We were just investigating. Not stalking, I swear.
'what exactly are we d-'
I was cut off by a 'SHH!!'
Hiding in bushes, in camouflaged clothing behind ones my best friend's fences was not exactly the ideal way for me to be spending my holidays. And why exactly we were doing this, I did not know.
'Wait, you'll see. Three… two.. That my friend is why we are investigating,' exclaimed the blonde beside me, pointing to a door that had just been opened at the house next door. Stalking was not something I did on a regular basis, but even through the two crooked fence posts that were obscuring my view, I could understand Holly's new found infatuation. I let out an involuntary sigh, but really, who could resist that face? And that hair, and those eyes, and that ches-
'What on earth are you guys doing?' came the voice of my other best friend, pulling me back to reality. Holly and I looked up innocently, pulling our best puppy dog expressions. Adele sighed exasperatedly, rolling her eyes.
'Don't tell me you're stalking that poor guy again, Holly?' Holly grinned, guiltily in response. Adele shook her head in amusement.
'But he's so hot!' Holly said in her defence.
'Why the hell are you hiding behind your fence though? You're a witch, genius! You could be two inches from his face with a disillusionment charm.'
Holly and I looked at Adele in mock horror. It wasn't often that you'd hear something like that from the mother of our group.
'Did you, Adele Thompson, abider of all rules, just encourage us to stalk a boy?' I asked, purposely emphasising the last word. Adele just rolled her eyes at us and waved dramatically at Holly's now very confused neighbour.
'Come on, lets go have lunch,' Adele said, gesturing for us to follow her inside. Lunch was a large event at the Bennet household, so was followed by us laying on the floor, groaning.
'I'll never eat again!' I mumbled into the carpet. I looked up at two confused faces.
'Actually I will tomorrow. Eat again that is.'
'Suuuure,' said Holly, joining Adele in nodding at me like I was crazy.
Well it was true. No one could resist Hogwarts food. And come tomorrow, I would be beginning my seventh year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. That is, I thought, eyeing the clothes and books sprawled around the room, if we actually made it in time…
'Uh guys, shouldn't we be packing?' Adele propped herself up on her elbows, an alarmed look on her face.
Our afternoon continued with much packing, under the force of Adele, before we collapsed out of exhaustion. Packing is very strenuous, you know.
The next morning I woke up with something extremely stiff under my head. I groped around, opening one eye, hoping that maybe it was still night. Instead, it was extremely bright out, and I was greeted with an enthusiastic face, that was much to excited for that time of morning.
'MORNING!' exclaimed an excited Holly, who was quite literally jumping with excitement. I would have gone back to sleep, but it was highly uncomfortable with a foot underneath your head. Instead, I sat up.
'We're going back to Hogwarts today!' Holly cried in a sing-song voice. Six in the morning, and she was already laden in Hogwarts insignia and very much resembling a hyperactive six year old. Although that wasn't all that far off typical Holly. A moment later a small object flew across the room hitting a sleeping Adele directly in the centre of her head.
'Toast?!' grumbled a now awake Adele. 'You couldn't have thrown a pillow, toast?'
Ignoring the agitated Adele on her floor, Holly continued to beam, opening a window.
'SUN!! BAAAAAD!' screeched Adele, throwing a pillow which she was apparently aiming at the sun. As much of a genius this girl was, mornings were not her forte.
About 10 minutes later, we were sitting at the Bennett's kitchen table, eating breakfast. Well, not so much eating on Adele's part. She was trying to use the newspaper as a pillow, but was failing miserably. Funny that.
Three slices of toast, and two wake ups later, the three of us were stepping onto platform 9 ¾. After saying a quick goodbye to Holly's mother, we made our way towards the train, waving to people every now and then.
We were looking for a free compartment when something occurred to me. I was a prefect. And funnily enough I was required at a prefect meeting. Now.
'Dammit. See you guys later,' I said to Holly and Adele, turning abruptly in the opposite direction.
As I was making my way towards the prefect's compartment, I saw a familiar head of sandy blonde hair.
'Reeeemus!' I sang. Yes, sang. Holly sure was rubbing off on me. He turned to me, raising an eyebrow.
'Someone's in a good mood,' he said, enveloping me in a hug. I hugged him back, my arms around his waist, as my head barely reached his shoulders.
'Did you get taller?' I asked, peering up at him.
'No Bridget,' he laughed. 'You just got shorter.'
As Remus was the other Gryffindor prefect, we both made our way to the meeting. I pushed open the door, and was surprised to see James Potter standing at the front. James Potter was the last person I had expected to be at a prefect meaning, mainly because no one in their right mind would put him in a position of power. What little time of his life was left over after planning pranks, was spent drooling over Lily Evans, who absolutely hated him.
'Oh Merlin, what'd James do this time?' I asked Remus.
'He's head boy.' He replied. I looked at him in shock.
'You're joking!' I cried. Remus shook his head, amused by my shock.
'Who the hell would make James head boy?' I thought out loud, before sitting down. James stood up, along with Lily Evans, who was apparently head girl. Lily, I wasn't surprised to see, was looking at James, agitated.
'Hey guys. I'm James Potter.' a few girls giggled. Trust the fan club to respond. 'So I'm your head boy this year, and the scrumptious and ever so delightful Lily Evans is your head girl-'
I'm sure his speech was great but I lost interest after about the fifth complement gushing over how great Lily was. I spent most of the meeting laughing inwardly at the glares Lily was sending James. It wouldn't have surprised me if the year ended in the murder of James.
'…And that concludes our meeting. If you have any questions, feel free to ask the most handsome head boy ever, or the most gorgeous head girl in the world.' Lily looked less than pleased by James's closing statement. I was ushered out of the compartment by Remus, so we could avoid what was most certainly going to be an arguing James and Lily.
I found the compartment where the 7th year girls were sitting and was greeted by Adele, Holly and Alice Parker, the fifth girl who shared our dormitory. We were later joined by Lily who it seemed had returned from a yelling match. The train ride went quite fast with talking, food and the occasional outbreak of dance from the still hyperactive Holly.
Everything was going normally, until I realised one important fact. I really needed to pee.
'I really need to pee,' I announced to the room the vital fact which their lives would just obviously be incomplete without. I excused myself and made my way towards the bathrooms.
On my way, I heard the familiar voice of Remus Lupin.
'So, how was the summer?'
'Good,' a smug and cocky voice replied. This could only be one person. Sirius Black.
'How many this year Padfoot?' I heard James ask in a knowing tone.
'I dunno, I lost count after the 7th. Gorgeous legs that one had though.'
'How many what?' asked a squeaky voice, which sounded almost fearful.
'Summer flings,' sighed Remus at the same time as both Sirius and James exclaimed, 'Conquests!'
I groaned internally, and apparently externally, as I heard a cough and turned to see a confused second year Ravenclaw. I gave her my meanest looking glare, and laughed to myself as she scampered away in fear. Can't a girl eavesdrop in peace anymore? It then occurred to me that I still needed to pee. So I did just that.
A while later the train came to a stop at Hogsmeade station. We climbed into the horseless carriages and made our way to the start of term feast.
'Hey Bridget guess what?' I heard an excited sounding Holly say as I sat down at the Gryffindor table.
'You saw a hot guy?' Holly was so predictable.
'How did you know?' she cried, looking at me in awe. 'Anyway, he's in Ravenclaw, 7th year, and very, very good looking. I don't know why I haven't noticed him before. He's got amazing blue eyes, light brown hair-' I has a feeling I knew this guy.
'Point him out to me?' Holly pointed to a guy sitting halfway down the Ravenclaw table. I rolled my eyes.
'Holly, you went out with him last year.' She looked at me in confusion.
'Really? What's his name?'
'Josh Smith.'
'Oh.' Holly said in comprehension. She often forgot who she had and had not been out with. 'He looks different though.' She spent the rest of dinner trying to work out why she hadn't recognised him, with little success.
'I think you're just forgetful,' I told her, as we made our way up to the common room. She shrugged and said the password 'Gargoyle' to the fat lady and the portrait swung open. Most of the house, it seemed, had gone straight to bed. I decided to do the same, and followed Holly up the stairs to the 7th year girls' dormitory. My trunk was at the end of the bed closest to the window, just how I liked it. This time next year, I won't be here, I thought to myself. Most people would be scared or worried that it was their last year. I however was intending on making this a year to remember…