Unreal

Chp 87 What's Left Behind

April 5th.
Still, Aeris hadn't woken up.

Her bed in the Ravenclaw dorm sat bathed in pale morning light, the curtains pulled wide open. Spring air fluttered in from the cracked window, carrying the scent of grass and castle stone. Luna was moving gently around her, careful not to disturb anything — not that Aeris had moved in days.

She'd already folded Aeris's blankets, repacked her trunk, and now was arranging her things into a smaller travel bag for the Burrow. Madam Pomfrey had agreed it was best — fewer eyes, fewer whispers. And Mrs. Weasley had insisted. With the long weekend ahead, the Burrow would be quieter, calmer.

A place to heal.

Luna paused as she picked up Aeris's favorite hoodie. She dusted it off and folded it slowly, her lips pressed into a line. Her usual dreamy glow had dimmed. But her hands moved like she believed Aeris would need this soon. That she'd wake up any moment and ask why all her things were being packed up.

Luna smiled faintly. "You're probably just taking the long way back."

She tucked the hoodie in the bag, then returned to tidying.

•••

The Great Hall had quieted since the chaos.

The noise was back — laughter, chatter, clinking cutlery — but the whispers about Aeris were beginning to fade. Her name didn't echo across tables anymore. No more theories. No more gasps.

Just silence in the spaces where she used to walk.

At the Gryffindor table, the twins sat mid-row. Fred was eating.

Not like before — not with his usual appetite, or the dramatic flair of someone stealing food off George's plate. But he was eating. Slowly. Methodically. Like he'd accepted something, even if it still hurt like hell to swallow.

George didn't say much. Just stayed close. Always one second behind, one word away from catching him if he stumbled.

Hermione and Ginny were further down, already discussing when to visit Aeris again. Ginny leaned in close over her juice, whispering, "We'll go after lunch, yeah? Before they move her?"

Hermione nodded. "I'll bring the chocolate I've been hiding."

Ron was just eating. Face full, plate fuller. He hadn't said much all morning.

But Harry—

Harry hadn't touched more than a few bites.

He was staring at his eggs like they might spell something. Something Aeris had told him days ago — her voice quiet, scared, but certain.

"Moody isn't Moody."

"He's Barty."

It didn't make sense. It couldn't make sense.

But it had sounded true.

His fork hovered mid-air, eyes narrowed at nothing in particular. He barely heard Hermione when she asked gently, "Harry? You okay?"

He blinked. "Yeah. Just tired."

She didn't believe him, but she let it go.

Still, Harry's mind burned. His scar hadn't hurt. Nothing felt wrong. And yet...

He'd find out.
He had to.
If Aeris was lying... or if she wasn't.

•••

After lunch, students began to filter out of the Great Hall in lazy clumps, their chatter drifting behind them like smoke trails.