Rose of Despair

The long dreadful week as finally came and
gone and today would be the day when Professor
McGonagal and her team would be coming back.
Tori and her friends eagerly awaited their return.
At the moment they are all seated under their spot,
the tree. Phantom, Tori's husky was laying down
next to her, enjoying her company.
Taylor and Krystal were busy talking about graduation.
While Tori, Harry, and Tom discusses defensive spells.
A typical conversation between the three. The
others just assumed that their recent mission
had more of an impact than they thought. Who
could blame them? Fresh faces suddenly thrown
into the line of battle, obviously is bound to leave
some mental scars. To Tori, it is best to be prepared,
but her mother reminded her not to stress out
about it since its not healthy for her or the baby.

"What spell would work against a giant? I'm
assuming something strong." Tom said as he
mentally searched through his list of spells
that he has learned.

"Actually a simple freezing spell should work.
Although two people might have to say the spell
at the same time to insure its hold on the giant."
Harry answered.

"Seems like the perfect job for the twins." Tori
said jokingly.

"Actually that's not a bad idea." Harry instantly said.

"Harry, I don't know." Tori said looking skeptical.
She meant it as a joke but she couldn't risk
both boys around such large creatures. If she
could, Tori would much rather prefer it just her
against them all, not having to risk anyone else,
but she knew it would be a losing battle.

"What? Those guys can handle themselves. " Harry
said quickly in their defence, but Tori isn't buying it.

"I'm sure there is another way to take Giants down,
if anything my uncle should know what to do. " she
replied sternly, and with that said the topic is dropped.

"Not planning anything without us are you?" A voice said from behind.
Standing with his arms crossed against his chest Ron
smirked at his friends. Next to him are Hermione and Alice,
both holding big smiles.

"You're back!" Everyone shouted, quickly rising to
welcome back their friends. Tom had to help Tori stand,
seeing as how she couldn't really do it on her own.

"Oh my goodness, Tori your huge!"

"Gee, thanks Mione, good to see you too." Tori replied
before embracing her cousin in a hug.

"I'm so happy you all are back and safe." Harry
said as soon as all the hugs has ended.

"Trust me mate, it's great to be back."Ron replied
as everyone began to take their seats under the tree.
To the other students people saw this group as
the lucky ones, thinking they have been picked
by the headmaster to go on special trips and
adventures, but the other students of Hogwarts did
not realize that they are risking their lives and
for a great reason. It has been ordered by
Professor Dumbledore, that upon the return
of the students they are not to attend everyday
classes like their fellow classmates,
but to practice every night in his office, with the Order.
Not understanding why, the other students became
jealous at the fact that they must attend classes,
and not those going on "special trips" as they called it.
That is until a few days after Tori, Tom, and Harry returned,
Harry got tired of them not knowing the truth and thinking
they went on a vacation. So he ended up yelling,
telling all of them off, and explained where they
have been. Immediately the other students
felt bad for treating the group poorly.

(Flash back to four days ago)
" We realized that there is a war coming! We
have not rested well, we barely ate, and
do not think that we party every night in
Dumbledores office! We stay there late and
practice! Judge us all you want, but we are
risking our lives trying to make sure you
all are safe!" Harry yelled, standing in the
front of the Great Hall so everyone can
see him. He stood there furious that his
own friends and people he has known for
years are jealous of the group.

"We didn't choose this, we accepted it." He
finished before walking out of the Great Hall
with Tori, Tom, and the others.
(End flashback)

"Wow Harry, I didn't know you had that in you."
Hermione said as soon as Tom had finished
telling the story. Harry looked at her and smiled,
not knowing what else to say.

"Hey, if you don't mind me asking, what exactly
was your mission." Alice asked looking at
Tom and Tori.
The two glanced at eachother before Tori said,
"We were in search of the forth Quan."

"What?! There's a forth one?" Ron practically yelled.

"Of fire, but we got there too late.
Voldemort must have known his whereabouts
and took him before we did." Tom stated,
looking at his three shocked friends.

"We would have gotten there on time, but
as soon as word was out that Voldemort was
in the area, we were ordered to stay put.
Not realizing he was headed to the same
destination." Harry informed them.

"What about you three?" Tori asked.

With a smile Hermione said, "We were looking
for the Sacred Quill. The one that tells us
everything we need to know about the Quans.
Although it doesn't have all of the information
we hoped it did, it does tell us more than enough."

"So wait! You found it?" Taylor asked with a huge smile.

"Of course! We wouldn't be back here if
we didn't! Its truely a remarkable quill. I thought
it was a myth until the Quans started showing up."
Alice said with a cheerful voice.

"McGonagal told us to just relax with you all
first, while her and the Order figure out certain
things about the Quill. Then tonight at practice
they will reveal it." Hermione said. Tom and Tori
looked at eachother with hopeful eyes, this is great
news to hear after that horrible mission.

"There is something that we'd like to share
with you." Alice said with a huge smile.

"On the bottom of the Quill there is a blank
space and we just thought that its an empty spot,
but its actually a map!" Hermione said.

"A map?" Tom asked confused.

"Yeah, which with a magical spell we can see where all four Quans are! Which means if we find Mary.."

"We find Draco." Tori said in a whisper. She couldn't believe it, they are so much closer on his whereabouts. Tori just stared at Hermione who looked at her with a huge grin. After so many months, she may finally see where he is.

"Hang in there my love." She thought to herself as she
looked at her ring.