CHAPTER THIRTY
homeward bound

                           𖦹 ⋆｡˚⋆ฺ ⋆｡˚⋆ฺ˚⋆˚ 𖦹

  COVE HAS DONE QUADRUPLE CHECKS of her luggage and still isn't satisfied that she has everything, but this is usually how it goes when she's returning home for the holidays. Fallon always has to drag her out of their dormitory or else she'd never leave. They narrowly avoid missing the train home every time, leaving it solely up to Mary to secure their compartment. End of term is a chore for all three of them for that very reason, their existing anxiety only doubling at the notion of not having anywhere to sit on the journey home.

She's being pulled in the direction of the carriages, a thousand more things to fret over running marathons around her head. Her trunk and a woven cat carrier that has Pip sliding around inside float behind them, her frayed nerves making for unpredictable spell work. The levitation charm she had cast is precarious and wobbly at best, threatening to spill her luggage all across the corridors until the school is practically painted in her clothes and belongings. Luckily for her, Fallon is constantly shooting charms over her shoulder to keep it steady when Cove cannot.

"Fallon, I think I left the straighteners on."

  "What? You don't even own straighteners!"

  "Hattie does!"

  "And why would you be using her straighteners, sweetie?"

  Cove purses her lips. "Okay, fair play. I just feel like I'm forgetting something—"

Fallon stops in her tracks, grabbing Cove by the shoulders to stare her right in the eyes. Pip yowls in terror as the carrier and trunk are lurched to a halt.

  "Don't invent problems to distract yourself, it'll only stress you out more," she says firmly. "I know what you're like. You have everything, Vee. You've ticked every box and checked everything in our dorm that could be a fire hazard more times than I can count. Just breathe."

  Cove obliges, her knuckles whitening as they curl into the fabric of her floaty top. Her grandmother ridicules her for her frown lines, saying that they'll leave marks, but she can't help the perpetual furrow of her brows when everything in the world seems to be out to get her.

  "I don't think I want to go home."

  "Oh, don't you worry your pretty little head. It'll be super," Fallon reassures, squeezing her arm softly as they begin walking again. "No classes for two weeks, quality time with family..." She ignores the way Cove's face scrunches in distaste. "You can swim in the actual sea again, as well. Is that not exciting?"

  "Yeah," she choruses glumly. "Exciting."

  Fallon can feel a tug on her heartstrings at the sight of her best friend so upset, chewing on the inside of her cheek as she thinks hard. "What can I do to make you feel better? Would a box of Ice Mice off the trolley help?"

  "That's okay, Ally," Cove reassures. "I'll be alright."

  She sighs. "If you say so."

  They're hit by cold air as they step out and brave the elements, flurries of snow trundling down from the puffy grey clouds above. Cove suspects that it won't be nearly as snowy when they descend from high up amidst the mountains and munros, perhaps being greeted by something on the rainier side when they arrive at Arisaig station to drop herself and a few other stragglers off.

  When they find an empty carriage to cart them off to the station, Cove stops to greet the thestrals. She tentatively reaches a gloved hand out to stroke over one of their noses, which is searingly cold to the touch. It nuzzles closer to her, whinnying appreciatively as she smooths over the bony onyx planes of its regal face. Cove had first seen a thestral in her second year, after a selkie relative of hers had been caught in a fisherman's net and hadn't managed to escape in time, leaving her to grapple with a new tempest of emotions bottled up in her chest as the new term was fast approaching.

  At first, she was a bit apprehensive of them, but she didn't take her grief or fear out on them. She sought comfort in the mysterious creatures that appeared before her, trusting their pure hearts to provide her with solace when the words of others could not.

  Cove has never found thestrals to be scary, or sorrowful. She finds them to be beautiful creatures that are under appreciated, written off as an omen of death when genuine love seeps from within their hearts, affectionate animals that are deprived of kindness for all the wrong reasons. Many people are quick to fear them because of the body that they were born into, with skeletal wings and gaunt faces that strike fear into those that don't take the time to look past their exterior. They're beasts to plenty of wizards and witches, nothing more — invisible to the majority of people and despised when they're finally unveiled.

  In a way, Cove can relate to that. 

  The carriage journey is short and tensely silent, both of them feeling more comfortable without having to entertain any awkward conversation. Fir trees swoop past the window, the odd clearing granting them a final glance back at the castle before they're swept away for the Christmas break. Cove fiddles with her jewellery and tries not to think too much about her impending doom, her holidays looking like they'll be full of rotting indoors as well as the odd swim when the tide comes in. How fun!

  Soon enough, the pair spill out into a sea of students, overwhelmed by the bustle of it all. Steam huffs from the Hogwarts Express in mighty tendrils, fogging up the already monotonous day with its lingering pollution. She feels a tap on her forearm and turns her ear to try and hear what Fallon has to say.

  "I'll go and get our trunks put away," she announces over the noisy crowd. "Wait here. I'll be two shakes of a lambs tail."

  "Please hurry," Cove begs. "It's absolutely baltic out here. I'll freeze to death if we don't get inside soon."

  Fallon rolls her eyes, muttering something about her being dramatic and hurrying off with their luggage in tow.

  Cove blows a flyaway out of her eyes, boredom taking its toll. She turns to levitate the cat carrier off of the ground, coming practically nose to nose with Pip through the bars. The kneazle meows in discontentment, pawing at Cove's fingers when they come up to rest against the latch.

  "Ach, I know, I know," she croons. "You'll be alright. I'll let you out in the compartment to stretch your legs soon, my darling."

  Pip looks unimpressed. She turns around in the carrier, her back to Cove as her tail whacks aggressively against her fingertips.

  "Oh, just patch me then," Cove mutters. "I see how it is."

  "Are you really talking to a kneazle?" a posh voice says behind her, humour seeping through his tone. She nearly jumps out of her skin. "I think you're finally losing your mind."

  It doesn't take her long to realise who it is — she'd recognise that smug voice anywhere. Regulus Black is standing there in all his glory, a Slytherin scarf wrapped securely around his neck. His robes are pristine and probably more expensive than anything Cove has ever owned, his flashy signet ring glowing under the morning light. Pink dusts the tip of his sharp nose from the cold, his complexion nearly as pale as the thin layer of snow coating the ground. His cold facade falters, very nearly replaced by an amused one at the expression on her face.

  "Shut up," she says, grinning. "Triton, I haven't seen you in ages. Where do you disappear off to?"

"Now, I can't go telling you all my secrets, Henderson. Where's the fun in that?"

  She quirks an eyebrow. "Of course. You love keeping me on my toes."

  "That I do. However, on a more interesting note, a little birdie told me that you had quite the... altercation with my brother the other day." He tilts his head to the side, a mirthful gleam in his eyes. "What do you make of that?"

  She buries her face in her hands. "Oh, that is so humiliating. In my defence, he completely deserved it."

  He hums. "I believe you. Someone had to knock him down a peg or two, anyway. Though, what did he do to warrant violence from a lovely little Hufflepuff like yourself, I wonder?"

  "He's a cunt," she says curtly. "And he doesn't know when to keep his mouth shut."

  Regulus looks like he wants to laugh. He begins to say something when his grey eyes suddenly unfocus, latching onto something over her shoulder. "Hm. Not to cut this short or anything, but I think your friend is back, and she doesn't look happy to see me."

Cove follows his gaze to see Fallon, a perplexed expression on her face at the sight of them talking to each other. As though it was waiting for the perfect timing, the train whistles threateningly beside them.

  In a spur of the moment decision, she reaches up to hug him, catching him off guard. "Write to me over the holidays. Don't be a stranger."

  He stiffens up under her embrace, hands limp at his sides like he doesn't really know how to hug someone back. He pats her arm awkwardly, face set in a stony deadpan when she eventually pulls away to say one final goodbye. His lips twitch up ever so slightly as a farewell, and that's as close as Cove has ever seen him get to a smile.

  She returns to Fallon's side and slips onto the train, leaving Regulus to wander in the opposite direction with his troubling responsibilities to act as his only company.

  He needed that hug more than she'll ever realise.

°•.•°•.•°•.•°

MARY, THE ANGEL THAT SHE IS, HAD secured their favourite compartment and immediately demanded that they play a few rounds of Gobstones before Cove has to get off at her stop. It's been her life's mission to defeat Fallon since they discovered that she's virtually unbeatable last year, her fiery determination only spurred on by every loss that she suffers.

  Under the flickering lamp light, Fallon cheers after her third consecutive win, getting up to leap around the compartment with glee. Cove's ribs begin to ache from laughter at the sight of Mary scowling, almost choking on a chocolate frog. The floor is carpeted in sweetie wrappers and boxes that they keep saying they'll clean up, though they never do, getting distracted by the game at hand or another interesting 'conversation topic' that's usually just nonchalant gossip.

  A knock at the door falters their fun. They stop in their tracks, heads whipping to see who it is trying to burst their bubble.

  Mary peeks past the closed curtain, rolling her eyes at who it is and sinking back onto her seat. "Oh, it's only Cove's lover boy. Boo."

  Cove scrambles to her feet. "What? Why did you close the curtain on him?"

  "I'm trying to win this round," she says, blowing a curl out of her face. "He's the least of my worries."

  "D'you want us to wait on you, Cove?"

  "Nah, just go on," she says. "I'll be a while."

  Mary's eyes glint mischievously. "Oh? What are you planning on doing, exactly?"

  Cove blushes at the insinuation. "Piss off, Mary. That's not— we're not—"

  "Sure, sure."

  "Shut up."

  "She's blushing," Fallon singsongs.

  "No, I'm not!"

  "Yeah, and the sky isn't blue."

  "Don't get too carried away with him, Vee."

  Cove squeaks in embarrassment, lobbing a chocolate frog at Fallon's head. "Oh my Godric, you're both such weirdos."

  "Use protection!" they both say in unison, dissolving into giggles when she slams the door closed behind her.

  That one manages to follow her out into the hall, her face turning an even deeper shade of crimson when she realises that he heard. Remus raises his eyebrows at her. She tells him not to ask.

  "You sound like you're having fun in there," he says, poorly concealed chuckles breaking through his sentences. "Sorry to drag you away."

  "Don't apologise," Cove dismisses. "They're being creeps anywa— stop laughing!"

  That only makes him laugh harder. "What, is the thought of being with me that embarrassing for you, love?"

  She splutters slightly, the scorching heat that's risen to her face becoming unbearable. He manages to rein in his laughter eventually, pressing a soft kiss to her temple.

  "I'm only joking," he reassures.

  "I know," she mutters. "You don't embarrass me. But they definitely do." She raises her voice so that they can hear her through the door, their ears no doubt pressed up against it, rolling her eyes when they burst into giggles all over again.

  He can't suppress his wolfish grin. He rests an arm over her shoulder, guiding her away from her cackling friends. "C'mon. We can go somewhere quieter."

They manage to find a secluded compartment, the walls engraved with initials and daft little messages to commemorate all the students that have come and gone. Cove sinks into the moderately comfortable cushions, burying her face into Remus' shoulder when he sits himself down next to her.

  "How are you feeling?" he asks, taking in the state of her. "I know you weren't looking forward to going home."

  She looks up at him. "Honestly? Shite. I didn't sleep much last night because I was worried about it, and I doubt the real deal will be any less exhausting."

  His face contorts in sympathy, his thumb rubbing comforting circles into her arm. "Wanna talk about it?"

  Cove shakes her head. "There's not much to talk about. I just dunno what kind of a mood my parents are gonna be in when I get home. What I'm walking into." She takes a deep breath. "Don't worry about it. I'd rather not ruin your good mood with all my depressing rubbish, anyway."

  They sit in silence for a minute before she finds her voice again. She begins to fiddle with his hands as if she's on autopilot, taking off her own rings to try and stack them on his fingers. He sits and simply lets her, lips twitching up at the corners.

  "What have you got planned for us?" she asks absentmindedly. "You mentioned that we'd do something."

   "Mm, I don't think I can tell you yet." He beams, his dimples surfacing endearingly. "It's called a surprise for a reason."

  Cove laughs. "Will I like the surprise?"

  "Well, I hope so," he replies. "I'd be absolutely gutted if you hated it."

  "That would never do."

  "No," he agrees, eyes fixed on her as she fidgets. "It wouldn't."

  "You'll just have to make sure I like it then."

  He makes an incredulous noise at the back of his throat. "Of course, Your Majesty."

  She points at him in warning. "My grandfather's the chief of my colony, mind you. I'm practically royalty."

  His eyes seem to have a hard time settling on whether they should stare at her eyes or her lips. "Yeah? That's nice."

  Her smile widens and he leans down to kiss her, but the train releases a shrieking whistle to signify that they're coming to a halt. Sure enough, the rapid movements begin to slow down until the train has stopped completely.

  He rolls his eyes in exasperation. She pecks him on the lips quickly, getting to her feet and advancing into the hall. He follows behind her like a lost puppy, insisting that he'll help her carry all her stuff onto the platform and refusing to stand down when she says that it's fine. It's then that Cove decides chivalry is very much still alive and kicking.

  Mary and Fallon hand over Pip with melodramatic goodbyes falling from their lips, embracing her tightly as if they're sending her off to war or something. She clutches them just as tightly, only being dragged away from them when the final warning whistle sounds.

  Her prediction about the rain had been correct, finding herself stepping out into a charming December downpour. Perhaps it'd be drier when they get off the mainland and back to her town, but that's very rarely the case.

  Remus sets her trunk down on the platform for a minute, a hand flying to her waist so that he can sneak in one last kiss before they're separated for, well, a few days at the least. He rushes a final goodbye so that he can leap back onto the train in time, the wheels spinning into motion the second his feet land on the floor. She watches him go, standing with Pip cradled in her arms as the train disappears further over the horizon.

  Her face goes as red as a tomato when she turns to see her dad giving her a look. He stares at the kneazle kitten in her arms, puzzled, and only begrudgingly relents when she tells him that Pip is part of an assignment. Though, that's hardly the only thing on his mind.

  "Who was that boy?" he asks curiously.

  Cove fiddles with the ends of her hair. "No one."

  "Oh, so you're going about snogging strangers now?" he asks. "Right. That's much more comforting."

  "Dad!" she squeaks, mortified.

  Aaron rolls his eyes at her before doing the last thing she had expected. He envelops her in a bear hug that she never would've thought she'd receive, patting his shoulder as kindly as she could when her lungs were being completely squashed.

  "I've been worried sick about you," he whispers. "You've no been answering any of the damned owls I sent. I didnae know what to think, Cove."

  "Sorry, dad," she murmurs, slightly ashamed.

  He pulls back, scrutinising her face for any differences. "Chin up, hen. It's in the past. Are you ready?"

  She looks down at his hand, quickly directing her stare back up to his face. She bobs her head, gnawing on her lip nervously at the idea of apparating. "Aye. Let's go."

  Aaron grasps his daughter's hand tight in his own, and before she can even blink, they've snapped away from the little station tucked away in Arisaig and her knees are buckling underneath her, her hands burning where they scrape against the ground.

  Though, the stony pavement has faded into something quite different. Her head spins in the dizzy aftershocks of apparating, the contents of her stomach churning unpleasantly. She resists the urge to be sick, forcing her eyes open to take in her new surroundings.

Her feet stumble onto a soft landing as she stands, grains of sand clinging onto her shoes. The spitting rain causes her flyaways to stick to her forehead, droplets of cool water rolling down the expanse of her face. A seashell crunches underfoot and she's greeted by the tangy smell of sea salt, a flock of wailing gulls swooping down from the surrounding cliffs. Her eyelids flutter closed as she takes it all in, the worry festering in her gut beginning to settle as familiarity embraces her.

She's home.
 

author's note!

volume one is officially over whoo hoo ‼️‼️

this was a wee bit rushed but i basically wrote it in one go so that's probably just poor editing on my behalf lol don't crucify me 🫶🏻

remember to not be a silent reader! i love reading all of your comments and i appreciate them all sm