Going Home

For the rest of the term, the young wizards all holed up inside the castle. It was not that they did not want to go out and play, but the endless torrential rain and the soaked grounds left them with no desire to leave. They would rather stay in the library finishing homework or pass the time playing in the common room.

Allen had not been devoting all his attention to his research and affairs lately either, because he had noticed that Helena had seemed a little off again after they acknowledged each other. Over the past few days, he had caught Helena secretly sizing him up several times. But the moment her gaze met Allen's, she would turn her head away expressionlessly, as if she had not been the one caught peeking.

When he asked Helena about it, aside from maintaining the fine manners of her upbringing, she said nothing more. Allen could not help thinking back to his fourth year, when he had once caught Helena secretly following him. Clearly, even then, she had already known her relationship with him.

In the blink of an eye, the end of term arrived. This year's Hogwarts feast was especially different from previous years. It was not only the far more sumptuous banquet—House-elves had brought out almost all the remaining stores, since many things would likely have spoiled by the time next term began anyway—but also because Aurors had already moved into Hogwarts, guarding the key corridors and passageways. They had also increased security around the school grounds, including Hogsmeade village. For the Aurors themselves, this was a good assignment too; many adult wizards were willing to take the opportunity to return to school.

From the Great Hall, the young wizards could see the enormous screen, which was playing the Ministry