Mental note, see if there's a spell for sweaty palms.

Tori barely touched her food while sitting at the Gryffindor table at breakfast. She just felt too nervous. Final exams were today. The thing she'd been dreading for the longest time. Tori wasn't sure how her friends could just sit there and act like nothing was happening when these were extremely important.

Tori was scanning over another page of her History of Magic book when a hand grabbed it away from her. Tori perked up immediately, opening her mouth to protest but Fred shook his head. "You need to eat something, now."

"Fred..."

"You can have the book back after you eat." He pushed her plate in front of her as Tori stared down to see her reflection. She was extremely anxious, but, even she had to admit she was starving.

Fred handed her a piece of buttered toast and Tori gave in. She took a bite and gestured for her book but once again Fred shook his head. "You can have it once you finished." Tori sighed, finishing her toast as Fred handed her book back.

"I don't know what you're so nervous about. You're going to do fine. You've been studying since March, and you do well in classes. You'll be fine."

"Sometimes I wonder how you're such a good friend." Tori gave him a small smile, clutching her book like it was going to get up and walk away. "You make it easy." He told her as the two of them watched Professor McGonagall approach the center of the teacher's table.

"Students." She called, patiently waiting until there was quiet. "Now each of you will continue on to your classes where you will start your exams, please leave this room in an orderly fashion. Good luck to all of you."

Tori shoved another piece of bread into her mouth before hopping off her bench. She felt like a thousand pixies were flying around her stomach. Fred put a comforting hand on her shoulder, reminding her that she had this.

Tori gave him a smile as the headed off to potions class. I got this. She thought to herself. I got this.

Hours and exams passed, leaving Tori to her last class. Tori nervously bit her lip, pointing her wand at the full pineapple in front of her. Professor Flitwick had called each student in one by one to make the pineapple dance. Yes, make the pineapple dance. Tori thought all through the spells in her head, watch the unmoving pineapple.

The spell clicked, and Tori stood up straighter and waved her wand. "Tarantallegra!" She chanted. A white light left her wand as the pineapple suddenly grew two feet and began to dance across the desk in front of her.

Tori felt a weight being lifted off her chest as Professor Flitwick applauded her. "Excellent, Ms. Silvers! Excellent indeed! Congratulations." He jotted something on his paper briefly as Tori left the room.

Her big grin wouldn't leave her face once she walked out the door. Her entire day hadn't been bad. She successfully turned a mouse into a snuff-box, and only was confused on a couple questions on her history of magic exam.

The only exam she was worried about was her potion exam. Since Professor Snape only had two emotions, angry and angrier, she had no idea the outcome of her potion.

Either way, she was done. She gave a relieved smile to the twins. George winked while Fred gave her a thumbs up. "Good luck!" Tori whispered to them while passing out the door.

She met Angelina and Lee by the Great Hall. "How did you do?" Angelina asked her as they sat down in the Great Hall. "I think I did pretty well, except maybe potions."

"Me too. And maybe History of Magic, I had no idea what I was doing." They all snickered, eyeing the other students come in. Alicia appeared at the door, glancing around the table before rushing towards her three friends.

"I think I absolutely failed everything," Alicia admitted, taking a seat next to Lee. "I'm sure you didn't." Lee informed her, "Oh shut up. I did." Alicia sighed, hiding her head in her arms as she slumped down.

"Well whatever happened..." The Weasley twins suddenly sat down next to Tori, making her jump.

"We're sure you did better than us."

✧ ✦ ✧

"As another year comes to an end, and we think of all accomplishments this year. We say goodbye to all those seventh years who are leaving us to go through the doors of their new life." Dumbledore rambled on during his end of the term speech. Tori sighed, glancing up at the green banners.

She looked at her friends around her, watching their bored faces. Smiling to herself, she turned back to Dumbledore.  "The House Cup is awarded to the Hogwarts house whose members have earned the most points during the year. Hogwarts Professors give points for actions that reflect well on a student's house, such as academic achievement and bravery. The students and professors are very competitive for this honor, that said, let us count off the winner."

"In fourth place, we have Hufflepuff, with five hundred and seventy-six points. In third place, we have Ravenclaw, with six hundred and thirty-two points. In second place, Gryffindor, with six hundred and eighty-seven points."

Tori dully clapped, pushing the black hat further upon her head. "And in first place, Slytherin, with seven hundred and sixty-nine points!" A loud roar from the table behind Tori caused and almost everyone to jump.

The Gryffindor table weakly clapped, making a sick face. Another year they didn't win. It made it a bit hard to feel the pride they needed too. Dumbledore ended his speech with a toast. "To a summer, that I hope you all enjoy, and to the people, who helped change this year for some." And Tori could have sworn he winked at her...

Once the feast was over, Tori began walking with the rest of her friends to finish packing. Filch stopped her midway, grumbling about how she needed to go to Dumbledore's office. Tori gave the twins a look, but they swore they didn't do anything. She said a quick goodbye as she walked towards the Headmaster's office. Though, the door was already open.

"You wanted to see me, Professor?" Tori asked, stepping into Dumbledore's office. She glanced at each painting, watching them move and squalor amongst themselves. Dumbledore was seated at his desk, writing something down in some sort of notebook or planner.

"Ms. Silvers. Do you remember when you first got here?" He asked her. Tori nodded, confused. Of course she remembered, it wasn't that long ago. Dumbledore continued, "You told me, you thought you were sorted into the wrong house. Though, that night, I sent you off early. You weren't finished speaking, but you never came back."

Tori raised an eyebrow, confused at where he was going until it clicked. "I didn't need too." She told him. "I met people who liked me for... who I am. Instead of who they thought I was." Dumbledore smiled, his eyes twinkling. "That is what every Professor ever, wants to hear. I'm very thrilled to hear that. Truly. You should be going now, get ready for tomorrow,"

Tori turned, walking towards the door. She was almost out when she glanced back at the old headmaster. "Have a good summer, Professor."

"Have a good summer, Tori."

✧    ✦    ✧

When the Hogwarts train stopped at platform nine and three quarters, Tori glanced around at her friends inside her cart. She didn't want to get up from her seat, because if she got up, then she could have to leave them.

Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end eventually. She followed her friends out, grabbing Athena's owl cage. She watched as seventh years cried and bid farewells to their friends. She also saw families hug each other, welcoming their children home for the summer. Tori felt a similar feeling that she once felt over Christmas, she honestly wished she would come home to a family like that. She thought about it a lot.

Tori hugged Angelina and Alicia tightly as the girls all promise to write over the summer and saying that they would see each other next year. "Oh, Alicia don't cry!" Tori pulled her friend in for another hug, Angelina joining once again.

"I'm... going... to m-miss you guys..." Alicia sobbed making Tori feel a bit sad herself. "We'll write, okay? Everyday!" Angelina nodded, "Yeah, every day." This seemed to cheer Alicia up a little bit because she stopped crying and nodded. "Okay."

Tori continued saying goodbye, coming to Lee, and hugging him tightly, "You better write to me." She told him. "I need some ideas for pranking the twins this summer." Lee chuckled, a smirk on his face. "Don't worry. I'll write."

Tori smiled, grabbing her trunk. She turned to see Cedric talking to some boys. They made eye contact and she waved to him. He grinned, waving back before continuing his conversation. Tori turned once again, this time seeing her family.

She hadn't written to her family since before Christmas. Avalon also hadn't said anything to her, not even in the hallway. Tori watched as Dove stood with her mother, looking rather uncomfortable and even a bit sad. The young girl looked up and down the track as if she was looking for someone. When she spotted Tori, Dove broke free from her mother's grasp. Fortunately, her mother didn't notice as both she and her husband were focused on Avalon and his group of friends.

Dove came running towards Tori full speed, which made Tori a little nervous. She hadn't talked to the girl in months and didn't know what her sister would say. But Dove stopped in front of Tori, looked around at the five faces surrounding her sister before hugging her.

Tori was completely shocked, but she was quick to wrap her arms around her sister, almost not wanting to let go. Tori almost forgot that her friends were there until Dove stepped back, looking up at the eleven-year-old. "Are you coming home?" She asked in a fragile voice.

Tori sighed, bending down to Dove's level. "It's... complicated... but, not today." She saw Dove's form shrivel a bit. "But remember, I love you. Okay? No matter what they say." She glanced up at her parents, who still weren't paying attention.

Dove nodded slowly, hugging her sister once more before running back to the Silvers family. Tori watched her go, biting her lip.

"You okay?" Fred asked her softly. Tori glanced at the two twins beside her and shrugged. "Yeah." She grinned, slipping her arms into both of theirs like how they first met. The three of them marched off towards the gingered hair family, all smiling, excited for this summer.

So yes, in a way, Victoria Silvers, was in fact, going home.

year one is done!!!
im so excited to get into year two, where we can start quidditch and a little more drama in tori's life!

thank you all so much for reading, and i can't wait to get started!

another fantastic drawing by
sapphire10fun is

this ones my favorite!!