The quidditch park was dark and empty. Shadows cast themselves across the grass as the sun set behind the stands and the moon began to glow overhead. On the grass, up against one stand a witch sat on the ground, legs spread before her as she stared ahead.

This was the first time Miranda Elliot had been within this quidditch pitch since May 2008 when they’d had the ten year memorial ceremony for Battle of Hogwarts. She didn’t have anyone close to grieve for from the battle itself. Instead her mind was with someone who she’d lost two years ago today.

She’d been sat in the stands. Miranda couldn’t clearly remember the speeches. She couldn’t remember what she’d been saying as her and George had sat together for the ceremony. The opening had been a blur. What still remained fresh and clear in Miranda’s mind was, however, the fear she’d felt watching the stage being stormed and the auror being killed. She could still see the horror in her brother’s eyes when the wand had turned to him. She never heard the words Leon had spoken but she knew they were sensible, placating. Had they ended his life of would he have died without uttering a word?

Sat against the wall Mira closed her eyes, visualising the commotion on stage. She could still hear the screams; see the people rushing around her to get out of the stands, to be far from Kingstreet and the boy. She’d stood still, glued to the spot, eyes searching wildly for Leon in the crowd on the stage.

“I can’t believe I miss you, you infuriating git.” The healer muttered into the near darkness. “My life is a lot quieter without your self-righteous hypocrisy.” For the whole year she’d been here as a visiting professor with Durmstrang Miranda had avoided the quidditch pitch. She’d feared what emotions might overcome her if she came and was surrounded by people. In the dark it seemed safer and she’d known that she needed to come before leaving to return to St Mungo’s.

For a few moments Professor Elliot fiddled in her robe pocket until she pulled out a cigarette. She placed it between her lips and took her wand from behind her ear. With the wand she lit the tip and took a deep breath, inhaling the tabacco, breathing it out and letting the smoke float into the cool evening air.