Susan:
Her home was destroyed. Generations after generations of the Bones family had lived and died there but now it was gone. The history seeped in the stones of her ancestors Manor was destroyed, her parents home gone. They still had some of the most important things like the portraits of their ancestors, books and jewelry stored in a safe Vault at Gringotts which the Death Eaters wouldn't ever get to but still. It was awful to see your own home turned into this.
Greyback had taken great joy in destroying their safe place with his pack and probably some other Death Eaters. What he had done to Amelia and Susan's bedrooms... It was sickening. Not to mention what they had done to the rest of their house.
It was only because of Harry Potter inviting her Auntie for tea that her aunt hadn't died a horrible death in their own home. Susan had been visiting with Hannah who had needed some support after her mother died in a recent attack. They had been so very lucky. Susan didn't want to think about what she'd have done if her aunt had died too. If she had been the last Bones alive.
Now it was just their home that was destroyed. Which was horrible but houses could be rebuilt. A new home could be found.
Auntie had told her that they'd go to Longbottom Manor for a while where they would be safe. The wards around the Longbottom Family Manor were older and thus stronger with the magic they'd collected over the years. Still, Susan found it strange that they would go there instead of to somebody they actually knew.
Susan knew Neville of course but she didn't actually know him. They met a few times in the past and were polite but nothing more. The boy had always been to shy and Susan to sure of herself for them to become friends. It was only since a year or so that Neville Longbottom was growing into himself.
Why couldn't they go to Hannah's house? No, that was selfish. Hannah had just lost her mother. She shouldn't have to take care of them. She'd just have to accept that this was her life now. Longbottom Manor would be just fine as a hiding place. Perhaps Neville and she could become friends now. Susan could use some friends right now.
When she stepped out of the floo and was escorded to a very sunny looking room she finally understood her auntie's choice. Harry Potter was here.
He looked good, she thought. Something had changed about him and she liked it. She liked it so much in fact that she completely missed the greetings of her new hosts and only started paying attention again when Harry took her hand and air kissed it like she was a lady. He'd never done this before. Never even showed a sign that he knew pureblood manners.
Where had he suddenly learned these lordly manners? It flustered her but she managed to remain composed. It wouldn't do to act like one of his fangirls. She was better than that. Besides, he always seemed so utterly uncomfortable when someone acted like one of his overly friendly fangirls. Or boys.
Not to mention Hermione Granger. Everybody knew those two would end up together if they weren't already. Susan might think he cleaned up well but she wouldn't sink so low as to pant after somebody already in a relationship. Or going that way. Susan didn't have time for romance anyway, she had ambitions.
And she wanted to be his friend.
Harry Potter might just be her kind of people. They had a lot in common if one ignored his insane fame. Which didn't happen often with her peers. People she could be friends with, she meant. She didn't have a lot of those since most children had been scared of doing something wrong and that Susan'd tell her tattle to her aunt. She only had Hannah. Hannah had been her best friend since toddlerhood. Her parents had been friends and after Susan's parents had been murdered, her aunt ensured that Susan and Hannah could keep in contact.
And of course she had some friends at Hogwarts but not really close ones. Hufflepuff was a brilliant House but Susan just found it difficult to truly connect to others around her age. They all just seemed so childish, they had very different priorities and it showed. So she had become the leader of her year group instead of just a member of Hufflepuff House. Being a leader suited her but it was also a bit lonely every now and then.
But maybe her friend situation could change now. Her aunt told her they would start training together. Her, Neville and Harry. And maybe Hannah and Hermione too if they could convince Hannah's grieving father to let his daughter out of his sight. And Hermione if she got permission from her own parents.
So they trained together. Just the three of them that first day. It had been hilarious to see Harry turn Neville into a duck. She hadn't even known that spell existed!
Hermione joined them soon after that first day and they got along well to Susan's relief. There had been a slight moment of tension but that was quickly fixed. Susan had no intention to go after Hermione's man, after all. And Harry was Hermione's. That much was obvious to everybody around them. Now they just had to man up and actually confess their feelings for each other.
If they didn't do it soon then Susan and Neville would have to take action. They were sickingly cute right now and it needed to change. Surely it would get better when the two of them actually got together. Susan was betting on Hermione taking the first step. That girl clearly knew about her feelings if she was warning Susan away with just a look. Harry was still clueless as far Susan could see. Boys...
The four of them became very good friends and they had a lot in common. They were all willing to fight, to seriously work for it. To protect those that couldn't protect themselves. They'd train hard this summer and however long needed after that. Susan had found her people and it was such a relief.
Harry, Neville and Susan had something else in common. All three of them were orphans. All three were a bit lonely. All three were willing to fight to protect those they love. It felt like she had gained two brothers.
They got to know each other and soon it seemed like they had known each other their whole lives. It was great but Susan did miss Hannah a lot. She couldn't tell her best friend about what was happening in her life in case someone intercepted their owl post. She had so much to tell her friend. It was strange not to be able to talk to her every day as they were used to. This was the first time that they hadn't seen each other for this long.
Susan regretted that she couldn't be there for her friend. Hannah must be so very sad right now after the murder of her mother and Susan couldn't go to her.
Still, Susan tried not to linger on that thought for long. She was busy becoming strong. She needed to be strong. Strong so she could protect herself and others around her.
Hopefully Hannah could come and train with them soon. She had a lot of new things to teach her old friend.