Authors: Lyta Padfoot
Category: General
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Harry Potter is the property of J.K. Rowling. Characters and situations are used without permission, no infringement is intended.
Summary: A collection of drabbles at various beginnings and endings in the characters' lives.
* * *
"Hollow Sounding"
"Cedric Diggory was murdered by Lord Voldemort."
Everyone froze. I heard Mandy's sharp gasp and Padma's whispered "He can't be back."
Physically I was seated at the Ravenclaw table, clutching my goblet until the stem left impressions on my palms. Mentally I was in the attic thumbing through photographs in my family album, watching my grandmother grin and wave as she led Ravenclaw against Slytherin. Ravenclaw won both House and Quidditch Cups that year. Voldemort murdered her before I was born.
"Lisa are you alright?" Terry asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," I lied.
The words sounded hollow. Even to my ears.
* * *
"Penelope Clearwater's Sorting"
When the hat touched Penelope Clearwater's head, everything disappeared behind black cloth. Only the shuffling and whispered speculations of the students reminded her where she was.
She nearly fell off the stool when the hat spoke.
Hmmm, where to put you?
Courage, loyalty, cleverness, cunning. Penelope saw none of these virtues in herself. She could not even remember which house matched with what trait. Was Huffandpuff the house of courage or cleverness?
The hat chuckled. You're sure you don't have a preference?
"You choose," she whispered. "Isn't that your job?"
Indeed. And I see the choice for you is RAVENCLAW!
* * *
"Someday"
It rained when they buried her mother. Not misting or a steady downpour, but the kind of spring storm that soaks everything within moments and turns the earth a vibrant green.
This was appropriate: Luna's mother loathed funerals and would have wanted a speedy burial. There was no lightning, but that was also fitting; lightning made Louise Lovegood nervous though she was otherwise quite brave.
Later that evening, as Luna and her father ate their neighbor's curry, she wondered what her mother was thinking. Surely something as powerful as death changed a person.
Luna resolved to ask her mother. Someday.