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Harry let out a sigh. "Let's keep this to ourselves first."

"Good idea." Blair said before the two of them climbed into the carriage. She kept on watching the silhouettes of the horses moving beyond the window.

"Did everyone see that Grubbly-Plank woman?" asked Ginny. "What's she doing back here? Hagrid can't have left, can he?"

"I'll be quite glad if he has —" said Luna.

"What?" said Blair, Harry, Hermione and Ginny angrily.

Blair raised an eyebrow at Ron, who cleared his throat and quickly said, "Erm... what do you mean, Luna?"

Luna simply chuckled. "I mean, I'll be quite glad if he has left to get food for the Thestrals and the other creatures here, but I hope he comes back."

Blair felt embarrassed for cutting Luna off and rubbed the back of her neck. "Sorry, Luna." Ginny, Harry and Hermione apologized as well.

Luna just smiled. "It's fine. It must be the Nargles."

While Blair, Harry, Hermione and Ginny exchanged confused looks, Ron was looking at Luna with a look of curiosity and amusement. Blair frowned when she was there were no lights on in Hagrid's cabin by the Forbidden Forest. The carriages jingled to a halt near the stone steps leading up to the oak front doors and Blair got out of the carriage last. She looked back at the strange skeletal creatures and frowned. Why couldn't Ron see them? Why could she, Harry and Luna see them?

"Blair!" Hermione called out.

Blair took one last glance at the creatures before running over to them. They joined the crowd hurrying up the stone steps into the castle. They entered the double doors, leading to the Great Hall and the start-of-term feast. Blair looked around and saw the students talking eagerly to each other. Then, she noticed people whispering as she and Harry passed. Blair clenched her jaw and tried to act as if she didn't care.

"This is where I stop. Bye everyone. See you later, Blair, Ginny, Ron." Luna waved as she went towards the Ravenclaw table.

Ron's eyes widened before a smile made its way onto his face. "She called my name." Ginny left to sit with her friends while Blair, Harry, Ron and Hermione sat down with Neville. 

"Hi Blair!" Parvati and Lavender greeted her. Blair raised an eyebrow at how high their tone was as if they had been talking about her and Harry.

Blair stiffly nodded at them. "Hey."

Blair then looked over the students' heads to the staff table. "He's not here."

"He can't have left," said Ron, sounding slightly anxious.

"Of course he hasn't," said Harry firmly.

"You don't think he's... hurt, or anything, do you?" said Hermione uneasily.

"No," said Harry at once.

"But where is he, then?" Hermione asked quietly.

Blair leaned in and said very quietly so that no one could overhear them, "Maybe he's not back yet. You know — from his mission — the thing he was doing over the summer for Dumbledore."

"Yeah... yeah, that'll be it," said Ron, sounding reassured. Harry nodded along.

"Who's that?" Hermione said sharply, pointing toward the middle of the staff table.

Blair looked towards where she was pointing, and her eyes widened. "The Bill Ferret!" Harry and Hermione laughed while Ron looked confused.

Harry cleared his throat and said seriously. "It's the Umbridge woman. She was at our hearing, she works for Fudge."

"Nice cardigan," said Ron, smirking.

"I wonder if she'd like it in a different color." Blair said. She grinned mischievously while Ron chuckled at her.

"She works for Fudge?" Hermione repeated, frowning. "What on earth's she doing here, then?"

"Dunno..." Blair shrugged.

Hermione scanned the staff table, her eyes narrowed. "No," she muttered, "no, surely not..." Blair was about to ask her what was she talking about when she saw Seamus and Dean all the way down the table. She was about to wave to them, but Seamus wouldn't even look her way. Dean looked at Seamus and muttered something to him before smiling and waving at Blair, who weakly waved back. She shook her head and turned her attention to the first years. She had to talk to Seamus and Dean later. 

Mr. Hat sat on its usual stool then the rip near the hat's brim opened wide like a mouth and the Sorting Hat burst into song:

In times of old when I was new

And Hogwarts barely started

The founders of our noble school

Thought never to be parted:

United by a common goal,

They had the selfsame yearning,

To make the world's best magic school

And pass along their learning.

"Together we will build and teach!"

The four good friends decided

And never did they dream that they

Might someday be divided,

For were there such friends anywhere

As Slytherin and Gryffindor?

Unless it was the second pair

Of Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw?

So how could it have gone so wrong?

How could such friendships fail?

Why, I was there and so can tell

The whole sad, sorry tale.

Said Slytherin, "We'll teach just those

Whose ancestry is purest."

Said Ravenclaw, "We'll teach those whose

Intelligence is surest."

Said Gryffindor, "We'll teach all those

With brave deeds to their name,"

Said Hufflepuff, "I'll teach the lot,

And treat them just the same."

These differences caused little strife

When first they came to light,

For each of the four founders had

A House in which they might

Take only those they wanted, so,

For instance, Slytherin

Took only pure-blood wizards

Of great cunning, just like him,

And only those of sharpest mind

Were taught by Ravenclaw

While the bravest and the boldest

Went to daring Gryffindor.

Good Hufflepuff she took the rest,

And taught them all she knew,

Thus the Houses and their founders

Retained friendships firm and true.

So Hogwarts worked in harmony

For several happy years,

But then discord crept among us

Feeding on our faults and fears.

The Houses that, like pillars four,

Had once held up our school,

Now turned upon each other and,

Divided, sought to rule.

And for a while it seemed the school

Must meet an early end,

What with dueling and with fighting

And the clash of friend on friend

And at last there came a morning

When old Slytherin departed

And though the fighting then died out

He left us quite downhearted.

And never since the founders four

Were whittled down to three

Have the Houses been united

As they once were meant to be.

And now the Sorting Hat is here

And you all know the score:

I sort you into Houses

Because that is what I'm for,

But this year I'll go further,

Listen closely to my song:

Though condemned I am to split you

Still I worry that it's wrong,

Though I must fulfill my duty

And must quarter every year

Still I wonder whether sorting

May not bring the end I fear.

Oh, know the perils, read the signs,

The warning history shows,

For our Hogwarts is in danger

From external, deadly foes

And we must unite inside her

Or we'll crumble from within.

I have told you, I have warned you...

Let the Sorting now begin.

Mr. Hat became motionless once more; applause broke out, though it was punctured, for the first time in Blair's memory, with muttering and whispers. All across the Great Hall students were exchanging remarks with their neighbors and Blair, clapping along with everyone else, knew exactly what they were talking about.

"Branched out a bit this year, hasn't it?" said Ron, his eyebrows raised.

"Too right it has," said Harry.

"Even Mr. Hat knows something is wrong," Blair sighed deeply. She could not remember it trying to give the school advice before.

"I wonder if it's ever given warnings before?" said Hermione, sounding slightly anxious.

"Yes, indeed," said Nearly Headless Nick knowledgeably. "The hat feels itself honor-bound to give the school due warning whenever it feels —"

But Professor McGonagall, who was waiting to read out the list of first years' names, was giving the whispering students the sort of look that scorches. Nearly Headless Nick placed a see-through finger to his lips and sat primly upright again as the muttering came to an abrupt end. As the sorting started with Abercrombie and ended with Zeller, Blair kept on glancing towards the staff table, the hat and Dean and Seamus. Her mind was all over the place. She didn't know what to think of first.

Professor McGonagall picked up the hat and stool and marched them away as Professor Dumbledore rose to his feet. Blair was surprised that she felt relieved to see her headmaster. She felt none of the former bitter feelings and smiled. At least, there was a bit of normal in the start of the year.

"To our newcomers," said Dumbledore in a ringing voice, his arms stretched wide and a beaming smile on his lips, "welcome! To our old hands — welcome back! There is a time for speech making, but this is not it. Tuck in!"

There was an appreciative laugh and an outbreak of applause as Dumbledore sat down neatly and threw his long beard over his shoulder so as to keep it out of the way of his plate — for food had appeared out of nowhere, so that the five long tables were groaning under joints and pies and dishes of vegetables, bread, sauces, and flagons of pumpkin juice.

"Excellent," said Blair as she, Ron and Harry piled their plates with food, watched wistfully by Nearly Headless Nick.

"What were you saying before the Sorting?" Hermione asked the ghost. "About the hat giving warnings?"

"Oh yes," said Nick. "Yes, I have heard the hat give several warnings before, always at times when it detects periods of great danger for the school. And always, of course, its advice is the same: Stand together, be strong from within."

"Ow kunnit nofe skusin danger ifzat?" said Ron.

"I beg your pardon?" said Nearly Headless Nick politely, while Hermione looked revolted.

Ron gave an enormous swallow and said, "How can it know if the school's in danger if it's a hat?"

"I have no idea," said Nearly Headless Nick. "Of course, it lives in Dumbledore's office, so I daresay it picks things up there."

"And it wants all the Houses to be friends?" said Harry, looking over at the Slytherin table, where Malfoy was holding court. "Fat chance."

Blair snorted. "I don't think people would even want to be friends with me this year."

"Well, now, you shouldn't take that attitude," said Nick reprovingly. "Peaceful cooperation, that's the key. We ghosts, though we belong to separate Houses, maintain links of friendship. In spite of the competitiveness between Gryffindor and Slytherin, I would never dream of seeking an argument with the Bloody Baron."

"Only because you're terrified of him," said Ron.

Nearly Headless Nick looked highly affronted. "Terrified? I hope I, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington, have never been guilty of cowardice in my life! The noble blood that runs in my veins —"

"What blood?" asked Ron. "Surely you haven't still got — ?"

"It's a figure of speech!" said Nearly Headless Nick, now so annoyed his head was trembling ominously on his partially severed neck. "I assume I am still allowed to enjoy the use of whichever words I like, even if the pleasures of eating and drinking are denied me! But I am quite used to students poking fun at my death, I assure you!"

"Nick, he wasn't really laughing at you!" said Hermione, throwing a furious look at Ron.

Unfortunately, Ron's mouth was packed to exploding point again and all he could manage was "node iddum eentup sechew," which Nick did not seem to think constituted an adequate apology. Nick glared at him before going to rest between the Creevey brothers.

"Well done, Ron," snapped Hermione.

"What?" said Ron indignantly, having managed, finally, to swallow his food. "I'm not allowed to ask a simple question?"

Blair shook his head at him. "You made Nick and my Granger mad, you git. No wonder Luna doesn't like you."

Ron glared at her while Hermione blushed before rolling her eyes, and there was silence as they kept on eating. Blair tried looking towards Seamus and Dean again and smiled slightly when she saw Seamus laughing with Dean.

When all the students had finished eating and the noise level in the hall was starting to creep upward again, Dumbledore got to his feet once more. Talking ceased immediately as all turned to face the headmaster. Blair couldn't wait for him to finish. She wanted to talk to Dean and Seamus and go sleep in her camp bed, so soft and warm...

"Well, now that we are all digesting another magnificent feast, I beg a few moments of your attention for the usual start-of-term notices," said Dumbledore. "First years ought to know that the forest in the grounds is out of bounds to students — and a few of our older students ought to know by now too." Blair, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged smirks.

"Mr. Filch, the caretaker, has asked me, for what he tells me is the four hundred and sixty-second time, to remind you all that magic is not permitted in corridors between classes, nor are a number of other things, all of which can be checked on the extensive list now fastened to Mr. Filch's office door.

"We have had two changes in staffing this year. We are very pleased to welcome back Professor Grubbly-Plank, who will be taking Care of Magical Creatures lessons; we are also delighted to introduce Professor Umbridge, our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher." There was a round of polite but fairly unenthusiastic applause during which Blair, Harry, Ron, and Hermione exchanged slightly panicked looks; Dumbledore had not said for how long Grubbly-Plank would be teaching.

Dumbledore continued, "Tryouts for the House Quidditch teams will take place on the —" He broke off, looking inquiringly at Professor Umbridge. Blair looked at Umbridge with wide eyes. Nobody interrupted Dumbledore, and this Bill Ferret would do that?

Professor Umbridge said, "Hem, hem," and it became clear that she had got to her feet and was intending to make a speech. Dumbledore only looked taken aback for a moment, then he sat back down smartly and looked alertly at Professor Umbridge as though he desired nothing better than to listen to her talk. 

Other members of staff were not as adept at hiding their surprise. Professor Sprout's eyebrows had disappeared into her flyaway hair, and Professor McGonagall's mouth was as thin as Blair had ever seen it. Many of the students were smirking; this woman obviously did not know how things were done at Hogwarts.

"Thank you, Headmaster," Professor Umbridge simpered, "for those kind words of welcome. Hem, hem. Well, it is lovely to be back at Hogwarts, I must say!" She smiled, revealing very pointed teeth. "And to see such happy little faces looking back at me!"

"I think she needs her eyes checked," said Blair lowly. But it was so silent that everyone in the hall heard her. Some quiet giggles and laughs rose while Umbridge glared at Blair, who winked at her.

"I am very much looking forward to getting to know you all, and I'm sure we'll be very good friends!" Students exchanged looks at this; some of them were barely concealing grins.

"I'll be her friend as long as I don't have to borrow that cardigan," Parvati whispered to Lavender, and both of them lapsed into silent giggles. Professor Umbridge cleared her throat again ("Hem, hem"), but when she continued, she sounded much more businesslike and now her words had a dull learned-by-heart sound to them.

"The Ministry of Magic has always considered the education of young witches and wizards to be of vital importance. The rare gifts with which you were born may come to nothing if not nurtured and honed by careful instruction. The ancient skills unique to the Wizarding community must be passed down through the generations lest we lose them forever. The treasure trove of magical knowledge amassed by our ancestors must be guarded, replenished, and polished by those who have been called to the noble profession of teaching."

Professor Umbridge paused here and made a little bow to her fellow staff members, none of whom bowed back. Professor McGonagall's dark eyebrows had contracted so that she looked positively hawklike, and Blair had to stifle her laughter when she saw her exchange glances with Professor Sprout.

"Hem, hem. Every headmaster and headmistress of Hogwarts has brought something new to the weighty task of governing this historic school, and that is as it should be, for without progress there will be stagnation and decay. There again, progress for progress's sake must be discouraged, for our tried and tested traditions often require no tinkering. A balance, then, between old and new, between permanence and change, between tradition and innovation..."

Blair clapped her hand over her mouth to prevent herself from yawning. Most students were now whispering and giggling. Well, Hermione seemed to be drinking in every word Umbridge spoke, but the words were not at all to her taste, judging by her expression. Umbridge did not seem to notice the restlessness of her audience. Blair was surprised to see the teachers listening very attentively.

"...because some changes will be for the better, while others will come, in the fullness of time, to be recognized as errors of judgment. Meanwhile, some old habits will be retained, and rightly so, whereas others, outmoded and outworn, must be abandoned. Let us move forward, then, into a new era of openness, effectiveness, and accountability, intent on preserving what ought to be preserved, perfecting what needs to be perfected, and pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited."

She sat down. Dumbledore clapped. The staff followed his lead, though Blair noticed that several of them brought their hands together only once or twice before stopping. A few students joined in, but most had been taken unawares by the end of the speech, not having listened to more than a few words of it, and before they could start applauding properly, Dumbledore had stood up again. "Thank you very much, Professor Umbridge, that was most illuminating," he said, bowing to her. "Now — as I was saying, Quidditch tryouts will be held..."

"Yes, it certainly was illuminating," said Hermione in a low voice.

"You're not telling me you enjoyed it?" Ron said quietly. "That was about the dullest speech I've ever heard, and I grew up with Percy."

"I said illuminating, not enjoyable," said Hermione. "It explained a lot."

"Did it?" said Blair in surprise. "Sounded like a load of waffle to me."

"There was some important stuff hidden in the waffle," said Hermione grimly.

"Was there?" said Harry blankly.

"How about 'progress for progress's sake must be discouraged'? How about 'pruning wherever we find practices that ought to be prohibited'?"

"Well, what does that mean?" said Ron impatiently.

"I'll tell you what it means," said Hermione ominously. "It means the Ministry's interfering at Hogwarts." There was a great clattering and banging all around them; Dumbledore had obviously just dismissed the school, because everyone was standing up ready to leave the Hall. 

Hermione jumped up, looking flustered. "Ron, we're supposed to show the first years where to go!"

"Oh yeah," said Ron, who had obviously forgotten. "Hey — hey you lot! Midgets!"

"Ron!"

"Well, they are, they're titchy..."

"I know, but you can't call them midgets... First years!" Hermione called commandingly along the table. "This way, please!"

Blair whispered to Harry. "That's my future girlfriend. I love her bossy side."

Harry snickered at her as they waved to Ron and Hermione before making their way out of the Great Hall. There were whispers, stares and points as they passed, but Blair and Harry kept their eyes fixed ahead. They went through the shortcuts to leave the crowds behind and silently made their way towards the Gryffindor common room.

Blair had been expecting this. She and Harry faced Voldemort and saw her parents died, but she knew that most believed the Daily Prophet and thought her parents died because of some tragic accident. Blair scoffed at the thought. Her parents wouldn't be brought down that easily. They were fighters and Gryffindors, no matter what they would face. They reached the portrait of the Fat Lady and looked at each other, not knowing the new password.

"Er..." Harry said glumly.

"No password, no entrance," The Fat Lady said loftily.

"Blair, Harry, I know it!" someone panted from behind them, and Blair turned to see Neville jogging toward them. "Guess what it is? I'm actually going to be able to remember it for once —" He waved the stunted little cactus he had shown them on the train. "Mimbulus mimbletonia!"

"Correct," said the Fat Lady, and her portrait swung open toward them like a door.

"Nice one, Gramen." Blair said appreciatively as they climbed through the hole. Blair rolled her eyes when she saw Fred and George pinning something up on the notice board. She waved good night to them as she followed Harry and Neville to the boys dormitory.

"Ignis! Tranqs!" Blair was about to run to Dean and Seamus when they stopped abruptly the moment they saw Blair and Harry. Blair frowned when Seamus avoided her eyes and Dean sent her a small smile. She felt Neville hold her hand, but she was still looking at Dean and Seamus.

Harry squeezed her shoulder before he walked past her to his bed. "Hi."

"Hey, Blair, Harry," said Dean. "Good holiday?"

"Not bad," muttered Blair, feeling a sudden ache in her chest. "You?"

Dean hesitated and exchanged glances with Neville before nodding. "Yeah, it was okay. Better than Seamus's anyway."

Blair stared at Seamus. "Why? What happened, Shay?"

Seamus did not answer immediately then he said, with his back now turned to Blair, "Me mam didn't want me to come back."

Blair's eyes widened. "What?"

"She didn't want me to come back to Hogwarts." Seamus said, still not looking at her or Harry.

"But — why?" said Harry, astonished.

Seamus did not answer until he had finished buttoning his pajamas. "Well," he said in a measured voice, "I suppose... because of you two." Blair felt her stomach dropping. Her heart was beating fast. It couldn't be. Seamus was one of her friends. Surely, he wouldn't believe the Daily Prophet. He believed that Blair didn't put her name in the Goblet of Fire.

"What d'you mean?" said Harry quickly.

"Well," said Seamus again, still avoiding their eyes, "she... er... well, it's not just you, it's Dumbledore too..."

"She believes the Daily Prophet?" said Harry. "She thinks we're liars and Dumbledore's an old fool?"

Seamus looked up at Harry, but not at Blair. "Yeah, something like that." Blair clenched her fists, but she didn't have a chance to say anything because Seamus spoke again.

"Look... what did happen that night when... you know, when... with Mr. and Mrs. Wood and all?" Seamus sounded nervous and eager at the same time. Everyone in the room stopped and all but Seamus were staring at Blair and Harry.

Blair felt her chest aching more as she spoke dangerously. "Do you really think that I'm damaged? That I led my parents to their deaths? That they were killed in a tragic accident? Do you and your mother seriously believe the stupid Daily Prophet?" 

Seamus looked up at her, eyes flashing. "So what if we do?"

Blair glared back at him. "I lost my parents that night. I lost them to Voldemort!" Everyone but Harry flinched.

Seamus scoffed. "Again with him? You probably imagined it. You-"

"YOU ARSE! HOW WOULD HARRY AND I IMAGINE MY MOTHER AND FATHER DYING? YOU'RE SUCH AN INSENSITIVE GIT. I WOULDN'T LIE ABOUT HOW MY PARENTS DIED. I SAW THEM DIE RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME." Blair yelled at him. It was tense as Seamus and Blair glared at each other.

Harry took a deep breath before saying coldly. "Why'd you even ask us? Just read the Daily Prophet like your mother, why don't you? That'll tell you all you need to know."

"Don't you have a go at my mother," snapped Seamus.

"I'll have a go at anyone who calls us liars," said Harry.

"Don't talk to me like that!"

"I'll talk to you how I want," said Harry, his temper rising. "If you've got a problem sharing a dormitory with me, go and ask McGonagall if you can be moved, stop your mummy worrying —"

"Leave my mother out of this, Potter!"

"What's going on?" Ron had appeared in the doorway. His wide eyes travelled at the people across the room.

"He's having a go at my mother!" Seamus yelled.

"What?" said Ron. "Harry wouldn't do that — we met your mother, we liked her..."

"That's before she started believing every word the stinking Daily Prophet writes about us!" said Blair at the top of her voice.

"Oh," said Ron, comprehension dawning across his freckled face. "Oh... right."

"You know what?" said Seamus heatedly, casting Blair and Harry venomous looks. "They're right, I don't want to share a dormitory with him anymore, he's a madman." He glared at Blair. "And you, get out of here. Don't sleep here, don't talk to me. Stay away from me."

"That's out of order, Seamus," said Ron, whose ears were starting to glow red, always a danger sign.

"Out of order, am I?" shouted Seamus, who in contrast with Ron was turning paler. "You believe all the rubbish they've come out with about You-Know-Who, do you, you reckon they're telling the truth?"

"Yeah, I do!" said Ron angrily.

"Then you're mad too," said Seamus in disgust.

"Yeah? Well unfortunately for you, pal, I'm also a prefect!" said Ron, jabbing himself in the chest with a finger. "So unless you want detention, watch your mouth!" Seamus glared at him then he looked at Blair with a hint of guilt before steeling his eyes again.

Blair glared back at him. "I'll stay away. I won't sleep in a room with this idiot. But remember this, Finnigan. You're losing a friend tonight all because of your stupid fears. And I thought you were a Gryffindor. Bloody coward." 

Seamus looked as if he wanted to say something else, but he turned on his heel and pulled the hangings shut. Dean squeezed Blair's arm before whispering. "I'm sorry, Blair. It'll get better." He patted her on the arm before going to his own bed.

"My gran says that's rubbish," piped up Neville while wrapping an arm around Blair. "She says it's the Daily Prophet that's going downhill, not Dumbledore. She's canceled our subscription. We believe Blair and Harry," he said, directing his sentence to Seamus. "My gran's always said You-Know-Who would come back one day. She says if Dumbledore says he's back, he's back."

Blair smiled at Harry, Ron, Neville and Dean weakly and bid them good night. She left the room and ran to the girls' dormitory. She didn't care about the whispers and stares of Lavender, Parvati and Fay or the surprised look Hermione had.

Blair quickly changed into her pajamas and lay back on her pillows, still shaken by her argument with Seamus. Seamus, her best friend, didn't believe her and Harry. How many more people would think they were lying too? How many more people would constantly remind her of her parents' deaths?

Blair was shaken out of her thoughts when Hermione came into her view. Hermione stood over her. "Can I sleep beside you?"

Blair blushed slightly before nodding and making space for her. Hermione smiled gratefully as she slipped in beside Blair. Blair stared back at the ceiling but turned back to Hermione when she felt Hermione intertwine their fingers.

"Are you all right, Blair?" Hermione softly said. 

Blair hesitated before she caught sight of Lavender, Parvati and Fay, trying to listen in. She rolled her eyes and waved her hand. "Muffliato." 

Blair saw Hermione's surprised expression. "What is it?"

"You know wandless magic?" Hermione said with a hint of amazement.

Blair blinked before shaking her head. "No. I-I don't know." She felt surprised as well. She hadn't even learned wandless magic yet.

Hermione stared at her then spoke. "What happened, Blair? Why are you feeling so down?"

Blair looked at her and without hesitance, she immediately told Hermione about what happened in the boys' dormitory. How Seamus didn't believe her at all and how he thought her parents were killed in an accident. As she was telling the story, tears fell out of her eyes.

When she finished, Hermione smiled sadly before wiping away Blair's tears. "Maybe, you and him need time away from each other, Blair. Not everyone is as brave as you. Even I am scared that You-Know-Who is back."

Blair sighed shakily. "But, you believe me, right, Mione?"

Hermione's heart broke at how small the confident Chaser was. She pulled the tall girl into her arms and let her cry. "I believe you, Blair. I'll always believe you, and like I said before, I'm not leaving you."

Blair calmed down slightly and wiped away her tears as she smiled at Hermione. "Thank you, Mione."

Blair looked as if she wanted to say something, but she closed her eyes and hugged the girl back, feeling content and happy. The two girls basked in each other's embrace with the same thought in their heads. The feelings they had but could not say.

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