"Excuse me? Why are they not coming back?" Aly gaped. Char shrugged. Char is one Aly's friends, as well as Damien and Hayden. They were sitting in the Boyles' kitchen, eating a new casserole made by Mrs. Boyle.

"They just said they're taking a 'gap year,'" he answered. Aly raised an eyebrow.

"Why?"

"That's just it. We don't know."

"Does your Mum know?" Hayden asked, looking up from his food. Damien shook his head.

"You are aware that Mum's going to go off the deep end, correct?" Damien asked.

"Of course. But they're convinced otherwise."

"Kay and Sam are fifteen for God's sake!" Aly said with exasperation. "What will they do?"

"Who knows. Maybe they'll become world famous inventors," Damien said with sarcasm. Char whacked him in the head. Aly sighed and looked out the window.

"Let's do something. It's really nice out," she suggested.

"Yeah, I guess we should take advantage of the last week of summer," Hayden agreed.

"Here's something you can do," Mrs. Boyle said coming into the kitchen. "Go out to the garden and pick tomatoes and peppers."

"Mum," Damien groaned, "We were going to go to the lake!"

"The lake can wait," she said crossly. "Out. Now." Char, Hayden and Damien groaned and walked outside. Aly peered at Mrs. Boyle. She looked harried.

"Mrs. B? Are you alright? You seem out of sorts this afternoon." Mrs. Boyle turned around and sighed.

"I just found out that my sons aren't going back to Hogwarts." Oh...no.

"Really?" she asked nervously. "Why?"

"They've told me they have no intention of going back." She snorted. "My sons don't have a choice! They'll continue, you see!" She sighed and looked outside. "Would you mind being a dear and helping the boys?"

Aly nodded and stepped outside. She was greeted with warm summer air and a cooling breeze.

"Hey, I'm here to help," Aly said coming over to them.

"Are you sure? You'll get your hands dirty," Hayden warned.

"Like I care." She bent down and plucked a tomato and dropped it in the basket.

"Mrs. Boyle found out."

"What? How?" Char asked, standing up.

"She found out from them."

"Are you sure that you didn't tell?" Damien asked suspiciously.

"Shut up, Damien. Of course I didn't. She said they're going back anyway."

"I can't wait to see this," Hayden shook his head. "Mum vs. Sons."