"Great breakfast, Mrs. Boyle," Aly said cheerfully. She stood up with Amanda to help clear the table in the kitchen. It was a lovely summer morning.
"Thank you, dear," Mrs. Boyle replied cheerfully.
"Yes, indeed," a man said. Aly grinned at Mr. Boyle. At the end of their third year, he decided that traveling without his family wasn't satisfying. He changed his mind and got a job at the Ministry in the International Magical Office of Law.
"Aly, would you mind taking my plate?" Mr. Boyle asked. She nodded and picked up his plate and took it over to the sink.
"Did you get work done?" Mrs. Boyle asked, while reading the Daily Prophet.
"Sure did!" Amanda answered cheerfully. "It took a while, but it was worth it." Aly nodded.
"Hayden? Char? Damien? Kevin?" she asked, eyeing the men at the table.
"Well, it's a funny story, Mum," Char began nervously.
"They didn't start, or finish," Aly finished with a smile. Mrs. Boyle clucked her tongue.
"Kevin?" she asked her husband.
"That's an even funnier story, actually," Mr. Boyle started with a grin.
"He was too busy trying to get tickets to the Quidditch World Cup," Damien finished, rolling his eyes. Mr. Boyle glared at his son, but looked at Mrs. Boyle sheepishly. She raised an eyebrow.
"Marybeth, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity!" he argued.
"It's consumed your every thought!" she snapped back. "Ever since you found out about it, that's all you've been thinking about."
"But Mum, it's the Quidditch World Cup!" Char protested.
"I still think it's a load of nonsense," she said, shaking her head. Aly smirked at Amanda while doing the dishes.
"What, Quidditch?" Hayden asked.
"Exactly."
"Well, you have no problem with Aly doing it!" Char protested. Aly stopped washing.
"Well, it's different. I'm sure that Aly and Amanda will gladly stay while you all go watch people fly on broomsticks." Aly looked at Amanda.
"Actually," Hayden smirked, "Aly and Amanda are just as excited about the Cup as much as we are, Mrs. Boyle."
Mrs. Boyle rounded on them. They turned around. "Is this true? I thought that you'd be staying here!"
"Well," Aly started, "We like Quidditch."
"I don't believe it," Mrs. Boyle said narrowing her eyes at Char.
"It's true," Amanda said with a smile. Mrs. Boyle sighed.
"Good luck getting tickets," she said walking out of the kitchen. Aly looked at Amanda and then glared at Hayden.
"What'd you do that for? Now she's mad!" Amanda exclaimed.
"Oh, come off it," Mr. Boyle smirked. "You've been babbling about it all week." Aly flushed.
"Thanks for coming to my defense, Mr. Boyle."
"Anytime," he grinned. Aly and Amanda finished the dishes. They sat down at the kitchen table.
Aly glared at Hayden. "Oh, don't even try to be angry at me," he smirked, leaning forward. "Last year, you tried, but it didn't work."
"Who said it won't work now?" she said angrily. Last year, Hayden ditched them in Diagon Alley, and Aly and Hayden got into a small fight. He raised an eyebrow and grinned. Aly sighed and rolled her eyes.
"Fine. I'm not mad at you." He laughed and leaned back in the chair. Aly heard a tap on the door. She looked and saw the Boyles' owl, Henry.
"Henry's here," she said, surprised. She walked over to the window and opened it. She looked at the letter. It was addressed to her. "It's for me!"
She sat down at the table as her friends gathered around.
"What does it say?" Amanda asked eagerly. Aly opened it.
"'Dear Aly, Cedric Diggory here. Hope you're having a great summer. Mine is absolutely fantastic. Hope you haven't been trying to stop too many professors..."'
"What does he mean by that?" Hayden asked. Aly flushed and continued reading.
"'The main reason I sent you this letter is because my dad, Amos found out that there were some extra tickets to the world cup. I think I told you this at the end of last year."
"Oho!" Char exclaimed.
"'I wasn't able to send them for security reasons, but my friends are hitching a ride on a Portkey next Sunday. If you want to come, meet my friends at 4:30 am and they'll give you the tickets then. I believe there are seven of you.
Best regards, Ced.
"Cool!" Aly exclaimed. She looked at the letter again. "Wait a minute. There aren't seven of us! There are six!"
"I know just who to invite," Hayden grinned. Aly turned around and glared at him openly. "What?"
"You're not inviting her. It will not turn into a ditch-o-rama," she said hotly. Hayden groaned.
"Come on!" he protested. "I know she wants to go!"
"Tough noodles," Damien said. "Last time she came with us anywhere, you completely ditched us."
"That was a mistake!" Hayden said hotly.
"Sure." Aly sighed.
"I'll send her an owl."
"Yes!" Hayden exclaimed.
"But!" Aly added. "She must get there on her own. We'll probably end up meeting her there. I doubt there'll be enough room for her on the Portkey, though. I don't know how many friends Cedric's bringing."
"Cedric?" Char grinned. "First name basis? Not Schmoopie or Cuddles?"
"Shut up." She looked at Hayden. "Deal?"
"Deal," he sighed.
"I will be expecting you not to ditch us. Remember, we're all going as friends," she said looking around, "And nothing more. Get it?"
"Got it," her friends chorused.
"Good."
