Immediately, the others started whooping in excitement. Amanda hugged Aly tightly and they started walking down to Princes Square.

Aly kicked a pebble absently in the dirt.

"Cheer up!" Hayden said, grinning down at her. "We're back! We're all together again."

Aly smiled half-heartedly.

"What's wrong with you?" Damien asked, raising an eyebrow. "Aren't you happy about that?"

"I am," Aly shrugged. "But...I belong here, and you guys belong in London. Mrs. Boyle is probably worried sick. For some reason, Dad's being extremely nice about it, and I know it'll come back to haunt him. You guys have someone who's looking for you. We've got to stop the whole 'let's leave and hope that no one notices even though they're worried to death.'"

Amanda raised an eyebrow. "That was your idea, Aly. You wanted to go after him."

"Do you even want us here?" Char asked, walking next to her.

"I do...but it just doesn't seem right," she mumbled. Damien reached for her shoulder and pulled her back.

"Make a choice, Aly. Do you want us here, or not?"

Aly looked around silently, knowing the decision she could make would cost them. After two weeks, she had started to get used to life without them. If they come and stay, as soon as they leave, she'll pine for them. But they won't be able to come back. Not with Mrs. Boyle on their tail.

"Yes," she sighed. "I do."

"Good," Damien said, smiling with satisfaction, releasing her shoulder. "That's all we needed to hear."

They started walking again.

"So..." Char asked, determinedly keeping his eyes ahead. "Who's this Julian?"

Aly sighed angrily. "He goes to Ellis. He likes to read, Jane Eyre in particular. Stop harping. I barely know the guy."

"Sounds like your type of guy," Amanda said lightly. Aly glared at her, but didn't retort.

"Is he?" Char asked quietly.

"No, he's not," Aly snapped. "Char, use your head. It's been two weeks. Do you think I was really that desperate?"

Char sighed and shook his head.

Aly smirked and then brightened at the sight of Princes Square.

"Welcome to Princes Square," she said happily. They walked under the arcs that led into the square. "How about a pretzel?" Amanda nodded and they walked down to the Sandwich Shop.

Aly opened the door and was hit by that delectable smell of bread and meat. She looked at the front counter, but George and Joy weren't up there.

"I wonder why they are," she said aloud. "Oh well. Go pick out a pretzel to share." Char and Damien walked to the front, looking around suspiciously.

She walked over to the register and leaned on the counter. She looked at the picture of the Scotland fields, and then when she turned her head again, Julian was there, staring at her intently. She jumped up.

"Hello," he said, with an amused grin. "Enjoying the nature?"

"Yeah, it's nice," she said indifferently. She turned her head. "Did you pick something out? We've got to go."

The others came over to her. Char stopped talking to Damien when he saw Julian standing at the register. His eyes flashed to Aly, and she looked at him pleadingly.

"Hi," Hayden said, walking up to the front.

"Hi, mate. That'll be 5 sickles," Julian said, opening the register. Hayden looked at Aly.

She raised an eyebrow.

"What? We've got no money," he shrugged. Aly sighed with exasperation and stepped up front, reaching into her jacket pocket. Julian watched her intently as she dug around for five sickles. "Geez," she groaned, wiggling her fingers around.

"Haven't you got any money?" Julian said with disapproval.

"We just got here. We haven't any time to run back down to Gringotts for money," Damien shrugged.

"Ah. Are you...from out of the country?"

"London," Amanda replied indifferently.

"Nice place," Julian nodded. Aly finally set the money down, glaring at Hayden.

"There you go, Julian," she said, smiling with exasperation.

"All right, then. See you around, Aly."

They left the shop, Char glaring at Aly.

"Let's go out to the fields to disapparate," Amanda suggested, sharing her pretzel with Damien.

"Can I speak with you?" Char said through clenched teeth. Aly rolled her eyes and turned around. The others promised to wait for them up ahead.

"What?" she demanded. "Don't you get it? I'm off the market?"

"I don't want you hanging around him anymore," Char said, lowering his voice.

"Do you remember what happened the last time you said that?" Aly asked dangerously. Char blanched. "Don't even. You're back, I'm back, and we're together, end of story." Char looked down at her for a second. Then Aly found herself pressed against him, and Char kissed her firmly. Aly threw her arms around his neck, and then she smiled, letting go.

"I've missed your fiery spirit," Char breathed, pressing his forehead against hers. "A lot. I can't believe I'm still alive after two weeks."

"Believe it," Aly said brightly, "Because you are." She looked into her, dare she think it, devilish, hypnotic, beautiful, sexy, chocolate colored eyes.

Char smiled and grabbed her hand, catching up with the others.

Julian watched them run from the window of the shop, and his frown deepened.

"Wait up!" Aly called. The others turned around. They walked up to them.

"It's all good," Aly said, breathing hard.

"Good. Can we go? The faster we go the faster we leave," Damien said irritably.

Aly rolled her eyes. "Alright. Where exactly are we to apparate, and where would Mrs. Boyle be?"

"We're on the same time zone, so it's eight o'clock over there," Hayden replied, calculating. "What does your Mum do at eight o'clock in the morning?"

"Tends to the garden," Char replied automatically.

"I have a better idea," Damien said irritably. "Why don't we just apparate in the attic and sneak down from there? It'd be quicker. Besides, Dad's gone, Kay and Sam are...somewhere. It's a lot quicker. We separate into our rooms, and then we all disapparate."

"Where?" Amanda asked.

"How about I do side-along apparition?" Aly suggested. "I take two of you first, and then the last two, so we'll end up at the right place."

"Sounds fine," Char nodded.

Aly inhaled deeply. "To the attic, on the spot, now...one...two...three!"

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