Disclaimer: I don't own A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Wicked or Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Based on Dealing with Danger Chapter 44 and 45.


Chapter 4: Bargaining

Though neither Lena nor Roger were ever sure how, the news that they were going out spread like dragon fire though Hogwarts and it seemed as though the whole school knew by dinner the next night. Hardly anyone was happy and they made their displeasure very clear. From every direction, there were snide remarks and hostile glances.

"Everything's going to be fine. You'll see."

Lena wasn't sure if Roger really meant it or if he was trying to reassure both of them. "I'm tempted to eat in the kitchens," she said as she hesitated at the entrance to the Great Hall.

"We could," Roger offered.

"No. We shouldn't hide from our problems. We have to face them head on."

"That sounded very wise," Roger said approvingly.

"Thank The Sound of Music,"

Ever since they had begun dating, having the Slytherin and Ravenclaw tables side by side had become a curse rather than a blessing. Tonight was no exception. Lena wondered if the Hufflepuffs would have been better neighbors.

"I thought we told her to rid herself of that Ravenclaw half-blood," Hestia Carrow pouted, a few seats down. "Honestly, it's disgraceful."

Lena rolled her eyes.

"And now she's ruined our reputation," her sister Flora groused.

"Oh what a pity," Lena muttered sarcastically. Arti giggled.

"At least her sister's still sane," Parkinson said, glancing at Arti.

"She is?" Lena asked in mock-surprise. Arti hit her. Lena stuck her tongue out at her.

"Hopefully she won't go down the same path."

"I won't?" Arti asked, turning to Adrian, who had just sat down next to her.

"Thank Merlin for Pucey," Parkinson said in exaggerated relief.

"Little do they know..." Adrian muttered.

"Are they going to be in for a surprise when everything is revealed."

"Definitely," Adrian agreed, nodding.

The rest of dinner passed uneventfully until Lena felt a tap on her shoulder within a minute of having finished eating. She stiffened and turned cautiously, expecting to see an angry girl ready to start dueling. Instead a smiling Roger stood behind her.

"Ready to leave?"

"Yes," she said fervently, getting up and slinging her bag over her shoulder. Arti and Adrian followed suit.

The distance from where they sat at the table nearest the High Table to the door never seemed so long.

"She must have slipped him a Love Potion," said Cardwell. The curly blonde-haired girl gave Lena a disapproving look.

Edgecombe nodded. "There's no way he'd do this voluntarily."

"I wouldn't?" Roger asked in mock-astonishment. Several students nearby turned to look at him.

"Love Potions only last two months. Give it another two weeks."

"Unless she keeps supplying him."

"I don't know how she could make any though. If she's anything like the typical Slytherin, she's as dumb as a troll."

Roger's jaw tightened. He stopped and turned to the girl, about to give an angry retort, but Lena beat him to it.

"If I'm apparently that dumb, he'll break up with me very shortly and you can have a chance at him."

"I will."

"But if you haven't noticed, he only goes for pretty girls." With that, she turned and walked off.

Roger caught up with her a few steps later, and gave her an amazed look.

"What?"

"Are girls typically that...?"

"Cruel?"

Roger nodded.

"You think that was cruel? That was nothing. That was unicorns and rainbows compared to how things will go with my Housemates."

Roger cringed. "I'm sorry."

She waved away his apology. "Don't be. I mean, I am doing this for partly selfish reasons."

"Oh?"

"Not that I don't like you," Lena explained. "But after the Durmstrang students leave, the number of people who like Slytherins is going to be virtually zero, as usual. And especially when I continue with Muggle Studies next year, I'm going to need all the help I can get."

Roger stopped and turned to her. "So they only reason we're dating is so you can use my popularity?"

"Yes," Lena replied, her lips twitching. "But I'm not sure my plan will work, if our lovely schoolmates' reaction so far is any indication, which I should have expected."

"True, so I might as well just break up with you now." Lena blanched. "I'm kidding, I'm kidding," Roger said. "I'm not going to break up with you." Lena didn't look completely reassured. "I'm not going to ask you out just to break up with you a day later. But now I have something to hold over your head," Roger said with a grin.

"Ah, but you see, the longer we date, the more people will take us seriously. And the fewer girls who will be flinging themselves at you hoping you'll break up with me and choose one of them."

"That would be nice. All right, now we're even."

"Although." Lena mused, "that might make them more desperate."

Roger sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Merlin, I hope not. They're bad enough now. Some of them are rather frightening."

"Girls in general can be frightening; infatuated and jealous girls, doubly so. And they've got every right to be jealous. You're quite a catch, especially for someone like me."

"So are you. And what do you mean someone like you?"

"Compared to some of the other girls here–"

"Oh, come off it," Roger retorted. "You're a worth ten times those harpies who come chasing after me. Thanks to Krum there are fewer of them."

"There'll be more now, don't worry," Lena said. "They'll want to break us up so they'll throw themselves at you two fold. "

"Lovely," Roger said sarcastically. Lena grinned

"Lucky you if that's all you have to worry about."

"You've never had girls falling all over you."

Lena giggled. "I don't think I'll have to worry about that."

"...True."

Lena's ears perked up at the sound of footsteps coming from behind the door leading to the Hufflepuff common room. And there was noise from around the other side of the marble staircase as well. Grinning, she indicated the footsteps with a nod toward the staircase and the door beside them. Roger grinned back. He bent down to kiss her just as a group of younger Slytherins came around the corner and several fifth and sixth-year Hufflepuffs came through the door into the Entrance Hall. They all stopped.

"Delacour must have addled his brains to have him fall for someone like that," spat Cadwallader.

"Davies could do so much better," Tamsin Applebee, a curly-haired sixth-year sniffed from beside him.

Lena and Roger broke apart but pretended to be oblivious to the surrounding conversation as they gazed at each other.

"Like me," Maxine O'Flaherty said puffing out her chest.

Roger pretended to gag. Lena snorted quietly, biting her lip to keep from laughing out loud.

Applebee turned to O'Flaherty in astonishment. "You?" she sneered. "Why would he date someone like you? I mean you're better than Moon, but still–"

She was cut off by O'Flaherty's indignant shriek and the two girls began screaming at each other. The rest of their group edged awkwardly toward the Great Hall. The Slytherins glared at them, a couple of them muttering "blood-traitor" as they walked by, but being so much younger, that was the worst they could do, for which Lena was grateful.

Lena sighed. "To think it took this to achieve inner-House unity," Lena said dryly. "Can I just disappear until this dies down?"

"What's wrong with you?" Roger demanded. "You're the one who wanted to prove that you weren't a typical Slytherin and you're going to go hide just because of a couple of jealous hags?"

Lena giggled. "I guess not. But this isn't exactly the most fun time of my life."

"No one said it would be."

"I half expect them to burst into "The Stepsisters' Lament."

"That would be entertaining."

"Entertaining? More like terrifying." Arti's voice said from behind them. Lena jumped. "Forgot we were here?"

"Yes. Well, you more than Adrian."

"Hear that Adrian? I'm apparently forgettable."

"Not to me, you aren't," Adrian said, putting an arm around her shoulders.

Lena and Roger exchanged looks. It took a lot of willpower for Lena not to say "Aww." Things would not have ended pleasantly if she had.

Footsteps interrupted the moment and they turned to see Anne walking toward them, gazing at her shrieking Housemates with distaste.

"I couldn't stand listening to them anymore," Anne said, nodding toward the Great Hall.

"Well, you can join us if you like," Lena offered.

"I'd love to."

The quintet began walking up the marble staircase.

"I hope those two kill each other," Anne said. "They've been a right pain since people have found out about you two."

"Well, maybe all the girls can just have a go at each other and save us the trouble. Merlin knows I already want to kill them."

"But I want to have a go too," Arti whined.

"Well, if I end up dueling or coming to blows with anyone, you'll be my second. You'd be my second anyway."

Arti's grin was almost feral.

Lena shivered. "Remind me never to make her mad," she said out of the corner of her mouth to Roger.

"I'd have thought you'd have figured that out by now."

"Some of us are a bit slower than you."

"That's for sure," Arti said from behind them.

Lena turned. "It would be so easy to push you down the stairs and break your neck."

"And you're scared of her?"

"She should be. I know where she sleeps."

"I know where you sleep too."

"Can you two desist?" Adrian asked in exasperation.

"No," the sisters replied in unison.

The boys sighed.


"Hey, Moon!" Lena turned to see Blishwick, a Slytherin sixth-year, standing at the end of the hallway leading to the girls' dormitory with several other girls. "Slytherin boys not good enough for you?" she called. Lena noticed that everyone in the vicinity had stopped to listen.

"Frankly, no!" Lena replied loudly. "Most of them are too stupid and ugly for my taste. Inbreeding, you know."

Several of the watching girls smirked or bit back laughs but quickly schooled their features into masks of disapproval. But that instance had been enough; Lena's heart leapt. There had even been one or two pure-bloods among them.

"Who in Merlin's name gives a damn what they look like? It only matters if they're pure-blood."

"You're only saying that because you couldn't get anyone decently good-looking or smart to look at you, let alone marry you, so you had to settle!"

"You're the one who has to settle. For a half-blood Ravenclaw at that."

"You're just jealous."

"Jealous of what, you?"

"Jealous that I can get a man like Roger to like me. Jealous that I don't have to marry a a man who looks like a troll and can't string more than three words together. Good thing you're promised already. You'd never get a man otherwise."

"Well, I have if you haven't noticed!"

"Oh, my apologies," Lena said with sarcastic sweetness. "Let me rephrase. You wouldn't get a man to marry you willingly."

Lena could sense that Arti was resisting a strong urge to start beating her head against the nearest wall.

"At least I get a proper pure-blood husband, unlike you. Not that it matters anyway, since now that we all know where your loyalties lie, no proper pure-blood will have you.

"Good, I don't want to marry a proper pure-blood."

"And what do you mean I can't get someone to marry me willingly? Thackery Runcorn's marrying me willingly."

"In what world does willing involve being paid to do so?"

"He's not being paid!"

"What else do you call it when you give a person money in exchange for something?"

"It's called a dowry," Blishwick replied in the same tone one used to explain something to a two-year-old.

"I know what it's called. And whatever the name, it's still money in exchange for a marriage. It's the only way hags like you can get anyone to marry you. I'm not so undesirable that I not only have to resort to buying my husband and the only one who can be bought is the son of a Death Eater who's also a cousin."

"It keeps the bloodlines pure!"

"Oh, just what we need. More ugly, inbred children."

"Well, at least they won't be contaminated with Muggle blood!"

"You don't need Muggle blood to contaminate you. You're contaminated enough as it is," Lena snapped.

A gasp went through the crowd. Lena had known even as she said it that she shouldn't, but she no longer cared. Arti groaned softly behind her.

Blishwick bypassed red and turned white and her left eye began to twitch. And for a moment, the two girls stared at each other. Then, in unison, they raised their wands. "Furnunculus!" Blishwick shrieked. Lena shot a Jelly-Fingers in response.

Luckily, Blishwick was angry enough that she missed Lena and nearly hit the girl standing in the nearest doorway. With a shriek, the girl tumbled into the room, slamming the door behind her. The other onlookers followed suit.

Lena's Jelly-Fingers didn't miss however and Blishwick's wand slipped from her fingers and fell with a clatter to the stone floor. The two girls glared at each other for a moment.

"I've touched a nerve, it seems," Lena said with a hint of amused mockery. She was shocked that she could even think of mocking Blishwick and even more shocked that she could act so calmly, considering the fact that she was now shaking in her shoes. She kept her eyes locked with Blishwick's, her hand gripped tightly around her wand, which was pointed on Blishwick's chest.

"Shut it," Blishwick snarled.

"Oh, I'm so scared," Lena taunted. "You can't even hold your wand."

"You should be," Blishwick hissed. "Your little boyfriend's not here to protect you now."

"Little? Who are you calling little? The only reason most of the men in this House are so big is because they're compensating. Roger doesn't have to."

"You better watch yourself blood-traitor. Your smart mouth won't get you far in these dungeons."

"I've survived five years, haven't I?"

"You've got another two left."

"Oh, marvelous, you've learned how to count! Congratulations!"

"And let me assure you, the next two years will not be pleasant for you, unless you choose the right side."

"Why would I choose a side that follows a madman who thinks that only pure-bloods are worthy?"

"Because we are!"

"Not every pure-blood thinks so."

"Other than you, you mean."

"Yes."

"Who else then?"

"Krum for instance. He went to the Yule Ball with Granger-Lupin and she's a Mudblood."

"She must have jinxed him, or fed him a Love Potion or something."

"Why in Merlin's name does everyone think that people who seem so unlikely to get together have to do so because of a jinx or a potion?"

"Because it's true! There is no other way he would have gone with filth like that willingly. At least the rest of the Durmstrang boys decided to chose other more worthy." Lena realised the futility of trying to argue that a Muggle-born was just as much a witch or wizard as a pure-blood with this lot. "Luckily your sister hasn't followed your misguided path. Maybe with a little persuasion, we can get you back on the right one. I would hate to lose a proper pure-blood at the cost of gaining another."

"You keep your filthy hands off my sister," Lena snarled, her wand at Blishwick's throat.

"Or you'll do what exactly?"

Lena smiled sweetly. "Wouldn't the Runcorns like to know that you've been snogging that boy from Durmstang even though you're promised to their son?"

She'd never seen a Slytherin so caught off guard before. Blishwick stared at her in astonishment. "You-how-?" she stammered.

"I have my ways," Lena smirked.

Blishwick looked away and sighed. "I know it is my duty to marry a pure-blood. But, can it not be someone I like?"

Lena felt the tiniest bit of pity for the girl who stood before her. "I'm sorry."

"I don't want your pity," Blishwick snapped. "All right. What do you want?"

"I want everyone to leave us alone. I know most of this House and the rest of Hogwarts for that matter, won't agree but I want us to be left alone. I know he's a Ravenclaw, but he's three-quarters magical. That ought to count for something. At least he's not a half-blood, or worse, or a Gryffindor. And my sister's relationship with Adrian ought to mitigate things, somewhat."

Blishwick nodded. "If we leave you alone, no one will find out about–?"

"Yes, you have my word."

Blishwick hesitated. "All right," she said sticking out a hand. Lena gazed at her unsure of whether to trust her. They shook. Lena undid the Jelly-Fingers, Summoned Blishwick's wand and handed it to her. Blishwick gave a curt nod before walking away, leaving Lena alone in the hallway.

Lena turned around to the fourth-year girls' dormitory. Assuming that Arti had gone inside when Blishwick's spell had made the wall explode, Lena walked inside. Arti was standing at the window with her back to the door.

"Arti?" Lena said cautiously as she walked across the room.

Arti turned around to face her, eyes blazing. Lena faltered for a moment. Without warning, Arti slapped Lena across the face. The force of the blow sent Lena staggering backwards, but before she could recover, Arti grabbed her by the shoulders.

"Are you mad?" she demanded, shaking Lena with every syllable. Though Arti was slightly shorter, Lena was too shocked to use this to her advantage. She'd never seen her sister like this and it was terrifying. "Selena, why couldn't you have stayed calm for once, instead of flying off the handle? I hope you're happy!"

"I am happy! I'm sick and tired of pretending to be someone I'm not!"

"Couldn't you have waited or done it in a bit less public manner?"

"Why? I'm going to continue with Muggle Studies next year, they'll have figured it out then anyway."

"You're being selfish!"

"Selfish? How the hell is doing what I did selfish?"

"Because you're thinking about how you wouldn't mind letting people know where ourloyalties lie. Didn't you even stop to think how I'd feel?"

"I thought you'd be happy!"

"Well, I'm not!" Arti burst out. "Why the hell did you have to ruin everything by blurting it out in front of everyone?"

"Because everyone's going to find out about it anyway!"

"And you couldn't have done it a little more subtly?"

"What was I supposed to do? Stand there and take it?"

"Yes!"

"Why?"

"Because that way they won't be out for our blood!"

"But they–"

"But they what? They'll only go after you? Is that what you mean?"

"Well–"

"You think that won't stop them from coming after me? I am your sister after all." Lena flinched. "But you don't care, do you? You don't give a damn about me!"

"I do–"

They had been circling each other but now Lena was backed up against the door. She fumbled for the doorknob and slipped out into the hallway.

Arti voiced her disagreement in one word. "All you care about is that people see that you aren't a pure-blood supremacist! You don't care that even if the rest of Hogwarts might like us a bit more our lovely House won't!"

By this point, Lena had stumbled backwards to the stairs that led down to the common room, nearly falling down them.

"Well, I am a Slytherin after all. I've got to think about myself, haven't I?"

"At the expense of your sister?"

"I didn't mean–"

Arti raised her wand and Lena did the same.

"Ruptispectis!" Arti shrieked.

"Densaugeo!" Lena cried.

The spells collided in mid-air and ricocheted off each other.

"Oi!" Adrian's voice came from behind her followed by a thump, which Lena assumed meant that Adrian had collided with some piece of furniture in his attempt to get out of the way. A second later, Arti's wand flew out of her hand. She gave him a murderous look.

Lena grinned. Her sister stood before her, disarmed. But before she could take advantage of the fact, Adrian's grabbed her arm from behind and twisted her wrist, forcing her to let go of her wand. She struggled against his grasp and kicked him, eliciting a grunt of pain.

"Can't I leave you alone for five minutes without you two dueling?" he asked.

"Obviously not," Arti said through gritted teeth. With that, she stormed off back to her dormitory, slamming the door behind her.

Several moments of silence followed Arti's departure.

"What happened?"

Lena turned to face him and hesitated before replying. "I'm not sure how much you heard of the shouting match in the hallway."

"Some."

"Well, to make a long story short, they know that I don't give a damn about pure-blood supremacy."

"Just you?"

"Arti stayed out of it, if that's what you're asking. Which was part of what our row was about. She's angry that I blurted it out to everyone. Selfish, she said, since I hadn't considered her feelings on the matter or how this might affect her, since they'll come after her for being my sister. " Lena bit her lip. "I don't want them to, but I don't want to keep hiding how I really feel."

Adrian let out a small chuckle. "Well, I'm glad one of the two of you is going to be on my side. I mean, I agree with you, and so does she, you know that." Lena nodded. "But she – we're – scared of showing that. I mean we are Slytherins after all. We value our own skin. We're just playing it a little differently than you are. What?" he asked, for she was staring at him in astonishment.

"I never thought about it like that."

"Well, glad I could help."

"Thanks."

Noises came from down the hall. The girls had apparently decided that the worst was over and had come out of their dormitories.

"I better go. If they see us, people will think we're..."

Lena laughed. "Let them. It'll create more gossip. They'll think you're lucky that you can get two for the price of one," Lena said with a naughty smile.

Adrian turned scarlet. "I–"

"I'll just have to make sure Roger doesn't think we did anything."

"Please do. I'd rather not have him kill me."

"I will, don't worry. Thanks."

"Welcome." He was halfway out the door when he turned around. "Here," he said, tossing two wands at Lena. "I think it's safe to give them back to you now."


She found Arti in the kitchens with a large cup of hot chocolate.

"I'm sorry."

"I know. Me too. I just..."

"Adrian knocked some sense into me after you left." Arti raised an eyebrow. "Nothing happened, I swear. We just talked. Really."

Arti was quiet for a moment and Lena thought that a cascade of accusations would follow. Instead, all she said was "I believe you."

"Although I pointed out to Adrian that our Housemates'll get the impression that we did more than talk and it'll give them something else to gossip about now."

Arti gave her a teary smirk. "I suppose so."

"He's so like you."

"I know. I think that's why I–" Blushing, Arti looked away. Lena smiled.

"Everything's all right now." Arti began to hum quietly. Lena laughed, then sobered. "I'm serious. I made a deal with Blishwick."

"You did?"

"Well, blackmailed would be a more appropriate word."

"What? Are you mad?"

"No." Lena grinned evilly. "See, I saw her snogging some Durmstrang boy who definitely wasn't Runcorn."

"No!" Arti cried, scandalized.

"Yes. So, I made her a deal. They leave us alone and I won't ruin her marriage prospects."

"My, you have been busy."

"I was. So, when you're ready..." Arti nodded. Lena took Arti's wand from her pocket "Here," she said, handing it over.

"You got them back?"

"He thought we'd calmed down enough to get them back."

"Have we?" Arti asked, her eyes dancing merrily.

Within minutes the two girls were shrieking with laughter.


"Let me get this straight. She's going to get the entire House of Slytherin – or most of the House – to leave you alone in exchange for your not telling anyone about the Durmstrang boy she's been snogging?"

"Yes."

"How is that a fair trade?"

"Because, if her parents and he and his parents find out about it, there goes the marriage contract, with him and probably anyone else they could have gotten to marry their precious daughter, because no one will want a "tainted" girl to marry."

"Well, look at the Black sisters, Narcissus was...about fifteen when Andromeda married Ted Tonks and had a child, not to mention, Sirius Black was Sorted into Gryffindor about then and she still managed to marry Lucius Malfoy roughly five years later."

"But see, the Blishwicks aren't as influential or well-connected as the Blacks. Having Bellatrix married to a Lestrange already probably helped Narcissa's case and somewhat redeemed the family name. Besides, with Andromeda disowned, she essentially never existed, therefore, the family as far as anyone was concerned was pure and proper."

"But all they're doing is wiping them off the family tree! It's not like the things they got disowned for didn't happen!"

Lena shrugged. "In essence, yes. But you're also being wiped off the tree and therefore cease to exist. I think this is the first time I've realised that you can be a Slytherin in more ways than one."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm playing the "let me gather as many allies as I can because I'm going against the entire House" card. She's playing the "I'm not dumb enough to go against the entire House even if I think they're wrong so I'll pretend to agree with them to prevent them from killing me" card.

"Right."

"You don't understand this, do you?"

"No, not really."

Lena never knew what exactly Blishwick said or did to dissuade the Slytherins from their tirade against her relationship with Roger, but whatever it was, it was successful. Over the next few weeks, their relentless campaign slowly ceased.

And as the Second Task neared, the other Houses seemed to care less and less as excitement and anticipation mounted.

"Why do you have such wonderful timing?" Arti grumbled good-naturedly.


Roger was jerked out of his concentration by Cedric calling his name.

"'lo, Ced," Roger said, grinning.

"Working on that essay for McGonagall?"

Roger nodded "Have you figured out what you're going to do yet for the Second Task?"

"Yeah, though, of course I can't tell you."

"We'll find out soon enough, I suppose. You won't even give me a hint?"

Cedric shook his head. "Sorry, mate. Cho keeps trying to get me to tell her, too." His face clouded for a moment. "I just hope nothing goes wrong." He smiled cheerily, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. "At least there's Apparation lessons now."

Roger nodded. "Any progress?"

"No. Thank Merlin I haven't gotten Splinched. Poor Alicia."

"Yeah, but the professors fixed her up."

"Come April, we'll both have our licenses."

"Yeah. Makes visiting people loads easier."

Cedric grinned. "Especially, certain girls."

"Well, er, yes."

Cedric clapped Roger on the back. "You aren't the only one who thinks so." Cedric leaned back in his chair. "You like her, don't you?" Roger nodded. "I don't think you've ever been with someone so long. You'd sort of flit from girl to girl until now."

"You make me sound like a–"

Cedric shrugged. "What do you mean I make you sound like one? You act like one." Roger punched Cedric lightly on the shoulder. "Well, not so much anymore, eh?"

"I suppose not."

"She's good for you. And you for her. It's about time someone made friends with Slytherins. And someone needed to take you off your high horse." Roger smiled. "I mean, Viktor's a good bloke, even if he's from Durmstrang. He likes it here, says it's damn sight nicer than Durmstrang."

"I'm not surprised, considering their reputation."

"It's a lot more accepting here than Durmstrang. They don't allow Muggle-borns at Durmstrang."

Roger nodded, then he began chewing on his Sugar Quill, looking contemplative. "I wonder what happens if Muggle-borns aren't allowed to go to school. I mean, do they go around the rest of their lives with this thing they don't understand and can't control?"

Cedric shrugged. "I dunno."

"That would be dangerous." Roger paused. "I mean, wouldn't it go against the Statute of Secrecy?"

"I suppose," Cedric said, disinterestedly.

Roger mused half to himself for several minutes. His monologue was interrupted by the arrival of Anne, Lena and Adrian.

"Hello, Cedric," Anne said brightly. "I see my dear brother is boring you to death."

"Not too badly."

"Uh, huh," Anne replied in a disbelieving tone. "Well, now he's got a distraction." She and Cedric exchanged grins. "Where's Cho?"

"Charms Club."

"Well, I'm off to Potions Club," Lena said.

"And seeing as there are now three Quidditch-mad boys in one room, I'm leaving too."


"They have to go in the lake in this cold?" Arti asked in disbelief. "I don't envy them."

Everyone was babbling excitedly. Roger was among the many boys who were looking very appreciatively at Fleur's choice of clothing. Lena rolled her eyes.

"I thought you were over her."

"But she's-she's so beautiful…" Roger said looking awestruck.

"Remind me later to get something like that," Lena said to Arti who giggled.

Shortly before ten-thirty, Ludo Bagman began lining the champions up along the bank; Cedric on one end and Potter at the other with Delacour and Krum in the middle. Then, he returned to the judge's table and pointed his wand at his throat. His voice boomed across the stands.

"All our champions are ready for the second task, which will start on my whistle. They have precisely an hour to recover what has been taken from them. On the count of three, then. One... two... three!"

He blew the whistle and the stands erupted with cheers and applause. Krum Transfigured his head into that of a shark's, Delacour and Cedric performed a Bubble-Head Charm on themselves and Potter put something into his mouth, which Adrian identified as gillyweed.

"It lets you breathe underwater," he explained. Potter suddenly clapped his hands around his throat and flung himself forward into the water. "Wonder what they have to go and get," he mused.

"We'll find out soon enough, I expect."

Delacour was the first to come up to the surface, looking terrified and frantic. Madame Maxime went rushing toward her and helped her out of the water. She was alone and covered in scratches. The other judges joined the two women and they began talking in hushed tones, Delacour's gestures conveying her agitation. Madame Maxime and the other judges seemed to be trying to soothe her but to no avail. She continued her frantic attempts to go back into the lake fighting tooth and nail against Madame Maxime who restrained her.

"The Beauxbâtons champion, Miss Delacour has unfortunately been forced to retire. She will take no further part in this task," Bagman announced, somewhat unnecessarily.

Delacour gazed into the water, jumping at any sign of movement, calling out for Gabrielle, whom Lena surmised was her younger sister. Lena felt sorry for her and couldn't imagine what it would have been like if she was in Fleur's position and it was Arti who was in the lake. Lena squeezed Arti's hand.

Everyone became restless as ten-thirty neared and they spent several minutes gazing at their watches until Cedric surfaced with Chang at ten thirty-one.

Krum and Granger-Lupin were third. He looked rather odd with his Transfigured shark's head which he changed back to his own head with a flick of his wand. All of Granger-Lupin's friends and family and Karkaroff went to great them.

"I wonder what's keeping Potter."

"Maybe something attacked him? Or he got lost?"

"Maybe."

"Look," Arti said several minutes later pointing toward the lake.

There was a bright red glow in the middle of the lake. The light began to pulse, growing brighter and brighter. Then a black-haired head broke the surface, followed by a red head and a small blonde one, which Lena assumed was Delacour's sister.

The crowd burst into cheers as the Potter and Weasley began swimming toward the nearest platform, the little girl in tow. Percy Weasley, looking pale, hauled his brother out of the lake and Professor Black took the little girl from Potter and handed her to Professor Freeman-Black. Then he turned back and helped Potter out of the lake. Delacour came running toward Professor Freeman-Black and gathered her sister in her arms. Madame Pomfrey was not far behind and was quickly wrapping the little girl in a towel. Ginny Weasley and Longbottom came running too. It was then that Lena realised that Potter looked rather angry.

"I wonder what's wrong."

"I dunno. I suppose we'll find out soon enough."

No sooner had Arti spoken when Potter began to shout at Professor Dumbledore.

"Don't play stupid!" Potter shouted. "The sleep spell, the one on Ron! It kicked off as soon as the hour was up, he started waking up, and he couldn't breathe! I don't care if you take points off me for not getting back in time, but he could have died down there!"

Everyone gasped. Professor Dumbledore looked stunned. Lena had never seen such an expression on his face before. He turned to Ron Weasley and he seemed to be asking for confirmation. Ron's response must have been in agreement for Professor Dumbledore looked grave. He drew his wand, and then at Weasley's nod, began making a complicated pattern of wand movements.

Dumbledore rose and he and the other judges went off together. Lupin arrived with a blanket for Potter. Their conversation was interrupted by Delacour who came bursting around the corner, followed by Madame Pomfrey with the little girl in tow. Madame Pomfrey seemed to be insisting that she treat Fleur but she was waving her off impatiently.

Delacour gave Potter a grateful look and began exclaiming over him, no doubt thanking him for saving her sister. Potter gave her a suspicious look before she took his face in her hands and kissed him on the cheeks. Ginny Weasley looked angry at this and Lena couldn't say she blamed her. Potter looked dazed. Then Delacour then turned to Ron Weasley, who looked hopeful. Lena giggled. Delacour kissed him too, while Granger-Lupin give Delacour a murderous look.

Lena glanced across the stands at Roger, who had an interesting expression on his face. Lena was glad to have something to tease him about later.

Then, Ludo Bagman's voice boomed across the audience. "Ladies and gentlemen, in the interests of the champions, we will be returning to the castle before we give the marks. Unforeseen circumstances have forced the possible invalidation of this task, and the judges wish to confer at length."

The crowd got to its feet and up to the castle, speculation running rampant about what had happened.

"I hope they catch whoever did this," Blaise said, looking worried.

"Me too," Arti agreed, shivering slightly. "And I hope it wasn't a Slytherin."


Points were awarded with Potter and Cedric tying for first, Krum getting second place and Delacour third. But there was more.

"Champions may be seated," said Dumbledore, standing up. "I have an important announcement to make, and you may as well be comfortable while I prattle on." Laughter rippled through the hall as the champions went back to their seats. "The reduction of points in this task," Dumbledore continued. "would seem to call for an auxiliary task, to allow the champions to make up the points they were not awarded here. However, it would be difficult to create another magical task at this point in the year—therefore, my fellow judges and I have decided that the auxiliary task will be a test of courage and skills, but not of magic." Murmurs of surprise broke out over the Great Hall. When the noise died down, Dumbledore went on. "Our guests have been exposed to many of the facets of our life here in Britain," he said. "Our food, our language, our customs. But we of Hogwarts have made no significant attempt to share our culture with our friends. I am pleased to announce a remedy for that lack. At the beginning of May, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry will present a musical comedy—a Muggle composition, true, but quite relevant to us as well.Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat."

The students' reactions were extremely varied. The majority of the Slytherin pure-bloods scowled, while the Muggle-borns and half-bloods looked excited. Lena and Arti grinned at each other and squealed. Adrian covered his ears and glared at them. The girls giggled.

"Triwizard champions will receive fifteen points for participating," Dumbledore went on. "The participation can be in any capacity, there is no requirement to appear on stage. However, the remaining ten points which would have been awarded in this task will be allotted to each champion based on performance in the champion's chosen role."

"But you can't do a musical with just four people," Weasley Twin Number 1 called.

"Who else gets to be in it?" Weasley Twin Number 2 added.

"Why, whoever else cares to be in it," said Dumbledore, smiling broadly. "Auditions are open to all students. Professor Pomona Sprout of Hufflepuff, who has graciously volunteered to direct the production, and her assistant director, Mrs. Aletha Freeman-Black, will conduct the auditions in as fair as a manner as possible."

"What's that supposed to mean?" shouted Mulciber.

"Professor Sprout and Mrs. Freeman-Black will use a particular spell to blind themselves to the identities, but not the skills, of the auditioners," Dumbledore said. "In this way, they can choose the best people for the roles without fear of being thought biased."

He went on to explain that posters announcing auditions would be up shortly, then dismissed everyone. Excited babble broke out as the students walked out of the Great Hall.

"This is so exciting!" Arti said happily.

"Well you can enjoy it for me. I however have to study," Lena said, a bit put out.

Arti frowned. "I forgot about that. If you don't want me to-"

"Just because I can't doesn't mean you can't have fun. Go, enjoy yourself. Tell me all the gossip you hear backstage."

"If I get in. I don't even know if I want to try out yet."

"You'll get in. You know the music. We've seen the show, we've got the music."

"True. I just want a small part though, like chorus or something."

"They'll probably need lots of those."

"Are you trying out?" Lena asked Adrian and Roger who had just come up to them.

"Not for a part," Adrian said. "Though I might try out for the orchestra."

"I might," Roger said shrugging. I haven't decided yet. There's no Quidditch so I've got more free time. I might try a small role; it'll give me a break from studying."

Lena gasped theatrically, pretending to swoon. "A Ravenclaw wanting to take a break from studying? What has the world come to?"

Roger rolled his eyes as everyone laughed.


The next day, notices for the auditions were posted in all of the common rooms and around the castle. Predictably Gryffindors were the most enthusiastic, as were the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs and surprisingly even a few Slytherins showed some interest.

"Why would Nott try out?" Arti asked in disbelief.

"To prove that he's more dignified than a Muggle-born because he'll be trying out for the orchestra and not something as vulgar as an actual part."

In the end, Arti, Adrian and surprisingly Colleen went to audition.

"Break a leg!" Lena called after them.

"I never understood why that's supposed to be good luck," Blaise complained. "It sounds so ominous."

"As long as no one says "Macbeth", we're all right."

"I hope so."

On Friday morning, the castle was abuzz with excitement.

"They do realise that no one's going to be paying attention to their lessons today, right?" Adrian asked.

"They have ways of making us."

"Yes, yes they do."

"I hope the Slytherins who auditioned make it. Maybe it'll make things a bit better when people see Slytherins involved in something Muggle."

"Maybe. Between, you, Arti, Nott and Pritchard and whoever else, someone ought to."

"Yeah."

The cast list went up after classes and the entire school plus the Beauxbâtons and Durmstrang students crowded into the Great Hall.

"I'm in the chorus!" Arti cried gleefully.

"Congratulations!"

"And so're Colleen, and Pritchard, and that Muggle-born girl he's friends with, Natalie something."

"Who else?"

Adrian began ticking off the roles on his fingers. "Potter's Pharaoh." The girls giggled. "Draco Black's Joseph…Krum's Potiphar. Lovegood's Mrs. Potiphar" – Their giggles increased – "Delacour's Reuben, Diggory's the butler, Chang's the baker…Ginny Weasley and Granger-Lupin are Narrator–"

"There're two?" Lena asked in surprise. Adrian nodded. "This'll be loads of fun to watch."

"Again," Arti amended.

"Again," Lena agreed.

They left the Great Hall a few minutes later, both girls singing about a coat of many colours.

Adrian groaned. "It's bad enough some of us have to be at most of the rehearsals and all that, do you have to sing it too? "

Roger turned to Lena and demonstrated a rather effective method of getting her to be quiet, taking her by surprise.

"What was that for?" she asked when they broke apart amid Arti's giggles.

"To get you to stop."

Lena's eyes twinkled. "Then I'll keep singing and you can shut me up again."

Now Adrian and Arti were both sniggering.

Roger sighed dramatically. "How I wish it were still a time when women knew their place and using magic to make them do things or not do things wasn't frowned upon."

"But would you really want to do that? Life'd be rather boring if you could just Imperius women to do what you want."

"Depends on what you're having them do," Roger said, with a mischievous grin.

"Roger!"


Roger's seventeenth birthday was on the fourteenth. Lena hadn't been sure what to get him. Of course, Arti had a couple suggestions ("Can't I just lock you two in the broom cupboard?") which of course, Lena ignored. After some thought, she decided to get him something Quidditch related. She ran her idea by Anne, just to make sure it would be something she liked.

"It'll make him happy, considering he hasn't gotten to play all year," Anne said, approvingly. "I know he wants to ask him, but of course, he's too grown up to ask," she said, giggling.

Krum was delighted at finding another Quidditch enthusiast.

"I vud haff liked to haff seen him play," Krum said.

"He would have like that too."

She also decided to make Roger a photo album of his Hogwarts Quidditch was also able, through Colleen, to get some pictures of past Quidditch matches from Colin Creevey.

"He's Muggle-born and takes pictures of everything."

Lena made a mental note about that in case she needed to make use of that later.

Cedric, presumably through Anne had gotten wind of Lena's idea and had gotten Cho to pass the photo album around to the members of the Ravenclaw Quidditch team. By the time Lena got it back, it was full of messages from the entire team and several of his non-Ravenclaw friends. There were even pictures from earlier years.

"I hope you like them," Lena said as she handed him the packages, suddenly feeling self-conscious and a bit worried.

"I'm sure I will," Roger assured her. He opened the first box. Upon seeing Krum's signature on the Quaffle, he nearly dropped it in surprise. He stared at it for several minutes. "You–wow."

"Do you like it?"

"Yes! I've been wanting–. Thank you."

Lena smiled happily. "You're welcome. He said he was sad not to have seen you play."

"Did he?"

"Mm-hm."

"It would have been wicked to play with him." Roger replaced the Quafffle reverently back in the box.

Lena handed him the second package. "I had a lot of help with this one," Lena explained as he paged through the album. "Colleen got the pictures from Colin Creevey and Cedric passed it on to Cho who got people to sign it."

Roger kissed her. "Thank you. This means a lot."

"I suppose you got a watch for your birthday?"

"Yes." He pulled it out from the pocket of his robes. "It's a replica of the one Watson wears. Did you know that the first wrist watch was worn by Queen Elizabeth I?"

"No. Really?"

"It was a round watch suspended from a wristband."

"Who gave it to her?"

"The Earl Leicester."

"Ah, Robert Dudley."

This sparked a long discussion about history which only ended when they realised that they were about to violate curfew.

"I'm seventeen and I still have to be in my dormitory by nine," Roger grumbled.


With exams only weeks away, even the excitement of the approaching performance of Joseph could not distract the fifth-years from the panic they were beginning to feel. And everyone was also getting rather irritable. The administration of Calming Draughts and fights were a daily occurrence. Luckily there were several interesting diversions which distracted them from studying, if only briefly.

The first occurred at the beginning of April. Lena was studying alone in her dormitory when Arti burst in, looking excited.

"You won't believe what just happened!" Without waiting for a response, she continued. "We were at rehearsal when this couple came in. Apparently she's an Auror and her name's Nymph-something."

"Nymphadora Tonks?"

"Yeah, her."

"Andromeda Black's daughter."

"Ah," Arti's eyes lit up in recognition. "She married a Muggle-born, didn't she?"

"Mm-hm. I looked up to her, Tonks, I mean. She was a seventh-year when I started. A Gryffindor. She seemed so cool."

"If I may continue," Arti said impatiently.

"Sorry, go ahead."

"Anyway, so Tonks comes in with one of the Weasley brothers, at least I assume he's one since he looks a lot like the Weasleys and Ginny Weasley ran up to him and was very excited to see him."

"Yeah, must be Charlie Weasley. They were going out."

"So, they were handing out things, invitations I think, to Potter and his lot. And then Professor Freeman-Black talked to Tonks alone. It must've been bad 'cause Tonks' hair was going crazy – is she a Metamorphmagus? – and she started yelling at Professor Freeman-Black, something about "how could you do this to me?" I don't know what it was, but it had something to do with her and Weasley. Then Professor Freeman-Black put up a Privacy Spell so we couldn't hear anything else – which I think she should have done all along – then Tonks stormed out."

Lena's eyes were wide. "Wow."

"Yeah."

"And to answer your question, yes, she's a Metamorphmagus. She used to make her hair different colors all the time. I was so jealous of her. Made her seem even cooler."

"I can imagine."

"Poor Tonks."

The second was the fact that Roger and Adrian, as well as Cedric and most of the others who took their Apparation exam passed.

"Now that we can Apparate, we can Side-Along the two of you," Adrian said.

"Practice a little first, all right? I'd rather not have to explain to my parents why I got Splinched in the middle of the night," Arti said.

"Hear, hear. That would be an awkward conversation," Lena agreed.

"You're not discouraging her?" Adrian asked.

"Why should I? I'll be doing the same thing."


Hardly anyone went home for the Easter holidays. Between the upcoming play and revision for the fifth and seventh-years everyone was too busy. Luckily for Lena, Roger had agreed to help despite Lena's protests that he had his own exams to study for.

"It'll help me revise for when I take my NEWTs next year."

Lena was quite grateful for the help as she had apparently forgotten most of what she had learned over the last five years.

On top of everything else, the fifth-years found something else to think about when notices were posted about their upcoming careers advice:

Lena found to her delight that she would be missing Arithmancy. She and the other fifth-years began reading through the various pamphlets which had appeared in the common rooms. Lena, having quite enjoyed Muggle Studies was fairly certain that she wanted to work at the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee, but just in case, she also looked at the some of the other pamphlets, but none of them sounded quite as appealing to her.

On the first day of term, they learned to make an Invigoration Draught in Potions. Lena suggested to Roger that all of the fifth and seventh-years as well as those in the play should take the Invigoration Draught, Roger pointed out that a Cheering Charm would be much simpler, except that when used to excess it cause giddiness and was otherwise detrimental to one's health.

Lena's appointment with Snape was that Wednesday at half past three.

Snape got right to the point. "Miss Moon, what sort of career aspirations do you have?" he asked, shuffling through a stack of parchment.

"Well," Lena replied hesitantly, suddenly nervous, "I'd like to go into Muggle relations. Specifically the Muggle-Worthy Excuse Committee. I know it's not as respectable as being a Healer or an Auror, but I think it's necessary nonetheless."

"I agree," Snape replied.

Lena sighed with relief. "And I'm not just looking at a career like this to shirk my lessons," she added.

"I would never have accused you of doing so. Other than Arithmancy" – Lena twitched – "which I gather is not your favorite subject, your grades are quite good. And they have improved some in the last few weeks."

"I, er, have been getting help from a...a friend."

"I see. You'll continue with Potions next year I presume."

"Yes, Professor. And Astronomy, I think, and Herbology, Transfiguration, Defense , Charms and...possibly History of Magic, I haven't decided quite yet."

"Fine. You should do well in your classes. And although I know your Potions marks as are excellent, I only accept those who have achieved an 'Outstanding' on their Potions O.."

"Yes, Professor."

"Any further questions?"

"No, sir."

"You're dismissed." She got up and was about to go out the door when Snape called her name. She turned back to him curiously. "I'm glad to see that some of my students are reaching out to members of other Houses. Many Slytherins seem to see that as below them. At least some of you have some sense."

Lena smiled as she walked out of Snape's office. She was glad that they now had at least one professor on their side even if he wasn't outwardly vocal about it.


As annoyed as Lena got with Arti practicing for Joseph she had to admit it improved her mood somewhat to watch her. It was funny to see "Step, hop, step, step, hop, hop, step, step, hop, step, step, hop, hop, step," juxtaposed with "The Wand Ban of 1631, also known as the Code of Wand Use forbade Non-Human Magical Beings to carry wands. This includes house-elves, goblins, centaurs, etc. The law was passed as result of the Goblin Rebellion of 16132, the first of many such rebellions, which occurred at Hogsmeade was a reaction against prejudice and discrimination against goblins…"

Roger's tutelage helped immensely and she was one of the few fifth-years not panicking as the end of April approached.

"Am I the only one here not about to start hexing someone into jelly for looking at me the wrong way? Between the cast and those taking their exams it seems like no one's in a good mood."

"Well, Joseph will be over soon. Opening night's in a week. Things'll get better after that."

Joseph was a resounding success. Everyone enjoyed it immensely and none of the usual theatre-related mishaps occurred onstage or off, much to the relief of the cast and crew.

"And, I think there might be a few more couples getting together," Arti told Lena.

"Oh?"

"Michael Corner's got his eye on Ginny Weasley. And Granger-Lupin and Krum went off together."

"Were they the only ones?"

"Er...no," Arti said, blushing.

Lena didn't have the heart to tease her.


By far the most important lesson of term, Lena thought was the last Defense lesson with Professor Moody. Instead of revising, he had simply had them place their wands on their desks and told them three things: "First, a wand is a deadly weapon. Second, any spell can kill. And third, there is only one reason for using force, any kind of force, on another human being. That reason is that the other human being is doing something which must be stopped. The need to stop that person must be so great that it does not matter if that other person is hurt, if that other person dies, as a result of being stopped. That is the only just reason to use force, of any kind, in any degree."

The class had sat staring at him, looking stunned and awestruck. Lena realised that, this was in fact, true. If anything had gone just a little bit differently with Blishwick or Arti the day that they had dueled, any of the three of them might have been seriously hurt or killed. Lena shivered at the possibility.


Suddenly it was the night before O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s and the fifth- and seventh-years were doing some frantic last-minute revising. Lena was sure that her head would explode from the amount of information she'd crammed into it. She wasn't the only one. Others looked as though they were about to spontaneously combust or have some other disaster befall them if they studied anymore.

The examiners arrived during dinner that night, which made the students much more on edge.

"They're ancient!" Arti whispered as they walked past the small group of old witches and wizards conversing with Professor Dumbledore in the Entrance Hall.

"Yeah, they are," Lena agreed.

"That's Professor Marchbanks," Roger said, nodding toward the tiny, stooped witch. "And that one's Professor Tofty," he added, nodding to an old wizard wearing a pair of glasses.

"How are they?"

"Not bad. They're nice. Not too tough."

"Good."

There was still some last-minute cramming. The fifth and seventh-years all looked ready to hex anyone who so much as looked at them the wrong way, which in fact, several of them did. After breakfast the next morning, they stayed behind as the other students went off to their lessons. Lena was happy to start with Charms as it was one of the easier exams. Transfiguration was next. Lena found this slightly difficult, but at least her rat hadn't exploded like McLaggen's had, much to the dismay of his examiner.

Herbology was another fairly easy exam, made even better by the fact that they sat the exam outside. Unfortunately, Defense Against the Dark Arts and Arithmancy, were consecutive exams. The Defense exam was not quite as bad as Lena had expected. She had the chance to giggle over the question about boggarts, remembering Blaise's comment about Colleen's boggart and Colleen's comment about Neville's earlier in the year. Fortunately, finishing Arithmancy meant that the first week of exams was over and that Lena didn't have to worry about the subject anymore.

Arti came to dinner after Defense that day looking stunned.

"Moody?"

She nodded. "I could have killed you that day."

"I could have killed you too. If the spell'd been a little stronger, you might have gone out the window. Or either Blishwick or I could have been smashed to bits."

Arti shook her head in disbelief. "I think it's safe to say I won't hex you again."

"So am I still allowed to hex you then?" Lena asked smirking.

Arti knocked her goblet of pumpkin juice onto Lena's lap.


With the first week of exams finished, the fifth-and seventh-years all decided to take a break and went outside to enjoy themselves. However, their respite was short-lived as they had to revise for their Potions exam on Monday. Much to her relief, the exam was fairly easy. Her potion looked almost identical to that of the Ravenclaws in her year. However, there were a couple students whose Potions looked rather like burnt licorice.

"McLaggen, you've stirred yours too vigorously," Lena said to him as he corked his potion which was so runny that Lena half-expected it to leak through the flask. He glowered at her but Lena was happy to see that the nearest examiner smiled at her approvingly.

Tuesday morning was Muggle Studies. Lena happily began scribbling down her answers, getting rather carried away with question about the various Muggle technologies. Astronomy was also another exam she rather enjoyed. At least she only had two exams that day and not three, as she wasn't taking Divination.

Thursday morning, the fifth and seventh years were in a state of nervous excitement as it was the last day of exams. Unfortunately the exam was History of Magic and as most people had slept through the last five years, they were frantically trying to cram five years worth of notes into their heads.

At two o'clock their exam began. Lena turned her exam paper over and began reading the first question: What year was the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy instituted and why?

The International Confederation of Wizards' Statute of Secrecy, also known as the International Statute of Secrecy was laid down by the International Confederation of Wizards in 1692. This was, not coincidentally the same year as the Salem Witch Trials of Salem, Massachusetts in America. The Statute of Secrecy was made in response to the increased persecution of Wizarding children – who at that age are unable to control their magic – by Muggles. Muggles were also trying very hard to force wizards to teach them magic. At the same time, Muggles were persecuting other Muggles because they believed them to be witches. Those who were caught were burned at the stake, a practice that has continued since at least the fourteenth century. But, wizards were able to counter the effects of fire with magic and no real harm was done. Wendelin the Weird apparently enjoyed being caught and allowed herself to be burned numerous times. Also, the Ministry of Magic Delegation to the Muggle King and Queen failed to persuade the King and Queen to grant them protection. In 1750, Clause 73 was added that stated that each country was responsible for concealing the existence of magic, magical beings and people from Muggles and any breach of the Statute would be punished by the International Confederation of Wizards.

The biggest breach of the clause occurred in Scotland and Tibet with the multiple sightings of the Loch Ness monster and the Yeti by Muggles. Another breach was the Ilfracombe Incident when a dragon attacked Muggles on a beach. A wizarding family was able to perform Memory Charms on all but one of the Muggles who to this day insists that he saw a dragon. Consequently he is thought of as quite mad by other Muggles.

Lena realized with a jolt that she'd written quite a lot and sped on to the next question, careful to keep her answers shorter. When Professor Marchbanks called time and had collected all of the exam papers, a cheer went up from the fifth-years.

They jumped out of their seats and went tearing through the hallways. Most of the students, including Lena ventured outdoors, though a few went back to their dormitories, no doubt to sleep. No one seemed to be watching where they were going and quite a few people ran into each other, though no one seemed to care. Lena ran headlong into a Gryffindor girl whom she recognized as Maya Pritchard.

"Oh, dear, I'm so sorry."

"It's all right. I'm so glad we're finished!"

"So am I."

"I don't think we've ever really met. Selena Moon," Lena said, extending a hand.

"Maya Pritchard," she said, shaking it vigorously. "We've had classes together of course, but Gryffindors and Slytherins aren't typically that friendly."

"A shame really. At least Blaise and Colleen seem to have overcome that. You're related to Graham Pritchard aren't you?"

"His cousin."

"Shall we?" Lena asked, gesturing outside. They joined the throng of screaming students out on the front lawn.


Yes, Roger's birthday is on Pi Day.