The weather is surprisingly happy for such a desolate day.

Today is the day we turn to Hogwarts, the day of my seventh year. My blue Wizarding robes are firmly attached to my shoulders, and my eyes are narrowed as I sit on my bed, playing with the straps on my trunk.

Stitched on the top is my name in black: Anne Potter. I had finished packing a few days ago, and after adding my essentials, I zipped it up. Now, I am staring, regretting all my decisions. If I don't go, I could get hurt, but so could everyone else still attending.

But if I go, I could die. Especially after rejecting Draco's offer, his "You've changed," circling inside my mind as my heart beats faster. What if he wants to specifically murder me because I said no then?

But deep down, I know that my answer still hasn't changed.

My time with Remus, Tonks, Emmeline, Mary, and Susan was short. I haven't seen Susan since she left our house after the attack at the Weasley's. I haven't seen Ginny, Harry, and their friends since the attack, either. To be safe, I haven't touched my mirror, which I've safely stowed in my trunk, just in case Harry was doing something important. Or maybe I'm just avoiding him and the fact that my brother may actually care now.

Speaking of caring, I think I've gotten better at it.

Together, Remus and I took our tattered relationship and slowly sewed it back together. Remus and I finally went to the park the other day, his hand in mine, and he told me everything, about Tonks, about what he told Harry, and his own fears of hurting me. Even though Tonks is pregnant ━━━ which I'm incredibly happy about ━━━ Remus even asked Harry to go with him on my brother's perilous quest, who thankfully sent him back. Remus, now, realizes that he was in the wrong. He told me it all.

And I told him all that I felt.

"You are brave, Anne," he had said, hugging me. "You've always been."

I am not. But this year, I can be.

Grabbing my trunk, I get up from my bed and walk downstairs.

It's time.

. . .

After saying goodbye to my family, I'm now sitting in a carriage, all by myself. It's the same as usual, but my heart cannot stop erratically beating, my blood curling as I sit down.

Maybe it's because I'm back.

Maybe it's because Draco is here.

Maybe it's because I know for a fact that this school year will be torture.

Sighing, I lean back on my seat, twirling a pen in my hands as a sketchbook lays in my lap. It's the same as always. Loneliness always lurks near me, and it's how it'll ━━━

"May I sit here?"

I look up, my eyes wide as a girl stands outside the compartment. Her dark hair flows beyond her shoulders, stopping at her waist. Her Hogwarts uniform ━━━ she's a Slytherin, apparently ━━━ is already on, a Prefect badge pinned to her robes.

She's the girl who dueled Greybeck.

"My name is Astoria," she'd whispered, her eyes dark and her face damp. "Astoria Greengrass."

I give her a nod, hoping that my shock is hidden well enough. "Of course, Astoria."

Her face breaks out into a beam, and she takes the seat across from me, settling her trunk in front of her.

"Would you like a sweet?" she asks, pulling out a couple from her bag. "My mum made these yesterday, and I thought I could share them."

I nod, hoping that I don't appear aloof. "Sure."

She hands one to me, and I bite into it, the tangy and delicious flavor floating in my mouth. An automatic smile forms on my mouth, and I relax, chewing softly.

"It's really good," I murmur. "Tell your mum that I said thanks."

She laughs. "Definitely. Sweets are my favorite things in the world, so if my mum gets a good review, she may cook them again. And they're always so delicious ..."

"Which one's your favorite?" I ask inquisitively, watching her expression.

She doesn't shift, or turn away, or grimace; she only smiles like a fairy, like an angel. My gut doesn't squirm and my neck doesn't throb. I've learned to trust my mind, never ignoring the warning signs, and she gives me none.

"I love Pumpkin Pasties."

I almost gasp.

In the summer, Emmeline's Pumpkin Pasties stash had always found its way into my mouth ... somehow. Even though food itself used to cause my stomach to feel queasy and turbulent, Remus, Emmeline, and Mary slowly guided me ━━━ and now, I can eat food without feeling like I'm unjustly rewarding myself.

I sit up straight, suddenly energized. "Those are my utter favorites. The way it melts in your mouth ━━━"

"And the flavor!" Astoria exclaims, vigorously nodding. "If I had all the money in the world, I'd spend it all on them ..."

We lock eyes, a sense of understanding passing through them.

"We'll become rich," I decide. "After all of this, we'll become rich and start a ..."

"Makeup empire," she says, nodding. "And we'll use all our profits for sweets."

"That's a perfect plan. I approve."

"May I join your empire?" An amused Susan leans on the compartment door, a smirk curling on her pretty face. "Hello, Potter. Greengrass."

My stomach churns as I give her a wave. She's still using my last name.

Astoria smiles pleasantly. "Bones. Pleasure to see you here."

Susan nods, walking in the compartment and seating herself next to me, smoothing her uniform out. A prefect badge shines brightly on her uniform, as well.

Realization dawns on me. "Don't you two have a prefect meeting?"

"It's finished," Susan says, sighing. "They just said to patrol the corridors ━━━ and it's only the Slytherin ones that get any power."

Astoria blows out a breath. "I wish I could do something."

"You can't," Susan states, like it is final, which it is. "Even you don't have true power."

I nod. "None of us do."

The mood grows somber, our sweet empire forgotten. A determined look replaces Astoria's uncertain one, and the fifth year clenches her fists.

"I'll help you," she decides. "They're going to favor the Slytherins. The first years won't know what they're walking into. No one will."

Susan and I exchange glances.

Astoria frowns. "You are doing something, right?"

"We are."

Ginny, Luna, and Neville walk in. I've never talked to the latter, but even I can tell that he looks more different this year. In all out other years, Neville's shoulders were slumped, and he looked like he wanted to hide from the world ━━━ like me. Now, he kind of looks like my brother.

He glances at me. There's no hatred in his expression, only rage. I know his anger is directed at the world, for tearing him down.

I nod at him, grim.

"Listen," Ginny says quietly, yet her voice commands my attention. "We're either all in this, or you can leave."

No one moves. A smile blooms on Ginny's freckled face.

"I doubt a group of school children can make a difference," Susan reasons, breaking the silence as she plays with the jasmine flowers in her hair. "But I'd love to hear your ideas."

Ginny frowns. "There is plenty we could do, actually ━━━"

"Susan didn't mean it in a bad way," I cut in, ignoring the way my shoulder tingles as it brushes against hers. "She's being realistic. And that's what we need."

"Oh?" Susan murmurs, brushing her fingers against mine.

I clear my throat, blood rushing to my cheeks. "But optimism doesn't hurt, either. There's six of us. We could do plenty: giving out food, training ━━━"

"Graffiting," Astoria cuts in, smiling innocently when I raise a brow. "It sends a message."

"We could release Blibbering Humdingers on the Death Eaters," Luna says, looking thoughtful. "Or, perhaps ━━━"

"Erm ━━━ Luna," Neville starts.

"That's not going to help the students," Ginny says hastily. "But I'm glad everyone has ideas. This can work."

My stomach tumbles. I'm not afraid, but the idea of opposing Draco and facing his wrath leaves me unsettled.

Susan hums, intertwining her fingers with mine. She squeezes once, not glancing my way.

"It will," Neville states strongly. "We'll make a difference."

I squeeze back, trying to hide my giddy smile.

"For sure," Astoria murmurs. "But if we're doing this, then we need a name."

Neville coughs.

"Dumbledore's Army, again?" I ask, amused. I remember participating, hanging by a thread, and being captured.

"Perhaps something different," Astoria suggests. "Not all of us were a part of it. May I suggest the Resistance?"

"It sounds professional," Luna muses, her dreamy voice soft.

"I like it," I say finally, and the others nod.

"It's decided." Neville's lips are set into a thin line. "We're the Resistance. We'll stop whatever the hell they throw at us."