I shouldn't have stayed up so late, I knew I shouldn't've. 'I'll meet you down there,' I mumbled as Lydia and Delilah stood at my bed expectantly.

'You shouldn't have stayed up all night writing an essay that was assigned a week ago,' Delilah scolded quickly, before nodding and leaving the room. Dragging myself from my pit of warm blankets, comfortable pillows and squishy comforters, I somehow managed to maneuver myself into the bathroom. It was seven – I'd had a total of three and a half hours of sleep last night and it was no where near enough. I looked in the mirror and was horrified by the site that it jerked me awake. I was as pale as a ghost, had a little mascara still stuck to my lower lashes and my blond hair seemed to have taken to a completely unnatural position. Delilah and Lydia woke up at six am every morning to perfect their faces – in other words, they showered, slapped on a little mascara and lip gloss, smiled and walked down the stairs – so they could navigate their way through the school and scope out what people were talking about so they could inform me later on.

I couldn't help but jump when the hot water hit my back. I wasn't expecting it to be quite as warm as it was. The water dripped over my face, and I couldn't help but think what a strange night it had been. Were people gossiping about how Adelaide and Oliver had broken up last night or was it only James and I that knew that tiny piece of information. Of course Oliver wouldn't have kept it secret from Albus. James had probably told Joseph, Parker and Jack by now. How mad would Lydia and Delilah be that I had not informed them of it last night? This was the type of thing that they would say I should've woken them up for.

After a quick shower, I pulled my wand and cast a few spells on it to dry and it and brush it through, saving myself a bunch of time. My blond hair didn't look perfect but it was decent, I suppose. As I slathered a layer of lipgloss on my peach lips, and layered my dark lashes with a whiz of mascara I sighed. So tired. So. So. Tired.

A soft thump hit the door, and I jumped slightly. 'ANNABELLE MARIE PELLETIER!' came a sharp voice through the door. Woah. Delilah was starting to sound like my mother. Delilah was the sweetest girl I knew but wow did she have a voice on her.

'Yeah?' I called, acting as if this was a normal occurrence. Secretly, behind the door, I was shaken beyond fixture. I didn't want to come out.

'Studying?!' she yelled, her voice angry.

I opened the door, cocked my head and raised an eyebrow. What the fuck was this girl on about?

'Didn't you think it was important to inform us of what you were actually doing yesterday?!' she yelled, loudly.

'I'm right here, Delilah.'

'Don't you 'I'm right here Delilah'..' she snapped.

'Delilah, uhm, love, she is right there,' Lydia supplied, who I hadn't noticed sitting on her bed.

'Oh, right, sorry,' Delilah mumbled. 'So do you feel like you want to fill us in on yesterday's activities? James Potter ring any bells?'

My mouth simply formed into a simple 'oh.' How on earth did they know!? What the hell!? 'Uh, well, when I was coming back from that room I like to sit in on the seventh floor, James Potter pulled me into that little space behind the tapestry like five feet from the Ravenclaw Common Room,' I explained.

Lydia looked horrorstruck. 'Please do not tell me you hooked up with James Potter in that poxy little space? That must've hurt!'

'Of course she didn't,' Delilah laughed.

'Exactly.'

'She's way too rigid to do it out of hours,' she laughed again.

'Exactly --- wait what?!'

'No offense but you're not exactly the biggest rule breaker in the school,' Delilah sympathized. What?! Delilah Alice Longbottom was saying that I was rigid? What the fuck? She was like the most rigid person I know! Well, except for the time her and Lydia went skinny-dipping in the lake on a dare. Or that time that she decided to fly around the Quidditch Pitch at eleven o'clock at night in the blistering cold.

'Point taken. So, Filch was coming and getting busted for being out past curfew was not what I had in mind after not being able to get out of that stinking room because Adelaide Avery was crying her little eyes out after that tragic breakup which I was more than unfortunate to have witnessed. So, anyway, James Potter pulled me into the little space, and then we went down to the kitchens. I didn't get back in til like three thirty, four o'clock so I don't know what you've heard but I did not hook up with James Potter,' I exclaimed calmly.

'Okay, so we can have breakfast sometime soon, we'll walk down to the Great Hall. On the way there you can fill us on about the breakup that you decided to LEAVE OUT!' Delilah yelled, again.

'Oh, uhm, okay,' I sighed.

The ten minute walk down to the Great Hall was filled with non-stop talking. Delilah was laughing at how Adelaide got what was coming, and I couldn't help but feel a little bad for the Avery girl. One night had lost her two Wood boys. She was easily the saddest girl in our school at this very moment, I was sure.

We walked into the Great Hall, a silent Great Hall at that, making a shit load of noise. Delilah and I were laughing our arses off whilst Lydia was singing in front of us, load as hell.

Everyone turned to us, watching the three of us carefully. Lydia fell silent, mid-line of the Hokey-Pokey or whatever muggle song she was singing. I wasn't too well versed in the ways of muggle songs as my mother father had abandoned my mother and I shortly after my mother fell pregnant. He had not known of my existence and I was sure he still didn't – he couldn't accept my mother was a witch so I doubt he'd accept that I was one either hence I've never cared to find him.

We quieted and continued to walk to the far corner of the hall to take our usual seats at the Ravenclaw table. I cast a quick glance upward, spying the Gryffindor table like I knew Lydia and Delilah were doing. James winked at me, or I guess it was at me, Joseph sent a wave – probably to Delilah – and Jack sent a stunning smile at Lydia. Slowly, the hall started to fill with noise again. Sitting down, we couldn't help but cast a hungry smile toward the pounds of food that sat in front of our usual spot. Normally as you grew older you'd shimmy down the table more. We had sat in this same place, at the end of the table where the first years normally sat for all of years at Hogwarts. It was 'Lydia, Delilah and Annabelle's' spot now. Well, you know, I'm the only one that calls it that but shush.

The hall quieted again. Why the hell did it keep doing that? Looking up, I was surprised to see James, Joseph, Parker and Jack coming toward us. 'Can we sit?' Joseph asked, ruffling his sister's hair a little.

'As long as you don't do that to my hair, I don't care,' Lydia beamed, softly.

Delilah glared at her brother for ruining her perfectly groomed hair when Parker was steps away. 'Sure,' she smiled, gently, trying to stay calm.

I simply nodded.

The foursome sat beside us, before they started piling the plates in front of them with food. I swear I had just seen them with the remainders of a small feast in front of them when I had looked up at the Gryffindor table. I must've been mistaken.

'Joe, remember its Mum's birthday on Friday,' Delilah stated simply as she spread the butter on her toast.

'Shit, yeah,' Joe smiled. 'I'll get it sorted.'

'Okay,' Delilah smiled back at him. With anything of importance out the way, Joseph, Parker and Delilah started chatting about Quidditch. Jack and Lydia started gushing about their plans for the weekend, and I was left to sit there and make conversation with James though it wasn't a very hard task.

'By the way, I have yet to tell my friends what you told me last night. Jack may be a little upset with Parker after it comes … common knowledge,' James stated in an undertone just loud enough for me to here.

I nodded simply, 'I got bombarded after my morning shower. Lydia and Delilah went on a gossip hunt. Supposedly we're 'news' at the moment. Our late night snack did not go unnoticed, apparently.'

'Oh, well I guess we're adding fire to the flame right now, then?' he laughed, his eyes dancing around the hall quickly.

'Mmhmm,' I laughed, biting my toast.

'That might be why half the school is watching us?' he laughed, softly.

'Oh Merlin,' I mumbled.

'What?'

'I probably look like shit!'

'And you care... because?'

'I don't know! I'm a Ravenclaw. We're not paid attention to on a regular basis so this is like Christmas. And I probably look like I've been pulled through a head backwards,' I grumbled.

'You look perfect to me,' he laughed, winking.

I blushed, softly. 'Thanks,' I mumbled.

'Oi!' Delilah interrupted, 'Can you please tell these two idiots that Ravenclaw are claiming the cup this year, Annabelle? They're ganging up on me!'

I laughed softly. 'Of course you'll win. I'll be so mad if you don't. Stomping around the dorm room at four in the morning so you can get to practice on time.'

'Four am?' Joseph mumbled, wide-eyed.

'Of course!' I laughed 'Three five am practices a week and three at night.'

'You have six practices a week?' Parker asked, wild. 'That's insane. Even my dad wasn't that much of a drill-sergeant.'

'I want to win, and I'm going to,' Delilah said, determined.

'Good luck with that. You may be practicing like crazy but we've got skill,' Parker laughed.

I could see that Delilah was about to flip her nut so I smoothly changed the subject, 'Did anyone hear about the Falcons' game this weekend?'

'Oh, Merlin, they got killed! 640-180!'

'And to the Harpies too!'

I'd started the conversation, and I backed out of it. Parker, James, Joseph and Delilah were having fun going at it.

I sat there, thinking.

Jack and Lydia were the perfect couple. Why couldn't I be like that? I just need to find a guy, first!

Five owls came zooming overhead, dropping a number of letters. I received two, from who I did not know, James got one, Lydia received one and the twins got one each.

I tried to decipher the handwriting on mine before I opened them – one was from my mother I knew that. The other, I think, may have been from Hannah Longbottom – my mother's best friend.

Slitting them open, I pulled my mother's letter out first.

An invitation dropped out.

'You have been invited to the wedding of Angelique Pelletier and Theodore Nott.'

'WHAT?!' I yelled, standing up.

My mother had started to date Theodore Nott two years ago. Sure, two years is a long time but I'd never seen them as serious. Then again, I wasn't there for half the year.

I searched the envelope, again, searching for the letter that was supposed to accompany things like this. Finding it, I pulled it open quickly.

'Dearest Bella-Marie.

I assume that you have gotten the invitation. Theodore asked me to marry him last week, and we'd thought that we would surprise you. We have already told Theodore's son, and you were next on the list. We have sent invitations to Delilah and Joseph as well – Hannah attached them with her weekly letter. I hope that you approve. I know that you are fond of Theodore though you despise his son. David, however, will not be moving in with us. He has his own place in London and will not be around for the planning of the wedding. He's not fond of the fact that I spawned a half-blood. His words, not mine. Stupid ideology.

The wedding will be during the Easter Holidays. I will meet you on Saturday in Hogsmeade. Please bring Lydia and Delilah with you. We need to get the three of you kitted out in your bridesmaids' outfits. Hannah will be my maid of honor as it is tradition for the Maid Of Honor and the Best Man to be married – not necessarily married to each other but married none the less. I fought Theo and asked him if you could be my Maid of Honor but he said it was family tradition. I hope you don't mind, sweetie!

You will be my second bridesmaid, Delilah my third and Lydia my fourth. You know that Lydia and Delilah are like daughters to me!

I will see you on Saturday. I have asked Neville to accompany you to Hogsmeade, on special request, and he will be dropping you off at the Three Broomsticks on Saturday.

Mama xxx.

P.S. You need a date.'

I fell into my seat, gaping like a fish at the letter in my hand.

'Oh. My. God.'

'Oh my god is right, Anna,' Delilah whispered, the same expression on her face as I was sure was on mine.

'She's getting married?' I asked the air, bemused.

'Looks like it,' Delilah laughed, a strange airy laugh.

James picked up the invitation and read it a couple times before stating, 'You're mother is marrying Theodore Nott.'

'Yeah,' I mused.

'Are you pureblood?' James asked, simply.

'No, I'm half. Mama is pure though,' I stated, simply. My voice was level, my eyes still trained on the paper.

'Oh. You've got another letter, still,' James pointed out.

'Uhm, thanks,' I said, taking the letter and sliding it open.

'Annabelle!

I can't wait to see you Saturday. Your mother forgot to say (and was a little busy with wedding plans to send you an extra letter) that you need to bring that silver bracelet she gave you for your seventeenth birthday. Why? I do not know.

See you Saturday!

Mrs. H. Longbottom.'

'Sunk in yet, Anna?' Joseph asked, as laid-back as ever.

'Just about. What did your letter say?' I asked, quickly.

'Oh, I'm a groomsmen. I'm representing from you're Ma'am's side seeing as I'm 'the closest thing she has to a son' or whatever she wrote.'

'Right,' I mused, 'Where's Lydia?' I looked around. The seat that she had once sat in was empty.

'She said she had to go and reply to the Owl she just had,' Jack told me.

'We better get to class. It starts in three minutes,' Delilah announced quickly, realizing that the Great Hall was practically empty.

'Shit! If I'm late for Potions like I was last week, Lakeshore will kill me,' I grabbed my bag as I jumped up and ran from the Great Hall, leaving my friends behind me.

Only once I had arrived outside of the potions classroom did I realize that they were going to be walking around the corner at any moment – they all had Potions with me at the same time.

Hey. I'm allowed to be slightly dazed. My mother is getting married.

And I didn't even know she was in a serious relationship until about five minutes ago, thank you very much.

'You're late, Ms. Pelletier,' the thin, lanky Professor announced as he opened the door.

Shit. This was going to be a long class.