Meanwhile…

Upstairs, the children who were supposed to be sleeping pushed were talking excitedly in nervous, quiet voices. They were cramped into Lily's bedroom, where pictures of her, her family, her cousins, aunts, uncles, friends, and some new, sweet ones of her and Lorcan hung from the walls. Lorcan and Lily sat on the floor, leaning against the bed while holding hands. Lysander looked at them with envy, his face seeming distorted without his eyebrows. Over the summer, he had blown them off with one of his many experiments permanently, as it seemed. Albus and Rose, the oldest of the children, sat on the Ravenclaw quilted bed with pride. Albus looked around the room at the pictures, noticing the newest ones she had hung up since their return home. Rose fiddled with the letter Scorpius' owl had dropped off earlier, her heart melting at how sweet he was. One day, she had returned to her room and found a note on her bed. They met in the Hog's Head and since then, they had been inseparable. Roxanne sat in a chair at Lily's desk, looking at Lily's homework and secretly comparing marks. Lucy and Hugo stood, leaning against the wall coolly. They were all reeling from what they had heard from downstairs.

"So, we're in danger?" Hugo asked nervously. The rest of the kids quieted down and joined the conversation.

"Oh shut up Hugo," Albus sneered. "You're not in danger! You're a Weasley- not a Potter!"

"We're still related to you, remember? We're all related!" Hugo cried. He hated when Albus insulted him. He was always acting so superior- smarter, more handsome, and more popular. Hugo knew that he wasn't very good looking or popular or cool but that was no excuse.

"Listen," Lily said, clapping her hands twice to get attention. "It's probably not even real. It was probably some stupid joke that another student pulled. Raeverri was feverish and sick. And even if she wasn't, she's dating my brother. That's enough to make anyone bonkers!" she said and everyone laughed.

"Lily's right," agreed Albus. "Let's just all try to get some sleep. Girls in Lily's room, boys in mine," he ordered and everyone disbanded, whispering good nights to each other before they settled into bed.

But despite the reassurances and theories, Lucy went to bed feeling anxious and uneasy.

Short, I know. And kind of pointless too. But I just like talking about the kids.