It had been a week since Pomfrey had revived me and said I'd be okay. She told me that I could go back to school the next day, and I was excited. "You'll have to take it easy," she said, in a kind voice. 'And don't worry. The kid who did this to you is in Azkaban."
I stayed quiet. "Has anyone come to see me?"
"Yes. The Malfoy kids did, after your mum. You don't remember?"
"Only a bit. I wanted to make sure it was real." In my mind, I pictured Lucas's sweet face and Tom's scarred eye. My stomach plunged. Pomfrey suggested I sleep some. I wouldn't be fully healed when I got back to Hogwarts, so I'd have to take it easy.
Everyone welcomed me back. Even Lizzy and Abby. Kuso came by and gave me a big hug which made me yelp in pain, but he let go quickly. "Sorry!" he said, glancing about like he'd get in trouble.
I chucked nervously. "Yeah. Yeah..." Kuso helped me back to my common room and sat me down, and let Tom and Lucas in. He closed the door and the common room was empty except for us.
"I missed you guys," I said.
"Ditto," said Tom. Lucas only looked at me with a strained happy expression.
After a minute, he said, "You're really here, right?"
"Yeah, Lucas," I said.
"Don't... don't go away ever again, okay?"
I nodded. "Sure, kid."
"I think Lucas has something to say." Tom said, grinning.
"Uh, yeah," said Lucas. "Asia, I love you, okay? Don't laugh," he added.
Love? More than like, you mean? I asked myself. I stared at him, and he seemed to recoil, like I would reject him. I sat up, groaning from pain, and said, "Really? You mean it?" I said, shocked.
"Yes! Yes, I do." Lucas said. "Do you... um... love me?"
" I'd have to say that I do, Lucas. But I've loved you longer than you have me."
"No, not like friend love, not like sibling love, like... romantic love?"
I nodded. "That's what I mean!"
Lucas smiled. "Oh..."
Silence.
I was floating on air despite the fact that my limbs were lead.
The future looked pretty bright.
