Prodigal Badger

[Patsy Flynn]

Standing in the entrance hall gave Patsy Flynn an overwhelming sense of potential—potential that had, until a few weeks ago, felt utterly wasted. Was she overjoyed to have to repeat part of her sixth year and graduate a year behind her peers? Absolutely not. Did the knowledge that she would have the extra expenses and would no longer be earning at the Ministry fill her heart with joy? Never! But the fact that the opportunity to attain her NEWTs, to gain all the advantages in life that those test scores could bring her, was back within her grasp…for the first time since the summer months, the returning Hufflepuff felt truly optimistic.

Family and future, two things she had, for a time, thought had slipped utterly through her fingers, were now solidly in hand.

Perhaps she had been standing and ‘taking things in’ too long, as someone knocked into her from behind.

“Watch it!” she shot, more in annoyance than actual anger.

  

[Margaret Rawlinson]

Margaret was feeling refreshed, after seeing her older brother and her parents once more. Joy from the holiday still ran through her veins. She walked in with the crowd of fellow students, until she was accidently bumped into, bumping into someone else. Looking at the girl, she was about to make her apologies when the young woman spoke. She smiled sympathetically. "My apologies." She said politely.

It took her a moment, before her eyes widened slightly and her smile returned fully once more. "Miss Flynn! So wonderful to see you again. I've seen a few other missed faces coming into the castle. It's very nice." She continued with joy. That was completely true. The fact that so many were taken from their education seemed unfair, and having it changed helped her relax upon hearing the news.