there was still plenty of time to figure that out.

He had been about to launch into his camping plans when another person sought out their compartment. Sapphire! He wasn't close with her, which was silly considering there seemed so few of his own year-men in his house. Then again, it probably had a lot to with the fact that he seemed to keep company with more Slytherin's than anything else. "Hey," he greeted, and "yeah," he DID mention France.

"Beach camping with my sisters in La Rochelle, we have a beach house there." And by beach house, he meant a house that was by the beach, but like, not the shack type. And by WE, he meant Gavin, and yeah. "You going to France to?" he asked, curious as to why she had taken such interest.

SPOILER!!: Abby again

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saz Hale

Abby smiled at Zheyna and said "Yeah it is awesome i have had a ticket for Puddlemere United for ages and i really cannot wait to see the game, i am hoping once i have finished with Hogwarts i might take up Qudditch professionally but i have a while to decide about it at the moment" Abby would be a fifth year next year and well she had her dreaded OWLs coming up as well

And whoa, neat... professional quidditch. He'd have thought to go for it too, but he hadn't had all that much experience with the sport.. it was such a shame they didn't allow it at Hogwarts anymore.

"That's cool, I'll go watch too," he added. Not just because he considered them friends, but really, if ANYONE he knew made it big time, then it'd be cool enough to go simply to know that hey I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH THEM.

SPOILER!!: Lux

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squishy

Wanting to stretch her legs a little and walk off some of her anxiety over being stuck on the train for so long, Lux had decided to check out the different compartments and say hi to some of her friends.

The distraction helped her feel better but she knew she'd be happiest once she was with Bay and her family. She wanted her boyfriend ASAP, but he wasn't here. Pout. Ugh, she was so restless and needed him.

Peeking into one of the compartments, she spotted some of her friends. "Hey, guys!" Taking a seat, she thought about how this was Zhenya's last train ride too. Seemed she was a lot sadder to go. "It will be okay," Lux told her while trying to be reassuring. They were leaving together.

And lookit!... Lux was here too.

...
...

He was in a carriage full of girls?

Okay then.

"How're you going?" he asked, wondering if she'd settled back into some routine or normality after the whole acrtomantula thing. Poor Lux.

End of the term.

It was over. Time to go home.

Even with everything that had happened this term the whole year just seemed to fly by her. It was with a happy yet sad mood that Hady had gotten onto the train today. An odd mix of emotions she couldn't quite explain. Sure she wanted to go home but then at the same time she didn't.

Sighing quietly the nearly fourth year now tucked a strand of hair back into place behind her ear as she made her way towards the back compartments. Those were usually where most of the people she knew well enough sat. There were a few certain people that she wanted to say 'bye' to before doing much else. So with that in mind Hady continued down the aisle coming to a stop when she heard voice.

A lot of voices.

Voices she knew very very well.

With a small grin and a light tap on the compartment door Hady slid the door open enough to peer in. "Hey!," she greeted everyone simply. There was more people inside then she had first thought so it was just easier to say 'hi' to them all at once. She may have greeted everyone but her hazel eyes landed on the only boy in the compartment and she gave him her usual grin. Hey bestie.

Abby smiled at both Zheyna and Zeke and said "Thanks you two it would be great to have friends at games" Turning to Zeke and said "Yeah the Arrows are playing well this year from what i have kept up with" Abby smiled at Lux and said "Hey Lux" Abby was a bit worried because her friend look preoccupied, Turning to Hady who had just entered the compartment and Abby smiled at her friend and said "Hey Hady, you glad to be going home for the summer" Abby was glad that she had joined Zheyna for her last train ride she was going to miss Zheyna but was glad that she was friends with her and she knew that she would probably see Zheyna again at some point

Settling down in her new seat, Lux tried her hardest not to be fidgety, but restlessness was making it hard. At least she was surrounded by friends. Zhenya's hug also made her feel a bit better, and she smiled at the older girl.

"I've been.. better," she said to Zeke. She appreiated the concern because as much as she knew people cared for her, reminders were always nice. "Not sleeping really well or eating like I used to." Hopefully that would change soon when she was back home. Maybe she would end up getting her memory Obliviated because then everything would be easier. "So how are you all?" she asked while looking at each in turn. Besides her and Zhenya, everyone in the compartment was coming back next term.

"Oh, I'm not coming back either." She had forgotten that she hadn't told Zhenya before then. Oops. Now she knew. Lux then noticed someone new in the compartment (Sapphire). "Hello, I'm Lux!" She also gave Hady a smile. No surprise she would end up seated with Zeke since they were so close. "Hey!"

Zhenya bit her tongue. "Uh... well they're not fun, but they're not supposed to be. If you study they're okay though. Just... remember to study." Oops, she hadn't meant to worry him. "And... if you go to the library you can get past exam papers. They always help." She didn't know what she would have done without them.

Zhenya smiled at Zeke's suggested career path for himself. "Wow, that's really cool." As for being good at everything, Zhenya couldn't really disagree. She'd read the brochures, she knew the grades needed, and the training. Healing was bad enough, but it was what she desperately wanted to do so it hadn't really seemed an issue to her. "Don't second guess yourself too much Zeke. If it's something you really want to do, perhaps that will be drive enough for getting the grades you need and learning all of the skills." ALL of the skills.

Zeke's summer plans in France sounded like so much fun. "Do you go there often?" Seeing as his family had a house there. "I used to love going back to Russia, in our Dacha by the lake. We'd go swimming, fishing, pick berries. My babushka used to make ice cream with the berries. It was a lot of fun." She felt nostalgic at the thought. And pretty soon, she would be saying things like, 'I used to...' about Hogwarts. The sad feeling was creeping back, unwanted. She smiled just to trick the sad away.



There was another tap on the compartment door. Zhenya looked up and saw Hady, and offered her a smile. The more the merrier!

"Hi Hady," she said as she entered. Zhenya saw the glance she gave Zeke and couldn't help but grin. She turned her head to the window briefly, but long enough for the grin to dim down a little.



Zhenya smiled broadly at Abby. "I'll come dressed from head to toe in your team colours, Abby," Zhenya declared. She listened to the Quidditch conversations she and Zeke were having, but wasn't following particularly well. She enjoyed Quidditch, playing and watching. She always kept tabs on the Russian National Quidditch Team, but other than that, she didn't really follow any particular team. Besides, most of the teams she watched were British teams.



Zhenya sensed something had happened with Lux and her bright spark, though it wasn't surprising considering everything she had been through towards the end of term. "Did you want some Bertie Botts?" Zhenya asked, offering her the packet. Zhenya tried not to be overly concerned for her friend, as she was going home to be with Bay and her family which was where she would probably heal the best, but it was hard. Zhenya hoped she would feel a bit more like herself soon.

"I'm okay. Bit sad but that's probably expected," Zhenya said. What seventh year wouldn't be at least somewhat sad to be leaving?

Although.... what?

Lux was leaving?

Zhenya's eyebrows furrowed with the new information. "Oh... I didn't know. Is it just... just because of what... what had... happened with the... the... you know...?" She stuttered. Acromantulas. She didn't want to say it. "Well... if you're not going back then we can catch up and go shopping in Diagon Alley sometime! During SCHOOL term." That would be kind of cool. Unless Lux was going to another school.

"A beach house?! Wow! It must be awesome to have one of those," Sapphire replied with enthusiasm. "I want to go to France. I'm hoping my parents will take us there this summer - well, me...I dunno." Sapphire shrugged, realizing perhaps now that he was working at the Ministry, her brother Peri won't be able to join them if they did decide to go. And that thought just made her sad.



"Hey," Sapphire greeted back, giving the familiar girl a small smile.

I really need to make more friends... Sapphire thought to herself, making a mental note to be more friendly next year. Maybe then she could figure out how anyone could have a best friend. The idea was still a little alien to her.



Sapphire got lost in her thoughts for a moment, even as she seemed to be attentive to whatever the others were talking about, but someone new had arrived and that did get her attention. She smiled at the girl who introduced herself as Lux. "Hi, I'm Sapphire. But some of my friends just call me Phi." What friends again? "I'm sorry but....you were saying something about not coming back? Are you a seventh year?" She couldn't quite imagine life without Hogwarts. The castle and books and talking portraits - and books - were possibly the closest things to friends she had so far.

Abby smiled at Zheyna and said "That would be awesome and i feel a bit sad that i did not get to know you earlier than this term just past Zheyna"