A/N: Well, this is it, the last chapter of Crossing Hearts! Let me know what you think of the story or if you have any critiques for part 2!

SEQUEL NOW POSTED: EVOLVING HEARTS

Thank you for reading! :) & without further ado...

Soon, But Not Soon Enough

I sat with my legs crossed underneath me at the foot of Hermione's bed in the hospital wing. A couple of hours ago, I'd woken up in my own bed only suffering from a concussion that was easily healed with magic. Hermione's injuries from the stunning spell she'd been hit with would require her to stay a couple more days here, and Ron still had his own bed from a Lunacy hex. Nearby in chairs Luna, Neville, and Ginny sat, similar to myself, their wounds easily fixed by magic.

Hermione stirred and opened her eyes. She'd been in and out of consciousness since I'd woken up. Looking around, she seemed unsatisfied. "Still no Harry?" her voice was hoarse.

I shook my head, "Still no Harry."

We sat in silence a while longer. Madam Pomphrey returned to Ron's bedside and forced him to drink more of some dark colored potion.

I looked around the wing, aside from the six of us there was only more occupant: Umbridge. She was babbling on crazily about centaurs and I darkly wondered to myself why anyone even bothered to save her from the forest. I let my gaze drift to the table beside Hermione's bed. A copy of the Daily Prophet was present and reported of Voldemort's return and the arrest of several Death Eaters. After I had been knocked unconscious, Voldemort appeared and was seen by Ministry officials as they showed up for work early in the morning.

Since I'd been awake, I'd fought hard not to think of Draco or his father. Thinking about seeing his father in the dark room sent a chill up my spine, but the Prophecy article made me realize that his father may have been one of the Death Eaters arrested.

I heard a creak and turned to see the doors of the wing opening. Harry walked in towards us and I watched as Luna and Ginny took turns hugging him. About an hour ago, we'd been told that Sirius didn't make it out of the Ministry, and it showed on Harry's face. His skin was white and his eyes looked hollow. Hermione reached up from her place in the bed to hug Harry and I reached out and rubbed his arm.

"I'm glad you're all okay," he spoke, his voice flat. No one said anything for a moment. I gulped and realized my throat was dry.

"Are you… Are you all right?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded. Another moment of silence passed as I watched the sadness in Harry's eyes. A year ago, that had been me. "I need to go see Hagrid, I just came to check on all of you," Harry didn't look at us as he spoke and he turned around and walked out quickly.

I stood up from the bed. "I'm going to go with him," I made eye contact with Hermione and she gave me an encouraging nod. Leaving the wing, I didn't see Harry anymore so I just began walking towards the nearest exit of the castle in a quick pace. Finally, up ahead of me quite some ways, I could see Harry walking. I followed him out of the castle but noticed that instead of turning towards Hagrid's hut, he walked towards the lake. I slowed my pace, wondering if he was wanting time alone. Remembering my own grief after my grandmother passed away, I decided I would at least make sure.

I continued to follow Harry from a distance and watched as he sat down on the grass on the edge of the lake. Slowly, I made my way towards him. I knew he must have heard me, but he never acknowledged my arrival and I sat down next to him. "Is it all right if I keep you company?" I asked quietly. Harry nodded. I took a deep breath. "I can't compare our lives, but my grandmother was my best friend. Losing her was the hardest thing I've ever gone through. I know that you have a lot more on your mind and, like I said, our situations aren't the same, but I'm hear if you need me," I looked at Harry as I spoke. He waited a moment and then looked at me. "We don't have to talk," I added, "I just wanted you to know."

"Thank you," his voice sounded small.

I put one of my hands on Harry's back in the most comforting way I could manage and rested my head on his shoulder. After a moment, I felt the pressure of his own head on top of mine. I moved my hand up and down, wondering what Harry was thinking or feeling. I felt his body make a few quick, heaving motions and realized that he was crying. With my free hand, I grabbed one of his and gripped it tightly. I couldn't say anything, so instead I let Harry cry with me and knew that I would sit there with him as long as he needed me.

I walked down castle corridor with Hermione bymy side. Yesterday, she and Ron had been released from the hospital and tomorrow we would board the Express to leave Hogwarts. In the days since the incident at the Ministry, Harry had only walked around the castle in a somber state – hardly speaking and hardly eating. Hermione consistently pushed Harry to talk about Sirius until yesterday when Ron and I finally told her to stop.

We turned a corner, getting closer to the Great Hall. It wasn't time for a meal quite yet, but we had decided to head down early to see people and start saying goodbyes. In an unspoken understanding, Hermione and I were also both wondering if this was where Harry might be since we hadn't seen him all day. As we got closer, I began to hear laughter. Not soft or gentle, but loud jeering laughter from a large group. I looked over at Hermione who returned my questioning glance. Wordlessly, we quickened our pace. We reached the top of the stairs to the Entrance Hall to see students gathered around the entrance to the castle and some still running out of the Great Hall to peek at the commotion. Umbridge was running towards the doors with her belongings. Most memorably, though, Peeves was floating above her – chasing her out of the castle while hitting her with a stick. I laughed as I watched the students cheer Peeves on. Fred would be proud, I thought to myself.

Once Umbridge exited, the students erupted into cheers for a few moments before heading back into the Great Hall. I smiled and, had the circumstances around the last few days been better, I might have felt a similar sense of pride as I had on the day Fred and George left Hogwarts and students rallied around them in support. I looked over at Hermione, but she didn't look at me. Instead, she was watching the students on the ground below us with a grim look.

We walked down the stairs together and headed towards the doorway into the Great Hall.

"Taylor?" I turned when I heard someone say my name. It was Ginny, standing nervously a few feet away, "Can we talk?"

I turned back towards Hermione, "You can head in without me." Hermione nodded and walked into the Great Hall, leaving me alone near the entrance with Ginny. I looked back at her nervously. A couple of days ago we'd sat around Ron and Hermione's beds in the Hospital Wing together and near each other at a meal yesterday, but we hadn't spoken since she announced that she didn't trust me in the woods on our way to the Ministry. I looked at her, waiting for her to speak first.

"I just wanted to say," Ginny started, looking at the floor between us, "that I'm sorry. I hope you aren't upset with her, but Hermione told me about the situation with Malfoy and… I shouldn't have jumped to judge you."

I nodded as she finished speaking, "You don't have to apologize, it was understandable. But thank you, Ginny." Ginny smiled at me in return. "Want to head in with me?" I motioned behind me towards the Great Hall.

"I was actually on my way out," Ginny answered, "Heading up to get some packing done before dinner."

"All right, I'll see you later," I said. Ginny nodded and then headed up the stairs. I turned around and walked into the Great Hall, finding a spot at the Gryffindor table next to Hermione.

Hermione looked at me expectantly. "Go well?" she asked and I understood she must have known that Ginny was planning on apologizing to me.

I nodded, "It did." Then, realizing I had a question, I dropped my voice to a hush, "Did you… did you tell her… everything?"

Hermione pursed her lips and shook her head. "No," she spoke softly, "Sorry, I should have told you. I just told her that you spent some time with him and built an odd… friendship of sorts. But that it's over with now after everything that's happened."

"Thank you, Hermione," I smiled at her.

Then, as if on cue, I saw Draco walk into the Great Hall and head straight for the Slytherin table. He was flanked by Crabbe and Goyle as usual, but he looked grim and angry. I looked away from him quickly and back to the people around me.

A couple of minutes passed and Ron joined us, taking a seat on the other side of Hermione.

"Have you seen Harry?" she asked.

Ron nodded, "Yeah, hasn't left the dormitory today. I came down a little early for the Great Feast but Harry said he's going to skip to pack."

Hermione pursed her lips and I could tell she was in thought. "Well," she spoke as she stood, "I'm going to go see if he needs any help."

"Hermione," I looked up with her, "we don't need to crowd him." I remembered what it had been like after my grandma passed when all I wanted was alone time but my mother, Lauren, and Deacon wouldn't give it to me.

"I won't stay if he doesn't want me to, but I'm at least going to go ask," she responded and then walked away, not allowing Ron or me to disagree any further.

Ron scooted over to fill the gap in between us as more students walked into the Hall and food began to appear on the table: pork roasts, mashed potatoes, and large baked chickens. Ron began putting generous amounts of food onto his plate while I grabbed smaller portions, not feeling very hungry. Neville had sat down across from me, but as he moved to reach spoons to place food on his plate, the Slytherin table became visible to me. Once again, I was looking at Draco Malfoy. He sat at the table, miserable looking and not putting any food on his plate. Days ago, I had been so angry at him for the way he'd spoken about me and laughed off what people said about us. Then, while speaking to him as a ploy to keep him away from Umbridge's office, I started to feel bad because he did genuinely look like he wanted to speak and make amends. Today, however, all I felt while looking at Draco was pity. With his father being who he was, did Draco ever even have a choice or a chance?

Ron's elbow nudged me in the side and I realized I must have been staring. I looked over at him and Ron whispered, "All right?" between bites of food. I nodded and Ron set down the fork full of pork he was about to put in his mouth. "His father is in Azkaban now, after being identified by Aurors at the Ministry," I could tell that Ron was happy by the news but that he was also trying to downplay it for my sake.

"That's good," when I spoke I tried to sound as confident as possible. I believed my words; it was good that Draco's father was in Azkaban, it was better for Harry and hurt Voldemort's movement, but I couldn't help thinking about what it was like for Draco.

From the look on his face, I could tell that Ron didn't fully believe my sentiment. "It is," I repeated more sternly. Ron nodded slightly and went back to devouring his food.

I peered back over Neville's shoulder, stealing one last glance at Draco before fully focusing on my meal and the conversations around me. His eyes looked depleted and hollow and I hoped that I would be able to forget that look and remember his gray eyes calm and fixated on me.

"War is on its way, it's all starting."

Hermione's words were still ringing through my ears as I stepped off the train, pulling my trunk behind me and crossing back through the platform into King's Cross. Even being new to the wizarding world, however, I knew she was right. I knew that knowledge of Voldemort's return meant it was happening again, just as it had the first time around. People would pick sides, there would be war.

"Over there!" Hermione's voice yelled and looked in the direction she was pointing. Moody, Tonks, Lupin, Fred and George were standing by a nearby platform. A smile spread across my face upon seeing Fred. Without ever fully realizing it at Hogwarts, I knew in that moment that I'd missed him in the months since he'd departed; his humor and lightheartedness was needed.

I followed Harry, Ron and Hermione over to the waiting group. Chatter began, the Aurors giving Harry a pep talk and telling them they'd come for him in a month or so.

"I have to go meet my parents," I heard Hermione's voice.

I released the handle of my trunk and turned towards her. "Bye, Hermione," and hugged my friend.

While still hugging, she spoke in my ear, "Please write over the summer."

"Of course."

Hermione walked around me to say goodbye to the boys and I bent down to grab my trunk once again.

"Excited to be heading home for the break?" I stopped before grabbing my trunk and looked up at Fred.

I shrugged. "Honestly," I responded, "I don't think so. It's kind of weird to think about going home, actually." It wasn't something I'd really thought about yet, but now, I wondered how I would go home and spend two months away from magic, from Hogwarts, from my friends.

"Ah," Fred slapped the side of my arm playfully, "gotten attached to us British folk, have ya?"

I smiled at him, "Guess so."

Fred returned my smile. "Just think of it as a break from all the crazy," he crossed his arms as he spoke and his brown eyes were dancing with joy, "You'll be back soon enough."

I smiled, knowing it was true. I would be back soon, but for me it wasn't soon enough. "Thank you, Fred."

Fred continued beaming a smile in my direction, "Have a good holiday, America. See ya when you get back."

"You too, Fred," I looked away from him and towards Ron and Harry. I took a step passed him and towards Ron and George.

"Leaving?" Ron looked at me as I moved towards him.

"Yeah, I have to catch a cab to the airport. My flight is later today," I explained. Ron nodded and awkwardly wrapped his arms around me for a quick hug. "Have a good break, Ron."

"You too, Taylor. Let me know if you need a place to stay before school in August."

"Will do," I smiled and turned towards George, "Bye George."

George responded with an animated 'goodbye' and I took another step passed them, stopping next to Harry. Looking at him, I was sad that I was leaving. I listened to Lupin speak and realized that a squat family a few yards away were the Dursleys and I dreaded the thought of Harry having to stay with them. Harry turned towards me. "Guess you need to get going?"

I nodded reluctantly. I opened my mouth to say something, but hesitated. Maybe I didn't have to leave? "I don't have to," I spoke desperately, "I can… I can stay somewhere here, nearby. So you don't have to be alone for the break."

Harry smiled at me, "I'll be all right." He took a deep breath, "You should go home, enjoy time with your mum." I nodded and then Harry hugged me tightly.

I wrapped my arms around him, returning the hug. "I'll write you, I promise," I said into his ear. I felt him nod in return and then pull back. "See you soon, Harry," I finally said, not wanting to say the word 'goodbye' to him.

"Have a good break, Taylor," he responded. We stood for a moment longer, his green eyes staring into mine, and I hoped that he understood how sorry I truly was to be leaving. I turned around and took a couple of steps back towards my trunk. I grabbed it and stole one last glance over my shoulder. Harry was walking towards the Dursleys with Moody, Tonks and Lupin; Ron was talking to George and Fred was looking in my direction. He saw me turn around and waved. I held up a hand and waved in return before turning back around and walking towards the exit of the station.

The sunshine hit me as I thought about the upcoming months. I would have to go home and play normal; pack my wand and cauldron away in the basement so they weren't found by my American Muggle friends and try not to talk about classes too much in front of my father so as not to agitate him too much. What would I tell my mother though? Would she be privy enough to the wizarding world to understand if I told her about the details of the year, including Voldemort? Or would it just worry her too much?

I took a deep breath and headed towards the line of people awaiting taxi cabs. What would happen once I returned to Hogwarts in two months? I wondered how Harry would be this summer, suffering through Sirius's death alone. I also wondered about the Weasleys – if Voldemort continued his rise to power, what would it mean for their family? I also wondered about Draco. What would his break be like with his father in Azkaban? Would his family still be involved with Voldemort, or be punished for his father being caught?

Standing in the line of seemingly ordinary people, I felt strange and foreign and odd. I didn't feel ordinary anymore, even if I was. I gulped thinking about what the return of Voldemort meant and knowing there was nothing I could do about it. A more selfish part of me also thought about Draco. Next year, would I ever see those stormy gray eyes up close again?

"Are you ready, miss?" a man spoke to me and I noticed that I'd moved to the front of the line without realizing it. After I nodded, the driver grabbed my luggage and put it into the trunk and I climbed into the backseat of the cab while telling the man which airport I needed to go to. We began to drive off, but I continued looking out the window towards King's Cross as long as I could. You'll be back soon enough, I remembered Fred's words with a smile. I would be back, not soon enough, but I would be back and I would spend almost two months counting down and eagerly awaiting my return to Hogwarts.