On the morning of the first of September, Anora had found herself sleeping in until the very last second. She had spent the night before, sitting with her mother in the kitchen, talking about anything and everything. Simone had brought it upon herself to start braiding Anora's hair, something that allowed the two to share in some proper bonding time. Anora had gone most of the summer without seeing her mother as Simone's book tour had finally come to end just before Anora was set to leave for Hogwarts.

 And while she braided, Simone reminisced of old memories of dropping Anora off at the Hogwarts Express or when Anora had gotten her first wand. It eventually led to Simone crying, while holding Anora as tightly as possible for several minutes, until she was able to collect herself.

Emotions appeared to be still running high that morning as Anora was checking over her trunk for the last time, making sure she had packed all of Iggy's belongings. She could hear her father and mother talking in the other room about how their only child was practically grown and they just couldn't figure out where all the time had gone. With a grin, Anora rolled her eyes, preparing to tell the two to stop with their dramatics. They were acting as if they were never going to see or hear from her again. But that was probably far from true as Anora's dreams of the dragon sanctuary seemed to be slipping through her fingers.

When Simone had returned home, Gerald had brought it upon himself to tell his wife that Anora was looking to go off and work with dragons. Simone nearly fell into hysterics, fully prepared to interrogate Anora over such plans, until Gerald started laughing and told her that he was only joking. He winked in Anora's direction, but she hadn't found much of it to be humorous. In fact, she found it to be downright painful because the more she thought about it, the more she wanted to go. However, with the exception of Tonks, everyone made it sound like it was a bad idea.

"What do you think, Iggy?" she whispered to him as she closed her trunk to lock it. The jingle of his collar alerted her that he was coming up behind her, letting out a loud meow. "Yeah, that's what I think too."

Eventually, it was time to leave the Forney home as Anora brought down her trunk and Iggy followed behind. Originally, Gerald and Simone assumed that Anora and her friends would apparate to Hogsmeade as some of the older students did once they had their apparating license, but Anora, Charlie, and Tonks were adamant that they were taking the Hogwarts Express for the final year. And they were planning on taking it back after graduation too.

Upon arrival at King's Cross Station, Anora led the way through the crowds of people, whether they were muggles or wizarding kind, it didn't matter as they all blended in through the traffic. She held the handle of her trunk, pulling it along as Iggy remained perfectly perched on her shoulder. It earned her a few glances here and there, but nothing that others were willing to shake off. Her parents trailed behind her, trying to keep each other from crying.

"It feels like it was only yesterday when we were here, dropping you off for your first year," Simone said after they had crossed through the barrier.

"Mum, you said that already, several times this morning," Anora reminded her. "Please try not to cry. I'm begging you, try not to cause a scene this time."

Simone was not about to make a promise she couldn't keep as she grabbed Anora and pulled her into a strong hug. She was about to call out for help when Gerald joined in, leaving her cries muffled. She was doing everything in her physical power to push them off but neglected to remember just how strong her mother really was. It was only when a fourth person joined their hugging group that Simone's grip loosened.

Anora was able to strain her neck back enough to see Charlie holding onto all of them with a wide grin.

"Alright, alright! That's enough hugging!" Anora screeched, finally wriggling her way out of the hugging death trap. "Thanks for your help, Charles!"

"You're welcome," Charlie beamed before Simone turned to him and gave a hug. All the while, Anora spotted the entire Weasley family in the background, including Fred and George, who were mocking her by hugging each other with exaggerated faces and noises. She mouthed a warning that she was going to get them back later, which brought them to a stop finally.

And last but not least, Tonks arrived, wiping her mother's lipstick off her cheek while grumbling to herself that her mother wore lipstick for the sole purpose of staining someone's face.

"Look at the three of you," Gerald laughed, "you three were just tiny things when you started, now look at you, all grown up. Charlie decided to grow up and then some, didn't you, boy?"

Gerald clapped Charlie on the back, causing him to turn red in the face while Anora leaned into Tonks. "I bet you it was all those damn muffins he eats that led to that final growth spurt."

He must have heard them as Charlie glared in their direction before Anora's parents turned to her for their final goodbyes. They asked the typical question of did she have everything and told her that she needed to write to them. She promised that she would write and tell them all about her exciting adventures at the start of her seventh year. With that, she kissed both of them on the cheek and hugged them before she brought Iggy over for his goodbyes as well.

When all the parents had finally given all their goodbyes, all of the students made a run for the train. As Fred and George approached to get on, Fred was swiftly cuffed on the back of his head.

"Hey, what was that for?!" He whined as he lifted his hand to his hand and turned around. George started laughing until Charlie decided to knock him in the back of the head too.

"Ow! I didn't even do anything!"

"Yeah, well, you and Fred experience everything together, so I didn't want you to feel left out," Charlie told him

"I wasn't feeling left out!"

"I had to be sure."

Impatient to get on the actual train, Tonks pushed the twins aboard before climbing on herself to lead the way to an empty compartment. She was swift in finding one and slid open the door, allowing Anora and Charlie to enter first. As soon as the door closed behind them, the three plopped down, suddenly feeling exhausted.

"You would think by now that they would be trying to get rid of us," Anora sighed, brushing her braids over her shoulder, "not try and hold onto us forever."

"I say just let them cry and hug it out," Charlie shrugged, "pretty soon they won't be able to and then you'll never hear the end of that. It's always 'you're never around anymore!' That's all Bill hears when he decides to show his face. It's just because they love us, you know."

"Oh Charlie, always the softie," Tonks snorted.

Iggy hopped down from Anora's shoulder and decided to stretch his legs on the compartment floor. However, it seemed he wasn't looking to do any exploring as he quickly jumped up into one of the empty seats and proceeded to curl up into a ball to nap. Anora reached a hand out to gently pet him before looking at her friends.

"This is it. Let our seventh year begin."

Tonks was the first to fall asleep as per tradition whenever aboard the Hogwarts Express, leaving Anora and Charlie to entertain themselves. Anora eventually decided to start pestering Iggy as she began gently prodding his side with her finger. His sleepy state made the cat appear as though as he was drunk, blindly batting his paw at Anora's taunting finger that poked him.

Charlie couldn't help but smile as Anora laughed, observing the bond between the witch and her beloved pet. The way Anora handled any animal was always with such affection, even if it was quite a dangerous animal, she treated them as if they were all balls of fluff. Something Charlie admired but also scolded Anora for, especially when it led to her getting hurt, which was more than often.

Of course, Charlie was one to talk, the number of times he had been bitten or scratched would be enough to send his mother into a crazed episode. That's why he never cared to mention it unless needed.

Iggy grabbed Anora's hand with all of his paws and gave her thumb a playful bite. Anora squealed but continued the play. Sometimes it was hard for Charlie to believe that the young woman sitting across from him was the same girl he had met in his first year. The girl was so nervous and terrified that she really only spoke in the presence of her cat. He could recall how much Anora tried to hide her hair during her first and second years of school, whether it was wearing hats or pulling the hood of her cloak over her head.

Currently, her hair was even whiter than it was back then if that were possible. But she no longer hid under hats or hoods, instead, her hair was on full display, and she didn't seem the slightest bit worried about it. It was Tonks that was credited with helping Anora master her confidence, often turning her own hair white to match and daring anyone to say something stupid. And it turned out that behind all the nerves and shy exterior, there was a whole new person waiting to shine through.

Even Tonks had changed over the years, never losing her rebellious streaking, she had learned to develop a softer side when it came to her two best friends. Whenever they were in need, she was always right there willing to protect them, but also willing to support them as well.

And as Charlie reminisced over his two companions from childhood, he wondered if he had changed over the years as they did. Sure, his hair had grown longer much to the dismay of his mother, but had he grown as a person?

He wasn't sure.

Finally, it seemed like Anora had caught him staring as she glanced over from Iggy. "You alright there, Charlie?"

Snapping out of his thoughts, Charlie waved his hand to dismiss any worry. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just got lost in my little dream world."

"You ought to be careful," she said, "one day you'll get stuck in there."

"Well, that's the plan, isn't it?" he countered. "To live in a world that's just like your dreams?"

"I don't know," Anora shrugged, "if you lived in your dream world and had everything you ever wanted, what would you have to look forward to?"

"Waking up every morning and realising that it wasn't a dream."

"Would you even have dreams if you lived in your dream world?"

Suddenly, Tonks let out a loud groan and dropped her head down to look back and forth between the two. "Why is it that every time I try to take a nap, you two decide to get philosophical? Why can't you just talk about simple things, or just talk about a dream you had instead of dissecting the purpose of a dream world? I'll tell you about the dream I just had. There I was, Head Auror. Best damn Auror the Ministry had ever seen. Just kicking arse and taking names."

"I hardly call that a dream, Tonks," Anora said, "you're going to end up doing that anyways. It's practically a reality already."

Tonks sat up with a wide grin. "You really think so? Because Professor Sprout seems to think otherwise."

"That's because you drive Professor Sprout absolutely mental," Charlie reminded her, "and as head of your house, I don't think she likes getting you in trouble. You just kind of bring it on yourself."

"Yeah, like the one time you kept making pig faces in class when her back was turned, "Anora chimed in.

"Or the time you were changing your hair to distract the class."

"And the time- "

Tonks raised her hand and gave the two of them a look. "Alright, I got it, thank you. What are you two? The bookkeepers in my life? Besides, don't you two sit there and act like you're perfect angels? Need I remind both of you of the numerous occasions you two have snuck into the Forbidden Forest?"

Charlie crossed his arms over his broad chest and looked away. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Yeah, what's the Forbidden Forest?" Anora asked with a puzzled expression. "Never heard of it."

"Goblin shit," Tonks scoffed, "you two are full of goblin shit. You two are constantly doing things you're not supposed to."

"Right, well there is a difference, Tonks," Anora said, "and that's the fact that we don't get caught. Unlike you."

Tonks kicked her leg out to hit Anora in the shin playfully. "That's because you've got Hagrid on your side. It's not like he's going to sell you two out to McGonagall. And besides, that's not the point I was trying to make. All I was trying to say is that it wouldn't kill Professor Sprout to lighten up a bit and laugh at some of my antics. Laughing is good for the soul."

"So is Quidditch."

Suddenly, Charlie was drowned out by not only Tonks but Anora groaning at the mention of the sport. He automatically narrowed his eyes at them.

"Come on, Charlie, can't you wait until we're at the castle to start your Quidditch babble," Tonks whined. "Every year!"

Charlie touched his hand to his chest to express how offended he was. "Well then! I don't see it as babble!"

"Of course, you don't! You're the one babbling!"

"Maybe it's just you who sees it as babbling, Tonks, because I don't think Anora sees it as that! Do you, An?"

Caught in the middle of the Quidditch feud, Anora turned her focus out of the window, it was already starting to get dark outside, but she was willing to strain her eyes to get out of the discussion. "Oh, would you look at that! That's some nice grass over there in that field!"

Charlie immediately turned red as his jaw dropped, while Tonks laughed in victory.

"An, how could you?"

"I'm sorry, Charlie."

"Fine then," he huffed, "I won't talk about Quidditch anymore. For the rest of the entire year, you'll see."

"Oh, thank Merlin's beard," Tonks sighed to herself, "perhaps there is a god."

Anora picked herself up from her seat and went over to sit next to him, wrapping her arm around his shoulders as far as she could reach.

"Don't be so dramatic, Charles. Tonks and I were only joking. You can talk about Quidditch as much as you want."

"Really?"

"Of course, "she nodded, "Tonks and I just won't listen all the time."

"I should have known there was going to be a catch. On that note, I'm going to leave you two bullies to sit here and miss me while I go and tend to my prefect duties."

Charlie slid open the compartment door with such force that it shook the entire compartment, however, it looked as though he didn't mean to use so much strength as his face turned red again. He could hear his friends giggling behind him, but just as he was about to verbally retaliate, someone caught his eye, leaving him with a better idea.

"Lee Jordan! There you are, you know, Anora and Tonks were just talking about how much they missed you over the summer! Get in here!"

The laughter suddenly died down as Anora and Tonks quickly tried to apologise, but it was too late as little second-year Lee Jordan came waltzing into their compartment adjusting his robes with a grin.

"Hello Ladies, what's this I hear about you missing me?"