It was a warm day outside. A warm breeze ruffled the grass and the leaves. It was two weeks until the summer holidays started and the students had just finished their exams.

Brook was sitting outside with a book on her lap and her back against a oak tree that shaded her from the sun. She was sitting about sixteen inches away from the lake. Two of her roommates were swimming as a way of cooling themselves down and some twenty yards to the left Brook saw more of her classmates, both from Gryffindor, her own house, and Hufflepuff.

Suddenly a scream pitched through the air and Brook snapped her eyes up in a reflex. The lake was no longer occupied by just students but also by a big black squid. It's tentacles were sprawled out around him and with a shock Brook realized he was holding Dawn with one of them.

She quickly stood up and pulled her wand out of her pocket while she made her way down to the edge of the water. She fired of a series of silent spells and, startled by the sudden impact, the squid let go of dawn. The only problem was that he was holding her above the land and with a loud thud she landed on the grass.

Brook reached her and crouched down beside her. She was breathing, although her breath came short and shallow, and there were no outward signs of trauma, if that was anything to go by.

The other girl that had been in the lake with Dawn, Avery, suddenly yelled 'Watch out' and when brook turned to face the lake again she saw a giant tentacle coming her way. She quickly fired of another round of spells and the squid finally disappeared under water, apparently not willing to risk being hit by more spells.

At the same instant professor McGonagall came running to the water side. She renervated Dawn and when it became evident that she was okay she turned to Avery and Brook "Sweet Merlin what happened here? Would you care to explain yourselves?".

Avery told her about how the giant squid had attacked them while they were swimming and how brook had come to the rescue. McGonagall's face got more and more shocked with every part of the story she heard and when everything was told she turned to brook "You were very fortunate miss Chaser, not many fourth years could have taken on a giant squid. Thirty point to Gryffindor for some amazing and courageous spell work".

At that moment Sirius Black came casually strolling over to their group "Common professor, I saw the spell work she fired, she deserves more than thirty points. She only used silent spells, that's bloody advanced for our year".

Black was in the same year as all of them, also in Gryffindor. He'd never spoken to brook before unless about homework and Brook had never expected him to. She'd always had a soft spot for him, he was incredibly handsome even for Hogwarts standards, and she was surprised to see the smile he shot her and the wink that came with it.

"Mister Black, I'd ask you to not get involved, I've dealt with you quite enough over the years and I will not have this discussion".

"Oh, come on McGoggles, please?"

All three girls were impressed by his nonchalance and the puppy look he plastered on his face. Especially Avery was usually very set on respecting their teachers but even she had to admit she admired the boys courage although with a small frown on her face.

"Mister Black!" McGonagall snapped "I'd advise you to walk away right now before I decide to take points away as well". Her lips were pressed together in a thin line she only got when she was angry. She often wore it when Sirius and his friends were involved.

Black shot them a last wink and grin and walked over to where his friends were still sitting. McGonagall turned her attention back to Dawn "Miss Davies I think it might be wise to go to the hospital wing to get checked out. You seem to be okay but madam Pomfrey is more qualified than me and I think it'd be best if we are certain. Miss Coleman, Miss Chaser, would you please go with her to make sure she's alright? I'm going to talk to professor Dumbledore and inform him of what has happened". She swept off at once and the girls made their way to the hospital wing without further a due.

The last two weeks at school passed quickly and sooner than the students had realised it was time to go home. Their trunks had been packed, animals had been put in their cages and their muggle clothes were on.

Brook had spent the last two weeks in the company of Avery and Dawn and they had hardly left her side at all. Now still they kept close and they shared a compartment on the train.

Brook enjoyed their company more than anything but she wished they'd just leave her alone. In mere hours she'd be alone again anyway and their gratitude was sure to have passed after the holidays so that she'd be alone next year as well.

But right now she might as well enjoy it. If the only thing she had to look forward to were her books as company she wasn't going to complain about them just being around her out of gratitude, she was going to make the best of it.

And so on the train ride she did. They had fun, laughed and played games together but the closer they came to London the gloomier Brook became. She was certain nobody else had noticed but she wasn't focussed anymore.

When they finally rode into Kings Cross station she was completely down and she suddenly remembered her mother wouldn't be picking her up.

As they left the gate and every student was greeted by their parents the trio halted. "Brook, get over here, I don't have all day". It was Jason, her mother's new husband. Avery and Dawn shot her worried glances. "Who's that?" Avery asked "It's nobody. I gotta go". They smiled at her sympathetically "Okay sweetheart, keep in touch. We'll see you after summer". Dawn hugged her tightly and Avery shot her a warm smile before brook turned her back.

She walked over to Jason and saw his annoyed expression. This was going to be one long summer.