Every year, on the first of September, Iris and Maxwell would take the time to drive their children to King's Cross Station and see them off at Platform Nine and Three-Quarters, but for the first time, the Greengrass girls had been forced to make the fateful journey without them.
"It feels strange," Astoria suddenly blurted out, as she emerged on the other side of the magical barrier. "Not having Mother and Father see us off at the station, I mean."
Naturally, Scrimgeour had sent a pair of Aurors to safeguard his 'investments' from any surprise attacks, but Tonks and the surly-faced male Auror whom the Ministry had stuck to the Greengrass girls could hardly replace their parents' places in their hearts.
"We all miss them," said Daphne softly. "I'm sure they'll be able to see you off next year, and the year after that…"
Oleandra had to blink a few times to switch off her Mystic Eyes— Daphne had just knowingly told Astoria a lie, but seeing as it had clearly been a white lie meant to comfort her little sister, Oleandra thought nothing of it.
She still hadn't had the heart to inform her sisters of their father's death…
After spending so many weeks together, Daphne had finally started to relax— she'd even cracked a smile once or twice! But strangely enough, as the month of August had come to a close, Daphne had begun to revert to the girl whom Oleandra had met during their O.W.L.s, growing more recluse and sullener.
Oleandra could make neither heads nor tails of it all, and she didn't want to aggravate her sister's mental state by telling her the truth…
"Oh, cheer up, Astie," said Tonks comfortingly. "You'll be able to see your mum at Hogwarts every day, if you want to!"
Professor Dumbledore had very kindly offered to save a bed in the Hospital Wing for Iris Greengrass's use. St. Mungo's security wasn't exactly top notch, as Mr. Broderick Bode would have had the misfortune to discover if it hadn't been for Astoria's sharp eyes…
"Keep a stiff upper lip," Tonks's Auror companion said, in a tone that Oleandra supposed was meant to be encouraging.
"Oh, put a sock in it, Tancred," said Tonks in exasperation. "Not everyone can go through life like you, showing about as much emotion as your average wardrobe."
"My wardrobe has mirrors on the inside of its panels," Oleandra offered. "If I smile at it, it smiles right back, so as far as furniture goes when it comes to expressiveness, I'd say wardrobes are in the top bracket."
Astoria giggled.
Oleandra enjoyed making her little sister laugh— it was one of the perks of having younger siblings.
"Come on, let's get a move on," said Daphne after a while. "People are looking at us."
Passersby, parents and fellow students alike, were doing more than just looking— they were positively staring at them. But unlike the stares Oleandra and her sisters had received the previous year, the looks they were now receiving overflowed with a mixture of awe and admiration.
Oleandra puffed out her chest proudly, for once in her life enjoying the attention she was receiving. No longer did Daphne have to bear the stigma of the Dark Lady, and Oleandra the title of Dark Lady's sister— they now carried the hopes of the British magical world on their shoulders, having handily defeated the Dark Lord himself.
"Quit dawdling!" said Daphne crossly, noticing that her twin sister had slowed her pace. "You can enjoy having them gawk at you all you want once we're on the train."
For some reason, the positive attention only seemed to be making Daphne more ill-tempered and miserable, and as always, Oleandra didn't have a clue about what her sister could possibly be thinking. By all means, Daphne ought to have been happy that the prophecy no longer applied to her; the made monster by her peers bit, at any rate.
"That's not it," said Oleandra distractedly, scanning the sea of people gathered around the scarlet steam locomotive. "I thought I'd recognised someone…"
Oleandra's voice trailed off. She thought she'd seen a familiar face among the crowd surrounding them, but she just couldn't put her finger on who it belonged to— she hadn't had a proper look at her, before the crowd had pulled her away.
"Whatever."
Daphne couldn't be bothered to wait for Oleandra, so she slipped into the crowd, and before long, Oleandra had lost sight of her as well. Sighing, Oleandra hoisted her gigantic trunk into the air above her head, and she began fraying a path to the Hogwarts Express with Astoria following close behind her.
"I'll see you later!" Tonks shouted, waving them goodbye.
Oleandra and Astoria waved back at her, and they quickly climbed aboard the train.
"I've got to head to the prefects' compartment," said Oleandra, pointing towards the front of the train with her thumb. "I'll see you later…"
Oleandra began making her way to the sixth-year prefects' compartment, drawing eyes as she moved through the wagons. Oleandra's prefect badge shone brightly on her lapel— she had thoroughly polished it the previous evening in preparation for today.
The compartment was empty when she arrived, so Oleandra stowed her trunk onto the luggage rack above the seats and made herself comfortable. She supposed that she ought to be thankful that Malfoy hadn't yet arrived, or it would have made for an awkward moment, with only the two of them there.
Oleandra sighed.
How exactly was she supposed to patch things up with Draco? She wasn't especially motivated; she hated his guts, so making up with him was far from being at the top of her list of priorities.
No, if there was something that she urgently needed, it was to be rid of the Dusk Elf who always seemed to show up when she least expected it.
So far, she had murdered Hannah Abott, killed Cloak the Lethifold, beaten up Oleandra within an inch of her life… but she had also torn apart several Death Eaters, including Crabbe Sr., and she had also provided a timely distraction during Oleandra's rematch with Voldemort, saving Amelia Bones in the process.
The Dusk Elf had spent her time in the realm of humans rather erratically, often inadvertently helping Oleandra rather than hindering her, but she was simply too dangerous to be allowed to live; or at least remain on this plane of existence.
No, Oleandra thought to herself, the Dusk Elf simply had to go.