A/N: This is my first chapter-story! I'm not sure how long it's going to be yet. :)

Disclaimer: I don't own anything! :D

Chapter One

"Megan?" I looked up from the summer reading I was doing on my mother's old leather swivel chair. "Hi, Mum," I said, smiling and sticking a bookmark in my spot. Defensive Magical Theory could certainly wait another few minutes. Or centuries.

"Could you possibly help me organize these dragon-hide gloves? A few have holes in them, I don't know what those third-years were doing last year, but even the smallest hole can mean harm to students." I nodded, setting the textbook down on her battered old desk in the corner of Greenhouse 7, and smiled at her affectionately. My mum had frizzy grey hair, was always covered in dirt, and was the frumpiest person I knew. I loved her more than anything else in the world.

She whistled a tune off-key as she turned a batch of honking daffodils, allowing the other sides to soak up the sun. I turned back to the gloves. Those third years were really careless with the gloves. Puffapods weren't that strenuous, I thought, shaking my head. Probably a bunch of Slytherins. While there was no proof against that particular House, Hufflepuffs didn't like them on principle.

The gloves sorted, I returned to my summer reading, taking it to the shade of a beech tree on the bank of the lake. Instead of reading about "Non-Retaliation and Negotiation," which Chapter 34 covered, I gazed out across the flat, reflective surface towards Hogsmeade Station.

My schoolmates would be returning to Hogwarts the very next day, a prospect I was both excited about and dreading. While I loved most of them, I also loved the castle in its summertime calm and quiet. Most of the teachers stayed there, like my mum, planning the year ahead and making preparations, but their number barely equaled the full population of my school. I often spent days without seeing any of my teachers, with the exception of my mum, which I didn't mind at all. After all, how much of a summer holiday can you have with your teachers wandering around?

Not that I'd been at Hogwarts since the previous June. My dad lived in London with his new wife, Lucinda, who I was supposed to call Lucy but couldn't bring myself to do so. She was very nice, however, and took me shopping on Bond Street more than once, even though I told her that I didn't wear Muggle clothes all that much. As a Muggle, though, she didn't really understand and told me, "Surely you don't wear those robes all the time?" I decided to give up the argument, not that I much minded the new wardrobe I ended up with.

I loved my dad as much as I loved my mum, but, in a way, I was glad that I didn't spend so much time with him. I didn't exactly fit in with his life. He was a major financial mogul in the Muggle world and was a major consultant at Gringotts, which meant that he spent lots of time with purebloods on the Wizarding side and hoity-toity high society Muggles. Not having grown up with either group, I felt uncomfortably out of place with them.

The giant squid glided languidly just beneath the water's surface, bringing me back to the current moment. The sky was a pale August blue, and puffy clouds surrounded the mountains in the distance. The grounds were an emerald green, the Quidditch hoops shone in the afternoon sunlight. I sighed, leaning against the trunk of the beech. I had three years left at Hogwarts. The very thought that I was halfway through my school years made my heart feel heavier than all my schoolbooks combined. I couldn't begin to think of what life might be like outside of Hogwarts—beyond the limits of Hogsmeade, where I'd grown up.

An owl flew towards the castle, its shadow moving swiftly over the grounds. One glance told me that it was Dumbledore's owl—not because it looked much different than the other school owls, but because it went to his office window. I sighed, wishing that somebody would send me an owl. All I'd heard from my friends over the summer was that Hannah went on holiday to Spain, presumably for the whole summer, because I hadn't heard a word from her since. Susan Bones asked me if I'd been reading the Daily Prophet, which I hadn't, because I got all my important news from my parents, depending on who I was with at the time. She hadn't written back for whatever reason.

Clouds started gathering over the mountains, forming one large grey storm cloud. When I glimpsed rain pouring out of them, I gathered up my things and hurried back to the castle before the storm reached Hogwarts.

Later that evening, after dinner in Mum's sitting room, I retreated to a window seat near Ravenclaw Tower that overlooked both the mountains and the forest below to write a letter to my Muggle friend, Shannon, who I hung around with whenever I was in the Muggle side of London.

Dear Shannon,

I miss you lots already. How's Brady? Tell him I miss him, too, unless you've broken up, in which case I hate his guts and never want to see him again.

After the hustle and bustle of London, my mum's is rather quiet, but I wouldn't call it boring. I finished lots of summer homework, which is good since school starts tomorrow (September 1st!). That's when Casselbury starts up, right? I can't believe summer's over! It seems like I was just arriving at my dad and Lucinda's! Speaking of Lucinda, let me know if you want any of my D&G purchases. I've never much liked their things and I have a uniform here besides.

Gone to any concerts recently? I haven't, unless you count some fiddles and traditional music, which I don't exactly. The Spice Girls are touring again, aren't they? It'd be great to go to one of their shows together, yeah? I think my favorite might be Baby Spice, only because I'm not very Sporty, Posh, Scary, and I'm definitely not a ginger. (Not that gingers are bad! You know I love your hair.)

Will I be seeing you at Christmastime? I certainly hope so, unless you Carmarthens are off on another exotic adventure. I'm very grateful to Dad that I'm always home for Christmas. How can you spend such a wintry holiday away from England's snow? I may never know.

It seems that I've got to go now, but please write me back as soon as you possibly can! I love hearing from you, as it gets a tiny bit isolated up here in Scotland. Love you lots!

Love from Megan xx

I folded up the letter, sealed it, and gave it to my Chaco owl, Esmeralda, addressed to my dad in London. Since Shannon had no idea that I was a witch, I sent all my letters to her through my dad, who mailed them in the Muggle post to her at school, Casselbury. She wrote back through Muggle post to the Hogsmeade post office, where Esmeralda picked up the letters.

Esmeralda disappeared in the steel-grey storm clouds that still hung in the sky and I left the Owlery, full of school owls that had by then returned from their deliveries all over Britain. As was my tradition, I took a final tour of the castle in its present state, without Ravenclaws stereotypically rushing to the library, Gryffindors pulling pranks on Filch, Hufflepuffs walking around with their friends, gossiping, or Slytherins skulking around in the shadows, waiting for their enemies to come around the bend so that they could shoot off a curse in their direction.

Not everyone in each House acted the way you might expect, I reflected. For instance, Zacharias Smith, Hufflepuff, was one of the rudest people I'd ever known, and we Hufflepuffs were known for our kind, gentle dispositions. It was common knowledge that Romilda Vane had been scheming to have Cedric Diggory fall desperately in love with her until the previous June—despite the fact that he was much older than she and desperately in love with Cho Chang instead. Luna Lovegood, a Ravenclaw, was out of it so often that everyone called her "Loony." And Tracey Davis, a Slytherin, was quite nice after you got to you knew her.

While I never knew the answers to the Ravenclaw Tower questions, I did know the secret passageway that ended behind a bookcase in the far left corner, which was how I always entered on my final tour. I'd never told anyone, for fear of seeming disloyal to my House, but I liked the Ravenclaw common room the best. The ceiling, painted with stars, was one of my very favorite things about Hogwarts, and I loved the feeling of the tower. I rather disliked sleeping underground and would've much preferred a dormitory like the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors had.

I didn't visit the dormitories, as I'd done that plenty of times before, and they weren't anything very special. One thing that Hufflepuffs had that Ravenclaws and Gryffindors didn't was large dormitories, with each four-poster bed in an alcove with an armoire, window, and bookshelves.

I wandered past the entrance for the Come and Go Room, which I didn't enter, either, because I didn't need it at the moment. I used it often during the school year, when I wanted the solitude I enjoyed in summertime, which I was enjoying at that very moment. The tapestry across from the hidden entrance looked the same as ever, and I smiled as I passed a few of the secret places I knew about from extensive searching during boring summer days.

The Fat Lady having gone on holiday to the French Riviera for the summer (she had another, lesser known portrait in a chateau there), her portrait stood slightly ajar, and I climbed easily through to the Gryffindor common room. The fireplace was cold, the shabby armchairs empty. I'd been there often during the school year with my friends, most notably Pavarti Patil, whose sister, Padma, I was also good friends with. Gryffindor Tower was one of the few places in the castle that I didn't enjoy without my schoolmates inside, so I left quickly.

I spent the next few hours slowly making my way down the floors, pausing in the prefects' bathroom (which I had been allowed access to since my first year, a privilege that came with having a professor for a parent) to fill my bottle of marjoram essential oil, which I used for perfume and with my shampoo. Moaning Myrtle came through a tap while I was there, and complained so long about the mermaid in the painting that I eventually left because she wouldn't stop (I couldn't help but liken her to Zacharias Smith, annoying Hufflepuff previously mentioned, who will whine until someone has to forcibly shut him up).

The library was on the fourth floor, but it was closed so I left the book I had to return in the deposit box outside the door. I passed the secret passageway out of Hogwarts behind the mirror, which had caved in until my mum fixed it with the help of Professor McGonagall earlier that summer. "We might need a getaway," Mum said darkly, and Professor McGonagall, who had been looking rather odd in a Muggle dress, nodded grimly.

The third, second, and first floors went without much happening, the forbidden corridor on the third no longer forbidden and therefore no longer very interesting; the secret of Moaning Myrtle's bathroom having been discovered (not that I'd known about it beforehand); the hospital wing on the first floor without any infirm friends. The Great Hall was another place in the castle that I thoroughly disliked without my friends filling it, so I avoided it, as I'd done all summer.

When I arrived in the Hufflepuff common room (having skipped over the Slytherins' domain entirely), Aether, Susan's owl, was waiting patiently on the table on which we always slaved over our difficult Potions homework. I smiled, tugging the letter gently from the owl's legs, and sat down in a comfortable winged chair to read it.

Hi Megan,

How are you? Hopefully back from sneaking around the castle by now. Can you believe that school's starting back up tomorrow? Are you happy or sad? I'm both, since my holiday's been pretty good and I'm not very excited to be back in a fifty-mile radius from those dungeons! But I'm really glad that I'm going to be seeing you again—seeing all my friends. Staying with my auntie has been very interesting, for sure, but very dramatic and not very restful. Did you know that Harry Potter was nearly expelled this summer? More on that tomorrow.

Well, forget what I just said about "tomorrow," I know you'll be seething mad if I don't tell you instantly and you might take Aether hostage, which I simply will not allow. According to my auntie, who was at his hearing, a couple of dementors swooped down on his town—somewhere in Surrey, I think—and he used the Patronus Charm to save both himself and his Muggle cousin. How desperately frightening, isn't it? Dementors on the loose! And attacking random people (though when Harry's concerned, it's usually never random)! Innocent Muggles!

You won't read about it in the Daily Prophet, since surely the Ministry's bound to hush it all up. Impressive, about the Patronus, isn't it? Auntie Amelia said that it was a corporeal one, which means that it takes the same shape every time. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to produce one? I'm going to try once I get back to Hogwarts. Join me? Padma surely will, she's always looking for a new charm to master. What a Ravenclaw!

On a side note, did you know that Hannah and Ernie have been made prefects? I'm not very disappointed that I haven't been made one; I don't need responsibility like that. Are you upset? Please don't be, we'll cause lots of trouble this year and laugh when Hannah and Ernie try to scold us. Hannah told me that somebody told her that Terry Boot's been made one, too, which I find interesting, only because anything concerning Terry Boot interests me. I'm so shameless, it's rather pathetic.

I'm very sorry I haven't written very much at all this summer, except living with my auntie meant that I hadn't much spare time, plus Aether has just recently recovered from a pretty rough attack. I think it was likely a fox, I sent her off to hunt and to deliver a letter to my parents in the country and she returned with bite marks and the like. Please don't hold it against me, though I know you won't.

Further side note regarding Justin F-F, who I ran into in Diagon Alley twice (no coincidence, Meg, I swear) and who was very interested in your whereabouts and well-being. Maybe you should ditch your plans for Michael Corner? Rumour is he's dating Ginny Weasley in any event. Some are saying he's the next Roger Davies, and I'm inclined to agree. What is it with Ravenclaw boys (Terry not included in that generalization)?

Must go now, or you'll never reply by tomorrow morning! Have a fantastic last night, and warm up my spot in our corner for me, please! Also, I'd love you forever if you gave Aether some water and a couple owl treats. Thanks very much!

Your very best friend,

Susan

I smiled and poured Aether a bowl of water from the pitcher always left on the mantel, and then tossed him a couple owl treats from my supply for Esmeralda. I scribbled back a short reply while he munched away happily.

Hello Suze,

Nice to hear that you're still alive. I hope your auntie won't mind Aether returning so late, I'm afraid I returned from my ramblings at about ten-thirty. Tell her I say hi, won't you?

I'd heard that Hannah, Ernie, and Terry had all made prefect, thanks to my connections here at Hogwarts. Also prefects are Padma (Patil) for Ravenclaw, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger for Gryffindor (why not Harry, I'm not entirely sure), and Malfoy and Pansy for Slytherin. Why Malfoy and Pansy, the world will never know, and I personally am not looking forward to them having any kind of power over me. In fact, if it weren't for Mum (though which I have a certain amount of power), I would actually be dreading returning to Hogwarts. You're a tough old bat, though, so I'm sure it'll be you that teaches them a lesson rather than the other way round.

As for all your insinuations about Ravenclaw boys, girl-crazy or not, I have absolutely nothing to say (except for the fact that your obsession with Terry Boot has obviously grown larger in your absence from one another). And if you see Justin F-F again before you both arrive at Hogwarts, do tell him a hearty hello from me. Nothing more will be discussed until your collective arrival.

Now for the most important part: dementors swooping about the country? What has this world come to? I'm very happy to be safely at Hogwarts, where Dumbledore will surely keep any and all dementors far away. And, while I haven't much contact with Harry, I'm very glad that he wasn't expelled from school, because I much prefer him over others that I unfortunately must call "schoolmate". Tell your auntie thank you for keeping justice alive!

See you very soon! I'm keeping your spot blazing hot in the hopes that the warmer it is, the sooner you'll come. I can't tell you how happy I was to see a familiar face (in Aether, of course) when I arrived in the usually-empty common room this evening.

Have a nice journey!

Love always,

Your best friend,

Megan Jones

Aether disappeared through the open common room door, I leaned back and looked around the common room affectionately. While I would've preferred a tower common room and dormitory, I loved my basement one anyways because of the memories, people attached to it. There, by the fireplace, I won a game of wizard's chess against Eddie Carmichael, who had been the reigning Hufflepuff champion. And over there, by the false window, I'd first befriended Susan Bones over a ridiculously long Potions essay.

At ten-thirty, I went to bed, enjoying the complete privacy for the last time until next June.