Chapter Two || Flashbacks

                                    

                                          


                          

The light was breaking as I opened my eyes and rose from the bunk bed in my compartment, feeling the movement of the train beneath me. I reached for the curtain and tugged at it - it was indeed morning and the mountains had come into view.
                          
I sat up, pulling a sweater over my head and unbraiding my hair.
                          
The train would arrive at my hometown any minute now.
                          
It was a sleepy and a little sick me that dropped off the train with the weight of her luggage tearing at her hands, hoping desperately her father had come to pick her up and that she wouldn't have to wait for him in the cold daylight on a snowy platform.
                          
I turned around, scanning the area and almost hit someone with my backpack when I heard a cry.
                          
- LEONARDA LIMBER! MY OH MY OH MY!
                          
I walked hurriedly, almost ran to the man who wasn't much taller than me and who had a funny hat with earflaps. He hugged me close, then looked seriously into my eyes and said.
                          
- You absolutely sure you're not an impostor?
                          
I smiled, laughing even though the pain in my heart had awoken with my senses. I hugged my father again.
                          
- If I am, I'm doing a pretty good job.
                          
Dad didn't ask me many questions as we drove up the snowy slopes of the mountains I had grown up in. It was his way of letting me save my breath so I could tell him and mom everything at the dinner table. Instead we talked about the weather, the dark circles under my eyes and how tired I looked.
                          
- Are you sure they treated you well back there? - he glanced at me, not letting go off the wheel, but looking into my eyes for a second before looking at the slippery road once again.
                          
- Yes, dad. I'm just tired.
                          
My mother hugged me and kissed my face, shouting she never would let me go away for such a long while again. Father laughed, pulling out the turkey out of the oven and saying "Well, she's all grown up now, you'll have to get used to that, dear".
                          
When we had finally eaten and mom had set the table for tea, I began to talk. I had almost dreaded this part, knowing how shrewd my mom was and how easily she could guess some things even when I denied them.
                          
- So Hogwarts is amazing, - I began, smiling as genuinely as I could. - The people are lovely, the study process is overwhelming, but so very interesting...
                          
- Did you eat?
                          
- Made any friends? How are Tamara and Ruby and... what were the others' names..
                          
- You got everyone right, mom. They're doing great. Ruby left the day after I did. He should be home by now.
                          
- You said you had a ball recently? How did that go?
                          
I was drinking my tea and swallowed a little too hard.
                          
- It was great, - I coughed.
                          
- Was Ruby your date?
                          
- Of course, - I smiled, just as I felt a huge pain surging through me and the words "No words to express my regrets" stood before my memory. It had never been that physical before. I passed a hand over my brow and wanted to change the topic, but dad persisted:
                          
- You've never shown us this Ruby. You really should, you know. Do you have any moving photographs of him?
                          
- No, Dad, I'm sorry. But then he's not my boyfriend, so...
                          
- Ah, - dad smirked and tucked into his chocolate cake.
                          
I laughed, relieved I had managed to turn the conversation around.