AN: Some backstory in this chapter...


4 - Hogsmeade

"Quidditch is going to suck this year."

Levi, Asher, Julian and Sean were sitting in the stands at the Quidditch Pitch, waiting for the potential Ravenclaw Quidditch team to have try-outs.

"Yeah, because we're not going to be on the team." Levi grinned at Sean, who chuckled a bit.

"It's just because Josiah is captain," he said, "he graduates this year, so we'll rejoin next year when he can't be in charge of us."

"You guys are crazy."

"It's not crazy," Levi quipped, "it's genius. You simply don't understand."


"All students going to Hogsmeade, permission slips are required!"

Asher, Valerie, Sean, Levi, Liz and Julian were walking down the pathway to Hogsmeade, chatting about what they were going to do.

"Zonko's?" Levi asked Julian.

"Zonko's." Julian responded, and the two ran ahead of the group, up to the large joke-shop.

"Chase has a shift at the Three Broomsticks today, so I'm going to go meet with him. Anybody else coming?" Valerie asked the remaining group.

Asher raised his hand, as did Sean, but Liz shook her head.

"I've got plans with Thad and Noah. We're going to follow Thad's crush. He doesn't know it yet, but Noah and I are planning on getting the two of them together."

Asher raised an eyebrow. Sean spoke up.
"You know, if you told us who it was, we'd be able to help."

"No can do, I'm under strict orders not to let it slip. He's sort of embarrassed."

At Hogsmeade, Liz ran over to Thad and Noah, who were waiting at the gate to the village. Valerie then led Sean and Asher to the Three Broomsticks.

Inside, there were few people, something Valerie assured was a rarity.

"Chase!"

Valerie ran up to the counter to greet her brother. The two hugged, and when they finally let each-other go, Asher got a good look at him.

His hair was a bit longer, and the gray mark that was on his face the previous year was completely faded away. His eye, however, remained a stark white.

"Hello you guys, it's a slow day today. I'm surprised."

He ran a hand through his hair, and Asher caught a glint against a ring on his hand. Chase seemed to notice that everyone was staring, and he blushed.

"Damon proposed. Last week, actually."

Valerie instantly squealed, reaching out to grab Chase's hand. Sure enough, a different ring was placed on it. There was a gem on a gold band, larger than the one on the promise ring that Damon had shown Asher. It wasn't green anymore, but instead it was a pale gray.

"Damon found the ring in the Forbidden Forest. It was in perfect condition, except for a crack on the handle. He said it reminded him of me, so he had it repaired. Look at the cool symbol inside the gem."

He held the ring out, and Valerie inspected the gem. Inside, there was a triangle. Inside the triangle, was a vertical line down the center, and a circle.

"Pretty cool, huh?"


When the three left the pub, they saw Thad sitting on a bench with his head in his hands, with Noah and Liz on either side of him. To their left, Flint, Emma, and a boy that Asher didn't recognize were laughing a bit.

"What happened?" Valerie asked, shuffling forward to the three on the bench.

"Our plan didn't exactly work very well."

Looking over to the Gryffindors, Asher saw the unknown boy lean down and place a peck to Emma's lips. Asher's mind clicked.

"Why don't you start from the beginning?"


"Hey you three!" Noah called out to Flint, Emma and Seth.

Seth was a fourth year Gryffindor, and a close friend of Flint and Emma since second year.

"Thad wanted to talk to you." Noah grinned, pushing Thad forward to the three Gryffindors.

"Errr…"

"Just a sec," Seth held up a finger, and turned to Emma, "I've got to meet up with Leo in a bit, I'll see you later?" he placed a peck to Emma's lips, and she smiled, nodding.

Thad turned a beet red, before looking between the three. Flint looked over at Thad.

"What? Are you a prude, or something?" the three Gryffindors laughed, and Thad turned around, shuffling a bit to a bench, before glaring hard at Noah.

"I blame you." He said, before burying his head in his hands.


"That's really it." Noah finished, and then looked down to Thad, who had removed his head from his hands.

"I'm just g-gonna go now…" he stuttered out, before standing and walking toward the castle.

"Next time, we confront Thad's crush alone." Liz nudged Noah, who looked back at her, grinning.

"So you're saying there's going to be a next time?" He raised an eyebrow, and budged her back.

She glared at him, "for Thad. In no way are these considered dates."

Noah laughed, "oh come on, you know you want me!"

Liz was walking away, quickly, and Noah was struggling to keep up. Levi and Julian walked up behind Asher.

"Ten bucks says they get together by the end of the year." Levi grinned, sipping from a drink he held in his hand.

"You're on!" Julian quipped, smacking Levi on the shoulder lightly.

"You understand your mission?"

Asher heard an unfamiliar voice, and turned to look back at the pub. In the alleyway, he could faintly make out three shapes. One was wearing a hooded cloak, the other two a Hogwarts uniform.

"Yes, you've told me a million times."

"Good. He'll most likely be vulnerable during classes, but it's unwise to strike then. Quidditch games are the perfect ruse."

"Yeah, yeah. We'll think of something."

The two uniformed figures exited the alley, walking back in the direction of the castle.

"This will be easy." Josiah grinned to his co-hort.

"Step one," Kai grinned, "kill Harry Potter."