Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter. If I did, college loan payments would not be an issue.
A little piece that fits after OotP for Harry Potter. No pairings. This work in unbetaed, flames will be dealt with accordingly.
It was quiet again. Ron and Hermione were off researching something or other. Or snogging, that had been uncomfortable to walk in on. Everything was a mess, including him. There was a gaping hole inside him that just couldn't be ignored. And he didn't want to ignore it, because ignoring it meant forgetting Sirius, and he refused to forget one of the few truly precious people in his life.
But Luna had a point. The voices were behind the veil. Maybe he wasn't so far as he'd thought.
The sun had set almost an hour ago, leaving the once warm windowsill chilly. Brushing some of the dust off the back of his pants he took his sweet time getting back to the tower. It was near dinner so it should be vacant. He didn't really feel up to being around others just now. And Dobby would be more than happy to bring him up a snack later if he asked.
The common room was quiet, a fire crackling merrily in the grate. It should have been too warm out for one yet, but it seemed just right. Hogwarts magic again. He couldn't help the tiny, nearly invisible smile, that crept onto his face at the thought. He loved the fires here, warm and just perfect to read by when he couldn't just fall asleep at night. The elves had been to work in here already. The dorms would already be made up for the evening with clean sheets on every bed and fresh towels at the footboard. He took his time getting up there as well.
The sight that greeted him as he pulled back the curtains to his four-poster bed nearly had him falling over in shock. Hurriedly he checked to make sure he had the right bed but no, this was his, Hedwig never slept anywhere in the dorms but his headboard. And there she was, dozing peacefully with her head under her wing.
And then he was tempted to laugh. A real, true laugh for the first time in many months.
The elves had been through, he knew that.
But his covers were rumpled and the spot in the middle still a touch warm and smelling just a little bit musty with a hint of the pines in the forest.
I'm glad you're not gone.
But I wish you wouldn't shed on my pillow, Padfoot.
Finally he gave in, and laughed.