If I could be one of my characters for a week (which, you have to understand, is sort of my job 24/7, to be able to see through my characters' eyes so I can write them accurately), I would probably want to be River Towning. I don't get a chance to write much about her and Luke so I'd like to see what they're up to when they're not in the spotlight. Either that, or I would be Pip Dinggit, so I could see what Elmer Poe is up to when he's not trying to win Astra's heart.

Guess whose birthday is next Tuesday? A certain author whose mom is taking her to Universal Studios Orlando for the day to celebrate! I'm so excited! I'm leaving early tomorrow morning (or today, for some of you; I know I published this late) and coming back on my actual birthday (Tuesday).

~~~~

When we finally returned to the common room, hours later, it was to find James, Colette, and Marcus waiting anxiously for us. Marcus ran towards me immediately, but stopped himself about a meter away. "Are... Are you all right?"

I nodded. I was emotionally drained, but I was fine physically. Gently, Marcus put an arm around me and walked me over to the couch.

"We were looking all over for you guys," James said, almost accusingly.

"Room of Requirement?" Colette asked.

Albus nodded, shrugging at James as he did so. "Sorry."

"Room of Requirement...?" Marcus frowned at me.

"It's nothing," I said, waving the question off. I sometimes forgot that the room wasn't exactly common knowledge beyond my circle of friends.

"Didn't Mrs. Longbottom send you two to bed this morning, too?" James asked Wren and Albus.

"Of course she did. You were there." Wren shrugged. "We just snuck out again."

"You haven't slept at all?" My eyes widened.

"We were worried," Albus explained. "It's fine, anyway. I'm not even tired."

"Me, neither," Wren echoed. They both looked exhausted to me, but I let it slide.

James and Marcus both looked a bit uncomfortable at being shown up in what was evidentially a contest to see who cared more. "I would've stayed all day," Marcus said, "but Mrs. Longbottom sent everyone in the corridor to bed around five this morning, and you can't argue with the nurse..."

"I didn't even sleep that long," James claimed.

"Ten hours is a pretty long time."

"Shut up, Colette."

"It's fine, guys," I said, trying not to show any irritation. In all honesty, I was kind of glad only Wren and Albus had been there. Five minutes with Marcus and James as well had done enough to overwhelm me. "Seriously, it's okay. You needed sleep. I'm not upset or anything."

Marcus grinned, stroking my hair. "Sorry. I'm so glad you're okay."

An awkward silence commenced. I could see it in Marcus's eyes. He wanted to ask what had happened. I glanced at James and Colette and saw the same look. I didn't want to talk about it. Ever again. Like, ever. Having to rehash everything for Mr. Potter and the Minister had been more than enough. Talking to Wren and Albus was different. I couldn't explain it. Wren understood. Albus was my closest friend. It just.... Worked. This? Besides the fact that we were in a public room, I couldn't gauge how any of these three would respond. Not exactly. Marcus might go all "Protective Boyfriend" and swear to hunt down Stillens and kill him. Not helpful. James? Same thing, but "Protective Brother." Colette would spend hours researching whatever had made me resist the Cruciatus Curse, and while that would be interesting, it was too soon. I needed time before I could handle any of those reactions, not to mention the countless others I wasn't anticipating that could happen.

"Um..." Albus shifted in his chair. "So, I'm sure you're exhausted."

I smiled wearily at him. "Yeah, actually. I am."

"Oh, of course!" Marcus hopped up and offered me his hand. "We shouldn't be keeping you here."

Wren got up, too. "Come on, Astra. I'll go up, too." Together, we started for the stairs. I was grateful for her presence. As much as I didn't want to see people, I didn't want to be alone, either.

When we got upstairs, I realized just how much I'd missed my bed as I fell onto it. Wren sat down heavily on her own bed. She was definitely a lot more tired than I was. She hadn't slept since the night before the maze.

Wren glanced up to see me looking at her. "What?"

"Are you okay? Like... I know you're exhausted." I frowned, realizing something. "You saw your dad, right?"

Wren looked away. "Yes. I..." She shook her head. "I don't want to talk about that."

"I'm sorry."

Wren smiled tiredly at me. "It's okay. He's gone now."

"We're safe," I said, nodding.

"We're safe," Wren agreed, lying back. "We're safe."

~~~~

Rumors spread like a disease. I didn't feel inclined to set them right, myself, and no one was brave enough to ask me what really happened. Over the course of the week, I talked to very few people, and even fewer talked to me.

Elcie started crying the first time she saw me. Apparently, she'd been convinced I was going to die, and hadn't been able to find either of her siblings to set her right. Seeing me alive and fairly well was too much. I almost cried when I saw her, too, so I didn't give her a hard time.

Scorpius and Ciara were not so emotional. Ciara simply shrugged and told me she supposed it was okay that I'd decided to survive. Scorpius hugged me and told me he was glad I was okay and Ciara was too, and I would know that if I spoke Ciara. Apparently, I didn't.

James, Marcus, and Colette heard a lot of what had happened from Albus, though he only told them the straight facts. Colette did indeed rush off to the library to find out what had happened with the Cruciatus Curse, but if she found out anything, I didn't hear about it. Somehow, I had a feeling she hadn't discovered anything.

The school was in a state of confusion. Since Professor Longbottom was our acting Headmaster, everyone knew something had happened to Pouri. No one really knew what, was the problem. Lily told me that some muggleborn kids in her year claimed Pouri and I had been kidnapped by aliens and I'd bargained myself free (Elmer Poe had threatened to duel them over that, claiming I would never leave Pouri "in the hands of worthless aliens." I'd never felt such fondness for the little twerp). I heard Eris Prince talking loudly with her group of admirers about how she thought I'd murdered him (if the Ministry decided not to believe me, I knew she would swallow their story whole). A lot of people didn't really know what to think. Eventually, I pieced together that the only things anyone knew for certain were that Hogwarts had been attacked, the Predatels had been responsible, Pouri was most likely dead, and I was involved somehow. The people who had been in the hospital wing were quick to point out the Minister's long, private talk with me and Mr. Potter as proof that something had happened in the maze, or even somewhere else. The ones who left it at that, and didn't add rumors, were the closest to right.

It was difficult. For the first few days, it was like I was in a fog. I felt nothing but numbness, and hardly registered things happening around me. As the initial numbness began to wear off, it was replaced by an overwhelming feeling of guilt. When I could keep my mind off what had happened, I was fine, but whenever I got a chance to think, or some time alone, I could only replay what had happened in my head. I craved social interaction, but I also didn't want to be around anyone. The worst was at night. I had nightmares, but these weren't like my dreams. They were hazy flashes of what had happened, over and over until I woke up crying or screaming with Wren at my side.

I don't remember much of that week. It was a blur of going to classes to do nothing and wandering aimlessly. Wren and Albus avoided the topic of the Third Task and Stillens completely. We didn't know what was going on. Speculating was useless.

Finally, it was the last night of school. I was more than happy to pack my trunk in preparation for leaving the next day. I wanted to be home. I didn't know what the future had in store, but I knew I would be able to face it better when I was surrounded by my family.

I almost skipped the Leaving Feast. I definitely would have if Wren hadn't guessed that I was planning on it and talked me into it. "No one knows what's going on," she said. "They need to see that you're not beaten."

As it was, I made sure we were some of the last ones in. Colette had saved us seats. As the three of us walked down the long aisle, it seemed like a hush fell over the hall. I felt everyone turning to stare at me, but for once I didn't feel embarrassed. I didn't care. Let them stare.

Pouri's chair was empty, with a black cloth draped over it. It matched the black tapestries hanging from the ceiling where the winning House's colors normally would have been.

Professor Longbottom stood up, and whatever whispering had been going on died out. "Students," he said in a steady voice, "Another year has ended." He paused, glancing at the headmaster's empty chair. "There's a lot to say, things that can't be put into words. One thing we can do is acknowledge a great Hogwarts Headmaster who was so quickly taken from us. I would like all of you to please stand, and raise your glasses to Brutus Pouri."

There was the sound of benches scraping on the stone floor. Everyone stood and raised a glass. A low, rumbling "Professor Pouri" sounded throughout the hall.

Professor Longbottom glanced down the table at Mr. Potter, who nodded. As everyone lowered their glasses and turned their attention back to the staff table, he said, "This is a very difficult time for us all. However, I believe it is your right to know what happened to Professor Pouri." He paused, glancing at me briefly. "The Ministry doesn't want me to tell you this. They want to release an official story themselves, and they believe you are too young to handle the truth. However, I don't agree. I think you ought to know what your future holds." He stopped for a second, glancing around the hall of now-nervous students.

"There is a new dark wizard on the rise." A gasp rippled throughout the Hall, followed by hurried whispers. Mr. Potter didn't give them much time. "His name is Camus Stillens, and he is the reason we are deprived of our headmaster tonight. He murdered him."

Mr. Potter paused again, looking all around the room. "The Ministry may tell you otherwise, but he has taken over the MACUSA. He plans to go to the world, next. And that is why our connections with other schools are more important now than ever. We must stand strong, together, if we want to face this battle." He nodded to the visitors from the other schools. "You will always be welcome at Hogwarts."

Mr. Potter paused for one last time. "Difficult times are ahead. But I know the strength of the students here. I know that Professor Pouri did not die in vain. I know that when you all have to choose between light and dark, you will choose the light, because you are brave. Together, we can stand against this."

~~~~

I sat on my trunk next to Wren, just outside the castle. We were waiting for the carriages that would take us to the train. Albus was leaning against his own trunk beside me, while Colette, James, and Marcus stood a few feet away.

"It's only two months," Albus was saying, smiling at Wren. "Anyway, you'll be perfectly safe at home." She didn't look particularly scared to be leaving, which I wondered at, but I didn't ask.

"Astra!" I looked to up to see Elcie hurrying forward, followed by her siblings. "You're coming to visit a lot, right?"

"Probably," I said, smiling. "I'll miss you."

She threw her arms around me and buried her face in my robes. I looked over her head Scorpius, who was laughing, and Ciara, who was shaking her head. "See you soon, right?"

"Unfortunately," Ciara sighed. Scorpius rolled his eyes at her.

"Bye, Astra!" Elcie said, stepping back. I smiled to myself as they disappeared into the crowd once more. I wished I had siblings. Looking around me, though, I realized that I practically did. Except for Marcus, I was as close as a sister to each of the four people near me. Even closer, maybe. And that was, quite possibly, even better.

"Oh, mon ami!" I turned around to see the Dubois twins both hugging Colette tightly. Amélie may have been crying. When they pulled away (a good thirty seconds later), Colette even looked touched. I may have seen her tearing up, though it may also have been a trick of the light.

"It 'as been good to meet you all," Amélie said, turning her attention to the rest of us. She smiled and wiped a tear away. "I will miss you."

"And we will write to you all!" Françoise exclaimed, wiping at her eyes before her makeup was ruined. "I am glad zat I 'ave found such good friends at 'Ogwarts."

I smiled back at them. "I'm glad I met you, too. I'll miss you!" Albus and Wren echoed that sentiment, and the twins hugged each of us in turn.

As the twins were turning to leave, James said, "Have a great summer." He was standing behind Wren, and had been left out of all of this. He looked very confused about that, too.

As one, the two girls turned their heads to frown disdainfully at him, then turned back to us with bright smiles. "Adieu!" They turned and hurried off toward the giant Beauxbatons carriage, leaving James blinking in surprise.

"I think they've moved on," Wren observed.

"I mean, I'm not complaining." James threw an arm across Wren's shoulders, grinning. "Just surprised. Honestly, they're a nightmare."

"Their tastes have just improved, apparently. Drastically," Albus said, rolling his eyes. "If anyone's a nightmare, it's you."

"Albus, that's mean!" Wren exclaimed. Albus pretended not to hear and busied himself with the clasp on his trunk.

Close by, I could see Faith and Étienne hugging each other and talking in low voices. River and Luke were darting through the crowd, tossing Weasleys' Safety Sparklers in the air. Elmer Poe, Pip Dinggit, and Lily were surrounded by a group of first and second years, telling some obviously intriguing story that couldn't possibly wait until the train ride. Everyone seemed happy to be going home. Maybe, this whole awful week had been a nightmare, and we would come back in September to find Pouri waiting, and everything right in the world.

I knew that wasn't true. Wishful thinking was going to change anything. As the Beauxbatons carriage flew away, my mind was not focused on waving. As we started towards Hogsmeade, I didn't pay attention to where my feet were going. As we boarded the train, I followed Albus without seeing what was around me. My mind was busy. I didn't know what the future held, but that didn't stop my mind from whirring through possibilities. What if the Ministry didn't do anything? What if Mr. Potter lost his job? What if Stillens took over the Ministry? What if, what if, what if?

"Do you think the new Headmaster will be okay?" James asked after the train had been moving for a while. I was grateful for the interruption to my pessimistic thoughts.

"I hope so," Wren said softly. I patted her knee, wishing I could say something comforting. Anything I said would be a lie, though. I had no idea what would happen, and neither did anyone else.

I fell asleep eventually, leaning against Marcus. And for once, I didn't dream.

~~~~

Question of the Day: What did you think of this book? I know it was more on the cliche end of things than not. Any improvements? Thoughts? Please let me know, because feedback is how I can make this better!

Vote and comment and thank you so much for reading! I have loved writing this series for all of you, and I'm looking forward to the next book!

~Ellie