A/N: This is my first story on this site. Constructive critisism is welcomed! Be harsh, I don't care. Like most people on this site, I am just trying to become a better writer.

Please read and review!

Selina rolled across the ground. Being detected at this critical stage would be catastrophic. Moving silently she crept along to the next source of cover. Any fast movement would be picked up in her target's vision, so Selina stood up slowly and inched towards the door. This was it. The moment she had been waiting for. The footsteps grew closer and Selina stood ready behind the door frame, weapon in hand. One…Two…Three…

'ATTACK!'

The pillow cracked down on the target's head.

'GOTCHA!'

'IM NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT!' Natasha turned around, swinging her pillow, catching Selina in the stomach.

'Oooh, you are so going to pay for that!' Selina raised her pillow above Natasha's head and was about to strike, when a whiney voice called out.

'Mummy! Natasha and Selina are being too noisy and I just wanna sleep. Why does Natasha get to stay up late anyway? It's not fair!' Natasha's little sister, Ella, came out of her room, rubbing her eyes.

Immediately Mrs. Lopez ran up to Ella and put her arms around her. 'It's ok darling, they need to go to bed now anyway. I will make sure they use their inside voices from now on.'

Natasha rolled her eyes and pretended to gag and when their mother's back was turned, Ella poked her tongue out at her.

'That little spoilt, goody two shoes, nerdy brat! Why does Mum always take her side! It's not fair!' Natasha muttered, clenching her fists. Selina giggled at her best friend's ranting.

Ella's voice carried from the next room. 'And besides Mummy, I'm the one with the potential in this family. Natasha didn't get above a 'B' in her last report card.'

Natasha clenched her fists, trying to control herself. All of a sudden, the door Ella was standing behind slammed, causing her to scream.

'Ha-ha! It's called karma, little sis!'

Selina laughed. 'Must have been the wind. We should probably get to bed now; we don't want to get into even more trouble!'

'You always ruin the fun!' groaned Natasha.

'Wake up sleepy head!' Natasha screamed in Selina's ear.

Selina didn't stir. Natasha sighed; getting her best friend up in the morning was a difficult task. The matron at their previous boarding school could never wake Selina up in the mornings. It ended up being a whole dorm effort every morning, with everyone throwing water, food and pillows at her. On the last day of school, the girls had carried her down to the school pool (with the permission of the matron, of course) and threw her in. The second Selina had hit the water, she was awake.

The strange thing, Natasha mused, was that suddenly everyone was pushed into the pool by some invisible force. No one really cared though; it was their last bit of fun all together, before everyone went their spate ways.

Grinning, Natasha picked Selina up bridal style and began carrying her down the stairs, planning on dropping her in the pool again.

Once Natasha had carried her into the hall outside the kitchen, Selina opened her eyes.

'I've been awake for a while, you know. Thanks for the lift to breakfast!'

'You scared me! Bloody hell, you've put on a few pounds!'

'Oooh, Mummy, Natasha swore!' Ella taunted. She was sitting at the dining room table, waiting for breakfast.

'NATASHA! Language please!' Mrs. Lopez was in the kitchen, making breakfast.

Natasha rolled her eyes. 'It's not even swearing,' she called back to her mother.

In an undertone she turned to Selina. 'I'll be glad when school is back, I sometimes can't stand my mother or sister.'

'At least you have them.' Selina said quietly.

Natasha swore under her breath, how could she be so tactless? Selina's mother had died when she was eight, causing her to move across the country to live with a father she had never met before. That was when the two friends had met. Selina had just moved to the boarding school upset, lonely, and still coming to terms with her loss. Natasha was naturally very people-person, and they slowly became friends, once Selina had got over being shy.

The awkward silence was broken when Mrs. Lopez announced breakfast was ready. Mr. Lopez came down stairs in a hurry, already dressed for work.

As everybody ate their breakfast together, they were all talking happily to each other. Mr. Lopez told a very interested Natasha about a tumor he had to remove the previous day, Ella bragged about her last exam result to her mum, and then Natasha started telling jokes that only she seemed to find funny.

Normal family things, Selina thought with a twang of jealousy. Her father wasn't a very talkative person, and without a sibling meals were usually very quiet, with Selina reading for the most part. She didn't mind reading, but still. It would be nice to have company.

After they finished eating, the girls ran upstairs to get changed. Natasha spent half an hour looking for the perfect shirt to wear, while Selina pulled the first thing she could find out of her trunk and chucked it on. Natasha dragged Selina down stairs to go out shopping for the day, much to Selina's joy. The shopping center was near Mr. Lopez's doctor's clinic, so he was driving them.

'This is going to be fun!' Natasha said, with an evil smile on her face.

Selina groaned. She hated shopping.

'You've got to admit, that was pretty fun.' Natasha nudged Selina on the car trip back.

'Okay, the ice cream and book buying was okay. You forcing me into every pair of clothes you see? Not fun.'

After a few minutes of bickering, the car pulled into the driveway. The two girls walked into the hall way to find Mrs. Lopez sitting on the couch, looking at what seemed to be a letter.

'Oh, hello girls.' She looked up at them and forced a smile, hastily shoving the letter away.

'Is everything ok Mum? Natasha asked.

Mrs. Lopez sighed. 'Some issues have come up.'

'Like what? Has someone died?' Her husband ran up to her, anxious.

'No, no. Not that bad. I need to talk to you.' She looked at Selina and Natasha, 'Alone, please girls?'

Natasha and Selina ran upstairs. Natasha looked at Selina. 'I hope it's nothing really bad.'

'It'll be fine.' Selina paused. 'Actually, I need to tell you something too.'

'Oh god. It's bad, isn't it?' Natasha sat down on her bed.

Selina nodded. 'It might be.'

'Wait, what do you mean, it might be?'

She sighed, pushing a strand of her black her out of her face. 'Well, you see, there's a chance I might not be going to the same school as you.'

Natasha's face fell. 'Oh yeah, you mentioned that a while ago, is it that school your dad teaches at?'

'Yeah, that's the one. Just remember, I don't know for sure whether I'm in or not.'

'Well, as soon as you find out, ring me.'

The bedroom door opened, to reveal Mr. and Mrs. Lopez standing in the hallway.

'Listen, Selina. Some family things have come up and we need to make a trip into London tomorrow. Would it be okay if we dropped you home tonight?'

'Oh. Yeah, I assume Dad will be home.' Selina said her heart dropping. She had dreaded going back to her lonely house.

'Are you sure Selina can't come with us?' Natasha pleaded.

'No, it would be best if it was just us.' Mrs. Lopez said, exiting the room.

Natasha looked really confused and worried. 'I'm so sorry you have to go home Selina. I honestly have no idea what has happened.' She leant forward and hugged her best friend.

Selina permitted Natasha to hug her. 'It's fine. I just hope you guys will sort out whatever it is. And anyway, I miss my dad. It's been ages since I've seen him!'

Natasha helped Selina pack, and after no time they were in the car.

Natasha bit her lip, not knowing what to say for the first time in her life. The car bumped along the road, and the girls sat in the back seat silently.

Selina knew Natasha was worried about what was going on, and she was too. Heck, the Lopez's were like the family she never had.

'Ring me when you find out. I'm gonna be bored to the rest of the holidays, I'll crave human company, even if it is just talking on the phone.' Selina smiled.

'That's a joke! You would lie in your room reading for the rest of your life if you were allowed too!'

The awkwardness between them was gone in an instant, and the rest of the car drive was the friends joking and singing stupid songs, until Mrs. Lopez threatened to pull over if they didn't shut up.

One hundred bottles on the wall later, the car pulled up onto Selina's street.

'Did you end up ringing your father Selina? He doesn't know you're coming, does he?' Mrs. Lopez looked back to Selina,

'He will be home, don't worry! Knowing him, he probably doesn't even know how to answer a phone, being old and everything.'

Mrs. Lopez laughed. 'What are you saying about old people, missy?'

Selina said goodbye to Natasha and her mum at the gate of her house, and walked alone to the front door. Even though the curtains were drawn, she could tell somebody was home. Realizing the house keys were in the bottom of her bags, Selina put them down, and raised her hand to knock on the door. On the third knock, the door opened.

Severus Snape stood in the doorway.

'I missed you Dad!'