The last Day on Earth | Jamie

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Title Inspiration

Rosie stood in her dorm room for one of the very last times. Her trunk was packed. Her cat rested on her perfectly made bed, and the rest of the room was fairly empty. The other three girls that she shared this space with had all already packed and as far as she knew, were in the common room waiting to go down to the graduation ceremony. The room hardly looked lived in. They’d all be on their way home after the ceremony and then they’d never step foot in this dorm room again. This was it. Rosie felt herself flooded with emotions; both because she was saying goodbye to something that had been such a large part of her life, and because of what had happened. So many people had lost their lives. So many innocent students and staff were just gone.

Brandon was one of the very few lucky ones who survived the attacks. But he was in rough shape. She knew he wouldn’t have been able to be here anyway since he would have his own graduation ceremony to attend for Durmstrang, but it still felt empty knowing that instead of being here or there, he was in the hospital in London with healers seeing to him. At least he hadn’t been listed among the dead. She was lucky. He was lucky. Her roommate's brother had died in the explosions, and so had most of the Beauxbatons students. Individuals who would never get the chance to graduate, or speak, or see their families again. Rosie had been in tears since she got the news. She tried to pull herself together in public, but it was useless and never really worked. She tried to avoid the public. She tried to continue thinking that she was lucky that Brandon was still alive, that she hadn’t lost him. But her heart still hurt for him, and her heart hurt for those who had lost loved ones

@jamie

[Deleted]

Jamie was milling about in the Hufflepuff common room, trying to pinpoint exactly what she was feeling. She was graduating later that day – in less than an hour, actually – and after that she would be gone… spirited away by a scarlet train to London, never to return to the castle. Despite her trying, Jamie couldn’t figure out what she was feeling, nor what she was supposed to be feeling. She was graduating, yes, but her brother had just died and there was tragedy… everywhere. Jamie glanced around, wondering when Rosalie was going to come out of the dormitory. The other Hufflepuff’s boyfriend had been injured in the explosion, Jamie knew, but she hadn’t expected Rosie to be so… torn up about it all. Part of that was because Jamie still wasn’t sure exactly how badly Brandon had been injured, and was afraid to ask. Jamie glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, and decided to go see what was holding Rosie up so long.

Stepping across the threshold into the dormitory again, Jamie was overcome with emotion. Everything looked so clean and sterile. When they all eventually took their trunks with them, it would be like they had never even existed at all. For seven years, this room had been their home, and now they were just… moving out and moving on like it meant nothing. Rosie was there, as expected, and Jamie stepped to be beside the other girl, her shoulder resting against Rosie’s. “Kind of hard to believe this is the last time.” Jamie whispered, not wanting to disturb the other girl but also certain that she wouldn’t survive the silence much longer.

rose harriet granger-weasley

[Deleted]

Rosie had only known a handful of magical kids like herself before she started at Hogwarts. All of her best friends she met here. Or on the Hogwarts Express, which she would soon board for the very last time. How many tears were being shed today by how many people? Was everyone feeling emotional about leaving, or was it just because she was such an emotional person that she was red faced and puffy eyed, even if not tears were currently flowing? It felt weird to be going on with this ceremony given that events of the past two days. Exams were canceled, the year was ended early. Just like that. It was over. 2 days ago she thought she had time. Her cat stretched and jumped off the bed when they heard footsteps entering the dorm. Rosie turned her head.

Jamie, one of the girls that Rosie considered to be her very best friend walked into the dorm that they had shared. Rosie knew that this was a hard time for Jamie and her family also. As devastated as she was about Brandon's injury and the events as a whole, Jamie had lost her brother, someone who she was still just getting to know. The Durmstrang Champion. While this should have been a happy occasion, the two of them graduating and celebrating having made it through their schooling, Rosie recognized it as much more somber. "Yeah." the Hufflepuff nodded. "I still remember the first night we spent here like it was yesterday." she admitted with a very slight smile. She hadn't slept at all that first night. She was too excited. And she knew that some of the other girls hadn't slept at all either. Rosie hadn't slept since she got the news. She'd lay in bed and close her eyes, but she'd just be laying there, still, silent, all night. Last night, she didn't even bother trying. The girl spent her last night at Hogwarts sitting in a window sill on the second floor. She didn't even care if she would get caught out of bed after hours. "Did you forget something? Oh, am I taking too long?" she asked, fishing a bit as to why the girl had returned to their dorm. 

@jamie

[Deleted]

Jamie wasn’t looking at Rosie’s face, choosing instead to look ahead at the room they had shared for so long. In a way, sharing a room with Rosie had been like sharing a room with her sister, before she’d even known she had sisters. Jamie twisted her fingers through Rosie’s so the two girls were holding hands as they continued to survey their old quarters. “We were so young then.” Jamie whispered. At eleven years old she never would have imagined that she’d live the life that she was living. She never would have imagined having people she loved so much her heart ached, and she never would have imagined having people she lost. At the age of eleven, the magical world had seemed so bright and shiny and new. Now it was scuffed up and dark, and Jamie regretted that. She regretted the loss of innocence, because that little girl should have been allowed to live a little longer.

Rosie asked if Jamie had forgotten anything, and the blonde shook her head. When Rosie asked another question – if she was taking too long – the other Hufflepuff decided to respond verbally, in case Rosie, like her, was too busy looking at the room to look at her. “You aren’t taking too long.” Jamie assured her. “I just wondered where you were.” Everyone else was out in the common room, after all, so Rosie’s absence wasn’t really noticeable, except to Jamie. When she walked out of the Hufflepuff common room, she wanted to do it with Rosie at her side. They had come into the dormitory together, and it seemed only right that they’d leave that way, too. “Can we just… stay here a little longer?” Jamie asked Rosie. She didn’t know when, but tears had started trickling down her cheeks. Even though she and Rosie had chosen careers that would make it possible to see each other occasionally, there was still a loss that came with graduating, and not sharing a room or classes or a life anymore. Jamie wasn’t ready to let go of that yet. She wanted to cling to Rosie, cling to their togetherness, as long as humanly possible.

rose harriet granger-weasley

[Deleted]

They were so young indeed. Rosie had never even kissed a boy. To be fair, she still hadn’t until just April of this year. More than that she hadn’t even liked a boy. She had barely ever flown on a broomstick and she had never had a close friend. She was close with her parents, and they had friends with kids her age, one of which was even a roommate of theirs. “Sometimes I forget we’re not still that young.” Rosie mused. They had grown, that was for sure. Rosie was certainly taller and just overall bigger than she had been at age 11. Now, the 18 year old was ready to join the real world, or at least she was told that she was. She still felt hopelessly young and naive. This year and the previous year had done a lot to change that.

Jamie took Rosie’s hand the the dark haired girl squeezed her friend's hand in her own. What would she have done with Jamie? Jamie was the one who kept her sane, she was pretty sure. The fact that she ever stopped crying at any point over the past 7 years was Jamie’s doing. She was the logical, sensible one. Jamie was, in many ways, her rock. And Rosie appreciated her for that. And Rosie wanted to be able to be that in return, so while she was sad and scared and heart broken, when she saw her friend's eye begin to fill, she tried her best to silently blink any of her own away. Now wasn't her time. Jamie said that Rosie hadn't been taking too long, but then she asked if they could stay up here a little longer. Rosie nodded, "Yeah, I mean, I don't think we'll miss anything." she said, it seemed unlikely that the school would start the ceremony without two of the graduates present. The beds around them were made without their own individual touches, the quilt that Rosie's grandmother had made her was packed away in her trunk instead of at the foot of the bed, and her journal, which was normally hid behind her pillow was in her backpack for the train. The curtains were open and the May light was shining inside, but even with the light, it still seemed to dark. So dull. So lifeless. "It's weird to think that there was a time when I couldn't wait to be done." she explained. During her 6th year, like everyone did, she had her phase of wanting to be independent and work and leave the castle. Now she took it all back. She'd give anything for just another week.

@jamie

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Jamie gave Rosie a sad smile when the other girl said that she sometimes forgot that they weren’t that young still. “I wish I could forget like that.” She said, somewhat wistfully. Her life had changed more in the past seven years than Rosie’s had, Jamie was entirely certainly. Rosie still had the same number of parents and siblings, whereas Jamie’s sibling count had grown exponentially, and she had contact with exactly zero of the people who had helped give her life. Jamie tried not to think of her mother too long – ever since the failed phone call Jamie had been dancing around the idea of trying to contact her mother again. Even if Jamie’s life had changed dramatically, though, Rosie had been the one constant. She had been there for all of the fear and the heartbreak, but for also all of the joy. For all of the painful reminiscing Jamie had been doing, she also had to remember that the past years had brought her more happiness than she had ever imagined possible. The little girl with a tremendous potential to love had grown into a young woman who gave love freely, and received just as much love in return.

Jamie nodded when Rosie said that she thought they weren’t going to miss anything. They couldn’t stay there forever, of course, but a few more minutes wasn’t going to hurt anyone. Jamie was struggling to find something else to say when Rosie commented that it was strange to think there was a time when she couldn’t wait to be done with Hogwarts. Jamie had never really felt that way – when she was young, she was just so excited by magic, and by the time that wore off she had decided a direction for her life, and being in school helped her achieve her goal. The fact her siblings had sprouted up made her connections to the school even stronger. “I don’t think I’m going to miss the castle so much as the people.” Jamie said, sniffling slightly. “I’m going to miss you, Rosie.” The Hufflepuff said, quietly, her voice breaking. Maybe that was what it came down to, Jamie thought. She could let go of a place, but she couldn’t let go of a person, and this… this felt like letting go.

rose harriet granger-weasley

[Deleted]

Tomorrow Rosie Williams would wake up in a different place. And for a brief moment, it would be exactly as though she had just gone home for a school holiday. She’d make her way down to the kitchen where her mother would be waiting with a mug of hot coffee and ask her daughter where she wanted to start applying for jobs at. Rosie had been offered an entry level internship with the daily prophet in London, something she really did consider. But she turned it down. Rosie had always been a bigger fan of muggle sports than of Quidditch, she thought that she wanted to work for a muggle publication so she decided not to take a job and live with her parents until she found a job. She knew she was spoiled that she even had the option. But it did mean that she’d be further away from everyone else.

Jamie wished she could forget. Rosie knew that Jamie had it worse. She always knew that. Even during the times that she would find herself crying over something stupid and Jamie would come to her aid, she knew her friend had it worse and it often upset her more than she couldn’t deal with things in a more mature way. Rosie was such an emotional person. Rosie nodded when the blonde explained that she thought she’d miss the people more than the castle. “And the people that we were while we were here…” Rosie had once heard a quote that resonated with her now more than ever: you get a strange feeling when you leave a place, like you’ll not only miss the people you love, but you’ll miss the person you are now at this time in this place. Because you’ll never be this way ever again. Jamie told Rosie that she would miss her. Specifically. The tears that the fragile Hufflepuff had been trying so hard to suppress began to roll down her cheeks. “We’ll see each other.” she promised. “Come visit and I’ll show you Ireland.” she gave a pathetic laugh, looking at the girl standing next to her. The girl that she had fought the battles of growing up with. The girl who was there for her. How odd it would be to not wake up in the same room, to not walk to breakfast together. To not sit in lessons next to her.

@jamie

[Deleted]

Jamie nodded when Rosie said that she was going to miss the person that she was while she was at Hogwarts. So many versions of Jamie had died and been reborn within these walls and she was a little worried that once she left, she would never be able to have that sort of metamorphosis again – she wouldn’t have the safety of the school to protect her when she was weak and vulnerable, learning how to be the newest version of herself. “And the people that we left behind.” She whispered softly. She had seen Adrian and Elias both for the last time at Hogwarts, and even though she hoped to see Adrian again… it was different now. Everything was different now. There were others, too – people who hadn’t died or moved away, but that they’d grown apart from. Jamie and Rosie were lucky that their friendship had lasted the whole seven years they were at school. There were others that had faded out or exploded or otherwise ended, even as the two girls stood together, like trees whose roots were twined underground. Everyone thought they looked separate, but they had grown together in a way that was irreversible.

“I will.” Jamie promised when Rosie invited her to come and see Ireland. “But it still won’t be the same.” Jamie wasn’t sure whether she was saying that for Rosie’s benefit, or her own. They both knew things were going to be different, but repeating it, over and over until her lips were chapped, seemed to be the only way that Jamie could make herself believe it. “You’ll come to my games, won’t you?” Jamie asked. Even though part of that would be required for Rosie’s career as a sports journalist, Jamie was hopeful that Rosie would come see even the games that weren’t required for her job. They could go out for dinner together after, and even if it wouldn’t be the same, maybe it would be close. Or at least close enough.

rose harriet granger-weasley

[Deleted]

The woman nodded. No one now was the same as they had been 7 years ago when they began their schooling at Hogwarts. For a long time, Rosie hadn’t thought that she had changed much at all. She was still naive, but less so. She was still emotional, but she had figured out how to control her own emotions. She was still shy and quiet, but only sometimes, she had also learned that she had a habit of babbling on and on when she was nervous. She had learned so much about herself. She had learned what she cared about, what she was passionate about, and what she would stand up against. She had experienced her first truly uncomfortable situation in March with the Durmstrang girl in the towers, who, with the other 2 Durmstrang students had been listed among the living. Rosie despised that girl. Adonia had pushed her farther than she had wanted to go. She had stolen her first kiss and caused her more physical pain than she ever hoped to feel again. But, Rosie was glad that she wasn’t dead. Rosie wouldn’t wish death on anyone, even someone she despised.

Rosie knew it wasn’t going to be the same. It was going to be vastly different. Her world was being turned upside down and there was nothing, nothing at all, that she could do to stop it. “Every game.” Rosie promised. “I’ll get a season pass.” she insisted. She meant it. She loved Quidditch, but more importantly, she loved Jamie. And she’d do anything to support her friend. Rosie could easily see herself in the stands, with Jamie’s number written on her face to show support, screaming and cheering, especially if she chose not to write about Quidditch professionally. “I’ll even take you for a drink after.” she decided. Rosie had never had a drink, but she knew that likely wouldn’t last long after graduation. Especially with what had happened.

@jamie

[Deleted]

Rosie promised to come to every one of Jamie’s games, and even though that wasn’t going to be a replacement for anything that they had experienced in their seven years of living together, it did make Jamie feel marginally better. She didn’t want her and Rosie to grow apart – in fact, she was rather terrified of it. It was easier to think about graduating in terms of her family, since she didn’t really associate her family with school. She didn’t associate Liona with school, either, which meant that her romantic relationship was safe. It was really only her friendships that felt like they were in jeopardy due to graduation. Jamie chuckled a little when Rosie said that she’d take Jamie out for a drink after her Quidditch games. “How about we go out for ice cream instead of a drink?” Jamie suggested. Neither she nor Rosie really seemed like the kind of enjoy drinking recreationally. Ice cream was definitely more their style, and even though it was juvenile, Jamie didn’t really care – preserving her relationship with Rosie as it was, instead of how people expected two adults to be friends, was important to her. “I’m not sure if I’m ever going to be able to leave.” Jamie admitted to Rosie. Standing there with her hand curled in Rosie’s felt so much like home that abandoning it, even to go to the graduation ceremony, seemed unthinkable. Jamie was just hoping that her friend had more fortitude than she did.

rose harriet granger-weasley

[Deleted]

Rosie could help but let out a soft, muted laugh when Jamie suggested the two go out for ice cream instead of a drink. Rosie nodded, “Perfect.” she insisted. Jamie was right, Rosie hadn’t really ever had a drink. She had wine with her parents when they were out to dinner, and on holidays, however, drinking never really called to her. Rosie was a good girl, she knew that and she wasn’t afraid of being called any such name. And she had been called them all, goody-goody, goody two shoes, even a priss at time, however, she never let them bother her. What was so wrong with being good? What was so wrong with doing what you were supposed to and what was expected of you? She liked pleasing people, she liked making her parents and her teachers and her friends proud of her. So why should being called what she was bother her?

I’m not sure if I’m ever going to be able to leave, prompted another nod from the brunette standing in the dorm. “Makes you wonder why we all didn’t just find a flat together.” she laughed, completely kidding, and trying hard to lighten the mood that obviously wanted to stay heavy. Rosie still felt her eyes and nose tingle with the looming threat of tears. Leaving this room felt like she was leaving behind a part of her. It felt like saying goodbye to midnight conversations and rushed mornings with everyone getting ready together. Saying goodnight to her car and parents at home wouldn’t be the same as bidding her best friends goodnight and knowing she was sleeping in the same room with girls who would do anything for her. Rosie was happy to get to spend more time with her parents, they were very close and she had missed them over the years. But she knew it would feel different, and it would take some major adjusting. And Rosie could imagine that Jamie, who was going to live with her sister, would likely agree.

@jamie

[Deleted]

Jamie grinned at Rosie when she agreed to go out for ice cream instead of drinks. If that was the case, then Jamie wouldn’t have as many qualms inviting her siblings to accompany them every once in a while for a treat – with Rosie’s permission, of course. Jamie didn’t want to encroach on the time she and Rosie had together without asking her friend first, especially since it was already going to be difficult going through the withdrawal of not seeing each other all the time without constantly having to share their limited together time with other people.

Jamie’s face fell slightly when Rosie asked why they hadn’t just gotten a flat together. That actually would have been a good idea, if they had thought of it earlier. They all knew that they lived well together, since they had been doing it for the last seven years – though cooking duty would be something interesting to organize since their meals wouldn’t be provided for them. “That might slide into the territory of codependence.” Jamie mused. Even if it was intended to be a joke – and it took Jamie a moment to make that realization – it did occur to Jamie that staying in her comfort zone for the rest of her life and living with the same people until she got married or otherwise moved wouldn’t be beneficial. Jamie paused for a moment, before making a declaration. “I don’t think I’m going to be able to leave until I get to hug you one more time.” Jamie said. Holding hands was all well and good, but it wasn’t the same as having the breath crushed out of her by her best friend while she valiantly held in tears.

rose harriet granger-weasley

[Deleted]

Rosie knew she had a lot of issues to work though regarding the way she was as a person, and she knew that codependency was kind of one of them. Rosie was very used to using people as a crutch. She knew that if something bad were to ever happen, she’d have her friends and her family to lean on and they would take care of her to the best of their abilities. She was good at making friends with truly selfless people. She knew that she needed to branch out, and she was feeling like it was about time to take that leap. Traveling over the summer with a new friend was going to do her wonders… though she couldn’t fathom the idea of leaving Brandon and was still debating the idea of even going abroad. “Yeah. Probably so.” Rosie said, a soft smile on her face and a firm nod in agreeance with her own idea.

They all had to grow up, and it was almost as if, once they were handed their diploma, all of their get out of jail free cards were taken away and they were left in a space of loose ends and difficult decisions. “Of course.” Rosie found herself giving a soft laugh. She was still holding hands with the girl, but she let go and instead wrapped her arms comforting around her friend. While she hugged Jamie, she took a deep breath. “Graduation is gonna be fun. We should be looking forward to it.” she forced herself to smile, trying to convince both of them that leaving the common room and going out wouldn’t be as scary as at least she was thinking it was.

@jamie

[Deleted]

Rosie agreed that them always being around each other would probably stray into the territory of codependence, and Jamie raised her shoulder in half a shrug. Even if it was the truth, now wasn’t the time to dwell on their flaws. Jamie was glad that her best friend was so open to the idea of hugging. She hadn’t expected Rosie to refuse, but Jamie had been surprised before, and she’d be surprised again before she died. Rosie wrapped her arms around Jamie, and the Hufflepuff responded by threading her arms around her friend’s waist and burying her face in Rosie’s hair. Jamie had had a lot of good hugs in her years, but none of them quite compared to this – Jamie and Rosie, two soon-to-be-graduates, hugging the last time as roommates, as students, as Hufflepuffs, as the people they were now. When they hugged again after the ceremony, they would no longer be roommates or students or Hufflepuffs, and they would be different people, too. Jamie tried not to let it get to her, but it felt a little like the world was ending, and this was their last day in it. Jamie heard what Rosie said, but didn’t feel up to commenting. She was sure that if she opened her mouth she was just going to start crying, so she squeezed Rosie tighter, holding her friend tighter and closer than she could ever remember being held. If she held on long enough, then maybe things wouldn’t have to change.

rose harriet granger-weasley

[Deleted]

The silence spoke loud enough for either of them. A chapter in their life was ending and it needed to be fully put to rest. Leaving without closure wouldn’t help anything so Rosie let the moment linger. She gave it the time it required. After all, this would be the last time that she would see her dorm room. This would be the last time she’d be in the basement of the castle. This would be the last time she’d walk up the marble staircase. This would be the last foreseeable time that she’d exit the castle. There was no reason to rush it, even if they had a graduation ceremony to get to and had their families waiting for them outside. Jamie held on tighter and Rosie followed her lead, squeezing the blonde back. It was comforting. And while Rosie knew that it had to end, and, was trying to mentally prepare herself for it, a few more minutes couldn’t hurt. Rosie didn’t say anything. SHe knew that she didn’t need to. The moment spoke for itself.

@jamie