Return to Where I Belong?

[Mallory Starr]

Striking how much Hogwarts felt more like home than the house she shared with her parents. During those months away her head had been filled with thoughts of returning to school, to her friends. Being away wasn't something she wanted but something she couldn't avoid, hopefully her abandoned friends would understand. Now that she was back would she be able to just throw herself back into her previous life?

"Stupid suitcase, how did you gain ten pounds since I packed you?" Mallory Starr muttered in frustration as she dragged an oversized suitcase through the doors of the entrance hall. Letting the case land on the floor she ran a hand through her wind blown strawberry blonde curls, "Of course I come back to Scotland during a snow storm, great timing Mallory Jo.."

Calculating the time revealed that she had just missed the evening meal, that would explain why the halls were so empty. Maybe she could get herself settled in before having to face people, she considered hopefully. "Or not..." She said with a sigh as the door to the Great Hall opened abruptly, some students coming out.

Looking across the room Mallory was embarrassed to realize she was hoping to see Thom. He was the one she had mostly thought about, dreaming about when they'd see each other again. "When did I turn into such a sap?" She thought out loud, realizing with disgust that was no better than some stupid teeny-bopper school girl with a crush.

[Thom Seivert]

Though he would never tell anyone, he kind of, sort of missed Mallory when she took a leave of absence. It actually surprised himself that he responded to Mallory's letters. He couldn't even focus enough to respond to Morganna's letters the few times they wrote to each other.

Thom heard of the rumors and gossip mill that Mallory left due to medical depression but he knew, which Mallory confirmed in one letter she wrote to him, that it wasn't the case. She told the Headmistress that it was because of depression but she really wanted to find the truth about her parents. Though many others were concerned about Mallory, Thom couldn't believe that they believed that Mallory could ever be depressed. Sad, sure but not depressed.

How could she be depressed when he was around? The one thing that Mallory hadn't disclosed in her letters was when she would be back. Thom actually started to plan finding her if she didn't arrive in the next couple of weeks. He knew that arriving at Mallory's house wouldn't be the bright idea but she had to return to school, right?

'Mallory?' Her name escaped his lips as he turned the corner and spotted the strawberry blond hair. It was long now and very pretty but he secretly fancied the mohawk she had prior. At first he was really excited to see her again but then he covered up his facial expressions as he leaned against the wall to look at her.

Thom's immaturity prevented him to be open about his feelings. If he was, things would be less complicated. But what was the fun in all of that?

'You're back!' He exclaimed and then moving over to give her a close hug. Anyone who was someone that knew them, or didn't know them knew that wasn't a friendly hug. It was something more.

[Mallory Starr]

She was able to hear Thom's voice calling her name before she managed to find him. Turning around to face him she couldn't keep the smile from crawling onto her face before her feet took off, heading in his direction. Her smaller body was engulfed by his but what surprised her the most was that he started the hug, Thom wasn't very open with his emotions.

"Had to come home eventually, otherwise Mackenzie might insist I go through counseling. Can you see me talking to some suit about my feelings?" Mallory felt bad for lying about a very serious illness that real people suffer from but she needed some excuse for her absence. "Plus my work is done...well almost."

Suddenly Mallory realized how close she still was to Thom, pulling away a blush came over her cheeks. He had no idea how his responses to her letters had aided her, he was her conection to Hogwarts. Spending months with her parents had been...certainly unpleasant. Those she cared for had felt so far away, the letters had made her feel a little less alone.

Pulling a envelope from her coat pocket she held it up with a smile, like a trophy. "In here tells me who my real father is, and I'd know if I had enough courage to open it." She confessed, rolling her eyes at her own foolishness before putting the envelope safely away. "Hope I didn't miss too much excitement, would have invited you for a visit but...you know how my family is."

[Valentina Way]

"Well, well, well!" Val exclaimed as she approached her housemates, not having heard what Mallory was just telling Thom.

"Look who it is!" She said with a huge smile and pushed Thom away jokingly.

"My turn!" She said and embraced Mallory even more intensely than Thom just for the heck of it. If anyone walked by and saw this, they might think that Val was about to hump Mallory right there right then. (And, there were definitely many that did walk by)

Val was afraid to ask Mallory about her leave. Unlike Thom, she had no idea that Mallory had lied about being depressed. Val thought that was the reason she had left, and had no desire to start talking about what that was like. Val was the queen of ignoring all things that made her upset.

Plus, she knew that Mallory wouldn't want to talk about depression standing right there in public.

When she finally let go of Mallory, she saw the suitcases next to her.

"You just arrived, I take it?"

[Thom Seivert]

He cleared his throat as he stepped away from Mallory. She did pull away first which made Thom think that he had overdone it and blew his cover. He hoped he didn't and crossed his arms to further affirm that he was still tough.

'I can't imagine you spilling your guts to someone. You're an awful liar on top of it.' Thom smirked and then nodded at the envelope with mild curiosity. He wanted to find out the answer to why Mallory really left school. It was certain that the Starrs had a small gene pool because they were pure blood, rather obsessed with it, and the answer was bound to be juicy.

'Well, most parents hate me. I still would have shown up anyway if you didn't come back. I was due for holiday anyway...' Thom shrugged then felt a push by non other than their housemate, Valentina. He shook his head when Val gave Mallory a closer hug that he did and was jealous that he didn't one too!

'Wow, obvious, good call.' Thom said sarcastically as Val made her comment about Mallory's arrival. He gave them both a toothy grin.

[Valentina Way]

Valentina turned around and shoved Thom again.

"Shut it, Thom. You're just jealous that Mallory and I just dry humped each other and you weren't involved!" Val joked. Though she was not going to be very surprised if that were true.

"Mallory, why didn't you let me know you were coming back!" Val said as she turned back to her roommate.

"We could've planned some crazy Slytherin welcome back party or something!" Val added.