stalwart-shacklebolt:
“You know,” Kingsley said after a long moment, not looking directly at Mary but rather somewhere past her left shoulder. He couldn’t promise her anything, because he didn’t like to make promises he couldn’t keep. But at the very least he ought to try and help. In any way that he could.
“I could always just owl you my notes and coach you through your NEWTs next year. You don’t have to stay.”
Mary couldn’t help but smile over at Kingsley, though it held a touch of grief. Gratefulness for his friendship; sorrow over what brought about this conversation. “I’m not going to run,” she declared, not knowing how true those words were until they were spoken. “I won’t give them what they want. No matter how... terrifying or downright miserable it may be at times, I deserve to be there as much as them. I’m going to wallow in homesickness for a bit, then I’ll dust it off and move on.” I have no other choice. “Thank you though, Kingsley. For that offer. For... everything. I’d have gone mad by now if it weren’t for you.”










