Chapter 4: "I'll give it to someone special," Pt. 1
The summer went by rather slowly for Cindy. Luckily for her since she was a pureblood she could practice quidditch during summer break. After all, she was a beater on the Gryffindor quidditch team. She was an extremely good flyer, and she was able to practice with her brothers on the weekends and when they weren't working. She had three brothers, Todd, Michael, and Andy. Andy was four years older, Michael was three years older, and Todd had only graduated when Cindy was in her 4th year. They had all been on their house's quidditch teams when they were in school, Todd and Andy on Gryffindor while Michael was on Ravenclaw. They had an ongoing joke against Michael, "Just because you're in Ravenclaw doesn't mean you're smart." By now though, at 19 he didn't mind the joke.
"Hey, Lucinda," called out Michael one morning around eleven, when she was out practicing, "You have a letter."
Cindy mumbled under her breath as she headed for the house. She hated it when she was called by her full first name. No one at school knew what it was. Everyone just assumed it really was Cindy and her parents had forbade her brothers from teasing her about it. She stomped into the kitchen.
"How many times do I have to tell you? Don't. Call. Me. Lucinda!"
"One more time than however many times you have told me," Michael laughed handing her a letter with the Hogwarts seal on the back.
She ripped it open and read through it. It was still pretty boring. She sighed. There was a knock on the window and she turned to see a black owl with hazel eyes. She had often teased Lily about her owl because it reminded Cindy of Potter. She opened the window and Ebony flew in. He landed on the table and she quickly removed the letter.
"Now don't fly away just yet, Ebony, I'll give you a reply," she said to the owl. Opening the letter she sat down at the table. She saw Lily's neat, small handwriting and read,
"Dear Cindy,
Guess what! I'm headgirl! Can you believe it? I mean sure I hoped I would be, but still, it's exciting. I wonder who's headboy. Hmm . . .
I wouldn't mind if it was that cute Ravenclaw prefect. Ooh! Or Remus. Then we could hang out. He is the only acceptable Marauder. Okay see you at school on Sept. 1.
Love,
Lily"
Cindy smiled. Of course Lily had become headgirl. There was only one thing depressing about it. That meant that there was less time she would get to spend with Lily. She pulled out some parchment and a quill.
"Dear Lils," hmm . . . what to write,
"Wow! That's great! I'm so happy for you! For your sake I hope Remus did make headboy, but the Ravenclaw prefect is cute. Well, at least Potter won't be such a big problem.
Speaking of Potter I hope he doesn't put Black on the team again this year. (Quidditch) Then I might actually have to talk to him. So any big plans for seventh year? Oh hey! Nevermind I'll ask you on the train on the first. I'll see you soon (next week to be exact).
Love,
Cindy"
Cindy quickly folded her letter and sealed it. She tied it to Ebony's foot and he flew off towards home. 'Only one more week, and then back to school,' Cindy thought. Part of her was excited another part of her was scared, not of seeing Black but of the fact that with each passing year, the world seemed to get worse and worse. All thanks to a certain Lord Voldemort.
One week later (Kings Cross Station: Platform 9 ¾ )
"Bye Mum, bye Dad," Cindy said as she hugged both her parents, "I'm gonna go find Lily. Love you both!"
Cindy walked through the crowds but was having trouble locating Lily. She climbed up on her trunk and looked around.
"What're you looking for?" came a familiar voice from behind. Cindy turned around, screamed and hugged Lily.
"You grew!" she shrieked, "and your hair. You cut it! Won't Potter be mad!" She said admiring Lily's red hair which a year ago had gone to her mid-back but which now just reached her shoulders.
"Oh don't even talk to me about Potter," she said as they climbed onto the train.
"What did he do now? We've been her like ten minutes."
"All summer he's been sending me letters! And it's always the same question-"
" 'Will you go out with me?' " they said together.
"Here's a compartment," Cindy said opening the door. The compartment was empty. After hoisting their trunks up onto the racks they sat down and began to talk. Starting with the normal things like, "How was your summer?" or "What classes are you taking this year?" After about twenty minutes Cindy asked, "Hey Lily, did you want to come with me this year for Christmas vacation up to my lodge? It's really pretty up there and we can do all those muggle sports like skiing, sledding, snowboarding and ice skating. We can even have a genuine snowball fight. And then we can-"
"Cindy you don't have to convince me. I'll come. It sounds like fun. Oh but right now I have to go. Prefect meeting. Be back soon," and with that Lily exited the compartment.
By the time Lily returned Cindy had already changed into her school robes. She knew there was only about half an hour left to the train ride, but was worried when Lily came in fuming.
"What's wrong? Did you run into Potter on your way back?" Cindy asked worriedly as Lily sat down opposite her.
Lily just shook her head. She was in shock.
"Well, if it wasn't Potter, than who?" Cindy asked.
"That's just it," Lily whispered, "It was Potter. He's headboy."
"No way!" Cindy cried.
"Uh huh." Was all Lily could say, "I can't believe it! Dumbledore must have lost his mind!" she cried.
"Well, it won't be too bad. Just patrolling with him every night, planning meetings with him, and then there's the whole thing of the headboy and girl having the first dance at the graduation ball," Cindy said.
"Oh is that all?" said Lily sarcastically.
"Well, I'm just glad that fifth and sixth years can come to the ball too." Cindy said excitedly.
"Yeah," agreed Lily.
They felt the train come to a stop and quickly pulled down their trunks and climbed off. They walked over to the carriages and after a slow but not too long ride got off. Lily looked up at the castle,
"We're home," she whispered. Then she followed Cindy up the steps.