───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Blair pretended to be fine as the days passed by for the month. Her friends knew she wasn't fine, but they didn't push on. They knew that it was Blair's way of coping with her parents' deaths. But the only person she didn't talk to was Oliver. She just couldn't do it. She wanted to talk to him, but she couldn't, as the memories of that night would come to her mind, and she would be reminded of her parents every time she saw him.

Blair and Harry returned to Gryffindor Tower the following evening. From what Hermione and Ron told them, Dumbledore had spoken to the school that morning at breakfast. He had merely requested that they leave Harry and especially Blair alone, that nobody ask them questions or badger them to tell the story of what had happened in the maze. Some people had given her their condolences, and Blair just faked a smile and thanked them, but most people were avoiding her and Harry's eyes and some even whispered as she passed, but Blair didn't care that much.

When she had met with Neville, Dean and Seamus, she had told them only a bit and surprisingly, she didn't cry anymore. She just felt numb. When she had talked with them one night, they simply hugged her and left it at that, and they gave her space, but she too couldn't bear to stay with them long. She was broken, and she didn't want them to see that.

Blair liked it best when she was with Harry, Ron and Hermione, and they were talking about other things, or else letting her and Harry sit in silence while they played chess. She felt as though all four of them had reached an understanding they didn't need to put into words; that each was waiting for some sign, some word, of what was going on outside Hogwarts — and that it was useless to speculate about what might be coming until they knew anything for certain. 

The only time they touched upon the subject was when Ron told them about a meeting Mrs. Weasley had had with Dumbledore before going home. "She went to ask him if you two could come straight to us this summer," he said. "But he wants you to go back to the Dursleys and you to stay home, Blair, at least at first." 

"Why?" said Harry. 

"She said Dumbledore's got his reasons," said Ron, shaking his head darkly. "I suppose we've got to trust him, haven't we?"

Blair appreciated the moments she had with Harry. Being the two people in the graveyard that night, they understood each other and the pain. Blair felt an unexplainable connection to him, and it was the same with Harry. 

They had so much in common when they had thought about it. They were now both orphans, both having their parents killed by Voldemort. They both had the lightning scars on their bodies that they sometimes joked about, but Blair still hadn't told anyone else about her scar. Only her, Harry, Dumbledore, Mrs. Weasley and Madam Pomfrey knew. Usually, they spent their time silently, just leaning on each other for comfort that they couldn't get from others.

The only person apart from Harry, Ron and Hermione that Blair felt able to talk to was Hagrid. As there was no longer a Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, they had those lessons free. They used the one on Thursday afternoon to go down and visit Hagrid in his cabin. It was a bright and sunny day; Fang bounded out of the open door as they approached, barking and wagging his tail madly.

"Who's that?" called Hagrid, coming to the door. "Harry! Blair!" 

He strode out to meet them, pulled Harry and Blair into a tight hug, ruffled their hairs, and said, "Good ter see yeh two. Good ter see yeh." They saw two bucket-size cups and saucers on the wooden table in front of the fireplace when they entered Hagrid's cabin.

"Bin havin' a cuppa with Olympe," Hagrid said. "She's jus' left." 

"Who?" said Ron curiously. 

"Madame Maxime, o' course!" said Hagrid. 

"You two made up, have you?" said Ron. 

"Dunno what yeh're talkin' about," said Hagrid airily, fetching more cups from the dresser. When he had made tea and offered around a plate of doughy cookies, he leaned back in his chair and surveyed Blair and Harry closely through his beetle-black eyes.

"You all righ'?" he said gruffly. 

"Yeah," said Blair. 

"No, yeh're not," said Hagrid. "'Course yeh're not. But yeh will be." 

Blair and Harry said nothing. 

"Knew he was goin' ter come back," said Hagrid, and Blair, Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked up at him, shocked. "Known it fer years, Blair, Harry. Knew he was out there, bidin' his time. It had ter happen. Well, now it has, an' we'll jus' have ter get on with it. We'll fight. Migh' be able ter stop him before he gets a good hold. That's Dumbledore's plan, anyway. Great man, Dumbledore. 'S long as we've got him, I'm not too worried."

Hagrid raised his bushy eyebrows at the disbelieving expressions on their faces. "No good sittin' worryin' abou' it," he said. "What's comin' will come, an' we'll meet it when it does. Dumbledore told me wha' you did, Harry, Blair." 

Hagrid's chest swelled as he looked at them. "Yeh did as much as yer father would've done, Harry. An' you, Blair. Yeh're so brave, and I'm proud of yeh. And I'm sure yehr parents're proud of yeh. Blake and Olivia're so proud of yeh. An' I can' give yeh two no higher praise than that."

Blair and Harry smiled back at him. It was the first time they'd smiled in days. 

"What's Dumbledore asked you to do, Hagrid?" Blair asked. "He sent Professor McGonagall to ask you and Madame Maxime to meet him — that night." 

"Got a little job fer me over the summer," said Hagrid. "Secret, though. I'm not s'pposed ter talk abou' it, no, not even ter you lot. Olympe — Madame Maxime ter you — might be comin' with me. I think she will. Think I got her persuaded."

"Is it to do with Voldemort?" Harry asked. 

Hagrid flinched at the sound of the name. "Migh' be," he said evasively. "Now... who'd like ter come an' visit the las' skrewt with me? I was jokin' — jokin'!" he added hastily, seeing the looks on their faces. 

Blair whispered to him. "Maybe next year, Hagrid." Hagrid beamed at her.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

It was with a heavy heart that Blair packed her trunk up in the girls' dormitory on the night before her return to the Woody Woods. She was dreading the Leaving Feast, which was usually a cause for celebration, when the winner of the Inter-House Championship would be announced. She had avoided being in the Great Hall when it was full ever since she had left the hospital wing, preferring to eat when it was nearly empty to avoid the stares of her fellow students.

Then, a knock broke her out of her thoughts. Blair looked behind her to see Hermione there. "Mione."

Hermione smiled at her softly before walking to her. "Hey, Blair. How are you feeling?"

Blair opened her mouth to say something, anything to reassure the witch in front of her, but nothing came out of her mouth. She was surprised when Hermione cupped her face and wiped the tears running down Blair's face. 

Blair pulled away slightly to wipe away her tears. "Why am I crying? I-I'm fine, Granger." She forced a grin at Hermione.

Hermione sighed shakily before stepping closer to Blair. They were only inches apart now. "No. No, you're not."

And Blair's walls went falling down along with the tears and herself. Hermione brought her into a tight hug and nuzzled her face into Blair's chest while Blair held onto Hermione tight and cried into Hermione's hair. 

"W-Why did it have to be them, Mione? Why didn't it be me?" Blair whispered in such a broken tone that it broke Hermione's heart too. Hermione's confession would have to come later because right now, all she was thinking of was how she needed to be there for Blair.

Hermione looked Blair in the eyes. Blair was surprised to see her eyes, filled with tears. "Because they loved you, Blair. They loved you and they died for you, just as how you would have done for them."

Blair sobbed out all the emotions she had been holding in for days. Hermione just held onto her, blinking back her tears. She needed to stay strong for the girl who had always been strong for her. It was her turn to take care of Blair. Then, Blair's sobs ceased and there was silence.

"Mione. Don't leave me." Blair softly said, her voice containing all the hurt, the sadness, the exhaustion, the love she had for Hermione Granger.

Hermione kissed Blair on the forehead softly. "Never."

When the dark times would come, Blair would remember that day and the feeling that seeped in all throughout her body. The warmth of Hermione Granger.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Blair went down, holding Hermione's hand and feeling better. When she, Harry, Ron, and Hermione entered the Hall, they saw at once that the usual decorations were missing. The Great Hall was normally decorated with the winning House's colors for the Leaving Feast. Tonight, however, there were black drapes on the wall behind the teachers' table. Blair's voice got caught in her throat. She knew instantly that they were there as a mark of respect to her parents.

The real Mad-Eye Moody was at the staff table now, his wooden leg and his magical eye back in place. He was extremely twitchy, jumping every time someone spoke to him, but when his eyes met with Blair's, he always sent her a soft smile, and Blair smiled back weakly. 

Blair couldn't blame him though; Moody's fear of attack was bound to have been increased by his ten-month imprisonment in his own trunk. Professor Karkaroff's chair was empty. Blair wondered, as she sat down with the other Gryffindors, where Karkaroff was now, and whether Voldemort had caught up with him.

Madame Maxime was still there. She was sitting next to Hagrid. They were talking quietly together. Further along the table, sitting next to Professor McGonagall, was Snape. His eyes lingered on Harry for a moment before they turned to Blair as Blair looked at him. His expression was difficult to read. He looked as sour and unpleasant as ever. 

Blair continued to watch him, long after Snape had looked away. What was it that Snape had done on Dumbledore's orders, the night that Voldemort had returned? And why... why... did Dumbledore trust Snape so much? He had been their spy, Dumbledore had said so in the Pensieve. Snape had turned spy against Voldemort, "at great personal risk." Was that the job he had taken up again? Had he made contact with the Death Eaters, perhaps? Pretended that he had never really gone over to Dumbledore, that he had been, like Voldemort himself, biding his time? But Blair shook off those thoughts. She trusted Dumbledore with her whole being, and she had to trust Snape as well.

Blair's musings were ended by Professor Dumbledore, who stood up at the staff table. The Great Hall, which in any case had been less noisy than it usually was at the Leaving Feast, became very quiet. 

"The end," said Dumbledore, looking around at them all, "of another year." He paused, and his eyes fell upon the Gryffindor table, upon Blair. Theirs had been the most subdued table before he had gotten to his feet, and theirs were still the saddest and palest faces in the Hall. Blair kept her eyes on Dumbledore as she heard the whispers and saw people staring at her. 

"There is much that I would like to say to you all tonight," said Dumbledore, "but I must first acknowledge the loss of two very fine people, who should be sitting in their homes, enjoying a lovely dinner as they wait for their daughter to come home with a smile on her face. I would like you all, please, to stand, and raise your glasses, to Blake and Olivia Wood."

They did it, all of them; the benches scraped as everyone in the Hall stood, and raised their goblets, and echoed, in one loud, low, rumbling voice, "Blake and Olivia Wood." 

Blair looked down and smiled slightly. Hermione intertwined their fingers and Blair squeezed her hand tight, telling her not to leave her. Hermione squeezed back, telling her that she would never.

"Blake and Olivia Wood were people who were true Gryffindors at heart," Dumbledore continued. "They were brave and daring even as they grew old and graduated from Hogwarts. Their deaths have affected you all, whether you knew them well or not. I think that you have the right, therefore, to know exactly how it came about."

Blair raised her head and stared at Dumbledore. "Blake and Olivia Wood were murdered by Lord Voldemort." A panicked whisper swept the Great Hall. People were staring at Dumbledore in disbelief, in horror. He looked perfectly calm, watching them mutter themselves into silence. Blair looked down and avoided the eyes that glanced at her.

"The Ministry of Magic," Dumbledore continued, "does not wish me to tell you this. It is possible that some of your parents will be horrified that I have done so — either because they will not believe that Lord Voldemort has returned, or because they think I should not tell you so, young as you are. It is my belief, however, that the truth is generally preferable to lies, and that any attempt to pretend that Blake and Olivia died as the result of an accident, or some sort of blunder of their own, is an insult to their memories."

Stunned and frightened, every face in the Hall was turned toward Dumbledore now... or almost every face. Over at the Slytherin table, Blair saw Draco Malfoy muttering something to Crabbe and Goyle as they all took a glance at her. Blair felt a hot, sick swoop of anger in her stomach. She forced herself to look back at Dumbledore.

"There is somebody else who must be mentioned in connection with Blake and Olivia's deaths," Dumbledore went on. "I am talking, of course, about Blair Wood, their own daughter, and Harry Potter." A kind of ripple crossed the Great Hall as a few heads turned in Blair and Harry's direction before flicking back to face Dumbledore.

"Blair Wood and Harry Potter managed to escape Lord Voldemort," said Dumbledore. "They risked their own lives to return Blake and Olivia's bodies to Hogwarts. They showed, in every respect, the sort of bravery that few wizards have ever shown in facing Lord Voldemort, and for this, I honor them." 

Dumbledore turned gravely to Blair and Harry and raised his goblet once more. Nearly everyone in the Great Hall followed suit. They murmured their names, as they had murmured Blake and Olivia's, and drank to them.

But through a gap in the standing figures, Blair saw that Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, and many of the other Slytherins had remained defiantly in their seats, their goblets untouched. She didn't care about them as she felt the pain once more. She shook off the pain and ignored them. Dumbledore, who after all possessed no magical eye, did not see them.

When everyone had once again resumed their seats, Dumbledore continued, "The Triwizard Tournament's aim was to further and promote magical understanding. In the light of what has happened — of Lord Voldemort's return — such ties are more important than ever before." 

Dumbledore looked from Madame Maxime and Hagrid, to Fleur Delacour and her fellow Beauxbatons students, to Viktor Krum and the Durmstrangs at the Slytherin table. Krum, Blair saw, looked wary, almost frightened, as though he expected Dumbledore to say something harsh.

"Every guest in this Hall," said Dumbledore, and his eyes lingered upon the Durmstrang students, "will be welcomed back here at any time, should they wish to come. I say to you all, once again — in the light of Lord Voldemort's return, we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided. Lord Voldemort's gift for spreading discord and enmity is very great. We can fight it only by showing an equally strong bond of friendship and trust. Differences of habit and language are nothing at all if our aims are identical and our hearts are open.

"It is my belief — and never have I so hoped that I am mistaken — that we are all facing dark and difficult times. Some of you in this Hall have already suffered directly at the hands of Lord Voldemort. Many of your families have been torn asunder. A week ago, two people were taken from our midst. 

"Remember Blake and Olivia. Remember, if the time should come when you have to make a choice between what is right and what is easy, remember what happened to a couple who were good, and kind, and brave, because they strayed across the path of Lord Voldemort. Remember Blake and Olivia Wood."

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

Blair's trunk was packed; Herman was back in his cage on top of it. Neville, Dean and Seamus had already bid her goodbye and gave her hugs as they promised to write during the summer. She was thankful that her friends were so understanding even as she pushed them away.

She, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were waiting in the crowded entrance hall with the rest of the fourth years for the carriages that would take them back to Hogsmeade station. It was another beautiful summer's day, but for the first time, she was not excited to go back home to the Woody Woods. She would be reminded of her parents at every corner of their house.

"Blair." She looked around. Fleur Delacour was hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. Blair didn't see how Hermione scowled behind her back and how Ron and Harry exchanged amused glances. Beyond her, far across the grounds, Blair could see Hagrid helping Madame Maxime to back two of the giant horses into their harness. The Beauxbatons carriage was about to take off. 

"We will see each uzzer again, I 'ope," said Fleur as she reached her, holding out her hand. "I am 'oping to get a job 'ere, to improve my Eenglish." 

"It's very good already," said Ron in a strangled sort of voice. Fleur smiled at him.

"Good-bye, Blair, you too 'Arry," said Fleur, turning to go. "It 'az been a pleasure meeting you!" 

Blair's spirits couldn't help but lift slightly as she watched Fleur hurry back across the lawns to Madame Maxime, her silvery hair rippling in the sunlight.

"Wonder how the Durmstrang students are getting back," said Ron. "D'you reckon they can steer that ship without Karkaroff?" 

"Karkaroff did not steer," said a gruff voice. "He stayed in his cabin and let us do the vork." Krum had come to say goodbye to Hermione. 

This time, it was Blair who was scowling. "Could I have a vord?" he asked Hermione. 

"Oh... yes... all right," said Hermione, looking slightly flustered, and following Krum through the crowd and out of sight.

"You'd better hurry up!" Blair called loudly after her. "The carriages'll be here in a minute!" But she let Harry and Ron keep a watch for the carriages as she spent the next few minutes trying to see what Krum and Hermione might be up to. They returned quite soon. Blair stared at Hermione, and frowned to see that her face was quite flustered.

"I liked you," said Krum abruptly to Blair, who looked at him surprised. "You vos alvays polite to me. Alvays. Even though I vos from Durmstrang — with Karkaroff," he added, scowling. 

"Have you got a new headmaster yet?" said Harry. Krum shrugged. He held out his hand as Fleur had done, shook Blair's hand then Harry's, and then Ron's. 

Ron looked as though he was suffering some sort of painful internal struggle. Krum had already started walking away when Ron burst out, "Can I have your autograph?"

Hermione turned away, smiling at the horseless carriages that were now trundling toward them up the drive, as Krum, looking surprised but gratified, signed a fragment of parchment for Ron. The weather could not have been more different on the journey back to King's Cross than it had been on their way to Hogwarts the previous September. There wasn't a single cloud in the sky.

Blair, Harry, Ron, and Hermione had managed to get a compartment to themselves. Pigwidgeon was once again hidden under Ron's dress robes to stop him from hooting continually; Hedwig was dozing, her head under her wing, Crookshanks was curled up in a spare seat like a large, furry ginger cushion and Herman was looking out the window, somehow feeling the same sadness that Blair had been feeling.

Blair, Harry, Ron, and Hermione talked more fully and freely than they had all week as the train sped them southward. Blair felt as though Dumbledore's speech at the Leaving Feast had unblocked her, somehow. 

It was less painful to discuss what had happened now. They broke off their conversation about what action Dumbledore might be taking, even now, to stop Voldemort only when the lunch trolley arrived.

When Hermione returned from the trolley and put her money back into her schoolbag, she dislodged a copy of the Daily Prophet that she had been carrying in there. Blair looked at it, unsure whether she really wanted to know what it might say.

 Hermione, seeing her and Harry looking at it, said calmly, "There's nothing in there. You can look for yourself, but there's nothing at all. I've been checking every day. Just a small piece the day after the third task saying you two won the tournament. Nothing about any of you know. If you ask me, Fudge is forcing them to keep quiet."

"He'll never keep Rita quiet," said Harry. "Not on a story like this." 

"Oh, Rita hasn't written anything at all since the third task," said Hermione in an oddly constrained voice. "As a matter of fact," she added, her voice now trembling slightly, "Rita Skeeter isn't going to be writing anything at all for a while. Not unless she wants me to spill the beans on her." Blair suddenly looked at Hermione, terrified. 

"What are you talking about?" said Ron. 

"I found out how she was listening in on private conversations when she wasn't supposed to be coming onto the grounds," said Hermione in a rush. Blair had the impression that Hermione had been dying to tell them this for days, but that she had restrained herself in light of everything else that had happened.

"How was she doing it?" said Harry at once. 

"How did you find out?" said Ron, staring at her. 

"What did you do to her?" Blair said, staring at her with horror still in her eyes. 

Hermione snorted when she saw the look in Blair's eyes. "Well, it was you, really, who gave me the idea, Blair."

"Did I?" said Blair, perplexed. "How?" 

"Bugging," said Hermione happily. 

Blair was confused. "But you said they didn't work —" 

"Oh not electronic bugs," said Hermione. 

"No, you see... Rita Skeeter" — Hermione's voice trembled with quiet triumph — "is an unregistered Animagus. She can turn —" Hermione pulled a small sealed glass jar out of her bag. "— into a beetle."

"You're kidding," said Ron. "You haven't... she's not..." 

"Oh yes she is," said Hermione happily, brandishing the jar at them. Inside were a few twigs and leaves and one large, fat beetle. 

"That's never — you're kidding —" Ron whispered, lifting the jar to his eyes. 

"No, I'm not," said Hermione, beaming. "I caught her on the windowsill in the hospital wing. Look very closely, and you'll notice the markings around her antennae are exactly like those foul glasses she wears."

Blair looked and saw that she was quite right. She also remembered something. "There was a beetle on the statue the night we heard Hagrid telling Madame Maxime about his mum!" 

"Exactly," said Hermione. "And Viktor pulled a beetle out of my hair after we'd had our conversation by the lake. 

"And she could have been perched on the windowsill of the Divination class the day my scar hurt. She's been buzzing around for stories all year." Harry said.

"When we saw Malfoy under that tree..." said Ron slowly. 

"He was talking to her, in his hand, like you said, Blair," said Hermione. "He knew, of course. That's how she's been getting all those nice little interviews with the Slytherins. They wouldn't care that she was doing something illegal, as long as they were giving her horrible stuff about us and Hagrid."

Hermione took the glass jar back from Ron and smiled at the beetle, which buzzed angrily against the glass. 

"I've told her I'll let her out when we get back to London," said Hermione. "I've put an Unbreakable Charm on the jar, you see, so she can't transform. And I've told her she's to keep her quill to herself for a whole year. See if she can't break the habit of writing horrible lies about people." Smiling serenely, Hermione placed the beetle back inside her schoolbag.

Blair looked at her with a twinkle in her eyes. Hermione was immensely happy that she was the reason for the twinkle coming back after being absent for days. "Marry me, Granger." 

Harry and Ron snickered while Hermione chuckled softly. "Not now, Wood. Maybe after graduation." Blair, Harry and Ron gaped at her, not expecting the answer. Blair was about to speak, but...

The door of the compartment slid open. "Very clever, Granger," said Draco Malfoy. Crabbe and Goyle were standing behind him. All three of them looked more pleased with themselves, more arrogant and more menacing, than Blair had ever seen them.

"So," said Malfoy slowly, advancing slightly into the compartment and looking slowly around at them, a smirk quivering on his lips. 

"You caught some pathetic reporter, and Potter and Wood are Dumbledore's favorite boy and girl again. Big deal." His smirk widened. Crabbe and Goyle leered.

"Trying not to think about it, are we?" said Malfoy softly, looking around at all four of them. "Trying to pretend it hasn't happened?" 

"Get out," said Harry. Blair's hand gripped her wand under her robes. 

"You've picked the losing side, Potter! I warned you! I told you you ought to choose your company more carefully, remember? When we met on the train, first day at Hogwarts? I told you not to hang around with riffraff like this!" He jerked his head at Ron and Hermione.

Then, he turned to Blair. "Too late now, Wood! They'll be the first to go, now the Dark Lord's back! Mudbloods and Muggle-lovers first! Well — second — your parents were the f —" 

It was as though someone had exploded a box of fireworks within the compartment. Blinded by the blaze of the spells that had blasted from every direction, deafened by a series of bangs, Blair blinked and looked down at the floor.

Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were all lying unconscious in the doorway. She, Harry, Ron, and Hermione were on their feet, all four of them having used a different hex. Nor were they the only ones to have done so. 

"Thought we'd see what those three were up to," said Fred matter-of-factly, stepping onto Goyle and into the compartment. He had his wand out, and so did George, who was careful to tread on Malfoy as he followed Fred inside.

"Interesting effect," said George, looking down at Crabbe. "Who used the Furnunculus Curse?" 

"Me," said Harry. 

"Odd," said George lightly. "I used Jelly-Legs. Nice head shrinking, Little B. Looks as though those three shouldn't be mixed. He seems to have sprouted little tentacles all over his face and ooh, nasty head he now has. Well, let's not leave them here, they don't add much to the decor."

Blair, Ron, Harry, and George kicked, rolled, and pushed the unconscious Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle — each of whom looked distinctly the worse for the jumble of jinxes with which they had been hit — out into the corridor, then came back into the compartment and rolled the door shut. 

"Exploding Snap, anyone?" said Fred, pulling out a pack of cards.

They were halfway through their fifth game when Harry suddenly asked. "You going to tell us, then?" he said to George. "Who you were blackmailing?" 

"Oh," said George darkly. "That." 

"It doesn't matter," said Fred, shaking his head impatiently. "It wasn't anything important. Not now, anyway."

"We've given up," said George, shrugging. But Harry, Ron, and Hermione kept on asking. Fred and George sighed and motioned Blair to tell them. 

Blair shook her head and finally said, "All right, all right, if you really want to know... it was Ludo Bagman." 

"Bagman?" said Harry sharply. "Are you saying he was involved in —"

"Nah," said George gloomily. "Nothing like that. Stupid git. He wouldn't have the brains." 

"Well, what, then?" said Ron. 

Fred hesitated, then said, "You remember that bet we had with him at the Quidditch World Cup? About how Ireland would win, but Krum would get the Snitch?" 

"Yeah," said Harry and Ron slowly.

"Well, the git paid us in leprechaun gold he'd caught from the Irish mascots." 

"So?" 

"So," said Fred impatiently, "it vanished, didn't it? By next morning, it had gone!" 

"But — it must've been an accident, mustn't it?" said Hermione. 

Blair chuckled bitterly. "Yeah, that's what they thought, at first. They wrote to him, but nothing happened. Ignored their letter. Even I tried asking him, but he would suddenly make excuses to get away."

"In the end, he turned pretty nasty," said Fred. "Told us we were too young to gamble, and he wasn't giving us anything." 

"So we asked for our money back," said George glowering. 

"He didn't refuse!" gasped Hermione. 

"Right in one," said Fred. 

"But that was all your savings!" said Ron. 

"Tell me about it," said George. " 'Course, we found out what was going on in the end. Lee Jordan's dad had had a bit of trouble getting money off Bagman as well. Turns out he's in big trouble with the goblins. Borrowed loads of gold off them. A gang of them cornered him in the woods after the World Cup and took all the gold he had, and it still wasn't enough to cover all his debts. They followed him all the way to Hogwarts to keep an eye on him. He's lost everything gambling. Hasn't got two Galleons to rub together. And you know how the idiot tried to pay the goblins back?"

"How?" said Harry. 

"He put a bet on you and Blair, mate," said Fred. "Put a big bet on you to win the tournament. Bet against the goblins." 

"So that's why he kept trying to help us win!" said Blair. "Well — we did win, didn't we? So he can pay you your gold!"

"Nope," said George, shaking his head. "The goblins play as dirty as him. They say you drew, the two of you. He bet on one of you winning. He did run for it right after the third task." George sighed deeply and started dealing out the cards again.

───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ─────

The rest of the journey passed pleasantly enough; Blair wished that she would never arrive at King's Cross, but then again, time wouldn't slow down just because she would will it too. 

All too soon, the Hogwarts Express was pulling in at platform nine and three-quarters. The usual confusion and noise filled the corridors as the students began to disembark.

Ron and Hermione struggled out past Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, carrying their trunks. Harry and Blair had a quiet conversation a while ago and stayed put. 

"Fred — George — wait a moment." Harry said. 

 The twins turned. Blair pulled open her trunk and drew out her Triwizard winnings. Harry did the same. 

"Take it," Blair said, and she thrust the sack into George's hands. 

"What?" said Fred, looking flabbergasted as Harry thrust his sack into Fred's hands.

"Take it," Blair repeated firmly. "I don't want it. We don't want it." 

"You're mental," said George, trying to push it back at Blair. 

"No, I'm not," said Blair. 

"You take it, and get inventing. It's for the joke shop." Harry said. 

"You two are mental," Fred said in an almost awed voice.

"Listen," said Harry firmly. "If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. I don't want it and I don't need it. But I could do with a few laughs. We could all do with a few laughs. I've got a feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long."

"Harry, Little B," said George weakly, weighing the money bag in his hands, "there's got to be a thousand Galleons in here." 

"Yeah," said Blair, grinning. "Think how many Canary Creams or Bumbling Butterbeer Pops that is." 

The twins stared at them. 

"Just don't tell Mrs. Weasley where you got it... although she might not be so keen for you to join the Ministry anymore, come to think of it..." Blair said with slight anger. She too was very mad at the Ministry.

"Harry, Blair," Fred began.

 Harry pulled out his wand. "Look," he said flatly, "take it, or we'll hex you. I know some good ones now." 

"Just do us one favor, okay? Buy Ron some different dress robes and say they're from you." Blair said. She and Harry left the compartment before they could say another word, stepping over Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were still lying on the floor, covered in hex marks.

Oliver was waiting beyond the barrier. Mrs. Weasley was close by him. She hugged Harry very tightly when she saw him and whispered something in his ear. Then, she turned to Blair and hugged her tightly before whispering in her ear, "I think Dumbledore will let you come to us later in the summer. Keep in touch, Blair. We'll see you soon, love." She tapped Blair's cheek lightly.

Blair smiled gratefully before she and Harry moved to Ron and Hermione. 

"See you, Harry, Blair," said Ron, clapping Harry on the back and giving Blair a tight hug. 

"Bye, Harry!" said Hermione before hugging him tight. Then, she turned to Blair. Harry and Ron seemed to understand and left them. 

Blair turned a deep shade of red when Hermione pulled her down by the collar and did something she had never done before. She kissed her on the cheek. Hermione pulled away, blushing as red as Blair before hugging Blair tightly. 

"I'm always here for you, Blair. No matter what." 

Blair responded by burying her head into Hermione's bushy hair that smelled like roses. Reluctantly, she pulled away and ruffled her hair before she grinned at Hermione. "I'll miss you, Granger."

"Hey, Little B — thanks," George muttered, while Fred nodded fervently at his side. 

Blair winked at them then turned to Harry once they all left. Vernon Dursley was waiting impatiently while Oliver stood there, waiting for Blair with a smile. 

Blair attacked Harry with a tight hug and Harry hugged her back just as tightly. "I'll see you, James. Stay in touch to keep me sane." 

Harry chuckled. "Don't worry, Aika. I'll always be here to keep you sane." 

The two of them pulled away and smiled at each other. Harry went to his Uncle Vernon. Blair took a deep breath before looking Oliver in the eyes for the first time since that night at the hospital wing. "Hey, Olli." 

Oliver looked as if he had aged considerably since the last time Blair saw him, but nonetheless, happiness lit up his whole face, and he smiled at Blair. It seemed to Blair that it was the first time he had smiled like that in days. "Hey, Blair." 

And silence passed between the two siblings. Blair took Oliver's hand and they walked away from King's Cross without a word. Blair started thinking of the future. She was forced on a road that she was never meant to take. Her destiny was going to change. Everything was going to change, and she promised herself then as she and Oliver apparated away. Something was coming. Something dark, and she would be meeting it head on when it did.

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We've finally finished Act 1 uwu. I hope you all enjoyed it. Thank you for all the comments and support. You all make my day. Act 2 is going to be a long ride for the gang, and I hope you all enjoy the journey. Much love and thank you once more <3

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