Amadea was finally home. Ironically, however, she didn't feel that way. Her home, she had decided, was at Hogwarts, where she finally had begun to fit in. At Hogwarts, she didn't have to worry about being the outcast or judged for her differences. There was a place for everyone, no matter who they were. Amadea had been gone for a day and she already missed it terribly. Things had changed significantly back "home" since Amadea had been away. Most importantly, her parents had split up. Amadea didn't know the details and neither of her parents was willing to rehash the story, but Amadea was able to put together a basic idea of what had happened. She still didn't know how to feel about any of it. Then there was the problem with her sister. Katerina had not talked to Amadea since winter break when things had been quite tense between them. Amadea wanted nothing more than to apologize to her sister the second that she saw her, but Amadea was still too stubborn. She knew that none of this was her fault, and to be honest, Amadea wasn't exactly sure why Kat was mad at her still. No matter the reason, Amadea wasn't going to be the first one to apologize. 

Now, Amadea stood at the front walkway of her new house. It was small, but it looked cozy and inviting. There was a small stone walkway up to the front door, and Amadea rolled her trunk through it until she reached the door. She wasn't sure why she was so nervous. It was probably because everything had changed and Amadea didn't know what to expect anymore. The family dynamic had completely changed while she was away and she no longer knew where she fit in it anymore. Maybe she shouldn't have come home.

"Earth to Amadea," her mother said, waving her hand in front of Amadea's face. Amadea blinked, snapping out of her thoughts, trying to focus on being in the moment.

"Sorry, Mom," she replied quickly, hoisting her trunk up the front steps and pushing open the door. She had yet to see the inside of her new home and it took her breath away when she stepped inside. It had nothing on the elaborate architecture of Hogwarts, of course, but it was so much better than Amadea was expecting. Her mother had decorated the house perfectly and everything seemed so neat and tidy. At a second glance, Amadea thought, it almost seemedtooperfect and tidy. She felt as though she didn't belong, just like usual. 

"It's so good to have you home, Dea," her mother said from behind, wrapping her arms around her daughter and squeezing tight. Amadea leaned back into her mother's embrace. She had missed her family while being away. "Your room is the first door on the right after you go upstairs. Bring your things up and get settled. I'll start making some dinner."

"Sounds good, Mom,"Amadea said with a smile."Thank you." She hauled her trunk up the flight of stairs that paled in comparison to the ones at Hogwarts (why was she still comparing everything to things at Hogwarts?) and turned to the right. She opened the door to her room. Inside, there was a bed, a dresser, and a desk but nothing else. Apparently, her mother wanted her to furnish it on her own. Amadea set her trunk down at the foot of her bed and opened it carefully. She was quite tired from the journey home and decided she would do most of her unpacking later but would get a head start on it now.

As she began taking out her robes and hanging them in the closet, she heard footsteps and then a knock on the door. Turning around, Amadea was surprised to see her sister standing in the doorway. Kat looked nervous as she slowly stepped into the room. Amadea finished hanging the last of her robes and then walked over and sat down on her bed. 

"Welcome home," Kat said hesitantly. Amadea gave her a tentative smile, unsure of where this conversation was going, or if it would continue at all. She smoothed her hair back and stared expectantly at her sister. Amadea was not going to be the first one to talk. 

Kat cleared her throat uncomfortably and shifted from foot to foot. "Look, Dea," she began, "I'm really sorry. My behavior this past year has been completely and utterly crazy. I was just so angry because it felt like everything that was my dream was happening to you instead and that just made me so jealous of you. I always knew deep down that none of it was your fault but I was just too overcome with anger and jealousy that I couldn't even look at you without thinking about how unfair it all was." After this, Kat took a deep breath before continuing on. "And we kept hearing your stories about how amazing Hogwarts was and all of the things you were doing and I just couldn't get it out of my head. All of my life, all I've wanted was to have the abilities that you have and to not have them just sucked and I just no longer knew what to do with my life, but you had it all figured out. It just was hard for me to handle. I know that isn't a really good excuse, and I know that none of it was really your fault, but I made it that way and I'm sorry." 

Kat took a long breath after this, giving Amadea the chance to say something. Amadea stayed silent, however, knowing that Kat wasn't done saying whatever she was saying. Amadea wanted her sister to say everything before she responded. 

"But then I discovered some things about myself and I realized it was stupid to be angry with you and I should stop dwelling on everything that I am not," Kat continued, as Amadea had expected. "I just wasn't putting things in perspective. I'm so sorry." 

After this, Kat stopped talking, finished with what she was saying. Amadea shifted on her bed, the mattress creaking beneath her. "I appreciate your apology," Amadea said. "It just really sucked, you know? I always could count on you to be there, and then suddenly the biggest thing that had ever happened to me in my entire life was happening to me and I couldn't talk to you because you were mad at me. And there was nothing I could do about it because I couldn't change who I am. It just really sucked. I missed you so much." Amadea sighed, letting her emotions come out.  She just wanted her sister back.

By now, tears were streaming down both of the girls' faces. Amadea stood up from her bed and embraced her sister in a tight hug, hoping that Kat understood everything that she was trying to convey through her hug. When Amadea finally pulled away, she stared up at her sister. "I missed you so much," she said. 

Kat just brushed Amadea's hair aside and led Amadea over to her bed. They sat together at the edge of the bed until their tears subsided. "So," Kat said with a smile, "You have about a year's worth of things to catch me up on," she said with a laugh. "And I have a year's worth of things to catch you up on." 

"This might take a while," Amadea laughed, thinking of everything she had wanted to tell her sister throughout the year. Imagining it all, she just wanted to say it all immediately. She was sure Kat had plenty of things to say to her as well. They would be here all night. 

"Then we'd better get started," Kat said with a grin.