F O R T Y - S E V E N

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After Adeline left the hospital wing, she felt as if she couldn't go anywhere without being stared at. She loved being able to walk around again around Hogwarts after nearly a week in the hospital. But she hated the way how whispers and looks seemed to follow her every move.

Unlike Harry, Adeline wasn't used to this feeling. Sure, she had gotten a decent amount of attention because of the Triwizard Tournament. But it wasn't the same as having all these rumors swirling about her, constantly questioning what happened in that graveyard. Adeline knew that was what they were doing because for the past five years, she had been part of the crowd gossiping about Harry's yearly antics.

There was a lot she had to get used to. Adeline had to be more careful where she stepped, as she was colliding with things and tripping a lot more than she used to. She had to figure out how to see the world out of only one eye from here on out.

Adeline was thankful that her friends had stuck by her side for it all. Even though it was still difficult – well, impossible – for Adeline to talk about what happened, Estelle, Melanie, Ophelia, and George had been incredible support systems for her. They weren't overbearing or acted as if she couldn't do anything anymore. Instead, they acted like her rock, helping Adeline adjust in whatever ways they could to life with vision in only one eye.

The Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students had left Hogwarts a little different than when they arrived. Of course, Durmstrang was now missing a headmaster. But many of the students had made close friends during their time at Hogwarts. It was difficult for Adeline to say goodbye to Fleur, but the two promised each other to write as much as they could in the coming months.

There was one thing, however, that didn't cross her mind until someone else brought it up. In the midst of everything that had happened, Adeline had completely forgotten about the fact that she was one of the winners of the Triwizard Tournament.

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Adeline looked up from her book when she heard the clunk of a heavy object on her bedside table. Harry stood by her bedside, still holding onto a dark brown pouch that was now resting on the small table next to her hospital bed. "It's yours."

When Adeline still stared at him, confused, Harry elaborated, "The Triwizard Winnings. We both won, and I really don't want it."

Adeline shook her head quickly. "No," She answered after a few seconds. "I'm not taking it."

"What, why–"

Adeline cut him off by shoving the bag of coins back towards Harry. "I don't want it or need it," She insisted. "You can find something to do with it. Just...make it good, okay?"

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The train ride back to Kings Cross station was more solemn than usual.

Of course, no one tried to make it serious. Everyone acted as normal as ever. George had his arm wrapped around Adeline's waist, and her back was pressed against his chest as they watched Melanie, Cedric, Estelle, and Ophelia participate in a heated Gobstones match. At the same time, George, Fred, and Lee were cracking jokes that had the whole cabin in stitches laughing.

At the same time, nobody could deny that things were much different now. The Wizarding World had changed, even if the Minister of Magic wasn't ready to acknowledge that yet. None of them knew what it was like to live in a world where Lord Voldemort was as powerful as he was thirteen years before.

But they would know soon enough.

George shifted a little in his seat, and Adeline noticed he was moving a little more to her left side so he could talk to her more easily. "Hey," He began quietly, not wanting the rest of the cabin to hear the conversation. "I have a question, if that's alright."

"More than alright. What is it?"

"Would you want to maybe spend part of the summer with me? At the Burrow?" George asked, starting to get a little nervous at the request. "My family loves you, and it won't be like you're intruding. Hermione will be coming by, and Harry will be too. You can come at the end of summer holidays, and we could head back to Hogwarts together."

The offer was a lot for Adeline to take in. Family was everything to George, and the thought of being let into their home was incredibly intimidating to Adeline.

However, the offer of spending at least part of her summer with George was too much to pass up on.

"I would love to," Adeline finally answered, truly beaming for one of the first time in the past few weeks.

George smiled softly and kissed her forehead, trying to not to show too much how happy he was that Adeline wanted to go to the Burrow with him.

The train pulled up at Platform 9 and 3/4s an hour or so later. Adeline held her friends a little tighter when she hugged than she had in the previous years when they had said goodbye. Maybe it was everything that had happened in the past few weeks alone, but Adeline hated the thought of leaving her friends for a couple of months more than usual this time – which was saying a lot.

Even Ophelia, who had always been the least affectionate and touchy out of the group, couldn't help but squeeze Adeline extra tight this time around in their goodbye hug. Melanie's hugs were as comforting as usual, but Adeline knew Melanie still felt a small amount of guilt over what happened, so she made sure to hold onto Melanie for an extra long period of time.

When Estelle reached over to hug her, she whispered in Adeline's ear, "Don't bottle things up, alright? I know you do this a lot, but I don't want you to hurt yourself even more in the process."

Adeline nodded, holding Estelle a little tighter before letting her go so she could go over to her waiting family, who looked a little nervous when they saw Estelle standing with Adeline.

A few seconds later, Adeline felt a tap on her shoulder. She then turned around to see Harry standing in front of her holding out a familiar burlap bag. "Harry," She sighed. "I told you a million times already that I won't accept the money."

"It's not for you," Harry responded quickly, piquing Adeline's interest. "But I figured out what to do with it, and I think you should help me."

Harry explained what he wanted to do with the money and what Fred and George had told him in his cabin a few hours before, and Adeline agreed without an ounce of hesitation.

"George!" Adeline yelled. "Fred! Can you guys come over here for a second?"

The twins lugged their trunks over to Adeline and Harry with questioning looks on their faces. Once they were there, Harry thrust the bag of Galleons into George's hands and said, "Take it."

"What?" Fred asked in a shocked voice, staring down at the bag with wide eyes.

"Take it," Adeline repeated in a firm voice. "Neither of us want it."

"Merlin, you two really have gone mental," George muttered.

"Listen," Harry began. "If you don't take it, I'm throwing it down the drain. Neither of us want it or need it. I don't know about Adeline, but I could do with a few laughs. We probably could all do with a few laughs."

"Harry's right," Adeline added. "I've got the feeling we're going to need them more than usual before long."

"Plus, I think we'd both prefer if you didn't get your money from blackmailing Ludo Bagman."

"Wait, hold on, blackmail–"

"Harry," George cut in as he weighed the bag of money in his hands. "There's got to be a thousand Galleons in here."

"Think about how many Canary Creams that is," Harry grinned. The twins looked like they were about to hand back the bag but Harry pulled out his hand. "Look, take it, or I'll hex you. I know some good ones now. Just do me one favor, okay? Buy Ron some different dress robes and say they're from you."

Harry turned around and left before Fred or George could say another word. Fred took the bag of Galleons out of George's hands, mumbling, "A thousand Galleons" over and over as he stuffed the bag into his trunk and began to make his way towards his family.

George turned to Adeline, the shocked expression never leaving his face. "You're actually serious?"

"Don't make me hex you. You're too cute to hex."

George let out a small chuckle. He couldn't seem to find the words for how thankful he was for Adeline and Harry. Instead, he hugged Adeline tightly and said, "I'm really going to miss you this summer."

"I'm going to miss you too," She responded. "I can't wait to go to the Burrow this summer."

"I can't wait for you to come spend the summer with me too," George responded with a grin as they pulled apart from the hug.

"We'll still write letters, right?" Adeline asked softly, interlacing her fingers with George and using her free hand to play with the end of her blue ribbon that was still tied around George's wrist. "Like last summer?"

"Didn't know you liked my love letters so much," George teased. "Might have to make them even cheesier than ever, just for you."

"I would absolutely love that. Although...I would like some answers as to whatever that blackmail thing was Harry was talking about."

"That was Fred's idea, not mine!" George protested.

"Mhm, alright," Adeline giggled. She believed that Fred was at the very least the mastermind behind that plan, but she didn't want George to think so just yet. "Anyways, I think this is the point where we have to say goodbye. I think your family is waiting for you."

George glanced over to see the giant crowd of redheads trying to sort out all their belongings. Ron was calling for their brother to "hurry up and stop snogging Adeline", but George rolled his eyes. "They can wait for a few seconds longer. Let me properly say goodbye."

He pulled Adeline behind one of the columns so that they were in a more private place before leaning down to kiss her. Adeline didn't care all the different students and families surrounding them, instead wrapping her arms around George's neck to deepen the kiss.

When George broke the kiss, he kept his forehead pressed against Adeline's. "I don't really want to say goodbye to you."

"It's not goodbye, alright? It's just 'see you later'."

George smiled softly at Adeline. "See you later then, Addie," He said before kissing her cheek one final time and leaving for his family.

Adeline waited until he was gone to push her cart through the platform barrier and exit on the Muggle side. However, Adeline wanted to turn around and jump back on the Hogwarts Express as she walked through the station and realized that she'd now have to face her family. Her parents had never been to Kings Cross for Adeline, usually only sending the family driver Mr. Taylor. He never knew where Adeline was going, just that she went to a private school that wasn't in her hometown.

Adeline found Mr. Taylor standing on his usual spot near the outside of the entrance to the train station. The driver's face dropped when he got a good look at Adeline. "Ms...Ms. Reyes...what on Earth happened to you?"

"I don't want to explain," Adeline muttered, averting her gaze to the ground. "Can we please just go home, if that's alright with you, Mr. Taylor?"

Adeline thought the trouble was over, but then she caught sight of her older sister Emily in the back seat, reading a book and clearly not noticing that her younger sister had arrived.

Emily heard someone sit down in the seat, and out of the corner of her eye, glanced up at her sister. She let out a noise of shock when she saw Adeline's face and questioned, "What on Earth happened to you, Adeline?"

Adeline didn't answer. Instead, her facial expression hardened a little bit as she pulled out a textbook from her backpack and began to read it, ignoring her sister's shocked expression that didn't leave her face the entire drive back to her family's home.

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a/n:

and...that's a wrap on part 2!!

that was significantly longer than part 1, but i feel like A LOT more happened in this section and i really hope you guys enjoyed it!!

also i accidentally published this chapter before it was completely finished/edited not once but TWICE i'm so sorry guys!!

i'll see you soon for the beginning of part 3!!

- g ♡